Hi there, we're doing some preliminary planning for my folks (NOT FFers) and have a couple questions about transiting SIN in February. As it stands right now (tickets on hold), they arrive into SIN at 12:30a from JL (flying AA codeshare). Their final destination is SGN, from which they'll fly out of (so, open-jaw). They have no real interest in visiting Singapore (Sorry! They just want to get to SGN asap), and they're worried about how much of an inconvenience it is to fly into SIN (direct LAX-SGN-LAX was $2200+). Here are the questions...

1) We found a cheap TR fare for SIN-SGN for ~$60US, but it's at 12:00p the next day. Are the transit hotels suitable for this situation (going from JL to TR overnight)?

2) On other airlines, we're finding super expensive fares SIN-SGN (e.g., SQ for $383US). Does anyone know how much that really should be if they bought in SIN? Any recommended travel agents? (I ask because in some countries buying it in-country is much cheaper than from overseas).

3) Any other advice?

Muchos gracias.

My two cents-- book your folks a room in the Ritz SIN or one of the many other great and reasonably priced hotels, book them a comfortable mercedes cab for the 20 minute ride and then put them on the 12 noon flight the next day. It will allow them to adjust to the time zone, get a decent night of sleep, a nice breakfast and then be on their way to SGN. I can't help but offer my 2 cents on SGN too, the Park Hyatt is a stellar hotel and worth the bit extra it costs.

As for booking from SIN on the SIN-SGN sector, try zuji (http://www.zuji.com.sg) to see those prices. A local travel agent probably can't do much better. I think you will find a cheap roundtrip coach fare will price out better than the fare class they will sell you for a one way. I can often find a cheap r/t in the range of $300 SIN. That's just over $200US. You can also try SQ's website (look for 2togo fares). The fare you quote is great, I'd stick with that.

As for booking from SIN on the SIN-SGN sector, try zuji (http://www.zuji.com.sg) to see those prices.

A good source to compare prices but a real pain to deal with them. They dont reply to emails and you cant get through to speak to an agent at their call centre (wasted enough long distance telephone calls being put onhold forever everytime I called). In the end I decided not to complete my booking with them.

Return fares are usually quite good on SQ website. However many asian non-budget airlines would quote you the full Y fare when booking one way.

For a 12hr layover I would not do the airside transit hotel. Its very basic, always fully booked and they charge in 6hr blocks (or 6hr block plus additional hourly charge). The Conrad is just 15-20min down the expressway and you can usually get a room for around SGD200-250.

They dont reply to emails

In my experience they do reply to e-mails, albeit not that fast, usually in 2-3 days.

Mrs. unagi1 and I just flew TR SIN-SGN-SIN in November. They fly out of the Budget Terminal in SIN. TR was buy-drinks-snacks-on board, open seating, etc. but the plane was clean, the flight fine and on time, good check-in staff and aircrew.