Yesterday we reported on Singapore Airlines launching flights between Singapore and London Gatwick next year, having failed to pick up additional landing slots at the UK capital’s Heathrow airport. These new Airbus A350 flights – “Plan B” if you like – will kick off on 21st June 2024, operating five times per week.
Each Airbus A350 flight on this route boasts 42 of the popular 2013 long-haul Business Class seats, and the great news is that generous award space is loaded for the first five months of operation.
Gatwick may not be your UK touchdown point of choice, but don’t let that dissuade you.
The airport boasts excellent rail connections into London and across the South East of the UK, while low-cost air connections can fling you right across Europe to some popular and lesser-known locations, meaning you can use these SIA flights not only as a London alternative, but also as a springboard to and from other cities.
The schedule
First of all, here’s a recap of the schedule for this new five times weekly service.
Singapore London Gatwick
From 21 Jun 2024
| Days | |||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
 |
SQ312 A350 LH |
||||||||
| SIN 23:55 |
LGW 06:25* |
||||||||
| Duration: 13:30 | |||||||||
* Next day
London Gatwick Singapore
From 22 Jun 2024
| Days | |||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ309 A350 LH |
||||||||
| LGW 10:15 |
SIN 06:20* |
||||||||
| Duration: 13:05 | |||||||||
* Next day
The same days of operation, with slightly different timings, continue during the northern winter 2024 / 25 season right through to late March 2025, so Gatwick is a year-round service for the carrier.
Do note that timings for the London Gatwick to Singapore flight SQ309 are slightly different for the winter season from late October 2024, departing around one hour earlier at 9.20am.
Flights are now loaded
This morning, Singapore Airlines loaded the full schedule of flights on this route for booking, including KrisFlyer redemption space, and we’re seeing generous award availability through to the last bookable date, 8th December 2024 (355 days from now).
Each day Singapore Airlines loads fresh award availability on all its flights departing in 355 days, with slightly different timings depending on the origin city for your routing, but for flights originating in Singapore or in London it’s 8am Singapore time you need to target.
This is often the best opportunity to snag a pair of Saver Business Class awards even on some of the carrier’s most popular long-haul flights, so do keep it in mind if you’re able to plan trips a year in advance, whatever your preferred destination.
KrisFlyer award space
As a reminder from our previous article, here are the one-way KrisFlyer redemption rates you’ll pay by cabin on the Singapore – London Gatwick route.
| KrisFlyer Redemption (one-way) Singapore ⇄ London Gatwick |
||
| Saver | Advantage | |
| Economy | 42,000 | 70,000 |
| Premium Economy | 71,000 | n/a |
| Business | 103,500 | 123,000 |
You’re therefore looking at 103,500 KrisFlyer miles each way for a saver award seat in Business Class.
The good news is that Singapore Airlines has loaded a significant quantity of award space on these new flights, with most services boasting six immediately confirmable Saver awards using KrisFlyer miles in Business Class.
In total, there are 974 Saver Business Class awards up for grabs using KrisFlyer miles over the first five months of this service.
There’s particularly excellent availability in the London to Singapore direction, though do be aware that taxes and fees payable on top of your miles are quite a bit higher.
Remember these are the airline’s 2013 Business Class seats in a 1-2-1 configuration.
Here’s how the Business Class saver award space looks for (non-PPS) KrisFlyer members on the Singapore – London Gatwick route for all the flights currently loaded into the reservation system, as of11.00am Singapore Time on 19th December 2023.
Note: PPS Club members may see more award space than KrisFlyer members.
