The airline industry is filled with opinions — one man's favorite seat is another man's avoid at all costs.
Yet travelers broadly agree on one thing: Singapore's Changi Airport is one of the best in the world. Changi truly has something for everyone — fancy stores, unique restaurants, and refreshing greenery line its concourses. The airport's most iconic feature is Jewel Changi, a large glass dome containing the world's tallest indoor waterfall surrounded by various places for landside passengers to sit and shop. "Spa style" music and nature vibes are abundant — quickly making you forget you're in the midst of one of the world's busiest transit hubs. But nothing is perfect, and Changi isn't immune. Despite being a marvel of a space, there is one major flaw that degrades the passenger experience.
Singapore's Changi Airport has a carpet problem. Most of the airport is furnished with over 3.1 million square feet of colorful woven carpet that admittedly brings character to what is often a sterile environment. The surface also dampens noise, further contributing to Changi's relaxing environment. However, carpet is one of the worst furnishings for an airport due to its friction with luggage. Many travelers are already packing more than they can handle when it comes to bag quantity, and attempting to roll suitcases on a soft surface adds a lot of resistance. This phenomenon can loosely be equated to running on sand — you're using a lot more energy for a smaller result.
It is evident that Changi was crafted by a multitude of meticulous designers — making the decision to include such an undesirable surface for luggage even more bizarre. This flaw feels like a massive oversight when you compare it to how thoughtful the airport design is otherwise. If you are flying through Singapore anytime soon — prepare yourself for what may be a tedious luggage rolling process. That being said, the airport is so marvelous that you may very well forget what surface you're standing on, colorful carpet and all.