Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) to Singapore.
#122
formerly JackDann
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Northern Ireland
Posts: 1,645
#123
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,573
They operated the odd flight but I think they're a little premium heavy for this route on a regular basis & they need 3 frames to operate SIN daily consistently & they've only got 5 available which seem to go to JFK, Barbados, Male & LAX which makes sense to me. I have to wonder if we'll either see a delay to the refurb of the rest, a slightly less J heavy config on some birds or a 4 class A350 with less J seats. A lot depends on the long term future of Sydney as well and also how many A380 they retain
#125
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: BRS
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 4,982
#126
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: SIN
Programs: BA, CX, SQ, Accor, IHG
Posts: 95
Well, travel to and from the UK hasn't stopped during this pandemic. I have flown back and forth several times, but I assume you mean since the start of the VTL between the UK and Singapore?
Last time for me was in August, with around 25 people aboard, and me with the first cabin to myself! Never to be repeated I'm sure.
One thing I would say is that anyone coming here will be quite restricted in what they can actually do initially- entry to all malls and anywhere to eat or drink (where at the moment a maximum of 2 people only can sit together) requires a showing of proof of vaccination in the Singapore Trace Together app. You can have your NHS vaccination status added to this, though it requires a visit to a GP for a test, a few days of processing and then the system shows you as vaccinated.
That, plus absence of any music in any setting outside a low key managed event, no sale of alcohol beyond 10.30pm and a requirement to wear a mask at all times unless exercising, would I think, put off most visitors coming here unless it was to see family or for some work purpose,
What the VTL does offer is the ability to visit the UK for those who live here without being locked up in a quarantine hotel for 14 (now 10) days on return.
Last time for me was in August, with around 25 people aboard, and me with the first cabin to myself! Never to be repeated I'm sure.
One thing I would say is that anyone coming here will be quite restricted in what they can actually do initially- entry to all malls and anywhere to eat or drink (where at the moment a maximum of 2 people only can sit together) requires a showing of proof of vaccination in the Singapore Trace Together app. You can have your NHS vaccination status added to this, though it requires a visit to a GP for a test, a few days of processing and then the system shows you as vaccinated.
That, plus absence of any music in any setting outside a low key managed event, no sale of alcohol beyond 10.30pm and a requirement to wear a mask at all times unless exercising, would I think, put off most visitors coming here unless it was to see family or for some work purpose,
What the VTL does offer is the ability to visit the UK for those who live here without being locked up in a quarantine hotel for 14 (now 10) days on return.
#127
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 2,275
One thing I would say is that anyone coming here will be quite restricted in what they can actually do initially- entry to all malls and anywhere to eat or drink (where at the moment a maximum of 2 people only can sit together) requires a showing of proof of vaccination in the Singapore Trace Together app. You can have your NHS vaccination status added to this, though it requires a visit to a GP for a test, a few days of processing and then the system shows you as vaccinated..
the tracetogether app will automatic show vaccinated for 30 days for anyone who is fully vaccinated when arrived .
#128
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: SIN
Programs: BA, CX, SQ, Accor, IHG
Posts: 95
I missed that change- it certainly wasn't the case a couple of months ago. Very good!
#129
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 1
Would you have any idea how to activate the tracetogether app for 30 days if arriving by VTL?
#130
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,573
#131
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 578
Heads up for anyone in our situation. We booked BA holiday to SIN in January staying first night at Chiangi Crowne Plaza Hotel for our first night before hopefully heading to KL Malaysia which now looks very unlikely as unfortunately BA no longer flies directly to KL.
I contacted Crowne Plaza and they confirmed we will not be able to overnight there as VTL passengers and they would contact BA. We’re changing our plans now to stay in Singapore for our holidays, postponing Malaysia visit until later. Will probably have to call BA tomorrow to change our hotel to a hotel that accepts VTL pax.
I contacted Crowne Plaza and they confirmed we will not be able to overnight there as VTL passengers and they would contact BA. We’re changing our plans now to stay in Singapore for our holidays, postponing Malaysia visit until later. Will probably have to call BA tomorrow to change our hotel to a hotel that accepts VTL pax.
#132
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Programs: BA Gold (Emerald); Hilton Gold; IHG Platinum; Marriott Gold; Radisson Gold
Posts: 388
There's another scenario which appears to be unclear for BA passengers booked on VTL flights.
I have a BA 125-stock ticket LHR-(BA)-SIN-(QF)-BNE (as a permanent resident I am permitted to travel to Australia) for late December. The QF flight was sold as QF52, not the BA codeshare.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) has decided that only passengers on "authorised transfer routes" may transit through Changi airport. It is up to individual airlines to apply for these approvals. https://www.changiairport.com/en/air...e/transit.html
https://safetravel.ica.gov.sg/transit/overview.
