SIN-HKT flights
Feb 14, 2007 | 2:54 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: PHX
Programs: Alaska Mileage Plan, Bonvoy, World of Hyatt
Posts: 145
SIN-HKT flights
My girlfriend and I are flying into Singapore, staying for a night, and then will be headed to Phuket for a week. I'm trying to find flights from SIN to HTK, but have only come up with four. I've found that Silk Air, Malaysia Air and a couple budget airlines (Tiger and Jetstar) can accomplish this.
Malaysia connects through KUL, and Silk wants $400USD. Jetstar and Tiger cost about $150USD each. It seems like a no-brainer. Are Jetstar and Tiger reliable? It's a short flight, so I really don't care much about getting a meal or drink service.
Thanks in advance for the information.
Malaysia connects through KUL, and Silk wants $400USD. Jetstar and Tiger cost about $150USD each. It seems like a no-brainer. Are Jetstar and Tiger reliable? It's a short flight, so I really don't care much about getting a meal or drink service.
Thanks in advance for the information.
Feb 14, 2007 | 3:57 pm
#2
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Santa Monica
Programs: UA Gold, MR Plat (life gold), SPG Gold
Posts: 899
Flown the route on both Tiger and JetStar... both are as reliable as other airlines (is that reliable 
).
The planes are safe/good and service is also decent. Just be aware of baggage weight restrictions/charges and you won't have any suprises.
The LCC's fly out of a budget terminal, so if you are connecting through.... make sure you stay in the main terminals for your overnight nap, as the budget terminal is pretty sparse.
).The planes are safe/good and service is also decent. Just be aware of baggage weight restrictions/charges and you won't have any suprises.
The LCC's fly out of a budget terminal, so if you are connecting through.... make sure you stay in the main terminals for your overnight nap, as the budget terminal is pretty sparse.
Feb 14, 2007 | 8:11 pm
#3
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Texas
Posts: 2,554
Where are you flying in from and what airline if you do not object to sharing?
If on UA from the US via any of their gateways I know of you will end up at terminal 1 and arrival will be very late (about midnight). How early are you planning on leaving the next day? Remember there is an airport hotel at Changi (SIN) but you must get reservations far in advance and it is not a budget location.
With more infor, I suspect others can assist you in defining your stopover if you ask.
Have a great trip...by the way, I am going to take a 2 day run to Phuket during my next 1 week visit to SIN (in April) so your posting is of value to me.
If on UA from the US via any of their gateways I know of you will end up at terminal 1 and arrival will be very late (about midnight). How early are you planning on leaving the next day? Remember there is an airport hotel at Changi (SIN) but you must get reservations far in advance and it is not a budget location.
With more infor, I suspect others can assist you in defining your stopover if you ask.
Have a great trip...by the way, I am going to take a 2 day run to Phuket during my next 1 week visit to SIN (in April) so your posting is of value to me.
Feb 14, 2007 | 8:21 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: PHX
Programs: Alaska Mileage Plan, Bonvoy, World of Hyatt
Posts: 145
We're flying NW from PDX, with a plance change at NRT. Yes, we get in late, 12:30 a.m. local time. I'm really looking forward to paying a full hotel rate when I check in at 2 a.m. 
I want to leave that afternoon for Phuket, the girlfriend wants to stay an extra night in Singapore. I'm sure we'll end up staying an extra night.
We're going in December, so I have plenty of time to plan. What should I exoect at the Singapore airport, regarding customs, lines, etc.?
I want to leave that afternoon for Phuket, the girlfriend wants to stay an extra night in Singapore. I'm sure we'll end up staying an extra night.
We're going in December, so I have plenty of time to plan. What should I exoect at the Singapore airport, regarding customs, lines, etc.?
Feb 14, 2007 | 8:49 pm
#5
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Laguna Beach CA
Programs: AA EXP/4MM UA 1MM, HY Global, Bon Lft Plat, HH Dia
Posts: 724
Expect a few flights arriving around the same time as your arrival, since most flights leave Tokyo at the same time. That being said Singapore Immigration is usually quick and professional.
A nice, sweet touch is a bowl of hard candies on the Immigration Officer's counter meant for the visitor. Bags arrive quickly and the city is a fast taxi or shuttle ride from the airport. Singapore's rapid transit system closes before the late bank of arrivals.
Overall, Singapore arrivals are pretty quick, civilized and effortless which is a blessing after a transpac.
A nice, sweet touch is a bowl of hard candies on the Immigration Officer's counter meant for the visitor. Bags arrive quickly and the city is a fast taxi or shuttle ride from the airport. Singapore's rapid transit system closes before the late bank of arrivals.
Overall, Singapore arrivals are pretty quick, civilized and effortless which is a blessing after a transpac.
Feb 16, 2007 | 8:12 am
#6
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Sunset Beach NC
Programs: UA Platinum MM, AA Platinum Pro, Honors Lifetime Diamond, Marriott Gold, Hertz President’s Cir
Posts: 3,721
I've done the Tiger flights and they're pretty good. No worse than flying Southwest in the US. Do be aware that they do preboard families. On my flights from SIN to HKT, there were a LOT of pre-boards. The great thing though is that I still got my exit row seats.
Another option, though it's not well known, is Air Asia. You have to make two separate bookings and connect through BKK. I did it that way as a return from HKT to SIN. It wasn't too bad though I did get nicked for a heavy bag charge.. I think it was a couple hundred Baht.
Another option, though it's not well known, is Air Asia. You have to make two separate bookings and connect through BKK. I did it that way as a return from HKT to SIN. It wasn't too bad though I did get nicked for a heavy bag charge.. I think it was a couple hundred Baht.
