Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer - 7 hours in SIN airport

I have loooooong layover in the SIN airport (8 hours, starting at 4:30am). I need help from you experts as to what I can do during that layover. I'm currently not a KrisFlyer member, and I don't have enough time to become one before I have this layover next week. Anyone have any suggestions as to how I can get into the KrisFlyer lounge, or ANY lounge for that matter for my layover? I am flying SilkAir from Hyderabad, India, into SIN, but only economy was avialable. :( To make matters worse, my company would only let me fly economy on my SIN-SFO leg (ugh!!!) :rolleyes:

HELP PLEASE! I need some ideas as to how I can survive this layover!.

TIA.........Rich

You will not have access to the SK lounge because 1) you are not flying in J or F 2) You are not a PPS member. As a matter of fact you will also not have access to any other *A lounges.

Rich_C, welcome to FT from another newbie!

Anyway, as most FTers here will tell you, SIN is a pretty nice place to transit in, and with 7 hours, you can also go for the free city sightseeing tour.

Check out the following threads...

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=379285
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=446341

Welcome Rich_C

If you want some lounge access, join priority pass (PP). You'll pay for each lounge visit. I believe jjpb3 still has the list of lounge at Chnagi that Priority Pass members can use. You may wish to pm him prior to joining PP.

With 7 hrs, you could do lots of things in S'pore city and these has been addressed in the posted links above.

Alternatively, roam around the airport as there are lots to do and see. If you need to rest, then use the transit hotel.

Thanks for the input.

I'm already schedule for sightseeing on my way into SIN (an even longer layover) so on the way back I'm sure I'll want to rest. The transit hotel is already booked, unfortunately.

Is PP well respected? I haven't heard of then, so I just wanted to make sure that they're totally legit.

TIA.........Rich

(p.s. - this board rocks!)

The transit hotel may have vacancies due to cancellations. So eventhough they claim it is full, you can still give it a try.

If you are looking for cheap overnite accomo, you can give PL a try :)

The transit hotel may have vacancies due to cancellations. So eventhough they claim it is full, you can still give it a try.

If you are looking for cheap overnite accomo, you can give PL a try :)


PL? (sorry - remember... I'm a newbie!)

- RC

Priority Pass is legit. You can google it and join accordingly. I've done so in the past.

I think ws8n refers to Plaza Premium Lounge? It's US $20 for 5hrs.Linked here (http://www.viator.com/tours/Singapore/2212LOUNGE/Plaza-Premium-Lounge-Singapore-Changi-Airport)

I agree with SQ319. SIN is among the most pleasant to spend long transit at.
Even if you don't have access to a lounge, you have a wide variety of F&B outlets to choose from, a plethora of shops, rooftop pool, etc. IIRC they have a cinema on the upper level (can someone confirm this?).

I agree with SQ319. SIN is among the most pleasant to spend long transit at.
Even if you don't have access to a lounge, you have a wide variety of F&B outlets to choose from, a plethora of shops, rooftop pool, etc. IIRC they have a cinema on the upper level (can someone confirm this?).
And also a fitness facility! ^ Sometimes airport like Changi feels like a lounge itself in it's entirety.

IIRC they have a cinema on the upper level (can someone confirm this?).

Yes and its free - up escalator nearest where the F piers start.

And conveniently for the OP, the fitness facility adjoins the Plaza Premium Lounge, while the cinema is steps away from it. :)

Do I need a Visa if I want to leave the Singapore airport during one of my layovers?

If you are on a US passport, no visa is needed to enter Singapore, but you do need to fill out one of their immigration cards. Immigration doesn't take long and it is only a short cab ride into the city. I believe there is a free transit tour of the city available but have never taken it.

For a layover of that length, such as I had on Friday, I nearly always leave the airport. On Friday, my seat companion had never been to Singapore, so I took her to my favourite little eating place near Arab Street, for lunch (kway teow). Then a stroll around that area, and the rapidly filling mosque. Over to the Beach Hut on the east coast for a couple of beers, then back to the airport.

Sometimes, I change into shorts and singlet in the lounge, go through immigration carrying naught but a ziplock bag contining my passport, a few bucks and my onward boarding pass, and go for a good long run along the east coast. Return through immigration, have a shower in the lounge, and thus refreshed, take the next sector.

