yogita_dabasia

Hi, booking flight with Singapore Airlines, and although do not want a long stop-over, if i book a flight with a 10 hour wait time at Singapore airport for onward flight to perth, at I leave the airport? We have friends in Singapore, and it would good if I can pop in to see them for a few hours. Any advise appreciated.

moneypenny20

Yes you can. You can also take a coach trip out and about if you have a five hour or more stopover during the day. Just stick your luggage in a locker unless it's going straight through and head off.

yogita_dabasia

Thanks for that.

Just as I phoned Singapore airline to book, they said I CANNOT leave the airport. We (OH going first) need to be in possession of "exit visa" for Singapore. If we do not have this, then we cannot leave the airport. I explained that it would be an onward flight to Perth, and luggage would be transferred automatically, but the operator said it cannot be done w/o visa. He was very polite and went away to double check. In a way, I think we ought to go with what SA advised. Last thing I want is OH thinking he could visit friends, and instead is asked to stay in waiting area for 10 hours, when he could have reached Perth by then!! He'll be fuming!!!! We'll have to let the friends down gently!!!

MoneyPen20 - you maybe correct, does it depend who you get on the end of the phone? or has the rules changed recently? I would have been happy if Singapore Airline had this written on official website or something

MartinLuther

I usually find it's best to leave airports where they are so that other planes can land

Technically speaking the SA operator is correct but you get your visa at the gate (so to speak) in Singapore. You don't need to get one in advance. All this means is that you have to go through passport control to get out of the airport and go through again when you return for your flight. So all you have to do is make sure that you meet the requirements for going through Singapore passport control (e.g. more than 6 months remaining on passport, completed landing card, etc...).

Singapore specialises in this type of thing and you can get tours that designed for showing people around during long stopovers (or short stays).

Have a look at FAQ #5. http://www.changi.airport.com.sg/cha...t_faqs.html#Q5

ex_exile

I didnt think that you are supposed to leave any airport if your luggage is checked in for a flight but Changi seems to work to different rules.

I once managed to wander from the metro through "passport control" and back airside at Changi without having to show any documentation to anybody. Not a good look for an international airport.

MartinLuther

I think this may be an assumption a lot of people make but I don't think there is any rule. All airports check in luggage before you go airside and there's nothing to stop you leaving the airport after you've checked your luggage.

JAJ

What is your nationality?

Pollyana

Yep, its your responsibility to be at the gate for the departure, but up until then you can go wherever, including out of the airport. I've done it at Heathrow and Brisbane, check the bags in, go back to a friends place, come back in time for the flight.

moneypenny20

In my experience, any time you phone big companies or a government department on the phone, you get someone who hasn't got a clue what the answer is but who will tell you something regardless At Singapore you can get this coach trip around the city so you can leave. I've also checked in my luggage at Heathrow before now and then gone home for the night before rocking up and departing.

Nerine

As long as you've got a valid boarding pass I can't see what the problem is.

katsmajic

My consultant told us to go check out the zoo....

He pops to OZ annually and says he takes his children out of airport to the zoo!

NigelWaring

I know Singapore well and you can leave after you've gone through customs, keep your boarding pass though or you might have to pay a departure tax.

We will be travelling back to Australia later this year via Singapore so will be taking advantage of the Singapore Airlines Stopover, it's a fantastic place. If you stop four nights your get free transfers to your hotel, big discounts at a number of hotels including full breakfast, free admission to some attractions and a free SIA bus that you can hop on hop off to just about all the places worth seeing in Singapore. We wouldn't miss it for anything. Incidentally I used to work for one of the competing airlines.

claretandblue

Hi,
We went to Oz via Singapore in February. We left the terminal and went into the city. Whether you are allowed to or not i'm not definate, however this is the second time we've been there and been into the city.
It is so easy and cheap to get around, everyone speaks English and most signs are also in English.
You can jump on the MRT(train) which you get within the terminal withought going through customs. Just keep your boarding pass with you and when you return you can go straight to departure lounge withought having to queue at the check in desks.

Kooky.

SIA is known for being good in the air, crap on the ground, i.e., Customer Services leave a lot to be desired. Obviously I haven't done this but I do see coachloads of In Transit people doing tours round the island. I think your SIA contact is talking rubbish, and the people on this thread are the experts.

Changi is a good and efficient airport (20 minutes from landing to being in a taxi home the other night, with luggage!) but ten hours there would be deadly.

moneypenny20

I could spend 10 hours there - in those massage chairs for the whole time