One of the most useful benefits of Changi Airport’s “lifestyle destination” Jewel is its Early Check-In (ECI) facility, which prior to COVID-19 was allowing passengers departing on no fewer than 30 airlines to check in for their flight and issue their boarding passes up to 24 hours before departure time.
Unfortunately once the pandemic hit in early 2020, the Jewel ECI programme was also suspended, due not only to a significant reduction of passenger flights, but also because of the much more stringent document checks that became required for those still travelling.
Since pandemic travel restrictions have been relaxed, the Jewel Early Check-in lounge has since reopened for passengers departing on two carriers; Qantas and Malaysia Airlines, during its daily 1pm to 5pm opening window.
Singapore Airlines has joined the list
Good news is that Singapore Airlines is now also back at the Jewel ECI from this month, though only some of its passengers will benefit from this option for the time being.
From 01 July 2022, early check-in counters at Jewel Changi Airport level 1 will be available for Singapore Airlines passengers travelling to Europe and the United Kingdom from 1300 to 1700 hours daily. Passengers who wish to use this service must check-in no later than 3 hours before their flight’s scheduled departure time.
Singapore Airlines
We think what SIA really meant was Europe and Turkey (the United Kingdom is already in Europe!), but who knows why they worded it that way!
Which flights?
This option will allow those taking the following evening Singapore Airlines departures to Europe and Turkey to check-in at Jewel, if it’s more convenient for them to do so, between 1pm and 5pm each day.
- 23:30 SQ322 to London
- 23:30 SQ378 to Milan / Barcelona
- 23:55 SQ324 to Amsterdam
- 23:55 SQ352 to Copenhagen
- 23:55 SQ26 to Frankfurt / New York*
- 00:15 SQ336 to Paris
- 00:30 SQ328 to Munich
- 01:10 SQ306 to London
- 01:30 SQ366 to Rome
- 01:45 SQ346 to Zurich
- 02:05 SQ392 to Istanbul
- 02:05 SQ52 to Manchester / Houston**
* Passengers with final destination Frankfurt only
** Passengers with final destination Manchester only
We suspect these destinations have been chosen owing to their lack of pre-departure documentation check requirements by staff.
The Jewel ECI is not usually staffed by Singapore Airlines agents, so perhaps it wouldn’t be possible for passengers departing for places like Australia and New Zealand (with a DPD / health declaration requirement), or the USA (with an attestation form requirement) to check in here, until those bureaucratic aspects are dropped.
Luckily Australia is dropping its vaccination requirement and Digital Passenger Declaration from Wednesday next week, so hopefully we can see Australian cities added to SIA’s Jewel early check-in list soon.
Where is it?
The Jewel ECI is located on Level 1 of the Jewel complex.
From the T1 departures level (Jewel drop off), you’ll need to go down one level to reach the ECI facility.
From T1 arrivals you are already on the correct floor and the ECI is only short walk into the complex on the left side.
What’s the benefit?
The Jewel ECI option could be useful if you’re planning to have dinner in Jewel with friends of family, or even catch a movie at the cinema there, before heading through to T3 departures for your flight.
Obviously Jewel also has plenty of shopping options plus some other attractions too, but most people we know go there for the food!
Better still, if your Singapore Airlines flight then ends up departing from a T1 gate (i.e. a ‘C’ gate), which you can check before leaving Jewel via the iChangi app, you can even clear immigration in T1.
Since T1 is directly connected to Jewel, you’ll then enjoy a much shorter walk to the gate, assuming you’re not interested in any T3 SilverKris lounge time (if eligible).
The Changi Lounge is opposite
If you’re looking to use a Priority Pass or paid access lounge prior to your departure, for example if you need somewhere quiet to get some work done for a few hours before heading into the transit area, you might want to consider the Changi Lounge in Jewel.
This is located directly opposite the ECI facility, so you can head across there as soon as you have checked your bags in and printed your boarding card.
This is ideal, because for many access schemes you will need a valid boarding pass to use this lounge.
Do note, however, that shower facilities in the Changi Lounge are not available until further notice, which is shame because they are excellent!
SIA’s T3 check-in operates 20 hours a day
Remember you can check in for any SIA flight at Terminal 3 between 5am and 1am every day (i.e. only not between 1am and 5am), up to 48 hours before your flight departure time, and have your luggage checked and boarding cards printed.
SIA’s Jewel ECI option is therefore probably only useful if you actually wish to use the Jewel facilities prior to your flight, not as a means to access the lounges or transit area earlier, since you can already do this anyway by checking in early at T3 itself.
It’s a different story for airlines like Qantas, where the Jewel ECI option potentially gives you the opportunity to score a whole afternoon T1 oneworld ‘lounge safari’, even prior to a midnight flight, for example.
Summary
The Jewel ECI lounge was a really useful option before COVID-19 hit, and we used it regularly to have the freedom to access the transit area before the normal check-in time with airlines like Qatar Airways and Lufthansa.
It’s great to see the facility back in action, though current travel documentation restrictions mean it’s still a shadow of its former self with just a few airlines now offering the option between 1pm and 5pm each day (it previously operated 6am to midnight).
Singapore Airlines has now joined that list, with Europe and Turkey-bound passengers eligible, which may be useful for those actually wishing to use Jewel during the afternoon and evening before their long-haul late night departure.
Hopefully additional cities, airlines and opening windows for the Jewel ECI will be coming soon.
(Cover Photo: MainlyMiles)
Just for info the UK is no longer considered to be part of Europe since Brexit!
FYI, UK is still part of Europe, but not part of EU
Yes indeed, I think the confusion is between the EU (a political union) and Europe (the geographical continent).
SIA, who you would hope focuses on geography not politics anyway, has got its wires all in a twist here.
Switzerland, like the UK, is also not part of the EU, but isn’t singled out separately in the way the UK is, so I don’t think they meant “the EU and the UK” (that would be wrong, because of both Switzerland and Turkey).
Perhaps they meant “Mainland Europe and the United Kingdom”, which would be correct, except for the fact Turkey is on the list!
As we mentioned, simple stuff. “Europe and Turkey” is correct.
The reason why SQ mentioned Europe and the UK is because UK is not part of Europe. Even the VISA requirements differs. So don’t anyhow change the sentence for SQ. I am very sure SQ checks their statements thoroughly before releasing. Next time, double-check your knowledge first before attempting to correct others.
Oops I think it’s you who needs to double check your facts. Andrew is right the UK is not part of the EU but it is definitely part of Europe!!
Otherwise what continent do you suggest the UK has moved to?
Saying “Europe and the United Kingdom” is like saying “North America and Canada” 😂
second this, the lack of knowledge above is staggering
Stupid comment of the year goes to Mazzy.
I thought the current Istanbul airport is actually in Europe too, and Singapore airlines doesn’t fly to any other destinations in the Asian side of Turkey.