Singapore is open to international tourism
From 29 August 2022, all travelers can enter Singapore regardless of their vaccination status. There are no on-arrival tests or quarantine required. However, unvaccinated visitors still must test negative on a pre-departure test (taken within two days before departing for Singapore) and purchase travel insurance that Covid coverage. On arrival, you should either present proof via a hardcopy certificate, a digital vaccination application, or an acceptance letter from the Vaccination Check Portal.
Before landing in Singapore, all travelers must submit the SG Arrival Card (SGAC) declaration – this can be done up to three days before arrival.
Most foreign visitors need a valid visa to enter Singapore (see the visa requirements)
Transit through Changi International Airport is permitted as long as you (1) have all flights booked in the same booking itinerary and (2) have the main luggage checked-through to the final destination. Transit passengers do not have to be vaccinated or present a pre-departure Covid test.
Arriving in Singapore
- If you are flying to Singapore from abroad, you will most likely land at its main international airport — Changi International Airport
SIN. It is located on the eastern end of the island of Singapore, around 20 minutes drive from Marina Bay. Serving more than 100 airlines, Singapore Changi Airport is one of Southeast Asia’s busiest airports and has been recognized as the world’s best airport for several years. Since its opening in 1981, the airport has morphed into a Singapore must-see sight in its own right and is really worth checking if you have some time to spare between your flights (don't miss the world’s tallest indoor waterfall in the newly open Jewel Changi retail complex).Arrival information: learn more about the airport on its official website, read this helpful guide for international arrivals and check out the available transport options from the airport to the city. You can also track the real-time updates on flight arrivals and departures. We recommend downloading the official iChangi App for in-app notifications about your flight status and to navigate the airport with interactive maps. - Planning to explore the region? Popular destinations can be easily reached with regional low-cost carriers (LCCs) by the likes of AirAsia, Bangkok Airways, Bamboo Airways, Batik Air, Cebu Pacific, FlyNas, Hong Kong Express, IndiGo, Jetstar Airways, Scoot, VietJet Air, Thai Smile, and ZipAir. However, the “no-frills” carrier may not provide free checked baggage allowance, complimentary food, in-flight entertainment systems, and fast customer support. You may not even get to choose your seats, unless you pay extra.
Airports of Singapore
SIN. It is located in Changi district in the east part of Singapore, around 20km (~12 miles) from the city center.
What is the best time to book flights to Singapore?
The best time to book flights to Singapore is between 2 to 8 months before your travel date. The prime booking window (the most likely time to find the bargains) for Singapore flights is 4–6 months before takeoff. During this period, you should monitor airfares by setting alerts on popular flight search websites. Book when you notice a significant drop in price.
Why do prices fluctuate?
Airfare prices for Singapore flights fluctuate due to demand, seasonal trends, and competition, causing numerous price drops and increases as your departure date approaches. The airlines use sophisticated revenue management systems to adjust pricing for optimal seat sales. Generally, as seats are sold, prices tend to become more expensive.
Don’t book too early
Most airlines start selling their flights 9–12 months in advance. However, booking a ticket too early in that window can be an expensive mistake – airlines typically start by setting prices at a relatively high level to capture early demand from those willing to pay more to secure their seats
Prime Booking Window
For long-haul flights to Singapore, the best time to book your ticket is around 4–6 months before departure. It is the “Prime Booking Window” – after some seats have already been sold, airlines start dropping prices to stimulate demand. They may also offer promotions and sales. This is the ideal time for bargain hunting.
Fly on weekdays
It makes a difference which day of the week you board the plane. Midweek travel (especially Tuesdays and Wednesdays) is less busy and likely cheaper than flying on weekends. Airlines charge higher prices for weekend travel due to the high demand from people going on short getaways or visiting family and friends.
Opt for early morning flights
To save on airfare, select a late night or early morning (1–5 am) flight. Airlines often offer discounts on their first flight of the morning (up to 15-20%) simply because of lower demand – most people are not willing to go to the airport so early. Moreover, morning flights tend to have fewer delays, and airport queues are usually shorter.
Set alerts
Track flight price fluctuations for your desired routes to Singapore using email alerts on search sites like Google Flights to catch price drops. These drops will be your chance to book the flight at its best price.
