I went on a trip awhile ago and bought absolutely nothing at the duty-free shops in the airport. Not that it mattered. Duty-free shopping saves me money but it comes at a price.

Think snaking queues, tight schedules, and shops sprawled across four terminals. Nope. I was not going to bother with all that just before a flight or after a tiring trip.

So while people flocked to the duty-free shops upon landing, I just strutted out to the arrival hall smirking. Hah, what a waste of time. Bye.

But actually the joke was on me. Behold online duty-free shopping. And I only recently discovered it.

Changi Airport’s online retail service, iShopChangi, offers the same range of products at the same duty-free prices as those at the airport. And more.

Now I know. But I’m not travelling, so I can’t buy anything.

At least I found out how to maximise duty-free shopping the next time I travel.

Shop from home or on the go

There are over 14,000 products across 600 brands on iShopChangi, covering items like liquor, beauty, electronics and fashion. That means a lot of walking and searching if you physically shop at the terminals.

Not cool when you have to lug your luggages and hunt for good deals or the bottle of Baileys your friend bugged you to buy.

Unless wanderlust includes airport adventures for you, just use iShopChangi. It is a 24/7 one-stop shop for products offered across all four terminals.

It’s essentially Changi Airport’s online retail catalogue. You can shop while lounging at home or on the go 30 days in advance, up to 18 hours before your flight departure.

Very, very easy.

Collection and delivery

After checking out, you collect your loot on your flight day at the iShopChangi collection centre located within your departure terminal at the airport.

This makes buying travel essentials like prepaid SIM cards, neck pillows, and adaptors for your trip super convenient since it’s a simple pick-up from the airport before you fly. You won’t have to pack them and you get them at duty-free prices.

For beauty and liquor products, collection can also be done after you arrive back in Singapore -- which means you don’t have to carry (and potentially damage) the items with you abroad.

And when you spend over $380 on selected beauty and electronics products, you get free delivery in Singapore.

Now, to all the deals and perks

iShopChangi often runs online-exclusive promotions. In fact, it is currently celebrating its 5th anniversary with site-wide promotions of up to 50% off.

From now till August 5 2018, enjoy 8% off a min. spend of $250, capped at S$30; 1 for 1 bundles; and 50% off weekly special items.

Also, till December 31 2018, you can use the promo code CHEERS10 at the checkout to get 10% off your wine, spirit, and beer purchases.

Besides these, iShopChangi also shares the same perks as shopping at the airport such as earning Changi Rewards Loyalty Points and the 30 days refund/exchange policy.

So instead of starting a shopping list for the airport, just add iShopChangi to your pre-travel checklist and start shopping online, 30 days before your flight.

I saw many other exclusive promotions on iShopChangi while writing this, but can see cannot buy.

If you are travelling, good for you. Happy shopping. Hopefully your friends don’t turn you into their personal duty-free shopping assistant.

This sponsored post by Changi Airport Group allowed the writer to window shop. He has since started thinking about an iShopChangi wishlist for his next trip.