Transferring in Singapore if booked on 2 different tickets.

[gourmet333]

Hi everyone, not sure if I'm posting in the correct thread. I'm traveling to Europe in May trying to use my points for a J class ticket.
Got an excellent QR flight Mel-Bris -Doha- Rome but travel plans have changed and I now need to get myself into MXP (otherwise I'll get off the plane in Rome at 2.30pm and have to get straight on a 4 hour train trip to Milan and then onwards to Lake Como. Not ideal.
I have finally found a Finnair Singapore -MXP flight departing Singapore at 23.25 but there is nothing appearing in the system for MEL - SIN except via Sydney. I'm happy to fly economy or pay for a ticket for a direct flight for that leg if required but the only thing I can find which could connect timewise is a Singapore Air flight leaving MEL at 3.40 and arriving at 21.30.
So, my question is, how complicated would a transfer be if I'm booked on 2 separate tickets/ bookings with 2 different airlines and only have 115 minutes between them? TIA.

 

[2APlease]

Personally I would stay with QR and train. Airlines are a minefield at this time and I have had CX, JL, FY and TG all de/reschedule'flights in the Jan/Apr space in the last 8 weeks.
i doubt you will get an interline from SQ (*A) to AY(1World) so likely you will need to clear customs, immigration, comply with Covid checks au jour then collect bags and recheck. Tight if flights are on time and pre Covid.

 

[SYD]

It’s been discussed on a couple of threads but SIN currently doesn’t allow transits on seperate bookings. Hard to say when that restriction will be removed but probably not while ever the VTL system is in play.

Transiting through Changi | Covid-19 Information Hub | Singapore Changi Airport

www.changiairport.com

 

[lovetravellingoz]

It’s been discussed on a couple of threads but SIN currently doesn’t allow transits on seperate bookings. Hard to say when that restriction will be removed but probably not while ever the VTL system is in play.

Transiting through Changi | Covid-19 Information Hub | Singapore Changi Airport

www.changiairport.com

Plus who knows what changes may happen in the future, things may become more restrictive or less less restrictive. We hope for that latter, but things change. So I would be believe keeping arrangements as simple as possible and within the one booking is best.

And not just for transit in Singapore, but as an issue elsewhere may effect mean that a leg is changed. With one booking the airline will normally amend the whole booking if required. With two different bookings you could have a difficult and possibly expensive problem.

 

[SYD]

Just noticed this article. No date that I could see but possibly sooner than later. Although, as per previous comment, I’d still be inclined to keep travel on one booking.

Why are Singapore hotel prices so high right now?

Travellers are returning to the Lion City, but face all-time high hotel prices.

www.executivetraveller.com

 

[dajop]

Pre-Covid, SQ do through check to other carriers on different tickets not sure what the status is now.

The only way this could be done with any degree of certainty is if you did the exact same flight to SIN - the day before (or if you must do the same day - take either the flight arriving at 5am or 3pm), which means entering Singapore, and therefore applying for a VTP, taking RAT test pre-departure and a RAT test again within 24 hrs of arrival (if departing with 24 hrs not sure if this is necessary).

Edit: Also now how long is the connection at HEL? At the moment the Finnair flight seems to be arriving up to 1 hr late, due to the need to avoid flying over Russian airspace, so a misconnect could be likely.

 

[gourmet333]

Pre-Covid, SQ do through check to other carriers on different tickets not sure what the status is now.

The only way this could be done with any degree of certainty is if you did the exact same flight to SIN - the day before (or if you must do the same day - take either the flight arriving at 5am or 3pm), which means entering Singapore, and therefore applying for a VTP, taking RAT test pre-departure and a RAT test again within 24 hrs of arrival (if departing with 24 hrs not sure if this is necessary).

Edit: Also now how long is the connection at HEL? At the moment the Finnair flight seems to be arriving up to 1 hr late, due to the need to avoid flying over Russian airspace, so a misconnect could be likely.

Hmm, only a 1 hour 35 minute connection. If it's an hour late I'm stuffed .
I think I'll discount taking the via singapore option. I'll just keep my original QR seat to Rome whilst still searching online every day for something more streamlined and on one ticket straight into Milan. Miracles sometimes happen! Thanks for the advice everyone.