Avoid last minute
Avoid booking flights to Singapore less than 30 days before takeoff. Prices spike sharply then, as airlines are taking advantage of any last-minute travelers who have no choice but to pay up (learn more about last-minute pricing).
Peak seasons are expensive
Peak travel seasons are always expensive – due to higher base prices set by airlines for dates they expect to be popular. Try to avoid the high season during summer and major holidays (including holidays in Singapore), and check the best time to fly to Singapore. If you must travel during peak times, book a bit earlier – 6 to 8 months in advance.
Low-cost flights from Singapore
Stay ahead of the game. Fly to popular destinations at a fraction of the regular fare.
T1 – T4. A brief guide to Changi Airport’s four terminals
The award-winning airport comprises four terminals that are supported by three runways (interactive map). Terminals 1 to 3 are interconnected via Skytrain, while the transport to/from Terminal 4 is provided by a shuttle bus service.
Terminal 1 — boarding gates C and D. The busiest terminal which serves flights operated by Emirates, Malaysia Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways, and Scoot, among others. T1 is home to such attractions as Kinetic Rain Sculpture and Tropical Rainforest Vivarium.
Terminal 2 — boarding gates F and E. Only a few airlines depart from T2: Air India, Air India Express, and Singapore Airlines. The terminal features Enchanted Garden and Entertainment Deck (games and movies) for passengers to unwind as they await their flights.
Terminal 3 — boarding gates A and B. Serves flights operated by Garuda Indonesia, Etihad, Lufthansa, SWISS, and United Airlines. T3 is known for The Slide (4-storeys high world’s tallest slide), and the Butterfly Garden.
Terminal 4 — boarding gates G and H. Serves mostly low-cost carriers such as AirAsia, Bamboo Airways, Cebu Pacific, HK Express, and VietJet Air. T4 features the Entertainment Corner with a selection of games and arcade machines.
Changi FAST: automated bag-drop machines and immigration clearance
Most travelers are already familiar with self-service check-in kiosks at airports. Changi Airports is one step ahead with its extended self-service system: Fast and Seamless Travel (FAST) which uses biometric technologies to expedite the process of getting to the gates for eligible passengers.
You can now print your bag tags and deposit your luggage at the automated bag-drop machines. The system will capture your photo, and if it matches the photo in your passport, the luggage is accepted and added to the baggage handling system. The automated bag-drop machines are located at check-in rows of participating airlines: AirAsia, Cathay Pacific, and Singapore Airlines. Cebu Pacific, Korean Air, and Vietnam Airlines should be joining soon.
The FAST system also includes Automated Immigration Gates (AIG) which use facial and fingerprint recognition, and Automated Boarding Gates (ABG) where you scan your boarding pass and have your photo taken to be allowed to board the plane.
Flight sales and promotions to Singapore
Flight promotions, ticket sales, student discounts, and airline promo codes are your best bet for saving on airfares to Singapore. These special offers can save hundreds of dollars or give you free travel perks like seat upgrades or extra checked baggage.
OTAs miss out on most sales
Airlines flying to Singapore often use sales and promotions as key marketing tools to attract and retain customers while boosting seat occupancy. However, when you search for airfares on popular OTA websites like Expedia, Kayak, or Skyscanner, you won’t find these heavily discounted tickets there. Airlines often reserve the most aggressive or enticing promotions for their own direct sales channels — primarily their websites.
How to find Singapore promotions?
To take advantage of promotional flights to Singapore — including special codes, vouchers, student discounts, and even flights discounted by up to 50% — your best strategy is to check airline websites consistently. You can also follow their social media channels and subscribe to newsletters from leading carriers.
The catch
That being said, finding truly valuable promotions can be tricky, as the uncomfortable details are often hidden in the fine print. Many sales are limited to unpopular routes, with inconvenient layovers or blackout dates. Some promotions come with strings attached or conditions that are difficult to match.
Top promotions from 100+ airlines
That’s where our team steps in. We do all the heavy lifting for you, keeping track of all ongoing sales and promotions from more than 100 airlines! We vet each sale, discount, or promotion and ensure that only quality offers with authentic value make it onto our final list.
Singapore flight promotions can often be found among our list of best airline discounts — emailed weekly to 110,000 Air Traveler Club subscribers.
