Could you live for a week in an airport? TikTok comedian Maddy MacRae tests it at Singapore's Changi

What would it be like to live in an airport for a week? Well, it depends on the airport. But if you had to choose, spending a week-long layover at Singapore’s award-winning Changi Airport is probably not the worst option. 

 

After all, Changi has been named the World’s Best Airport for 2025 by the Skytrax World Airport Awards, a record 13th time receiving this top honour.

 

Now, in a first-of-its-kind influencer-led campaign, Changi Airport has teamed up with creative comms group Connecting Plots and Aussie TikTok comedian Maddy MacRae to showcase the airport’s vast offerings.

 

In a social-first stunt called ‘The Week-Long Layover,’ MacRae will live at Changi for five days straight, broadcasting her experience live to her 1.9 million TikTok followers and 1 million Instagram followers. The activation began Monday, July 28, with daily live streams on TikTok.

 

Inspired by the popular film The Terminal, the campaign aims to highlight Changi not just as a travel hub but as a destination in itself.

 

Over the course of the week, MacRae will explore everything from Jewel Changi’s iconic Rain Vortex and Canopy Park to the Butterfly Garden and even the Aerotel rooftop swimming pool. And to top it off, one lucky follower will be flown in to join her on the ground for 24 hours, immersing themselves in this airport-turned-playground experience.

 

“Can one woman do everything in Changi without going crazy?” MacRae asks excitedly in the campaign teaser. It will be interesting to see if she maintains that enthusiasm by day five.

 

Campaign’s take: Changi’s reputation as the best airport for a layover is well-known, but this stunt puts that promise to the test. Will Maddy MacRae’s initial excitement hold up over five days? While Changi clearly ranks as a world-class airport with countless amenities, including gardens, pools, top dining, shopping, and entertainment, does it truly warrant a five-day visit? And does the airport really want to encourage extended layovers on this scale?

 

We’re fans of bold stunts, and this is a novel and perfectly timed idea for the influencer age. However, week-long layovers don’t seem likely to become a widespread trend anytime soon, even at an airport like Changi, great though it may be.

 

The week-long residency runs from 28 July to 1 August, with daily livestreams and video updates rolling out on MacRae’s TikTok (@maddy_macrae_) and Instagram (@maddy_macrae_)