Singapore ⇄ London Gatwick
Business Saver Availability
(June 2024)
| SQ312 (SIN-LGW) |
SQ309 (LGW-SIN) |
||
| Date | Saver Awards | Date | Saver Awards |
| 21 Jun | — | 21 Jun | — |
| 22 Jun | — | 22 Jun | 6 |
| 23 Jun | — | 23 Jun | 6 |
| 24 Jun | — | 24 Jun | 6 |
| 25 Jun | — | 25 Jun | 6 |
| 26 Jun | — | 26 Jun | — |
| 27 Jun | 3 | 27 Jun | — |
| 28 Jun | — | 28 Jun | 6 |
| 29 Jun | — | 29 Jun | 6 |
| 30 Jun | 2 | 30 Jun | 6 |
Singapore ⇄ London Gatwick
Business Saver Availability
(July 2024)
| SQ312 (SIN-LGW) |
SQ309 (LGW-SIN) |
||
| Date | Saver Awards | Date | Saver Awards |
| 1 Jul | 6 | 1 Jul | 6 |
| 2 Jul | — | 2 Jul | 6 |
| 3 Jul | — | 3 Jul | — |
| 4 Jul | 1 | 4 Jul | — |
| 5 Jul | — | 5 Jul | 6 |
| 6 Jul | 2 | 6 Jul | 6 |
| 7 Jul | — | 7 Jul | 6 |
| 8 Jul | 6 | 8 Jul | 6 |
| 9 Jul | — | 9 Jul | 6 |
| 10 Jul | — | 10 Jul | — |
| 11 Jul | 4 | 11 Jul | — |
| 12 Jul | — | 12 Jul | 6 |
| 13 Jul | 2 | 13 Jul | 6 |
| 14 Jul | 2 | 14 Jul | 6 |
| 15 Jul | 6 | 15 Jul | 6 |
| 16 Jul | — | 16 Jul | 6 |
| 17 Jul | — | 17 Jul | — |
| 18 Jul | 4 | 18 Jul | — |
| 19 Jul | — | 19 Jul | 6 |
| 20 Jul | 2 | 20 Jul | 6 |
| 21 Jul | 2 | 21 Jul | 6 |
| 22 Jul | 6 | 22 Jul | 6 |
| 23 Jul | — | 23 Jul | 6 |
| 24 Jul | — | 24 Jul | — |
| 25 Jul | 4 | 25 Jul | — |
| 26 Jul | — | 26 Jul | 6 |
| 27 Jul | 2 | 27 Jul | 6 |
| 28 Jul | 2 | 28 Jul | 6 |
| 29 Jul | 6 | 29 Jul | 6 |
| 30 Jul | — | 30 Jul | 6 |
| 31 Jul | — | 31 Jul | — |
Singapore ⇄ London Gatwick
Business Saver Availability
(August 2024)
| SQ312 (SIN-LGW) |
SQ309 (LGW-SIN) |
||
| Date | Saver Awards | Date | Saver Awards |
| 1 Aug | 4 | 1 Aug | — |
| 2 Aug | — | 2 Aug | 6 |
| 3 Aug | 2 | 3 Aug | 6 |
| 4 Aug | 2 | 4 Aug | 6 |
| 5 Aug | 6 | 5 Aug | 6 |
| 6 Aug | — | 6 Aug | 6 |
| 7 Aug | — | 7 Aug | — |
| 8 Aug | 4 | 8 Aug | — |
| 9 Aug | — | 9 Aug | 6 |
| 10 Aug | 2 | 10 Aug | 6 |
| 11 Aug | 2 | 11 Aug | 6 |
| 12 Aug | 6 | 12 Aug | 6 |
| 13 Aug | — | 13 Aug | 6 |
| 14 Aug | — | 14 Aug | — |
| 15 Aug | 4 | 15 Aug | — |
| 16 Aug | — | 16 Aug | 6 |
| 17 Aug | 2 | 17 Aug | 6 |
| 18 Aug | 2 | 18 Aug | 6 |
| 19 Aug | 6 | 19 Aug | 6 |
| 20 Aug | — | 20 Aug | 6 |
| 21 Aug | — | 21 Aug | — |
| 22 Aug | 4 | 22 Aug | — |
| 23 Aug | — | 23 Aug | 6 |
| 24 Aug | 2 | 24 Aug | 6 |
| 25 Aug | 2 | 25 Aug | 6 |
| 26 Aug | 6 | 26 Aug | 6 |
| 27 Aug | — | 27 Aug | 6 |
| 28 Aug | — | 28 Aug | — |
| 29 Aug | 4 | 29 Aug | — |
| 30 Aug | — | 30 Aug | 6 |
| 31 Aug | 2 | 31 Aug | 6 |
Singapore ⇄ London Gatwick
Business Saver Availability
(September 2024)
| SQ312 (SIN-LGW) |
SQ309 (LGW-SIN) |
||
| Date | Saver Awards | Date | Saver Awards |
| 1 Sep | 1 | 1 Sep | 6 |
| 2 Sep | 6 | 2 Sep | 6 |
| 3 Sep | — | 3 Sep | 6 |
| 4 Sep | — | 4 Sep | — |
| 5 Sep | 4 | 5 Sep | — |
| 6 Sep | — | 6 Sep | 6 |
| 7 Sep | 2 | 7 Sep | 6 |
| 8 Sep | — | 8 Sep | 6 |
| 9 Sep | 6 | 9 Sep | 6 |
| 10 Sep | — | 10 Sep | 6 |
| 11 Sep | — | 11 Sep | — |
| 12 Sep | 4 | 12 Sep | — |
| 13 Sep | — | 13 Sep | 6 |
