Avoiding immigration, and connecting Singapore and Bangkok Air

[PaulyB]

Hello again,

My wife and I are flying from Koh Samui with Bangkok Air to Changi where we will pick up a Singapore Air daytime flight, back to Sydney. All this to avoid flying back on the overnight Qantas from BKK!

Anyway, it means a single overnight stay and I am currently looking at the Aerotel at Terminal 1 which works well as we have a lateish arrival from Koh Samui at 7.30pm. The departure is the next morning at 0715.

So, because these are two completely separate bookings with 2 different airlines, is there any chance that we can somehow book through and avoid immigration in Singapore?

Please tell me yes!
Thanks!
Paul

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Will you have HLO, or plane hold bags?
Transit in SIN is easy, just go to a transfer desk.
You could also do OLCI with SQ and have a BP on your phone, assuming you can get wifi or have data in Thailand to do OLCI.
Aerotel is very strict, they have 6 hour blocks for their inside the secure zone rooms.
And you do have to book online, as they book out very fast, the last time I was there, they didn't have there and then bookings, as there is a great demand for the rooms.
As neither Bangkok Air or SQ are in an alliance, so you will have to do separate bookings.
Even with a travel agent, if you have plane hold bags, you will have to go and collect them, go through immi and come back into the secure zone again.
Each terminal will have transfer desks.
More info needed.

 

[serfty]

@PaulyB if you have checked luggage, you are unlikely to be able to avoid immigration.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

You probably have already seen, Aerotel is cunning, for 15 Jul to 16 Jul, 20:00 to 5:00, they want SGD178 and its for a single bed.
Not sure when your travel date is tho.
Even if I tried a dummy booking for 2 people, only 1 person popped up, shared shower too at that price, SGD$178, not that cheap, granted its more than 6 hours you are staying, might be cheaper if you got at 2am!
I think if both of you really want a good sleep for the night, go through immi and go for the Holiday Inn Changi Airport, so that at the least both will have a bed, instead of sharing a single.
Even if outside, ie, in the open zone, its SGD$229 or more, at least its a bigger room!
Aussies can get into SIN without the need for a visa, oh, unless maybe you want to avoid it because of the vax cert needed to enter (?).

 

[Daver6]

If you have to clear immigration due to checked bags, I'd imagine you're much better off at a different hotel too. There's the a few right by the airport including a Crowne Plaza, but would probably save a bundle by hopping on a train a few stops.

 

[PaulyB]

This is invaluable information and just as I feared. Thank you.

We may have at least one hold bag.

Assuming that we do, then as I understand we will have to go through immigration in Singapore, then go back and check-in and go back airside as AustraliaPoochie outlined!

(I'd rather do that in the early evening and be in transit via the hotel than at 5am in the morning for a 7.15 departure)

We already have the tickets and they are indeed seperate bookings. I had hoped that we may somehow be able to check the luggage through but, from your answer, it appears not.

We'll do all we can to be HLO. After all it is only a holiday at a resort!

Re the hotel. I had already booked it via Qantas but realized after that I can get it much cheaper, direct! I will look at Crowne but Aerotel works in the evening as we come in via Term 3 and if the luggage is checked in, a little walk in the morning won't hurt

Many thanks!

 

[dajop]

We may have at least one hold bag.

Assuming that we do, then as I understand we will have to go through immigration in Singapore, then go back and check-in and go back airside as AustraliaPoochie outlined!

(I'd rather do that in the early evening and be in transit via the hotel than at 5am in the morning for a 7.15 departure)

You should be able to check in with luggage in the evening before your flight, as you can check in up to 48 hrs before departure.

https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/sg/travel-info/check-in/counter-checkin/

You will have a boarding pass and you won't have your luggage once checked in. This means that you will probably be only at a 1-3 minute disadvantage the next morning if you stay landside vs airside (plus any extra transit time if you stay in town, for example). That is typically the amount of time it takes to queue and pass through outbound immigration, which is done via facial recognition. No security - as it is all at the gate, so whether staying landside or airside you have to go through security at the gate.

I live 20 mins from Changi (well 20 mins at 6am) and for 7:15 departure I would typically leave home by taxi/grab at 5:45 - and that's with bags to check in.

 

[PaulyB]

Thankyou Dayjop. That is a great summary and I will re-examine the accomodation. Thanks all. I think we are good for now....

 

[JohnK]

@PaulyB I'm not sure the transfer desk is fully operational but you can try transfer desk when you arrive.

Other thing you can do is let your luggage go through to lost luggage, go to transit hotel for ~6 hours and at 3:00am-3:30am go out immigration, collect luggage and checkin for your morning flight.

I've done this many times pre-covid.

 

[PaulyB]

@PaulyB I'm not sure the transfer desk is fully operational but you can try transfer desk when you arrive.

Other thing you can do is let your luggage go through to lost luggage, go to transit hotel for ~6 hours and at 3:00am-3:30am go out immigration, collect luggage and checkin for your morning flight.

I've done this many times pre-covid.

I'm really not laughing! But DELIBERATELY losing my luggage. What a fabulous concept.....
Thank you! Do I have the courage though ......

 

[JohnK]

I'm really not laughing! But DELIBERATELY losing my luggage. What a fabulous concept.....
Thank you! Do I have the courage though ......

LOL. That's where they put the luggage that does not get collected after each flight. Many people do it. Go and find your luggage, show them passport and luggage tag receipt and off you go.

 

[PaulyB]

Such a good, left-field idea.....!

 

[PaulyB]

Hello again. Following the good suggestions previously I have an updated question...

So, we arrive at Changi about 7pm, Terminal 1 via Bangkok Air this Wed.
As it turns out we will be staying Airside at Aerotel. which as you know is Terminal 1 also. (Long story!)

Anyway,
I was wondering if there was any updated info as to whether it is possible to check our luggage in to Sing Air at that time, in Terminal 1. I ask because our Manage Booking info on the Sing Air site says....

"Check in at Changi Airport Terminal 3 (T3)
Passengers are to check in at T3 and proceed to their respective terminal for boarding thereafter. Singapore Airlines flights depart from T1, T2 or T3 at Changi Airport."
It would be really great if luggage can be all checked in the night before as it is an early start.

We will have an online check-in for SingAir but unfortunately, I see we will still have to go through immigration as the booking is completely different tickets and airlines. Darn.

Thanks!
Paul

 

[Flyfrequently]

Hope it worked out for @PaulyB what were your thoughts on Koh Samui/Bangkok Air?

We are doing Koh Samui in September on one PNR with QF and codeshare PG in J.
Short transit of 1.5 hours on the way over but both flights are terminal 1 - hope to get some lounge/ duty free shopping in

(Not concerned about USM-SIN-MEL as we have 4 hours transit.)