That’s about the size of it.
If Singapore than Authoritarian.
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Airports are the safest places in the world (once past security). You won’t get begged for change, harassed by thugs or otherwise be subject to the threats that one would normally find on the streets and sidewalks of a major city. There’s no traffic, congested commutes, rain, wind.
No one with a gun or knife will approach you. And if the airport wants to build a friggen rain forest, spectacular lush gardens or whatever… go for it.
If you can escape the crowding and density of the city and find some tranquil spots at the airport then enjoy. And if you need to buy a ticket to get in, well… maybe that price is worth it.
We had a very serviceable tropical house here in the city in our largest park, been around since the 50’s, lots of people remember the now-giant palms as just wee twigs in the early days… it was never crowded… just a nice space to visit (for free) in the winter for a change and and bit of a mood boost.
Today, bunch of haughty social elites took over the park from city and are now running it with enhanced funding opportunities (ie: charging for what used to be free). The tropical house was razed years ago , the NEW building… of course an architectural masterpiece (of shit) still not finished, more begging to various levels of government… but when done… yes, admission will be charged… whole park moving to a pay-to-play model… disgusting.
Not by choice, happened to be at one of our casinos. Massive renovation, new parkade, money after money poured into project. The speed and scale of the effort was something else , considering the tiny park down my street has only one broken bench that hasn’t been repaired for years.
So if a person is feeling small and disillusioned by their place in the world, and they seek out a space that recharges them, takes them out of their everyday crush… well, do what you gotta do to enjoy those moments… play the system, pony up some ‘wealth’ to partake.
And if an airport spends public monies with no questioning on these massive attractions… exploit the loopholes for your personal enjoyment.
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I saw some youtubers who camped out at that airport for three days. They had a ticket to go home, but it was was three days from then. I can’t remember if they got a “throw away” ticket to get in to the air port early, I think they did. They managed to duck security and when they were questioned their fly was less than 24 hours away, so they didn’t do anything about it.
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Are you talking specifically about the UK? Because I used to routinely go through security to the gate to drop off and pick up domestic passengers in the US in the 1980s and 1990s. Particularly for departures where passengers sit around waiting to board for a long time, why WOULDN’T you want to spend that extra time with a loved one whom you might not see for a while?
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I’m pretty sure that Singapore frowns on such things.
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Sorry; thought I’d said that. My mistake!
It’s not a matter of what I want or don’t want. 
I’m saying that it’s never been an option in the UK (or the rest of Europe, so far as I’m aware).
But as has been mentioned, domestic flights aren’t massively common in the UK.
If it helps: the departure procedure at a UK (international) airport is:
- Arrive at the airport.
- At least 2 hours before the flight, visit a check-in desk to drop off hold baggage and/or collect boarding passes, if necessary. In my case, I tend to skip that: online check-in and no hold baggage!
- Enter Security.
- Scan boarding pass to enter - passengers only from this point.
- Queue (and queue…) for security check
- Liquids, computers, etc. out of hand luggage. Empty pockets. Remove belt and maybe shoes.
- Step through metal detector or Rapiscan whilst hand luggage is x-rayed.
- Wait then collect baggage, or have it manually searched and re-x-rayed.
- Walk through duty-free.
- Kill time.
- Go to gate when it’s announced.
- Show boarding pass and passport.
- Board.
The point I’m trying to make is that Security is one of the first stages - there’s no further search at individual gates, so the whole of the airside Departures area is secured and solely for those travelling.
To suck out the remaining soul from modern life.
Maybe he just wanted to ride the slide with his wife:
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oh in SINGAPORE
was he flogged as well 
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If I were younger I’d say that it was never allowed in the US either. I remember it was commonplace in the US before 9/11, but that was over 18 years ago. If I were in my twenties or early thirties I never would have remembered that.
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