| 14 Sep | — | 14 Sep | 6 |
| 15 Sep | — | 15 Sep | 6 |
| 16 Sep | — | 16 Sep | 6 |
| 17 Sep | — | 17 Sep | — |
| 18 Sep | — | 18 Sep | — |
| 19 Sep | 4 | 19 Sep | — |
| 20 Sep | — | 20 Sep | 6 |
| 21 Sep | — | 21 Sep | 6 |
| 22 Sep | — | 22 Sep | 6 |
| 23 Sep | — | 23 Sep | 6 |
| 24 Sep | — | 24 Sep | 6 |
| 25 Sep | — | 25 Sep | — |
| 26 Sep | 4 | 26 Sep | — |
| 27 Sep | — | 27 Sep | 6 |
| 28 Sep | — | 28 Sep | 6 |
| 29 Sep | — | 29 Sep | 6 |
| 30 Sep | 1 | 30 Sep | 6 |
Singapore ⇄ London Gatwick
Business Saver Availability
(October 2024)
| SQ312 (SIN-LGW) |
SQ309 (LGW-SIN) |
||
| Date | Saver Awards | Date | Saver Awards |
| 1 Oct | — | 1 Oct | 6 |
| 2 Oct | — | 2 Oct | — |
| 3 Oct | 4 | 3 Oct | — |
| 4 Oct | — | 4 Oct | 6 |
| 5 Oct | — | 5 Oct | 6 |
| 6 Oct | — | 6 Oct | 6 |
| 7 Oct | 6 | 7 Oct | 6 |
| 8 Oct | — | 8 Oct | 6 |
| 9 Oct | — | 9 Oct | — |
| 10 Oct | 4 | 10 Oct | — |
| 11 Oct | — | 11 Oct | 6 |
| 12 Oct | 2 | 12 Oct | 6 |
| 13 Oct | — | 13 Oct | 6 |
| 14 Oct | 6 | 14 Oct | 6 |
| 15 Oct | — | 15 Oct | 6 |
| 16 Oct | — | 16 Oct | — |
| 17 Oct | 4 | 17 Oct | — |
| 18 Oct | — | 18 Oct | 6 |
| 19 Oct | 2 | 19 Oct | 6 |
| 20 Oct | — | 20 Oct | 6 |
| 21 Oct | 6 | 21 Oct | 6 |
| 22 Oct | — | 22 Oct | 6 |
| 23 Oct | — | 23 Oct | — |
| 24 Oct | 2 | 24 Oct | — |
| 25 Oct | — | 25 Oct | 6 |
| 26 Oct | 2 | 26 Oct | 6 |
| 27 Oct | — | 27 Oct | 6 |
| 28 Oct | 6 | 28 Oct | 6 |
| 29 Oct | — | 29 Oct | 6 |
| 30 Oct | — | 30 Oct | — |
| 31 Oct | 4 | 31 Oct | — |
Singapore ⇄ London Gatwick
Business Saver Availability
(November 2024)
| SQ312 (SIN-LGW) |
SQ309 (LGW-SIN) |
||
| Date | Saver Awards | Date | Saver Awards |
| 1 Nov | — | 1 Nov | 6 |
| 2 Nov | 2 | 2 Nov | 6 |
| 3 Nov | — | 3 Nov | 6 |
| 4 Nov | 6 | 4 Nov | 6 |
| 5 Nov | — | 5 Nov | 6 |
| 6 Nov | — | 6 Nov | — |
| 7 Nov | 4 | 7 Nov | — |
| 8 Nov | — | 8 Nov | 6 |
| 9 Nov | — | 9 Nov | 6 |
| 10 Nov | — | 10 Nov | 6 |
| 11 Nov | 6 | 11 Nov | 6 |
| 12 Nov | — | 12 Nov | 6 |
| 13 Nov | — | 13 Nov | — |
| 14 Nov | 4 | 14 Nov | — |
| 15 Nov | — | 15 Nov | 6 |
| 16 Nov | — | 16 Nov | 6 |
| 17 Nov | — | 17 Nov | 6 |
| 18 Nov | 6 | 18 Nov | 6 |
| 19 Nov | — | 19 Nov | 6 |
| 20 Nov | — | 20 Nov | — |
| 21 Nov | 4 | 21 Nov | — |
| 22 Nov | — | 22 Nov | 6 |
| 23 Nov | — | 23 Nov | 6 |
| 24 Nov | — | 24 Nov | 6 |
| 25 Nov | 2 | 25 Nov | 6 |
| 26 Nov | — | 26 Nov | 6 |
| 27 Nov | — | 27 Nov | — |
| 28 Nov | 4 | 28 Nov | — |
| 29 Nov | — | 29 Nov | 6 |
| 30 Nov | — | 30 Nov | 6 |
Singapore ⇄ London Gatwick
Business Saver Availability
(December 2024)
| SQ312 (SIN-LGW) |
SQ309 (LGW-SIN) |
||
| Date | Saver Awards | Date | Saver Awards |
| 1 Dec | — | 1 Dec | 6 |
| 2 Dec | 2 | 2 Dec | 6 |
| 3 Dec | — | 3 Dec | 6 |
| 4 Dec | — | 4 Dec | — |
| 5 Dec | 4 | 5 Dec | — |
| 6 Dec | — | 6 Dec | 6 |
| 7 Dec | — | 7 Dec | 6 |
| 8 Dec | — | 8 Dec | 6 |
As you can see there are six instantly confirmable Business Saver awards on many flights on this route. That means the rare ability for the whole family to fly to and from the UK in style next year, if you have enough miles.