 

[dajop]

I'll just keep my original QR seat to Rome whilst still searching online every day for something more streamlined and on one ticket straight into Milan

With a final destination of Lake Como, don't discount Zurich either, it seems to be almost two hours quicker by train to get to Como (township) from ZRH than from FCO.

 

[gourmet333]

With a final destination of Lake Como, don't discount Zurich either, it seems to be almost two hours quicker by train o get to Como (township) from ZRH than from FCO.

Yes, I'm looking at that too but nothing in J class is appearing on my dates of 24th or 25th May ex Melbourne. I'll keep looking and that's definitely one of the routes I'm looking at.

 

[kelvedon]

Geneva is an alternative airport too. 5-6 hours airport To Como.

Connection | SBB

www.sbb.ch

 

[madrooster]

Geneva is an alternative airport too. 5-6 hours airport To Como.

Connection | SBB

www.sbb.ch

GVA is too much of a pain to get to Como. I'd stick to MXP, ZRH or FCO.

 

[SYD]

Hi everyone, not sure if I'm posting in the correct thread. I'm traveling to Europe in May trying to use my points for a J class ticket.
Got an excellent QR flight Mel-Bris -Doha- Rome but travel plans have changed and I now need to get myself into MXP (otherwise I'll get off the plane in Rome at 2.30pm and have to get straight on a 4 hour train trip to Milan and then onwards to Lake Como. Not ideal.
I have finally found a Finnair Singapore -MXP flight departing Singapore at 23.25 but there is nothing appearing in the system for MEL - SIN except via Sydney. I'm happy to fly economy or pay for a ticket for a direct flight for that leg if required but the only thing I can find which could connect timewise is a Singapore Air flight leaving MEL at 3.40 and arriving at 21.30.
So, my question is, how complicated would a transfer be if I'm booked on 2 separate tickets/ bookings with 2 different airlines and only have 115 minutes between them? TIA.

@gourmet333, did you end up going via SIN on seperate tickets? If so, how did it go?

The official Singapore websites are still stating transit pax need to be on one booking. Presumably those with HLO can run the gauntlet?

Has anyone had recent success passing through SIN on seperate tix with checked luggage?

SYD+1 will be ”transiting“ back thru SIN in early Aug (QR from BER-DOH -> QF to SYD on seperate tix). QR have a published benefit of checking luggage thru to other OW carriers even on seperate PNRs. So hoping that will be sufficient but otherwise have allowed plenty of time to enter SIN, collect luggage, recheck and exit - which is a tad easier now than a few weeks / months ago but there‘s paperwork….

 

[Peter78]

@gourmet333, did you end up going via SIN on seperate tickets? If so, how did it go?

The official Singapore websites are still stating transit pax need to be on one booking. Presumably those with HLO can run the gauntlet?

Has anyone had recent success passing through SIN on seperate tix with checked luggage?

SYD+1 will be ”transiting“ back thru SIN in early Aug (QR from BER-DOH -> QF to SYD on seperate tix). QR have a published benefit of checking luggage thru to other OW carriers even on seperate PNRs. So hoping that will be sufficient but otherwise have allowed plenty of time to enter SIN, collect luggage, recheck and exit - which is a tad easier now than a few weeks / months ago but there‘s paperwork….

I guess I have had success passing through SIN. Separate tickets (SQ Y SYD-SIN, QR J to DOH, then JNB). QR moved their departure time forward by thirty minutes so I ended up with 2hr 20mins between scheduled arrival (12.20am) and departure (2.40am).

Checking in at Sydney airport on May 11, I asked whether they can check my suitcase through to JNB and after a minute discussing this with a colleague, she was happy to do this, including putting J stickers on the tag, despite only flying Y on SQ. Luckily the flight to SIN was on time so I did not have any issues, having checked in online. Rocking up at the gate for QR945, the agents did 'something' with my luggage tag to ensure it was linked to my boarding pass, all went well.

Obviously, things could have gone wrong at several stages of the journey and a few weeks earlier, I would not have been able to do it like this. On the return journey, I booked in a night in Singapore to be on the safe side. Pre Covid, I would not hesitate to do this again but right now, there are so many schedule changes that I think the risk is higher compared to pre-2020, having said that I am looking at doing the same thing again fairly soon: QF wanted more than $4k for Y on QF63/ 64, this way was about $3,300 though naturally longer and more indirect.