There are about 5 XBox terminals and quite a few Internet terminals with webcam and microphone for audio/video chat via MSN Messenger and Yahoo Messenger next to the 24 hour minimart in Terminal 2.

PL? (sorry - remember... I'm a newbie!)

- RC
I imagine that he was referring to Priceline (http://www.priceline.com) .

Is PP well respected? I haven't heard of then, so I just wanted to make sure that they're totally legit.


Priority Pass is very legit and I have frequently used it in the days when I travelled in Y as they give access to lounges around the world. Having said that, I have recently found it useful when flying on SQ F. SQ lounge in KUL is really lousy - in terms of food, size and no internet access. I walked in looked around and then walked out and then went next door to the Premium Plaza lounge on my PP card where the lounge was triple the size with better food options and loads of free internet terminals to while away the time.

If you are on SQ2 to SFO that stops in HKG, the Premium Plaza lounge is right beside SQ F lounge again. SQ F is normally full when SQ2 arrives so it can be rather crowed for its size. Premium Plaza is larger and caters to more people. Mind you it stop over in HKG is short so lounge access is not really that important.

Recently I spent 10 hours in SIN. I arrived on the morning EWR-SIN flight. I did not have a booking for the Transit Hotel. But the check in clerk told me that I could be accomodated if I waited for 2-3 hours. Instead I chose to use the showers and the exercise facility. It has a small "pool", sauna a few treadmills. I think it was about US$11. I I took the subway in to town. They have a Singapore hopper tourist bus ( US$3 if you flew in by SQ). The bus makes a loop of the popular tourist stops. It was a very pleasant day in Singapore. Time really flew.

Mind you it stop over in HKG is short so lounge access is not really that important.
For the brief 1hr 10 min stopover in HKG, I wouldn't even bother making a dash to the SKL there. The facility is rather cramped and food selections rather poor. The only aspect of the lounge I can find are the shower facilities. But then again with only 70 minutes to spare, you would have to be in a mad rush to go from gate, into the lounge, shower as quickly as you can, redress, and rush back to the gate. Not worth it IMO for a brief layover.

Thanks for all of your valuable input.

On the way through SIN I ventured into the city via train and did some sightseeing. The logistics were easier than anticipated.

On my way back through SIN I stayed at the Premium Plaza (thanks to this board!) and had a little nap, shower, and some food.

Overall, it was a pleasant trip.

Thanks again,

Rich

For the brief 1hr 10 min stopover in HKG, I wouldn't even bother making a dash to the SKL there. The facility is rather cramped and food selections rather poor. The only aspect of the lounge I can find are the shower facilities. But then again with only 70 minutes to spare, you would have to be in a mad rush to go from gate, into the lounge, shower as quickly as you can, redress, and rush back to the gate. Not worth it IMO for a brief layover.

I always try and take a shower, no matter how short the stay is because my skin dries up during flight. Feel much refreshed afterwards :)

But Rejuvenated is right, SKL in HKG is very ordinary :(

If you have a few hours after your tour, I suggest going to the rooftop pool. Its very cheap and very refreshing before you go on on a long-haul flight.

I wanted to try out the pool but it was raining in SIN, so I thought better of it. Anyone tried it and care to share their experience?

The swimming pool is currently undergoing renovation and will be back in operation by (hopefully) end September...

J777

Seems like alot of Changi's peripheral facilities are undergoing renovation. I remember the transit hotels are being renovated at present too.

1.yes there are free sightsee tours (even incl a soft drink, for free too) route seems to depend on season and wheather [clearly, in Xmas time you cannot escape the Orchard lightings), but I think theyre only in the AFternoon, thus beyond your time.
There is also plenty of (stand up) FREEinternet at many places.
As above tells, its nearly a lounge in itself, and even airside prices are quite reasonable, though not cheap. Note however the difference between the SQ side at T2 and the ''others'' at T1.
There is also a very effective (this is SIN0 METRO=Subway into town, this asks for coins and there is a refundable 1 SI$ deposit on the tokens. Runs so precise on time that you can make the most of your time.