Clarified: Transiting between Changi Terminals 1/2/3 and 4

Changi Airport, as your probably know by now, has a bit of an unusual layout. 

While Terminals 1, 2 and 3 are connected by the Skytrain, Terminal 4 is an island unto itself, accessible only by shuttle bus. That’s because it was never intended to handle connecting traffic, and the planners didn’t believe that Skytrain utilisation would be worth the cost of construction.

But the planners never anticipated people like us, who think nothing of arriving at the airport many hours early to lounge hop. And with those lounges spread across four terminals, it’s good to clarify once and for all Changi’s policy on inter-terminal transfers between T1/2/3 and T4.

Changi’s policy on T1/2/3 to T4 transfers

At the risk of stating the obvious (but perhaps for the benefit of our overseas friends), there’s no issue transferring between T1/2/3, whether airside or landside. All you need to do is board the Skytrain; there’s no document check involved.

However, getting to T4 airside is a little different. A shuttle bus runs from T1 > T3 > T4 on a loop, but you will need to go through a document check to board it (there’s also a landside bus, which does not require any document checks to board).

Here’s a statement from a Changi Airport spokesperson regarding movements from T1/2/3 to T4 (and vice versa).

For passengers who have already checked in at Terminals 1, 2, or 3, and would like to visit Terminal 4 to make use of the lounges and other facilities, they may make use of the airside shuttle. It is available 24/7, and arrives every 13 minutes on average, depending on the time of day. Likewise, passengers who have checked in at T4 can also use of the same bus service to go to T1, 2, or 3.

Passengers should ensure that they have at least 3 hours to spare before their flight’s scheduled time of departure if they wish to board the airside shuttle. Should they not meet this requirement, our officers may turn them away at the respective boarding points.

Additionally, please note that those arriving at T4 via the airside shuttle will have to go through a security screening before they can enter the T4 transit area. Their boarding pass will also be checked by Airport Police Officers.

-CAG

In other words, you are free to visit any terminal you wish, regardless of where your flight is departing from. 

The only restriction to boarding the airside shuttle to/from T4 is that you must have at least three hours to spare before the scheduled time of departure. 

For example, if your flight departs from T1/2/3 at 1500 hours, the latest time you can board the airside shuttle to T4 is 1200 hours.

Terminal 4 shuttle schedule

As a reminder, here’s how the T4 shuttle bus service works. 

T4 shuttle bus (landside)

T4 shuttle bus (airside)

Estimated travel times are as follows:

• T4 > T1: 18 mins
• T1 > T3: 6 mins
• T3 > T4: 12 mins

Early check-in at Jewel

If you’re departing from T4, it may be a better idea to do early check-in at Jewel first, then visit the T1/2/3 lounges before heading to T4. That way, you only need to take one bus journey. 

The following airlines offer early check-in at Jewel. 

If the airline doesn’t offer early check-in at Jewel, or if you’re departing from T1/2/3 but want to visit the lounges in T4, then two bus journeys may be inevitable. 

As a general note, you can only enter the transit area within 24 hours of departure time. If you attempt to enter any earlier, you’ll be turned away by the officers. 

For a full guide to early check-in at Changi Airport, refer to the post below

Guide: Early Check-In at Singapore Changi Airport

What lounges can you visit?

If your goal is to do a lounge safari, here’s a rundown of the different lounges you may be eligible to visit across all four terminals. 

Contract Lounges

For those with a Dragon Pass, LoungeKey or Priority Pass, here’s the list of restaurants where you can redeem set meals or dining credits.

oneworld

If you’re an eligible oneworld passenger, you could potentially visit up to five different lounges across two terminals.

Star Alliance

For Star Alliance passengers, your lounge safari basically comprises of the Singapore Airlines lounges, of which there are seven across two terminals. Since these are all in T2 and T3, you won’t need to bother with any shuttle busses. 

Conclusion

Changi Airport allows passengers to visit any terminal they wish, regardless of where they’re ultimately departing from. The only restriction is that you must have at least three hours to departure, if you’re planning to take the shuttle bus between T1/2/3 and T4. 

By doing early check-in, you can give yourself plenty of time to do a lounge safari, with oneworld a prime candidate for this. Remember: even a Malaysia Airlines Business Class ticket  to Kuala Lumpur would be sufficient to visit the excellent Qatar Premium Lounge, with side trips to the British Airways, Cathay and Qantas lounges thrown in for good measure. 

What does your Changi Airport terminal hopping game plan look like?