 

[Ade]

In a similar situation. AU national, HLO, got a QF paid ticket CBR-SIN and then a QF Amex credit ticket from SIN-MAA via KUL on MH.

My understanding is that I will have to clear SIN immigration, exit and then re-enter, check-in for KUL at the MH counter ? Is this right?

Is there anyway, I can ask the MH counter in SYD to give me a BP for the SIN-KUL-MAA leg?

Alternatively, if web-check is possible, can I just show up at the MH boarding gate without having to clear SIN immigration & the whole check-in again process?

 

[SYD]

In a similar situation. AU national, HLO, got a QF paid ticket CBR-SIN and then a QF Amex credit ticket from SIN-MAA via KUL on MH.

My understanding is that I will have to clear SIN immigration, exit and then re-enter, check-in for KUL at the MH counter ? Is this right?

Is there anyway, I can ask the MH counter in SYD to give me a BP for the SIN-KUL-MAA leg?

Alternatively, if web-check is possible, can I just show up at the MH boarding gate without having to clear SIN immigration & the whole check-in again process?

Entering SIN, recheck and exit is probably worse case scenario but since you’re HLO, QF in CBR might be able to do the C19 paperwork check and issue boarding passes (they probably won’t but it can’t hurt to ask).

You could try again in SYD, but that might depend on what T3 Dom -> T1 Int transfer you get. Again, probably worthwhile trying MH but I suspect they won’t.

In SIN, the Transfer Desks should be operating. Hopefully they can help and save the extra hassle!

Unfortunately, I suspect you won’t be able to get MH BPs online without doing C19 paperwork checks.

 

[serfty]

Did I do something wrong last month? (Travelling HLO)

Flew to MEL-SIN on SQ.

Checked in at airside transfer lounge in T3 for an SQ flight to KUL (separate ticket).

Flew to KUL.

I also did similar on the return although since I had a long layover, I went landside and spent a couple of hours at Jewel.

Being all SQ may have made a difference but I am pretty sure I can generally check-in for MH at an airside transfer lounge.

 

[Ade]

but I am pretty sure I can generally check-in for MH at an airside transfer lounge.

That's good to hear .... I did not realise the duration I had from landing in SIN and departing to KUL was under 90 minutes when booking the ticket. But I will ask the MH staff at SYD or SIN and enquire if I really need to exit SIN and re-enter or simply check-in at a transfer counter ,,,

 

[Ade]

QF in CBR might be able to do the C19 paperwork check and issue boarding passes (they probably won’t but it can’t hurt to ask).

Am I to understand that QF staff at CBR will be able to issue MH boarding passes? Is that possible?

C19 paperwork check

Is this CoVID 19 paperwork? As in, entry requirements, quarantine requirements etc?

In SIN, the Transfer Desks should be operating. Hopefully they can help and save the extra hassle!

I hope so too ... would make my life very easy ... let's see

 

[SYD]

Am I to understand that QF staff at CBR will be able to issue MH boarding passes? Is that possible?

Is this CoVID 19 paperwork? As in, entry requirements, quarantine requirements etc?


I hope so too ... would make my life very easy ... let's see

QF in CBR should check your vax/paperwork etc and issue you both BPs to SIN?

Edit: I’m assuming you won’t be able to get your SYD-SIN BP without fronting up somewhere, even though you’re HLO, so CBR might be easier than SYD. Plus you’ll have your Int BP ready to go for transfer.

As for MH BPs from QF checkin - I don’t know, but my comment was that it doesn’t hurt to ask but I suspect they won’t/can’t.

@serfty ‘s comment backs up my thinking that you ought to be able to get your onward MH BPs at the SIN transfer desk.

 

[Ade]

As for MH BPs from QF checkin - I don’t know, but my comment was that it doesn’t hurt to ask but I suspect they won’t/can’t.

Got it. I purchased the SIN-KUL-MAA return leg on QF website using classic rewards ... Like you said, it wouldn’t hurt to ask at the QF CBR check-in.