Bangkok will be Singapore’s busiest VTL route with 47 weekly flights

With Singapore expanding its Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) scheme to Thailand on 14th December 2021, the full schedule of designated quarantine-free flights from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport to Singapore Changi Airport has now been revealed.

What it shows isn’t too surprising – this will be the busiest city pair on the VTL network with up to 47 weekly flights and over 12,000 weekly seats, opening up two-way quarantine-free trips for Singapore residents to and from the likes of Bangkok and Phuket for the first time since March 2020.

The busiest VTL routes

Here’s how the top five VTL routes to Changi stack up by flight volumes and seating capacity, with the upcoming Bangkok – Singapore services topping the list by both metrics.

Top 5 VTL routes to Singapore
by capacity

City	VTL Flights	Passenger Capacity
🇹🇭 Bangkok	47/wk	12,400/wk
🇲🇾 Kuala Lumpur	42/wk	9,700/wk
🇦🇺 Melbourne	36/wk	11,500/wk
🇦🇺 Sydney	25/wk	8,700/wk
🇬🇧 London	18/wk	6,000/wk

There will be even more VTL flights on this route than there are from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore, a city pair that boasted nearly 40% more flights pre-COVID.

In the Singapore – Bangkok direction, where travellers can take any flight they choose and still benefit from a quarantine-free arrival, there are 61 non-stop flight options per week, based on the first week of January 2022.

There are also 28 weekly flights from Singapore to Phuket, four to Chiang Mai, three to Krabi and three to Koh Samui.

Designated VTL flights

Two full-service airlines and two low-cost carriers will be operating designated VTL flights from Bangkok to Singapore.

• Jetstar Asia
• Scoot
• Singapore Airlines
• Thai Airways

Initially for the first two weeks or so of the Thailand VTL there will be 40 weekly designated VTL flights on the Bangkok – Singapore route operated by these four airlines, as shown below.

14th December 2021 – 31st December 2021

			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	TG403 777-200
BKK 08:00		SIN 11:15
	SQ705 A350 Regional
BKK 09:50		SIN 13:15
	TR607 787-8
BKK 11:55		SIN 15:35
	SQ707 A350
BKK 12:15		SIN 15:45
	3K516 A320
BKK 13:35		SIN 17:10
	TR611 A321neo
BKK 18:10		SIN 21:50
	3K514 A320
BKK 21:20		SIN 00:50*

* Next day
3K516 on Mondays and 3K514 on Saturdays are subject to regulatory approval

From 1st January 2022, Thai Airways changes its daily TG803 VTL flight to the Boeing 787-8, while Singapore Airlines adds a third daily flight operating in the afternoon (SQ709), bringing the route up to 47 weekly VTL services as shown below.

1st January 2022 – 26th March 2022

			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	TG403 787-8
BKK 08:00		SIN 11:15
	SQ705 A350 Regional
BKK 09:50		SIN 13:15
	TR607 787-8
BKK 11:55		SIN 15:35
	SQ707 A350
BKK 12:15		SIN 15:45
	3K516 A320
BKK 13:35		SIN 17:10
	SQ709 A350
BKK 15:40		SIN 19:15
	TR611 A321neo
BKK 18:10		SIN 21:50
	3K514 A320
BKK 21:20		SIN 00:50*

* Next day
3K516 on Mondays and 3K514 on Saturdays are subject to regulatory approval

As you can see there are timings throughout the day, with Thai Airways kicking things off in the morning for the early risers at 8am, getting you to Changi in time for lunch and offering a half-day ‘work from home’ (or ‘clear of self-isolation in time for dinner’) option.

At the tail end for those wanting to maximise their time in Bangkok, or taking domestic flights to the city earlier in the day prior to their VTL flight, Jetstar offers a 9.20pm departure on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Before COVID-19 there were around 210 weekly flights from Bangkok (Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi airports combined) to Singapore.

That means around 22% of previous capacity is being restored under the quarantine-free VTL scheme by early January 2022.

See our dedicated article below for a full list of VTL designated flights by all airlines (22 and counting) on all VTL routes.

Non-VTL flights from Bangkok to Singapore

Do be careful not to book a non-VTL flight if you’re looking for a quarantine-free arrival in Singapore, as shown below.