Flights to Singapore from United States and Canada
- There are no direct flights from the US or Canada to Singapore. However, most major hubs in Asia have non-stop flights to Singapore, as do some larger airports in the Middle East – your journey will have at least one stop. You have a long journey ahead if you fly to Singapore from North America. Singapore is roughly halfway around the world – whether you're heading east on the transatlantic route (from the East Coast) or west across the Pacific (from the West Coast), you should be prepared for 16-20 hours on a plane.There are daily direct flights offered by Singapore Airlines on New York – Singapore (~19hr), Los Angeles – Singapore (~17hr), San Francisco – Singapore (~17hr), Seattle – Singapore (~16hr), and Vancouver –Singapore (~16hr) routes. United Airlines operate one direct connection to Singapore from San Francisco.
- Singapore is well-served via one-stop flights from North America. Flights to Singapore with one layover depart from most major North American airports, including Atlanta
ATL, DallasDFW, DenverDEN, ChicagoORD, Los AngelesLAX, Las VegasDFW, MiamiMIA, SeattleSEA, HoustonIAH, New YorkJFK, and San FranciscoSFOin the United States and TorontoYYZ, VancouverYVR, CalgaryLAS, and MontrealYULin Canada. You will most likely have a connecting flight at one of these popular hubs: DubaiDXB, FrankfurtFRA, Hong KongHKG, SeoulICNor TokyoNRT. - The best airlines to fly to Singapore from the US and Canada are: American Airlines, Emirates, Cathay Pacific, EVA Air, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines and United Airlines. They are top full-service carriers, offering exceptional customer service, in-flight comfort, a generous checked baggage allowance, and reliable customer support channels – all included in the ticket price.
Singapore flight deals. How to book the best fares?
Our go-to solution for finding and booking the best deals to Singapore is Google Flights. Whenever we send SuperDeals to 110,000 members of Air Traveler Club, we include links to Google Flights so each deal can be secured immediately.
Google Flights’ powerful engine simplifies deal hunting. It searches and compares flight prices available from airlines and online travel agencies (OTAs) such as Expedia, Orbitz, or Trip.com. However, it doesn’t sell flights directly to travelers—instead, it passes users on to the airline or OTA to book directly with them.
How to know if the Singapore deal we sent you is actually saving you money? One of Google Flights’ standout features is a color-coded bar underneath the booking options. This bar provides a visual representation of the price compared to the typical fare (for the same route, class, and airline)—indicating whether it is lower, average, or higher. If the marker falls within the green zone (“price is low”), don’t hesitate to secure this deal as it is significantly — 40% to 80% — cheaper than average and unlikely to drop further.
If you see that your flight has the marker within the orange zone (“price is typical”) or in the red zone (“price is higher”), it means that the deal has already ‘expired’. Airfare deals often ‘expire’ because airlines frequently move cheaper flights further away from the departure date. This is when the Google Flights Price Graph tool comes in handy:
Using this tool, you can experiment with various dates and trip lengths. This perfect deal to Singapore may still be available — but for different date combinations.
The cheapest time to fly to Singapore
The cheapest time to visit Singapore is during the low tourist season – from August to September (excluding mid-September when Singapore Grand Prix takes place). These are the country’s slowest months for tourism when flights and hotels are usually more affordable. However, the weather tends to get very hot during this time – you should plan accordingly your activities to do to avoid the oppressive heat.
Another good option is to book your flights during the shoulder seasons, typically from late September to early November and from mid-February to early April. During these months, the weather is more comfortable, there are still fewer crowds, and good deals on airfares are still possible to find.
Auto check-in with Singapore Airlines
If you are flying with Singapore’s national airline, you can choose to be automatically checked-in to avoid the hassle of checking in manually. The airline will automatically check you in 48 hours before your flight departs, and you’ll receive a confirmation via email.
After booking your flight, go to Manage Booking on Singapore Airlines‘ website to turn the auto check-in on.
Auto check-in is also available for passengers with check-in baggage. After arriving at the Changi Airport, you can simply proceed to the automated bag drop machine or counter to check in your baggage.
Auto check-in is not available for group bookings.
