Originally Posted by
NetJets Germany
It shouldn’t make a difference whether you ask at the transfer desk or at the check-in desks. If anything, the staff at the TRANSFER (check-in) desks might be even more amenable and better prepared to process such requests swiftly.
As others have said already, SQ seem to be quite open to allowing you to change to an earlier flight if it suits them. I have frequently been able to do so ex MNL, but have never tried it the other way around.
I’d suggest that you don’t worry about it too much in advance, ask politely to be allowed to travel on the earlier flight on the date of travel, and if it doesn’t work out, there are hardly any better airports in the world to hang out at for several hours.
This is good advice, and as others have posted, its entirely a case of YMMV. Since your tickets are already booked there is nothing much you can do except get on the plane and see how things develop when you land at Changi, but don't make any plans which are premised on you making the earlier flight - all the best intentions of you and the transfer staff would be for naught if the flight is full.