Bangkok Singapore
Non-VTL

• SQ711 (Daily) and SQ713 (Tue, Thu, Sat, Sun, then Daily from 2 Feb 2022) are not designated VTL flights.
• TR753 (selected days, continuation from London Gatwick) are not designated VTL flights.
• GF166 (Wed, Fri, Sun) are not designated VTL flights.
• Thai Airways and Jetstar Asia don’t have any non-VTL flights from Bangkok to Singapore.

Non-VTL flights allow Singapore residents to return under the Category 2 lane, with 7 days SHN at home imposed.

Business Class products

Most of our readers are probably familiar with the Economy Class seats offered by full-service airlines SIA and Thai on their wide-body aircraft, and the more basic versions found on Scoot and Jetstar, but the designated VTL flight schedule offers some interesting variety in the Business Class cabins.

Singapore Airlines

The best Business Class seat you’ll get on Singapore Airlines’ designated VTL flights from Bangkok to Singapore is on the lunchtime SQ707 and afternoon SQ709 flights, which are operated by the airline’s three-class Airbus A350 Long Haul aircraft.

These include the popular and spacious 2013 Business Class seats in a 1-2-1 configuration (see our review).

If you’re taking SIA’s morning VTL flight from Bangkok to Singapore (SQ705), you’ll find the 2018 Regional Business Class seat on the Airbus A350.

This is narrower, but has good storage options and also benefits from direct aisle access (see our review of the same seat on the Boeing 787-10).

Thai Airways

Thai Airways is flying its older Boeing 777-200s on Bangkok – Singapore VTL flights (TG803) from 14th December to 31st December.

The Business Class product on these flights won’t win any awards unfortunately, in a 2-2-2 layout with limited privacy between the seat pairs. They convert to an angle-flat bed.

From 1st January 2022, however, things do take a turn for the better with Thai switching its Singapore flights to the Boeing 787-8, with the Collins Aerospace Diamond seat.

This cabin is in a 2-2-2 layout but the seat does convert into a fully flat bed and privacy is slightly improved with each seat staggered slightly from the one next to it.

Scoot

If you’re taking the late morning Scoot VTL flight from Bangkok to Singapore (TR607), you’ll be able to book a seat in the ‘ScootPlus’ (formerly ‘ScootBiz’) cabin, which is similar to a Premium Economy product in a 2-3-2 layout.

For the dates we checked, Scoot is charging around an extra S$120 one-way for this cabin, which also includes a 30kg baggage allowance and 30MB complimentary Wi-Fi.

Award redemptions

If you’re looking to redeem frequent flyer miles on a VTL flight from Bangkok to Singapore, here’s what you’ll pay (KrisFlyer awards on Singapore Airlines assume Saver rates).

One-way award rates
BKK-SIN

Airline (Cabin Class)	Frequent Flyer Programme
Jetstar (Economy)	—	—	12,000 +S$31
Singapore Airlines (Economy)	12,500 +S$31	17,500* +S$31	—
Singapore Airlines (Business)	21,500 +S$31	27,500* +S$31	—
Thai Airways (Economy)	12,500 +S$57	12,500 +S$57	—
Thai Airways (Business)	21,500 +S$71	20,500 +S$71	—

* Must be booked as a round-trip. One-way redemption rate shown. Star Alliance awards using Thai Royal Orchid Plus miles are temporarily unavailable.

Notice how the taxes and fees are slightly higher when redeeming on Thai Airways, due to the carrier’s fuel surcharge (an additional S$26 one-way in Economy Class, or S$40 in Business Class).

However, we did notice some dates with Business Class VTL award availability on Thai but not on SIA, especially just after the peak festive and New Year season, so the additional cash outlay is probably worth considering in that case.

Lounges in Bangkok

The Singapore Airlines SilverKris lounge in Bangkok is temporarily closed due to COVID-19.

Those travelling in Business Class or with appropriate status on Singapore Airlines or Thai Airways flights can use the Thai Royal Orchid Lounge at Concourse E, or the Turkish Airlines Lounge.

There are also a range of Priority Pass options for those flying Scoot or Jetstar, including the Turkish Lounge.

Singapore – Thailand quarantine-free process

There is no VTL arrangement when travelling from Singapore to Thailand, instead you will be able to enter quarantine-free via the “Test & Go” process.