Download iChangi app for real-time updates and notifications
If you are traveling through Changi Airport, make sure to download the official app to receive real-time updates on your flight status and gate changes or to use it to navigate the airport with interactive maps and wayfinding. If you scan your bag tag with the app, you’ll be able to track your check-in bags and get updates on your baggage status.
You will also get access to discounted events and exclusive deals at Changi Jewel (the retail and entertainment complex) and to discounted parking fees at the airport’s car park. The app makes it easy to book attractions and amenities at Changi Airport and Jewel or to purchase products online at the airport’s duty-free outlets to pick them up later, before boarding.
You can download the iChangi app for your Android or iOS phone.
Flights to Singapore from UK, Germany, France, Netherlands and other countries in Europe
- There are no direct flights from Europe to Singapore — you’ll need to get a connecting flight from elsewhere in the Middle East or in Asia. Singapore is well-connected with Europe via numerous direct flights from major European hubs such as London, Frankfurt, Berlin, Munich, Paris, Amsterdam, Athens, Rome, Milan, Barcelona, Copenhagen and Helsinki. These non-stop flights are operated by Air France, British Airways, Finnair, KLM, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Scoot, Singapore Airlines, SAS, and SWISS. Flying directly from Europe to Singapore's Changi International Airport takes roughly 10-13 hours.
- Airlines that frequently fly from the UK, Germany, France, and other European countries to Singapore include British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, EtihadAirways, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and Turkish Airways.
- Consider departure airports in neighboring countries to increase your chance of spotting the best deal. Especially look for large airports that serve as hubs for multiple airlines. For example, if you live in Western Europe, check air tickets to Singapore from Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Paris, and Rome. Leverage frequent promotions from European budget carriers like RyanAir, EasyJet, and Eurowings to reach a major hub; from there, take a cheaper long-haul flight to your final destination, potentially saving hundreds of euros.
- These major European airports are excellent departure points for trips to Singapore: London
LHRand ManchesterMANin the United Kingdom, FrankfurtFRAand MunichMUCin Germany, ParisCDGand NiceNCEin France, AmsterdamAMSin the Netherlands, MadridMADand BarcelonaBCNin Spain, RomeFCOand MilanoMXPin Italy, BrusselsBRUin Belgium, CopenhagenOSLin Denmark, OsloOSLin Norway, StockholmARNin Sweden, ZurichZRHin Switzerland, LisbonLISin Portugal, ViennaVIEin Austria, WarsawWAWin Poland, PraguePRGin the Czech Republic, and DublinDUBin Ireland.
Best aircraft for long-haul flights to Singapore
For long-haul flights, the aircraft type can make a huge difference to your overall comfort on board — especially if you’re flying economy. The best aircraft have comfier seats with more legroom, USB charging ports, WiFi connectivity, superior entertainment systems, and a better passenger experience in every cabin.
When booking a flight to Singapore, it’s worth spending a few minutes researching the type of aircraft you’ll be flying on. Look for airlines that use wide-body planes designed for long-haul flights, such as:
- Airbus A350. Best choice. Known for its advanced air filtration and higher cabin pressure, which enhance overall passenger well-being. Operated by Air France, Finnair, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, and Turkish Airlines.
- Airbus A380. Offers unparalleled spaciousness and amenities like onboard lounges and shower spas in premium classes. Used by airlines such as Emirates, Lufthansa, British Airways, Air France, and Etihad Airways.
- Boeing 767. Often features a 2-3-2 seating configuration in economy, reducing the number of middle seats. The largest operators are based in the US (Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Eastern Airlines), while in Europe it is used by Austrian Airlines, Condor, and TUI Airways.
- Boeing 777. Renowned for its wide cabin, it offers a sense of spaciousness and often includes advanced in-flight entertainment options. Used by British Airways, KLM, SWISS, and Turkish Airlines.
- 787 Dreamliner. Celebrated for its larger windows and dynamic lighting, designed to help regulate passengers’ circadian rhythms and reduce jet lag. Operated by British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, KLM, LOT, and Norwegian Air.
Check different departure airports
Consider neighboring cities when choosing the departure airport – especially look for larger cities with airports that serve as hubs for multiple airlines.
