So after scouring the web for days and countless hours for an answer about transferring to another airline at Singapore (SIN) with checked baggage, I couldn’t find a set answer, just lots of contraindicating answers.



So now that I’ve done it and have the answer first hand, I figured I’d share it for anyone that has this problem or question.



The Situation

So you’ve booked a ticket to SIN with a checked bag and are transferring to another airline to your final destination. Let’s say Bali (DPS) with KLM but you flew in on Delta or any airline that didn’t check your bag to your final destination.



Do I have to clear customs and recheck my bag?

Yes you do have to leave the transit area to collect your baggage and recheck it.



Contrary to many reports on here that you can go to the transfer desk and they can pull and recheck your bag is not true with my experience this past week. (Noted my layover was almost 8 hours long maybe you can on a tighter connection you can always check yourself.)



The Process



Download the Changi Airport App to fill out your visa on arrival paper work to make clearing customs with the automated readers a breeze. It took all of 1 minute to scan our passports out and walk to baggage claim to collect the checked bag. There was no line and about 20 gates/readers, multiple people filling out paper work because they failed to do it online.



Download the app!





Here’s a pro trip for checking that bag early and not having to wait for the main check in to open.



Head over to Jewel (where the waterfall is) and look for Early Check In, there you will find a small area that has about 4 or 5 check in desks with monitors showing which desk is accepting bags for the said airlines.



Our desk (KLM) opened at 12:00 noon and we dropped that bag in about 5 minutes after arrival.



You did it!



You are now free from your bag and can enjoy the waterfall and everything else Jewel has to offer before making your way back into the transit area past customs.



In my experience, getting back into the secure transit area was also a breeze. Just show the agents at the front your boarding pass W/ passport and proceed to the automated gates again just like you did leaving.





This overall wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be considering I thought I’d be stuck outside of the lounges and transit area waiting on the checked bag lines to open 3 hours before departure.





Staff is very friendly just ask anyone wearing red to point you in the direction of early check in at Jewel.



All in all, I hope this helps anyone looking for the answers that I was looking for before my trip. If you have any questions, feel free to ask I might be able to help.



Enjoy your trip and don’t stress it was way easier and overall a good experience at the world’s best airport.