Travel Question

[jimmie50]

I am planning a return trip to Thailand in February/March and will be staying 6-8 weeks.  Decided Thailand was a great place to avoid the harsh winters in Colorado.  It appears that Singapore Airlines has the best deals at the moment flying from San Francisco.  It's a non-stop flight from SF to Singapore.  Having  never been to Singapore or flown on Singapore Airlines, I have several questions maybe some of you can answer.  

Is one hour enough time in Singapore to change planes?  According to the airline website, the flight from SF arrives in one terminal and the flight to Bangkok departs a different terminal.  What is a safe amount of time I should figure for layover in Singapore.  I don't want to be there a long time, but also do not want to cut things too close and miss the connecting flight.  

Another question...would I need a visa if I am just changing planes in Singapore?  If, on my return to the US I decided to spend a couple of days in Singapore, would I need a visa?  THANKS!

[pong2]

Hi again jimmie

Its pure by chance that I see this Q on this moment.

1. SQ is an excellent arline, with even better service as f.e. EVA and SIN is an utterly well organised airport-very often praised as such and putting many a US airport to shame.

Yes, you will make it, and so will your luggage.

IF flite from USA is very late in, then you will be met at gate by lovely assistents who will redirect you and already have fresh new board-passes in hand for a rebooked next flite. But there is also a fair chance its early in- they tend to over-estimate the real flite-duration.

(But SFO, or LAX to SIN must be one of the utmost longest non-stops in this world).

2.NO, there is no border check-you just remain ´ín transit´ as a kind of ´outsider - something that ANY country/airport in this world does, except yours. Such things are already millions of times explained in general sites like tripadvisor or flyertalk - and many more. There MAY be however a new safety check-for hand luggage etc-or maybe not and they trust that from USA enough.

THats taken for granted by all non-USA ers- as I myself also did now 12 days ago in HKG=HOngKOng, using CX=Cathay Pacific airline, after a 12 hr nonstop from home.

Right now I just come back from a BMTA citybus ride for 15 bt from Sapan kwai where I again visited PhetBoy-renamed perhaps as BoyBOy- it was LoveBoy before it was Phet. Again a bunch of lovely Myanmarese and just after payday on day 1 quite full-which they can hardly well organise.

And an aside: be aware of Chin. Nw Yr- when the year of the fire-horse starts- from 17/2 till around 1/3= also peak high season for visitors and many a bisnis Thai is also of Chinese descent

[thaiophilus]

Not enough information. Are the two flights sold as connecting flghts on a single ticket, or are they ticketed separately? Is your baggage checked through to BKK? Are the flights even on the same airline? 

I don't believe that one hour is a safe margin, and there are far worse places than Changi for wasting a few hours between flights.

 

 

[Walkabout]

IMHO you are pushing your luck if you only have one hour to connect with your next flight out at a different terminal.  If you go to the map below, it gives you estimated time for each gates in each terminal. https://www.changiairport.com/en/at-changi/map.html

since Changing is a world best airport with many attractions, why not book a flight with longer layover so you can explore the airport and stretch your legs after a long flight.  
As for visiting Singapore for a few days, since you’re a US citizen, you don’t need a visa.  But you need to submit a https://www.ica.gov.sg/enter-transit-depart/entering-singapore/sg-arrival-card before arrival.

I enjoyed reading your last adventure, hope this helps and safe travels.

[Olddaddy]

If it's different flights eg pick up your luggage again ....you won't make it 

[Travelingguy]

Pong is right.  If it is all on Singapore or your bags are checked through to BKK, you will be fine.  Singapore is very efficient .