For example, if you live in West Europe, check prices for flights departing from Paris, London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Rome, or Vienna. In 9 out of 10 cases, the cheapest flight to Singapore will depart from one of these hubs, and it may be €500 less or more than your first choice. Yes, you may have to fly a few hundred kilometers to this hub, but low-cost airlines like EasyJet, RyanAir, or WizzAir will happily take you there for €50 – €100.
Use a similar tactic if you depart from the US or another region. It’s one of the best ways to save hundreds on trips.
Last-minute flights to Singapore. The real cost of convenience.
Last-minute flights are often touted as a great way to save money, but the reality is far from it. Booking last-minute flights to Singapore almost always never works out.
Based on years of research, the airlines know what people are willing to pay for specific flights and dates. To make the most money, they will sell their cheapest fares first and then increase the prices right before the flight to take advantage of these travelers who are willing to pay the premium price for late booking.
Occasionally, airlines can offer last-minute deals to fill the remaining seats, but these are for unusual times and unpopular places. Popular destinations and dates tend to sell out quickly.
Planning ahead is key to securing a good deal on your flight. Last-minute flight deals are hard to come by, so as soon as you have a tentative travel timeline, book your flight. The earlier you book, the more likely you are to save money. If you are looking for a good deal, the best time to book your flight to Singapore is 2-8 months before the takeoff.
Airlines of Singapore
Singapore’s national flag carrier – Singapore Airlines (SIA) – is one of the world’s best airlines, highly valued by travelers. Over the past four decades, SIA has earned a stellar reputation in the fiercely competitive commercial aviation business and five-star ratings for its service and comfort. If you want luxury in the skies, there’s arguably a no better choice than SIA’s Suites Class – individual spacious cabins with their own sliding door and a standalone bed, completely separate from the seat. However, even economy class offers a far-above-average experience; it includes a generous free checked baggage allowance of 30kg (66-pound), a more comfortable seat than most airlines offer in the same ticket class, and complimentary food and drinks (with options for religious, vegetarian and special diets). Singapore Airlines’ KrisWorld – an excellent inflight entertainment system – is in the top tier of such systems, with an endless selection of movies, TV shows, live TV channels, music albums and games. Inflight Wi-Fi packages are also available on most flights (complimentary for Suites, First Class, and Business Class passengers, and members of PPS Club and KrisFlyer program). Worth mentioning is SIA’s great customer service.
Despite the quality of its services and premium positioning, Singapore Airlines remains a fairly-priced airline. The SIA’s fleet of around 140 aircraft is always young and fuel-efficient; as the planes need less repair and maintenance, there are fewer delayed or canceled flights. You can fly with Singapore Airlines to 75 international destinations in more than 30 countries — including Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, countries of the European Union, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Maldives, Thailand, UAE, UK, and the US.
Other Singaporean airlines – Scoot (SIA’s subsidiary) and Jetstar Asia Airways (a subsidiary of Australian Jetstar Airways) – are much smaller LCC (low-cost) carriers that mostly focus on medium and short-haul flights. They may provide limited service (compared to Singapore Airlines) regarding free baggage allowance, inflight refreshments, meals, or onboard entertainment. In many cases, their tickets are fixed and non-refundable if there is a no-show or cancellation.
Flights to Singapore from Australia and New Zealand
- Australia and New Zealand offer robust flight networks to key APAC locations, Singapore included. While domestic carriers like Qantas, Jetstar Airways, Virgin Australia, and Air New Zealand provide solid options, several major international airlines also serve these routes. These include ANA, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Garuda Indonesia, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Malaysia Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Thai Airways — expanding your choices for travel between Australasia and Asia.
There are no direct flights from Australia or New Zealand to Singapore. You’ll need a layover in one of the major hubs in Asia. Ticket prices vary widely, depending on the route and airline. Two budget airlines – Scoot and Jetstar – tend to offer the cheapest flights to Singapore: at around 150 AUD from Perth or 200 AUD from Melbourne (both one-way direct flights). Other airlines with direct flights to Singapore are Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Qantas, and Air New Zealand. - Airlines have different pricing strategies for different routes. A flight to Singapore could be significantly cheaper from Sydney than from Melbourne, depending on airline partnerships, demand, and even time of year. Compare fares from different international airports in Australia: Sydney
SYD, BrisbaneBNE, MelbourneMEL, PerthPER, AdelaideADL, CairnsCNS, Gold CoastOOL, CanberraCBR, DarwinDRW, HobartHBA, Alice SpringsASP, and in New Zealand: AucklandAKL, WellingtonWLG, ChristchurchCHC, QueenstownZQN, DunedinDUD, and HamiltonHLZ. - If you’re looking to save, consider flying from Australia or New Zealand to a primary Asian hub, then catch a connecting flight to Singapore with a regional budget airline such as AirAsia, Bangkok Airways, Bamboo Airways, Batik Air, Cebu Pacific, FlyNas, Hong Kong Express, IndiGo, Jetstar Airways, Scoot, VietJet Air, Thai Smile, and ZipAir.