Do note that this is a snapshot of award space at the time of writing, and is of course subject to change. You can search the latest award space for your preferred dates via the Singapore Airlines website.
Remember also that six is the maximum number of Business Class award seats you can search for in a single booking, some London Gatwick flights may therefore have even more saver award space than that.
Taxes are lower from Gatwick
If you’ve redeemed flights in the UK to Singapore direction using KrisFlyer miles before, you’ll probably be familiar with one big sting in the tail – Air Passenger Duty (APD).
This stealth charge is the highest aviation tax in the world, which the UK Government collects for every departing passenger based on travel class and journey distance.
For London Gatwick to Singapore, it means paying GBP 92 / S$155 (Economy Class) or GBP 202 / S$340 (Premium Economy and Business Class) in addition to compulsory airport taxes as part of your ticket.
While KrisFlyer levies APD and other fees on top of a miles redemption, the good news is that Gatwick’s own airport fees (PSC, which you pay on top of APD) come to GBP 20.57, quite a bit less than Heathrow’s GBP 55.81.
That makes it around GBP 35 (~S$59) cheaper to redeem using KrisFlyer miles from Gatwick to Singapore, compared to Heathrow. Here’s how it looks for a Business Class award, with SIA’s only other UK route Manchester also included for comparison.
SIA KrisFlyer Award Taxes & Fees
Business Class, ex-UK
| Airport | APD | PSC | Total |
| London Heathrow | GBP 202 | GBP 55.81 | GBP 257.81 (~S$435) |
| Manchester | GBP 202 | GBP 20.78 | GBP 222.78 (~S$375) |
| London Gatwick (from Jun ’24) |
GBP 202 | GBP 20.57 | GBP 222.57 (~S$375) |
That will make Gatwick the cheapest UK airport to redeem KrisFlyer miles from, though let’s face it – APD still stings!
Summary
A huge supply of saver Business Class award availability has been loaded on SIA’s new London Gatwick route, practically from day one, giving you a great opportunity to redeem one of the carrier’s most popular long-haul Business Class seats to and from the UK, even when travelling as a group or family.
Gatwick may not be your airport of choice, but don’t let that dissuade you – there are frequent and easy rail connections into London, while the airport is very well connected with the rest of Europe via low-cost airlines.
Sadly the cash component payable on award tickets from the UK to Singapore are high, thanks to the UK’s stealth tax APD, but at least they are around S$60 lower from Gatwick than the same trip departing from Heathrow.
Also remember you can redeem 355 days out, with new seats loaded at 8am Singapore time each day, so this is one route to keep an eye on for your UK trips as next year’s winter season is progressively loaded.
(Cover Photo: MainlyMiles)