Feb 20, 2007 | 6:12 pm
#7
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Texas
Posts: 2,554
We're flying NW from PDX, with a plance change at NRT. Yes, we get in late, 12:30 a.m. local time. I'm really looking forward to paying a full hotel rate when I check in at 2 a.m.
I want to leave that afternoon for Phuket, the girlfriend wants to stay an extra night in Singapore. I'm sure we'll end up staying an extra night.
We're going in December, so I have plenty of time to plan. What should I exoect at the Singapore airport, regarding customs, lines, etc.?
I want to leave that afternoon for Phuket, the girlfriend wants to stay an extra night in Singapore. I'm sure we'll end up staying an extra night.
We're going in December, so I have plenty of time to plan. What should I exoect at the Singapore airport, regarding customs, lines, etc.?
Neither you nor your GF need be bored in SIN....plenty to do basis my experiences on many trips over the past few years.
Review this board for some suggestions and should you not find things that interest you, recommend you get a good travel guide book (Barns and Noble, local library, etc.). Of course for specific questions, query the experts on this board, many of whom live in Singapore.
Cheers
Feb 20, 2007 | 10:07 pm
#8
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Santa Monica
Programs: UA Gold, MR Plat (life gold), SPG Gold
Posts: 899
We're flying NW from PDX, with a plance change at NRT. Yes, we get in late, 12:30 a.m. local time. I'm really looking forward to paying a full hotel rate when I check in at 2 a.m.
I want to leave that afternoon for Phuket, the girlfriend wants to stay an extra night in Singapore. I'm sure we'll end up staying an extra night.
We're going in December, so I have plenty of time to plan. What should I exoect at the Singapore airport, regarding customs, lines, etc.?
I want to leave that afternoon for Phuket, the girlfriend wants to stay an extra night in Singapore. I'm sure we'll end up staying an extra night.
We're going in December, so I have plenty of time to plan. What should I exoect at the Singapore airport, regarding customs, lines, etc.?
We opted to spend our non-HKT in SIN up front. Had a great time there, then also in HKT. The problem was on return to SIN for our flight out... it was a pretty tough day of travel from HKT, then waiting around the airport (arrived from HKT around 1am) to be able to check in at 5am (for a united flight). In our case, we had to stay land side with much less in the way of facilities.
When we do this again... we'll go straight to the relaxation portion of the trip (HKT or other), then spend any extra time in SIN... a casual day or 2 around the city, and heading to the airport without already having some travel burnout.
Feb 21, 2007 | 2:41 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: PHX
Programs: Alaska Mileage Plan, Bonvoy, World of Hyatt
Posts: 145
Thanks for the advice and tips, folks. We arrive late at SIN, about 20 minuts past midnight on Dec. 11 and our reservation (a 7-night reward stay) at the JW Marriott in Phuket starts on Dec. 13, so we're going to stay in Singapore for a couple days.
There seems to be enough to do in Singapore. And I'd rather get used to the time change in Singapore than Phuket.
Thanks again for the flight advice. We'll probably use JetStar, since everything else is ridiculously priced for a 45-minute flight.
There seems to be enough to do in Singapore. And I'd rather get used to the time change in Singapore than Phuket.
Thanks again for the flight advice. We'll probably use JetStar, since everything else is ridiculously priced for a 45-minute flight.
Feb 23, 2007 | 8:07 am
#10
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Terra Australis Cognita
Posts: 5,353
Also, note that JetStar uses Terminal 1; only Tiger (and Cebu Pacific) currently use the Budget (LCC) Terminal.
Feb 23, 2007 | 8:20 am
#11
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: SEA(sia)
Posts: 5,181
Feb 24, 2007 | 1:35 am
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: PHX
Programs: Alaska Mileage Plan, Bonvoy, World of Hyatt
Posts: 145
My bad. I kind of thought about the time difference, but saw a map and didn't think they were off by an hour.
Feb 24, 2007 | 2:31 am
#13
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Terra Australis Cognita
Posts: 5,353
Malaysia and Singapore are geographically "off by one" when it comes to timezones, due to hysterical raisins involving syncing time between Borneo and the Peninsula. Both Thailand and Indonesia are "correct".
Feb 26, 2007 | 11:51 am
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: PHX
Programs: Alaska Mileage Plan, Bonvoy, World of Hyatt
Posts: 145
Hey folks, thanks again for your responses and advice. I have one more question. A family member has a bunch of United miles that they have no plans to use and has offered me. I did a quick check on Star Alliance and saw that I could use Thai Airways from SIN to HKT, connecting in BKK.
Is it worth 30,000 miles per person to go business class on this route? The perks are a higher baggage allowance and use of Thai's airport lounges. I've heard a lot about TG's great service and think it might be a nice treat.
These are not my miles but I don't want to waste a family member's miles.
Is it worth 30,000 miles per person to go business class on this route? The perks are a higher baggage allowance and use of Thai's airport lounges. I've heard a lot about TG's great service and think it might be a nice treat.
These are not my miles but I don't want to waste a family member's miles.
Feb 27, 2007 | 12:50 am
#15
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 640
If the JetStar and Tiger are pricing the same, I'd be all over the JetStar. I've flown both and Tiger is a really packed plane. The least leg room I've ever experienced. JetStar has pleather seats and I was lucky enough to get Row 1 on SIN-HKT. On the HKT-SIN leg, Tiger lost a bag for our entire stay in SIN (4 days) and we got it back 2 hours before our plane was leaving SIN-NRT.