For the initial leg of your trip, full-service airlines such as Qantas or Virgin Atlantic offer premium comfort and exceptional service, albeit at a premium price. However, many Asian airlines, including budget carriers, operate out of Australia and frequently feature sales and promotions. For instance, AirAsia runs deals to Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore; Cebu Pacific to Manila; Scoot to Singapore; VietJet Air to Ho Chi Minh City; Jetstar to Seoul, Singapore, and Tokyo; Bamboo Airways to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Beijing; Batik Air to Jakarta and Singapore.
Booking group flights to Singapore
Flights are cheaper when purchased in bulk rather than as individual tickets. Booking group flights to Singapore can be a cost-effective option for a school trip, family reunion, or corporate group traveling to a conference.
To qualify for the special group rate, the group must usually have at least 10 passengers. Discounts depend on the airline, group size, and travel dates, and typically range from 5% to 20% off the regular airfare.
Airlines and flight search websites typically limit automatic group bookings to 10 passengers. This limit reflects the complexity of managing larger groups, which require personalized service and more time to coordinate. To get the price quote for your group, you’ll need to contact the airline or a travel agent directly.
Most airlines have a group booking form or phone number (see examples at Emirates and Qantas). Fill out the form, and the airline will come back to you with the proposed group rate. If your group is large and a scheduled flight cannot accommodate everyone, the airline may offer you a charter flight.
Additionally, there are various perks that your group may be eligible for:
- free seats (complimentary tickets for every 10 or 20 passengers that book together)
- free checked baggage allowance
- dedicated group check-in counter at the airport
- cabin crew who speak your group’s language
- flexible booking terms (that allow changes without fees)
Booking group flights to Singapore is similar to booking individual flights. The main difference is that you’ll need to provide personal information for all passengers, and the airline may request additional details, such as meal preferences or accommodations for disabled travelers. A deposit – typically 10-50% of the total cost – may be required to secure the booking. However, some airlines offer deferred payment options where you can secure a reservation with a booking fee and pay the balance later.
If you’re open to different airlines or want more personalized service, a travel agent may be a better choice. Travel agents may have access to discounted group rates to Singapore and can help with logistics and scheduling.
“Hot seats” on long-haul flights
Those days seat selection is considered an optional, extra paid service – seats with extra legroom (front and exit rows) are usually priced higher. However, if you’re about to take a long-haul flight to Singapore, those “hot seats” are worth considering – expect to pay $50-$100, which is much less than upgrading to Premium Economy.
If you want to choose your seats, do this early (ideally during the booking) for a more extensive selection of available options.
Flights to Singapore from Bali, Bangkok, Delhi, Dubai, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Singapore, Seoul, Tokyo, and other major hubs in Asia
- Thanks to numerous low-cost airlines (LCCs) operating in the region, it is easier than ever to visit Singapore as part of a wider Asian trip. AirAsia, Bamboo Airways, Batik Air, Cebu Pacific, FlyNas, GoFirst, Hong Kong Express, IndiGo, Jetstar Airways, Scoot, Thai Smile, and ZipAir provide budget direct flights to several big cities such as Bangkok, Delhi, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Taipei, and Tokyo.
- Asia is probably the best continent for short-haul and mid-haul flying. The sheer scale of this most populous region on Earth is reflected in the type of aircraft operating many shorter routes: intra-Asia flyers benefit from comfortable, wide-bodied aircraft by the likes of Boeing 777, 787 or Airbus A350, A330, and A380. When booking your flight to Singapore look for these bigger planes as they will almost always give you the best experience in every cabin, including better seat pitches, higher ceilings, and larger overhead bin space.
