Two Hours in SIN -- Can I see the city?
 

I'm flying through SIN on BA in about a month. I have about 2hrs 15 mins connection. I know this is pretty crazy, but I've never seen the city and would love to be able to see it from more than just the air.

Is 2hrs 15mins enough to clear immigaration, get out of the airport, get a cab (or some other transport), drive around for a bit, and get back in time for my next flight? I will be flying BA FIRST, so should have access to elite security lines and such (if SIN even has those)

The airport is fairly close to the city centre and transportation is excellent, but I would not recommend you to try to see Singapore in just a little more than two hours even though you may technically be able to get 30-60 minutes in the city centre.
Immigration is very quick though, probably the most efficient I have ever experienced in an Asian country.

Singapore Changi airport is an excellent airport, rated as the best in the world, so enjoy your time there instead.
There are so many shops, restaurants, a pool (if you prefer to go swimming), casino, and lots of other things to keep you well entertained for two hours.

i agree. stay at the airport. it is a fun, large, attractive, spacious, inviting place. shopping isn't what it used to be, but that's airports in general. haven't enjoyed the food greatly in recent visits, but still suggest you have a nice walk around.

I know the smarter thing to do would probably be to stay at the airport, but I'm not a smart person. :-)

Seriously, though: do you think it would be possible? How long does immigration take? How long does security take? How far is it to the city center?

I think the airport is something like 20 km from the city centre.

Immigration is very quick. You'll complete a landing card onboard the plane and as long as you have filled it in correctly immigration is a breeze, I think I was through within five minutes.
They basically swipe your passport, swipe the landing card, stamp your passport, and that's it...
As you haven't been to Singapore I can tell you it's one of the most efficient countries in the world.
Security is neither better nor worse than any other airports. Probably depends on the time of the day and the number of flights leaving.

It's up to you to decide whether to do it or not but I really do wonder what you intend to see during that ultra-quick visit to Singapore city centre.
From a taxi the only thing you will see is a lot of skyscrapers which look no different from any other skyscrapers in any other cities.
I personally really like Singapore but I think it's a city to experience more than to see, you will not get a fair impression of the city seeing it from a taxi during 30 minutes.
Especially the cultural diversity is amazing, there are as many as four official languages for this tiny little country.

Wouldn't it be possible to change the ticket and include a short stopover instead?
One day will be enough for you to see at least the most important attractions and get an idea what the city is all about.

driving to the city centre will take aboout 30mins, so you can probably drive through using the East highway and see the Marina area heading towards Orchard Shopping district to the Chinatown Area then towards Little India and take the Central Higway to see the bird houses on your way back to airport.

The security and immigration lines takes less than 10mins.

Changi Airport has an outdoor swimming pool if you dont want to stay inside the airport and do all the rush driving around.

It depends on your arrival time.. Depending on the time of day, immigration can take from 5-10 minutes and getting a cab will take another 10 minutes max. It's about a half hour to the city centre, depending on traffic conditions. You'll probably get around 45 minutes to see the city with an experienced cab driver, so you might want to try calling the cab companies before arrival. You'd be cutting it really close, but it's doable. If your flight arrives around 4 pm though, probably best not to risk it 'cause of the rush hour traffic. Oh, and remember that gates now close about 15 minutes prior to departure.

It is possible though what the value of it would be is somewhat questionable. All the nice things in SIN like the diversity, great food, shopping, etc. require you more than barely an hour. I would pass on it as missing your flight (if your tix is changable) will cost you probably as much as doing a regular stop over. Think about a stop for a day in SIN, it is definitely worth it. If that's not possible skip the city visit, stay at the airport, and add SIN to your places to visit list.

BTW, who tells you that your BA flight will actually be on time getting into SIN ;) .

Cheers ...

Flight arrives around 6pm, hopefully that is after much of rush-hour....

What about costs? What do cabs cost? Do they take credit cards, or would I have to get some Singapore dollars?

I'm afraid that's precisely the worst time. Getting into the city won't be a problem but the return trip may be congested.

Taxis to the center are around S$20. Most, but not all, taxis take credit cards (and charge a 15% surcharge for the privilege!); finding one that accepts them at the airport shouldn't be a problem though.

If you want a taste of Singapore why not go to 1 of the seafood places on the East Coast Expressway which is on the airport side of the city. The Pepper crab is a Singapore specialty. You will get a view of the skyline from there! Or stay at the airport to eat - there is a food centre near a car park .Someone should be able to tell you exactly where it is but it is landside and like all food centres in Singapore is very good. Alt. go to Changi village which will mean you won't be at the mercy of rush hour traffic as it close to airport.
PS. Let us know what you eventually decide to do and how you get on.

Sin
 

Later this monthh, I will be in at 10:10pm on SQ 801 from PEK to SIN and onwards next day on SQ 22 to EWR at 11:25. Any reccomendation on what do do? Stay at the airport hotel or go downtown? Any deals on hotels in SIN? Do I have access to SQ F lounge or do I go for BA F. I am LH-SEN and SK-EBG in addition to BA-Gold.

SQ F lounge in SG is like a very tiny room and not nice. The airport hotel is inside the transit lounge and you should book in advance but you should consider staying in the city for a much nicer hotel. I was there this week and there was construction noise at night.

You should stay near the hotel. New Meridian is good. By the time you will check in to a hotel it would be at least 11.45 PM.

What you can do is get up early in the morning 6 AM, check out go to the airport and check-in your baggage, 6.45 AM take a taxi and go to little India and have a traditional South Indian BF at Komalavilas Hotel in Sarangoon road. Walk around. 7.30-8.30

8.30 Take a cab from Sarangoon road and ask him to take you to Orchard Road on the way to the airport. This way you will see both the old and new Singapore in and catch up flight to EWR. Arrive in at airport at 9.30AM.

You can check at travel counter at the airport and some times they have good deals.
Enjoy your stay.

Come on, lay off him! ;) The guy's my hero.

Being perennially short on time, I have myself done a bunch of crazy short visits (e.g., seeing Osaka - my first Japanese city - in half a day; flying in early in the morning and departing on 1350 flight).

I once contemplated doing a hop from Washington DC to see Los Angeles for about five hours and flying back, but then I didn't because I needed to fly to meet someone in Chicago that day.

The world is full of hotels where I barely touched my pillow because there was so much to see in less than two days...

Your idea of SIN in two hours is superb. I would go for it in a heartbeat. Get a good taxi driver and tell him what you want to do.