BA early check in at Singapore Changi

[Berlin]

Hello everyone, I find very contradicting information on this so just checking if anyone knows the most recent: Does BA allow for early check in with luggage at Changi?

From what I can read, I don’t think they’re part of the Jewel early check arrangements but read somewhere that they allow early check in at some generic SATS check in facility at T1 rather? Not much firm information though and I definitely don’t want to rush out to Changi early only to sit around on a bench somewhere…

Flying J class on BA15 to Sydney, departure 8:05pm if that makes any difference. Would love to check in earlier than 5pm to have enough time to properly check out the QF, QR and BA lounges.

 

[dajop]

Looks like the answer is no:

Airline Information | Contact & Check-In Details 📇 | Changi Airport Group

Changi Airport serves many international passenger and freighter airlines. Get airline counter opening hours, check-in details and contact information.

www.changiairport.com

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

SATS early check in facility is closed.

 

[SYD]

SATS early check in facility is closed.

Covid casualty. Never reopened and no suggestion it‘s coming back AFAIK…?

 

[OATEK]

Sadly not much option as BA does not participate in the Jewel early check-in scheme like QF and others.

 

[Berlin]

Thanks for all the responses! Oh well. Aiming at checking at at 5pm sharp then, gives us two more hours by the hotel pool. Should still be enough to time to quickly check out the Qantas First lounge and then head over to QR an hour later.

 

[SYD]

Thanks for all the responses! Oh well. Aiming at checking at at 5pm sharp then, gives us two more hours by the hotel pool. Should still be enough to time to quickly check out the Qantas First lounge and then head over to QR an hour later.

There’s also a luggage storage facility next to the Jewel early checkin - if you felt the need to checkout the Jewel and Vortex - but there can be a Conga line depending on time of day.

Pity about no early checkin for BA, the entrance to the Vortex is just back to the left from the early checkin area and opposite the entrance to T1 (from the Jewel).

 

[Berlin]

While usually this forum is full of useful information but in this case, it was all wrong/outdated (no one’s fault, must have changed recently). I’m at Changi right now and am happy to report that BA actually had TWO early check in options:

For all customers in any class, there’s one counter open from 2pm at the back row of BA’s standard check in (there’s obviously need for it as a long queue of people was forming there) and then there is the not-so “forever closed” SATS premium check in for Business and First customers. Worked a treat and we still got about three hours left now to enjoy the lounges

 

[SYD]

While usually this forum is full of useful information but in this case, it was all wrong/outdated (no one’s fault, must have changed recently). I’m at Changi right now and am happy to report that BA actually had TWO early check in options:

For all customers in any class, there’s one counter open from 2pm at the back row of BA’s standard check in (there’s obviously need for it as a long queue of people was forming there) and then there is the not-so “forever closed” SATS premium check in for Business and First customers. Worked a treat and we still got about three hours left now to enjoy the lounges

Nice. So where exactly was the SATS premium checkin? It used to be a room off to one side. Years since I used it last but it was a very nice feature of SIN.

BTW, no one said the premium checkin was “forever closed“ - it just hadn’t reopened. But great that it has because several here have mentioned that they’ve been rejected at the Jewel early checkin (despite being eligible) and because there’s no one there to provide practical manual intervention, they’ve then had to wait for ages to checkin at the regular checkin counters.

I wonder when it did reopen? No sign of it just a few weeks ago when I was there!

 

[Berlin]

Nice. So where exactly was the SATS premium checkin? It used to be a room off to one side. Years since I used it last but it was a very nice feature of SIN.

BTW, no one said the premium checkin was “forever closed“ - it just hadn’t reopened. But great that it has because several here have mentioned that they’ve been rejected at the Jewel early checkin (despite being eligible) and because there’s no one there to provide practical manual intervention, they’ve then had to wait for ages to checkin at the regular checkin counters.

I wonder when it did reopen? No sign of it just a few weeks ago when I was there!

Yes- it felt like rather recently re-opened. It’s that nice area to the side which they had well before Covid (so I assume the same one you are talking about?). Comfy seats, very personal service.

At the opposite of the end of row 4 from memory, BA check in was row 8 and the early counter at the end of row 7.

Strangely, at the Premium Lounge they had a private emigration agent but then you were directed to use the standard electronic gates as well so not sure what that special agent was there for.

 

[Nailz]

So to clarify, if I have only hand luggage and check in online there is no requirement to go to the check in counter?
This will then allow me to use the lounges all day.

 

[SYD]

So to clarify, if I have only hand luggage and check in online there is no requirement to go to the check in counter?
This will then allow me to use the lounges all day.

Yes.

 

[Mattg]

I missed this thread when it was first started, but was able to use the SATS early check-in back in July 2023, flying J on BA15.

 

[Berlin]

I missed this thread when it was first started, but was able to use the SATS early check-in back in July 2023, flying J on BA15.

So it has been re-opened for quite some time then- seems to be standard again now. Highly annoying that neither BA nor Changi airport mention this facility on their respective websites, at least I couldn't find any info when searching for it.

 

[SYD]

So it has been re-opened for quite some time then- seems to be standard again now. Highly annoying that neither BA nor Changi airport mention this facility on their respective websites, at least I couldn't find any info when searching for it.

Yes, there used to be a dedicated “Early checkin” page on the Changi airport website that listed the SATS facilities as well as the Jewel checkin.

This page at least provides clues as to which airlines use SATS.

Airline Information | Contact & Check-In Details 📇 | Changi Airport Group

Changi Airport serves many international passenger and freighter airlines. Get airline counter opening hours, check-in details and contact information.

www.changiairport.com

 

[Berlin]

Yea, I had seen that. No info under "Early check in" for BA and indication of check in 3 hours to 60 minutes prior only. Bit of a shame as this SATS early check in lounge is really neat so surprised they don't advertise this clearer.

 

[ellen10]

I'm not flying BA but JAL. I checked the link above about Changi but it says 3 hours to 60minutes prior only.

But does mention SATS under JAL info. Does that mean we can early checkin at the SATS lounge, we are flying Business?

 

[SYD]

I'm not flying BA but JAL. I checked the link above about Changi but it says 3 hours to 60minutes prior only.

But does mention SATS under JAL info. Does that mean we can early checkin at the SATS lounge, we are flying Business?

Yes, that would be my understanding.

You can also just do bag drop and boarding pass at the Jewel.

Seamless Early Check-In Process at Changi Airport

Experience seamless early check-in at Changi Airport. Streamline your travel with convenient luggage drop-off and start your journey stress-free and in comfort.

www.changiairport.com

 

[ellen10]

Thanks @SYD for the link.

We are staying at the Crown Plaza Changi the night before. But our JAL flight is not until 9.50pm.

So can we check in at the Jewel, have a bit of a wander around and then go through security in the late afternoon and enjoy the various lounges?

 

[SYD]

Thanks @SYD for the link.

We are staying at the Crown Plaza Changi the night before. But our JAL flight is not until 9.50pm.

So can we check in at the Jewel, have a bit of a wander around and then go through security in the late afternoon and enjoy the various lounges?

Yes, once you’ve checked bags and have a boarding pass (from either the Jewel or SATS), you can “enter” the departure terminal immediately or at your leisure.

According to the OW website, JAL uses the Marhaba Lounge (which might be open 24 hrs?) but the better lounges accessible with a J BP start reopening/opening from around 2pm: QF (2pm?), BA (4pm) and QR (6pm). QR being the pick unless OWE and the QF 1st is worth a look.