- Asia is also home to most of the world’s best airlines. There are only ten airlines that received the prestigious 5-star mark of quality from Skytrax, and all of them are from Asia: ANA, Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific, EVA Air, Garuda Indonesia, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines. Choosing one of these airlines for your trip to Singapore will guarantee a pleasant journey – delicious meals served during the flight, great in-flight entertainment, and above-average airline customer service.
- Asia is extremely well served by low-cost regional airlines. If you are visiting Singapore and want to see several other countries on a tight budget, they often have great sales with rock-bottom prices, while still offering a relatively comfortable flight experience. Among the best Asian budget airlines you can book without hesitation are AirAsia, Cebu Pacific, Citilink, FlyDubai, Indigo, Jetstar Airways, Scoot, SpiceJet. The cons? Being no-frills airlines they may not provide free baggage allowance, inflight meals, or onboard entertainment. The departure times may also be quite inconvenient as they try to save money by flying at off-peak hours.
- Most major Asian airports have convenient and frequent flights to Singapore — including Changi (Singapore), Dubai (UAE), Hong Kong (China), Incheon (Seoul, South Korea), Indira Gandhi (New Delhi, India), KLIA (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), Narita (Tokyo, Japan), Denpasar (Bali, Indonesia), Soekarno–Hatta (Jakarta, Indonesia), Ninoy Aquino (Manila, Philippines), Suvarnabhumi (Bangkok, Thailand), Taoyuan (Taipei, Taiwan), and others.
Lost luggage prevention: Essential tips
Every year, airlines handle millions of bags and a small percentage never make it to their final destinations. Avoid lost luggage nightmares on your trip to Singapore by removing old tags from previous flights on your suitcases – they can confuse baggage handlers and conveyor belt scanners. It’s also a good idea to label your luggage with your name, address, and phone number (both inside and outside the case) and attach a GPS-tracker device like Apple AirTag or Samsung SmartTag.
For peace of mind, consider purchasing travel insurance to cover the full value of your luggage, as airline liability usually doesn’t reflect the actual value of the baggage content.
“Book Flights Now, Pay Later” — is it worth it?
Booking a flight and paying for it later has recently become a popular trend in the travel industry, with many airlines offering delayed payment plans. They will allow you to make flight reservation to Singapore now and then pay the bill in installments. But should you take advantage?
Book Now Pay Later (BNPL) plans are essentially short-term personal loans. By partnering with financial companies such as Affirm, Afterpay, PayPal Credit, Fly Now Pay Later, and Uplift, airlines can offer their loan services on the checkout page. When you book the flight with the BNPL option, the company pays the airline, and you repay the loan in installments over a set period (usually up to 24 months), with a set interest rate.
BNPL providers have varying terms and fees. Some may offer interest-free loans but have fees for late payments and require forced autoplay on your bank account, while others may have high annual percentage rates (up to 30-40% APR). There may also be transaction fees, down payment requirements, and many companies even run a credit check on the traveler.
Among the airlines that offer a “fly now, pay later” option are American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Qantas, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, British Airways, KLM, Lufthansa, Southwest, and Virgin Atlantic.
Is BNPL financing worth it? If paid off on time, interest-free delayed payment on your flight ticket to Singapore can be a great way to free up your cash flow. However, there may be safer alternatives available – such as taking advantage of an introductory 0% interest offer on a credit card or using flight price “freezing” services like Hopper.
Proof of onward travel – a simple hack
Travelers who go on long trips often don’t have a set itinerary and fly on one-way tickets. The problem? For many APAC countries, proof of onward travel is a legal requirement. If you arrive at the airport without an onward ticket (from Singapore to another country), you’ll either be forced to buy one online or forbidden from boarding the plane altogether.
The cheapest solution? Renting an onward ticket! Use the websites such as OneWayFly or OnwardTicket to get a flight reservation for a limited amount of time (usually 2 to 14 days). They work by actually booking you on a real flight out of Singapore and giving you a confirmable flight reservation with a PNR (Passenger Name Record) under your name. After the time limit, your spot on the flight is automatically canceled. Such “temporary tickets” tend to cost anywhere from $10 to $20.