Singapore – Thailand
Quarantine-Free Process

“Test & Go”

• Have a 21-day travel history solely within Singapore and/or 62 other eligible countries.
• Arrive via Bangkok (DMK or BKK), Chiang Mai, Phuket, Samui or U-Tapao airports.
• Have medical insurance with minimum coverage of USD 50,000 (except Thai nationals).
• Have a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test result issued at most 72 hours before departure from the first embarkation point. The test result must be in English or Thai. See the cheapest options in Singapore here.
• Have a COVID-19 vaccination certificate showing that you were fully vaccinated at least 14 days before departure (children aged 11 or below are exempt); or
• Have a recovery certificate and a COVID-19 vaccination certificate showing that you received at least one dose of the vaccine at most 3 months after your infection and at least 14 days before departure.
• Have a hotel reservation for 1 night at AQ, OQ, or SHA+ hotel obtained at www.thailandsha.com or asq.in.th.
• Apply for the Thailand Pass and receive QR code on approval.
• Take an on-arrival PCR test, then travel to your hotel by pre-arranged transport.
• Remain in your room until receiving a negative test result (~6 hours).
• Take an ART test (kit provided) on Day 6 or Day 7, if you are still in Thailand, and report the result on the MorChana app.

  Thailand “Test & Go” Details

If you’re travelling under the sandbox programme, you must have a hotel reservation for 7 nights at an SHA+ hotel (see www.thailandsha.com) and proof of payment for COVID-19 tests. You will have to remain within the sandbox area (e.g. Phuket island) for 7 days.

Thailand – Singapore VTL process

Here’s a reminder of the key process and requirements when you return to Singapore from Thailand under the VTL arrangement, which is common to all VTL countries.

Thailand – Singapore
Vaccinated Travel Lane

Key Features

• Must have stayed in a VTL country/region and/or Singapore for 14 days
• Travel to Singapore on designated ‘VTL flights’ (see above)
• No restrictions on travel purpose or itineraries
• Must be fully vaccinated in Singapore, any VTL country, or all countries in the EUDCC system, with an accepted digital proof of vaccination
• Unvaccinated children aged 12 or under can accompany their parents
• Visitors and Singapore pass holders must apply for a VTP in advance
• Take a pre-departure ART or PCR test within 2 days of departure
• Post arrival COVID-19 tests replace quarantine / Stay-Home Notice in Singapore

  VTL: All you need to know

For entry into Singapore from 14th December 2021, at the commencement of the Thailand VTL, an International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate issued by the Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand will be added to the list of approved vaccination records for travel to Singapore.

Testing costs

If you were thinking of a cheap weekend in Bangkok, sadly the COVID-19 testing regime for a trip will probably put pay to that idea.

Here are the approximate testing costs you’ll face for a round-trip from Singapore to Thailand and back.

🇹🇭 VTL Singapore Thailand Estimated Testing Costs  Test Cost SG pre-departure (PCR)* S$107 – S$200 TH on-arrival (PCR) ~S$100 TH Day 6/7 (self ART) Free TH pre-departure (clinic ART)* ~S$20 SG arrival (PCR) S$125 SG Day 2 (self ART) ~S$7 SG Day 3 (Supervised ART) S$15 SG Day 4 (self ART) ~S$7 SG Day 5 (self ART) ~S$7 SG Day 6 (self ART) ~S$7 SG Day 7 (Supervised ART) S$15 Total S$410 – S$503 * Prices vary between providers and locations.

Prior to the emergence of the Omicron variant, Thailand had planned to replace its on-arrival test with a cheaper ART test, however this has been postponed and a PCR test will continue to be required.

No other Thai routes for now

Initially there will be no designated VTL flights to Singapore from the likes of Phuket, Koh Samui and Chiang Mai, even though direct flights are operating on these routes and some VTL options were originally advertised by Singapore Airlines and Scoot.

If you wish to return to Singapore on a non-VTL flight, such as a direct Phuket – Singapore option, you’ll face a 7-day SHN at home on your return under the existing Category 2 arrival lane.

If you’re looking for a quarantine-free arrival in Singapore, you’ll need to take a domestic flight to Bangkok first, then travel on a designated VTL flight to Changi.

You can, however, take a non-stop flight to Phuket or other Thai locations at the start of your trip without affecting your return VTL eligibility.

Many of our readers have trips to Thailand planned now that the country is joining Singapore’s VTL programme, and we’re planning to do the same ourselves in January.

Bangkok – Singapore will be the busiest VTL route in terms of designated flights and capacity, with four airlines offering a range of options throughout the day.

Some great Business Class seats are making their presence on the route, including SIA’s latest long-haul and wide-body regional versions, with awards available on selected dates.

(Cover Photo: Eric Salard)