Singapore Airlines has published comprehensive details of the routes it has received authorisation for (includes from LHR and MAN to all Australian cities it serves). For all other airlines, the advice is to "confirm arrangements with the airline". The only other Singapore-published information I could find is a list of "airlines currently operat[ing] transit flights", which lists BA (and Jetstar) but not Qantas (probably because QF hasn't yet restarted services to SIN), at the bottom of this page.
I can find nothing on the BA website about authorised transfers at Changi with BA, other than on the Singapore specific page of the BA Covid Travel Hub, where it refers to passengers connecting to Jetstar flights. Connections to Qantas are not mentioned.
I called YouFirst, and after pointing me to the VTL information and me repeating that I am not entering Singapore but seeking assurance that the connection to QF52 will be permitted as an 'authorised transfer route', I was promised a call back. That's four days ago.
Has anyone found out anything on this? One would hope that BA wouldn't sell a ticket on a route that requires CAAS authorisation without actually seeking such approval - or at least, as with new routes, stating it is "subject to government approval".
I could wait to see if clarity comes with proximity to the departure date, but then if I am forced to find an alternative route all the good availability may have evaporated....
I have a BA 125-stock ticket LHR-(BA)-SIN-(QF)-BNE (as a permanent resident I am permitted to travel to Australia) for late December. The QF flight was sold as QF52, not the BA codeshare.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) has decided that only passengers on "authorised transfer routes" may transit through Changi airport. It is up to individual airlines to apply for these approvals. https://www.changiairport.com/en/air...e/transit.html
The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) has invited airlines to submit their proposals for transfer lanes through Changi Airport. The proposals will be evaluated taking into account aviation safety, public health considerations, as well as the health of passengers and aircrew.
Only passengers travelling with an airline whose transfer route via Singapore has been approved by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) will be allowed to transit/transfer at Singapore’s Changi Airport. Travellers are advised to confirm arrangements with the airlines they intend to fly with before purchasing their flight tickets.
I can find nothing on the BA website about authorised transfers at Changi with BA, other than on the Singapore specific page of the BA Covid Travel Hub, where it refers to passengers connecting to Jetstar flights. Connections to Qantas are not mentioned.
I called YouFirst, and after pointing me to the VTL information and me repeating that I am not entering Singapore but seeking assurance that the connection to QF52 will be permitted as an 'authorised transfer route', I was promised a call back. That's four days ago.
Has anyone found out anything on this? One would hope that BA wouldn't sell a ticket on a route that requires CAAS authorisation without actually seeking such approval - or at least, as with new routes, stating it is "subject to government approval".
I could wait to see if clarity comes with proximity to the departure date, but then if I am forced to find an alternative route all the good availability may have evaporated....
#133
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,573
Heads up for anyone in our situation. We booked BA holiday to SIN in January staying first night at Chiangi Crowne Plaza Hotel for our first night before hopefully heading to KL Malaysia which now looks very unlikely as unfortunately BA no longer flies directly to KL.
I contacted Crowne Plaza and they confirmed we will not be able to overnight there as VTL passengers and they would contact BA. We’re changing our plans now to stay in Singapore for our holidays, postponing Malaysia visit until later. Will probably have to call BA tomorrow to change our hotel to a hotel that accepts VTL pax.
I contacted Crowne Plaza and they confirmed we will not be able to overnight there as VTL passengers and they would contact BA. We’re changing our plans now to stay in Singapore for our holidays, postponing Malaysia visit until later. Will probably have to call BA tomorrow to change our hotel to a hotel that accepts VTL pax.
#134
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,573
There's another scenario which appears to be unclear for BA passengers booked on VTL flights.
I have a BA 125-stock ticket LHR-(BA)-SIN-(QF)-BNE (as a permanent resident I am permitted to travel to Australia) for late December. The QF flight was sold as QF52, not the BA codeshare.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) has decided that only passengers on "authorised transfer routes" may transit through Changi airport. It is up to individual airlines to apply for these approvals. https://www.changiairport.com/en/air...e/transit.html
https://safetravel.ica.gov.sg/transit/overview.
I have a BA 125-stock ticket LHR-(BA)-SIN-(QF)-BNE (as a permanent resident I am permitted to travel to Australia) for late December. The QF flight was sold as QF52, not the BA codeshare.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) has decided that only passengers on "authorised transfer routes" may transit through Changi airport. It is up to individual airlines to apply for these approvals. https://www.changiairport.com/en/air...e/transit.html
https://safetravel.ica.gov.sg/transit/overview.
#135
Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 12
The main pain was the 48h on the PCR test prior to departure, but it could be worse (it could be 24 or 36!) as you need a afternoon appointment with next day guaranteed response (though inevitably the test taken at 2pm yesterday came back at 6am today, so plenty of time to spare as the flight isn't until 11 tomorrow)
Will see how it goes at the airport + singapore end this weekend!