Low-cost carriers on Singapore-KL route from Feb 1: Singapore

[oz_mark]

Low-cost carriers on Singapore-KL route from Feb 1: Singapore - Regional - MSN Singapore News

Low-cost carriers will be able to fly the Singapore-Kuala Lumpur route from February 1, the Singapore government said Friday in a move that marks an end to the national carriers' monopoly on the sector.

"As a start, with effect from 1 February 2008, low-cost carriers from Singapore and Malaysia will be able to operate a total of four daily flights on this route," a Singapore government press release said.

The sector will be fully liberalised from December 1 next year to allow unlimited flights, it said.

"This is a positive development in our aviation relations as low-cost carriers will operate on this sector for the first time," the statement said.

 

[kpc]

Low-cost carriers on Singapore-KL route from Feb 1: Singapore - Regional - MSN Singapore News

About bloody time. The duopoly of SQ and MH have been ripping passengers off for years!:evil:

As a start, with effect from 1 February 2008, low-cost carriers from Singapore and Malaysia will be able to operate a total of four daily flights on this route," a Singapore government press release said. The sector will be fully liberalised from December 1 next year to allow unlimited flights, it said.

Why only 4 flights to start with? Will they be first thing in the am or very late in the evening??

 

[Mal]

185 miles between SIN and KUL.

I always thought the fares were pretty good (esp the runs in premium cabins on SIN), but have never flown this route (but priced it out many times!)

 

[NM]

185 miles between SIN and KUL.

I always thought the fares were pretty good (esp the runs in premium cabins on SIN), but have never flown this route (but priced it out many times!)

I have not found the prices to be extortionary. In fact, I thinks it not too bad for an F fare that includes lounge access, priority immigration lines etc.

I am doing SIN-KUL tomorrow on JL, so there is an alternate to the MH/SQ "duopoly", albeit a once-a-day service.

 

[ethernet]

There are also First Class (BUS/COACH) trips cheap with just 20 seats per coach CACTUS, SUPER SNOOZER KONSORTIUM etc, and with all the arrive early airport bull****, has advantages. Super clean, and you get to see the countryside. Use Midweek, but maybe not for Friday/Sunday round trips, as there is some hokey pokey on the border/customs designed to inconvieance peoples.
I believe in SG they check your petrol tank is at least 1/2 full, designed to discourage/slow sg'er restocking in JB, and combining it with shopping.

Thailands Songla border is a disgrace, as it is the custom that they only work 4 days a week sortof, so a few dollars slipped in the passport for weekend busy periods - a least pre coup - don't know the deal now. Malaysias border people are honest, but for some reason, treat sg'ers with suspicion.

Conclusion: Worth paying more for flying on holiday periods, when surface routes are choked.

 

[kpc]

I have not found the prices to be extortionary. In fact, I thinks it not too bad for an F fare that includes lounge access, priority immigration lines etc.

I'm currently getting a return price of S$433 for a Sin-Kul-Sin Y ticket on SQ's website... a lot for a 185 mile return trip, IMO (I know there are cheaper standby shuttle fares, but really if you need to be at Sin/Kul by a certain time, you can't risk not getting on the plane and there always seems to be alot of standby passengers trying to get on).

The F return fare is an additional S$118...the main benefit is obviously the access to lounges prior to the trip...the seat is a business class seat, really and for the very short flight, of marginal benefit cf to Y. So I agree that the F fare is reasonable compared to the Y fare, but I think the Y fare is really too expensive, esp if you cf to say Kul-JHB which a lot of locals do, and then catch the bus across the causeway (might as well catch the First class coach mentioned above, which at most is an hour or so longer door to door than flying Kul-Sin). I would never do this because of the inconvenience factor, but if money is tight...

Sin-Bkk (876 miles) return in Y is only S$558 return on SQ...and that's the point I'm making; for the very short distance bet Sin and Kul, the airfare is very high (esp. for the locals).

I am doing SIN-KUL tomorrow on JL, so there is an alternate to the MH/SQ "duopoly", albeit a once-a-day service.

Yes there is a daily JL flight leaving Sin at 2010, and returning from Kul at 2135. This cfs to SQs 6 daily flights and MHs 7 daily flights bet Sin and Kul. I'm not aware of any other carriers currently that fly between the 2 cities.

To be honest, I don't understand why SQ/MH don't have more flights between the 2 cities as the planes have seemed very full to me whenever I have caught them over the yeras.

 

[oz_mark]

To be honest, I don't understand why SQ/MH don't have more flights between the 2 cities as the planes have seemed very full to me whenever I have caught them over the yeras.

Maybe during the week, but I have flown on the weekends and the flights were rather empty. I have also taken the JL flight (connecting in SIN from a QF flight from PER), and that was also quite lightly loaded.

 

[NM]

Maybe during the week, but I have flown on the weekends and the flights were rather empty. I have also taken the JL flight (connecting in SIN from a QF flight from PER), and that was also quite lightly loaded.

That is mostly my experience too. But the MH610 late evening flight can get full. Its the only one that connect from most of the Aus-SIN flights.

 

[Ric]

For leisure trips, I always take the train or coach and use the money saved towards a higher class of accommodation! Pretty interesting countryside while travelling this way and the beauty is that it starts/arrive KL in the city!!
Ric

 

[Evan]

I have recently tried to book the JL daily flights and found J0 !! yep, not a seat for sale some days, but i believe its school holidays now here in Singapore so that no doubt is the reason.

Some short route from SIN are expensive, compared to SG$550 SIN-HKG-KIX return and similar earlier in the year. Even the LCC's when booked seem to cost as much as the SQ,CX etc.

E

 

[moa999]

Be interesting to see if Tiget, Jetstar decide to try and take on AirAsia on this route, given it is a connection between AirAsia's two hubs.
That said, all 3 operation SIN-BKK with 3/4 full priced carriers as well

 

[Petch]

Be interesting to see if Tiget, Jetstar decide to try and take on AirAsia on this route

Be interesting to see which of Tiger OR Jetstar does...

TODAYonline The bets may favour Tiger Airways' winning KL-S'pore route but Jetstar may have a political advantage...