My kiasu mum made us reach Changi Airport 3 hours early. Turns out, she was onto something

Ever since immigration at Changi Airport has become so seamless and fast, I’ve stopped feeling the need to get to the airport early.

In fact, if I’m at the airport one and a half hours before my flight, I still find that too early.

However, my ever kiasu mother still insisted on going three hours earlier for our recent trip to check in and explore (aka ensuring the gate exists).

But as I am such a good daughter, I begrudgingly agreed.

I grumbled to my mother, wondering what shopping we could do at Changi Airport before our flight that would warrant the full three hours.

Turns out, there was a lot to see.

Gift of food

If there is one thing my mom taught me whenever we go overseas to visit friends and family, it’s to never show up empty-handed.

So we decided to use the time we had to look for a good souvenir for our friends and family.

Personally, I believe the best souvenir is food because you can take a little trip in a single bite, with flavours that best capture the local scene.

We decided to hit up Old Seng Choong to check out some local snacks on sale.

Baking since 1965, Old Seng Choong specialises in cookies, cakes and confectionery that reflect Singapore’s culture and history.

Their goodies are packed with local flavours that capture the heart of Singaporean food.

And their Changi outlets do that really well.

Old Seng Choong’s Terminal 2 transit store carries three flavours that cannot be found in the city - Kaya Peanut, Pulut Hitam and Ondeh Ondeh.

As someone who loves a unique twist on a sweet treat, I tried the Pulut Hitam flavour, which had just the right amount of sweetness and tasted just like the dessert, reminding me of the days of eating it with my parents.

It makes for a fun and distinctly Singaporean gift to share with friends and family overseas; a little taste of home, with some heat from our sunny island.

As we had something savoury on hand, my mom thought it would be best to pair the gift with something decadent and sweet.

So she brought me to Mr Bucket Chocolaterie.

Mr Bucket Chocolaterie infuses its rich, chocolatey treats with local flavours that make them uniquely Singaporean.

One of its most popular items is the Kaya Toast Chocolate bar, with creamy kaya running through the centre of dark-milk chocolate, topped with brown butter breadcrumbs and Maldon sea salt.

Those passing through the transit area can get their hands on some Changi Airport exclusives.

The Pandan Macadamia Dragees feature caramelised macadamias coated in pandan white and milk chocolate, while the Ondeh Ondeh chocolate bar captures the classic kueh with pandan and gula melaka notes encased in chocolate.

A fun gift for the chocolate lovers in your life.

Or… just a nice snack for us on the plane.

Shopping

Since we were ridiculously early for our flight, my mother insisted we continue to  jalan jalan and explore what the airport had to offer.

And if there is one thing that my mother absolutely loves, it is shoes.

And so she browsed the many types of shoes and handbags Pazzion had to offer, pointed out items she liked, and blatantly hinted that I should buy her something for her upcoming birthday or Christmas.

She heavily implied that she needed a new pair of shoes that were comfortable, durable and provided the support she required to walk those 10,000 steps on our trip.

Bonus points: They are made of genuine leather and designed in Singapore.

From now to Nov. 1 2026, customers can enjoy S$8 off with a minimum spend of S$50 through their Walk the Walk campaign by joining as a member, trying on a pair of shoes and sharing it on social media.

A surprise

Little did my mom know, I was already planning to get her a gift.

Having recently moved out of the family home, I wanted to make this trip with my mother a little more special by surprising her with something she would appreciate.

Stumped for ideas, I scrolled through iShopChangi, hoping to find the perfect gift.

The online store made it easy to browse a wide variety of items and find something that felt just right for her.

Even better, I could pick up my purchase at a collection counter at the airport, so she could start using her gift as soon as our trip began.

I eventually settled on a few items from local Singapore brand Scent Journer: a perfume and a box of perfume sachets.

The best part of Scent Journer was that it takes Singapore’s humid weather into account and calibrates its perfumes around it, making them comfortable to wear and long-lasting.

If you want to skip queuing at transit stores, you can also click and collect your items, making the iShopChangi experience smooth and seamless.

And for the surprise for my mom, I would say it went rather well.

Feed me

When we were finally done with our shopping, my mom and I were feeling pretty hungry.

And I knew exactly what I wanted to eat before leaving Singapore.

I cannot go too long without getting my local food fix; this time, I dragged my mother to Chatterbox Express.

My heart was set on Chatterbox’s iconic chicken rice, but my mother suggested a few more items so we could have our fill of local dishes.

In the end, we added a laksa, chicken satay, har cheong gai chicken wings, some kueh kueh, a kopi, and a coconut shake.

The chicken rice was flavourful and succulent; the satay and har cheong gai were a delicious addition, and the laksa was absolutely sumptuous.

I never knew there were so many hidden local gems in Changi Airport’s transit area, and I probably wouldn’t have discovered everything it had to offer if my kiasu mother hadn’t insisted that we get to the airport early.

In the end, it turned out to be the perfect way for my mother and I to kick off our trip; taking things slow, exploring the airport, and, of course, doing what we both love most: shopping.

So if you are passing through Changi Airport or heading out of the country anytime soon, you should definitely consider coming earlier to just see what is in store for you.

Take a stroll around the stores and explore all the local brands on offer.

You may never know; you could find a piece of Singapore to take with you on your travels and share with the world.

This article by Changi Airport Group made the writer’s mother insist on another trip with her daughter.

All photos via Hannah Martens/Mothership, Kusala Gn/Mothership