So CX agent was able to through check my bags from BKK to HND via SIN. Nothing need to be done at SIN. What’s a relief!
CX agent also printed out a generic boarding pass from SIN to HND on JL which is very nice.
Upon arriving Changi airport, I took the bus ( 15 minutes waiting) from T4 to T2 and eventfully found the transit tour booth at around 5pm. Sadly the transit tours were fully booked by the time I arrived, even the last one at 6:30pm!
The stuffs asked me what passport do I have. “ Does that matter? “ , I asked. One of them said: “ Well, if you have U.S or European passports, you can pass immigrations downstairs (T2) and do the tour yourself. But you would need a transit tour if you have a Chinese or Indian passport. “
Accordingly I passed immigration at T2 and asked information desk to get some ideas where to visit into the city. They suggested “ Orchids Road”. “There are a lot of restaurants and department stores there.”
Out of surprise, the subway station at T2 wouldn’t accept credit cred at all. Having no local currency, I decided to return to airport and went straight to T1 to spend my times at lounges.
AT T1, I was able at use SATS early check in counter to get a JL branded boarding pass with assigned gate. The agent also confirmed my bags would be through checked to HND. There is also a separate priority line to passport control from STAS early check in counter.
I ended up spending my time at BA, QF and SATS Premier Lounge. BA and QF lounges are much nicer than SATS but they closed early for my red-eyed JL flight. So I had to spend the last three hours at SATS.
The food and drink selections at SATS were not great. My biggest complaint is the strong Laksa smell is everywhere in the lounge, even all the way back where the shower is located.