7 tips to make the most of duty-free shopping in Singapore

For many holidaymakers, shopping for best buys and extracting the greatest bargains is high on the agenda for their ideal vacation. The challenge is how to achieve the most, yet spend as little time as possible.

Here in Singapore, there is a reason why Changi Airport is among the top three airports in the world in terms of retail sales. If you are visiting the sunny island, let us share with you some cool things you never knew about shopping at the airport, and some useful tips on how to maximise the returns of your shopping spree.

1: Shop online to maximise your savings and minimise the hassle.

Changi Airport debunks many perceptions of airport shops to be a rip-off as the prices here are cheaper than a lot of other places in town. For a start, everything is 7 per cent cheaper, thanks to GST savings. For big ticket items such as designer handbags, jewellery, watches and electronics – many of which are fixed-price items – this represents substantial savings!

In the case of beauty products, many items are up to 40 per cent cheaper than those in the city. Also unknown to many, brands at Changi that are part of a chain of stores are not permitted to charge higher prices at Changi compared to downtown. Here are some of iShopChangi’s bestsellers, with a price comparison to downtown:

 In addition to great savings, there is great convenience as well. If you are time-strapped, fret not as you can shop online at iShopChangi before your trip, and collect your stash at a single collection centre before you fly. Here, you can make purchases anytime from 30 days and up to 18 hours before your flight, giving you plenty of time to work out what you truly want.

[BONUS] Exclusive promotion for Now Boarding readers

*Terms & Conditions:

1) Promotion of 10% off  requires no minimum spend, and discount is capped at S$20.

2) Promo code is only valid for use on iShopChangi.com and must be entered upon checkout for discount to apply.

3) Promotion is only for bona fide outbound, inbound and transit passengers travelling through or arriving in Singapore Changi Airport.

4) Promo code is valid for one-time use per customer, is non-exchangeable, and cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotions, offers, eVouchers and selected products.

5) Promo code is considered redeemed even if customer cancels the order.

6) Promotion is valid till 31 December 2019, 2359SGT.

7) Changi Airport Group (S) Pte Ltd reserves the right to vary the terms and conditions herein at any time at its absolute discretion without notice.

2. Incredibly, the airport is one of the largest malls in the country. Everything under the sun can be found here.

For many, Singapore is known to have the world’s best airport. What is lesser known is that it is among the best to shop at as well. In fact, it is one of the largest malls in the country, with more than 400 retail outlets and 140 dining options. To cater to its diverse mix of international passengers, the retail mix captures brands across all spectrums - from high end designer labels such as Bottega Veneta, Hermes and Yves Saint Laurent, to mid-priced fashion labels such as Zara, Uniqlo and Converse.  

3. For gifts or souvenir hunters, Singapore’s most famous home-grown brands are available here.

Food is at the very heart of Singapore’s culture. Travellers who have had a taste of the colourful local cuisine will no doubt want to take home some of the unforgettable tastes of Singapore to share with family and friends.

Rather than having to spend precious vacation time to make special shopping trips to buy local goodies, you can actually get them all at the airport, just before your flight home. Most of Singapore’s most popular deli brands have outlets at Changi Airport, making the airport a convenient one-stop location to pick up some of the best food souvenirs.

Some of our recommendations:

·         Pandon chiffon cake or kueh lapis (layered cake) from Bengawan Solo

·         Kaya (coconut jam) from Ya Kun Kaya Toast Family Cafe

·         Bak kwa (barbecued meat) from Bee Cheng Hiang or Fragrance Bak Kwa

·         Cooking pastes and pre-mixes from Discover Singapore (Chicken rice, Bah Kut Teh etc)

·         TWG tea

4. Indulge in samples before choosing your liquor

Can’t find the perfect ‘poison’ because there are just too many choices? Score free drinks at various bars within the DFS Wines & Spirits Duplex in T2 and T3, along with the DFS Wines & Spirits at T4 for a ‘walk through’ experience encompassing cocktail mixing and guiding tasting.

Whiskey lovers can enjoy over 100 complimentary whiskies tasting from around the world at The Whiskey House in T2 and T4. Whereas at T3, is the Long Bar by Raffles for the cocktail fanatics to enjoy its signature Singapore Sling for free. If wine is preferred, over at the Wine Reserve in T2, there are over 350 different wines from the world’s top vineyard to sample from. Catered for whiskey lovers, cocktail fanatics, and even wine enthusiasts, it is indeed possible to find a ‘poison’ best suited for anyone.

5. Every year, one of the airport’s shoppers is made an instant millionaire (no kidding)!

Yes, this is for real. Changi has made eight everyday shoppers instant millionaires since 2010 – that’s one every year! The airport gives away a grand prize of S$1 million annually through its anchor promotion, ‘Be a Changi Millionaire’, which is the largest prize in a retail draw in Singapore, or any airport in the world. So far, the lucky winners have hailed from Singapore, Australia, Indonesia, Japan and the UK, having made purchases ranging from just a bottle of perfume to a DSLR camera. 

6. You can earn frequent flyer miles by shopping here – how cool is that?!

Discerning shoppers these days make sure they earn even as they shop. For those suffering from perpetual wanderlust, earning points and converting them to travel-related perks such as miles is a popular practice. Credit cards and airlines are not the only ones offering frequent flyer miles. If you’re a frequent shopper at the airport, you should definitely sign up for the Changi Rewards membership. Not only will it get you exclusive savings and rewards at more than 400 participating outlets, you also get to earn points for every dollar you spend. The points can be redeemed for Changi Dollar Vouchers which can be for spent at the airport, and can even be converted into KrisFlyer miles, giving you an extra boost for your next holiday.

And here’s a bonus tip: Changi Rewards members enjoy GST savings even when they are not flying, as GST for them is absorbed at the retail shops in the public areas of the airport as well.

The Changi Rewards programme offers three membership tiers – Platinum, Gold and Member – featuring different rewards and privileges.

7. You can use technology to help you navigate your shopping route, so you don’t get carried away and miss your flight.

If you value efficiency above serendipity, check out the airport’s shop directory beforehand, and plan your shopping route to maximise your time.

For this, you can use the iChangi app for travellers – a brilliant tool for mapping out your route throughout the airport. Get all the updates on flight times, terminal maps and shopping and dining indexes at your fingertips. You can opt to receive flight alerts and never be late for a boarding call again.

If you prefer a more personalised service, approach the information counters and ask for the service of a shopping concierge, who can give you useful tips and recommendations based on your needs. Remember to check in early the next time you visit Changi, to score the best deals.

 

*A previous version of this article appeared on 21 September 2016. The article has been updated to include information on the newest offerings in Changi Airport.