Why Changi’s Carpets Silence Rolling Suitcases

On 9 October, a traveler using the handle Neflorious posted that the carpeted floors at Singapore’s Changi Airport made moving through the terminal unnecessarily difficult. Her comment quickly attracted attention on social media.

The criticism was answered on 12 October by Singaporean satirist and podcaster KinMun Theodore Lee, known as Mrbrown. He explained that the carpets are deliberately installed to reduce the noise generated by thousands of rolling suitcases, and he reminded passengers that free trolleys are available for those who struggle with their luggage.

Several netizens agreed, posting that they prefer a quiet airport without the sound of luggage wheels scraping the carpet. Others, however, expressed puzzlement at the tourist’s aversion, highlighting the mixed reactions the flooring provokes.

The carpeted walkways have ignited online debates before. In September of the previous year, a visitor shared a photo on Xiaohongshu, prompting comments that praised the carpets’ appearance and comfort while others questioned their cleanliness after seeing travelers lying on them.

Despite the controversy, Changi Airport was voted the world’s best overall in the 2026 Skytrax World Airport Awards, a title it has held for many years. Yet in this year’s Readers’ Choice Awards by Condé Nast Traveller, it lost the crown to Istanbul, showing that even top‑ranked airports can face criticism over design details.

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