HKG or SIN - Your Preference?

[clarkkent]

HKG loses some points for the extra liquids screening prior to boarding Australian flights (ruling out duty-free purchases, unlike SIN).

 

[vantage03]

SIN is a pretty bland airport, I second the RSL-like comment above. SQ's TPR is so overrated too, I don't get why everyone raves about it... I'm there regularly and it just doesn't compare to the First lounges of QF, CX, LH etc.
HKG is one of the best airports in the world, and if you're flying a premium cabin with one of the better airlines, they'll make up for the distance to the gate by providing a buggy service.
Shopping and lounges at HKG much better imo, except for those Singapore chemists which sell everything over the counter lol

 

[smit0847]

Each have their charms: for non status Y pax SIN is definitely better, for status/premium pax HKG is a playground. My only complaint about HKG is how long it takes to get to some gates.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I must admit - I have not been in a CX F Lounge for over 12mths - what Champs are they serving in Peir / Wing F nowadays?

 

[awkwardpaws]

does SQ have a dedicated First Class lounge in HKG, or is it a combined SilverKris lounge for J and F passengers?

 

[diningdecadence]

does SQ have a dedicated First Class lounge in HKG, or is it a combined SilverKris lounge for J and F passengers?

first class is in a room to the left, whereas the rest go to the right. shared showers with a buzzer.

 

[DaveB]

Overnight return flights from SIN a tad too short and will avoid like the plague.

 

[Fiches Mouser]

first class is in a room to the left, whereas the rest go to the right. shared showers with a buzzer.

Pretty sure there are dedicated F showers. There's also The Private Room within the F lounge for SQ F pax only.

 

[awkwardpaws]

Pretty sure there are dedicated F showers. There's also The Private Room within the F lounge for SQ F pax only.

Thanks mrsmart, just to confirm, I was asking about the SQ lounge in HKG. So theres a TPR in HKG too?

 

[Fiches Mouser]

Thanks mrsmart, just to confirm, I was asking about the SQ lounge in HKG. So theres a TPR in HKG too?

My bad – sorry! No TPR in HKG.

 

[vantage03]

To be fair to SQ, their new F lounge in HKG is just fine. Not far below the standard of TPR in SIN and MUCH closer to the departing gates...

 

[awkwardpaws]

To be fair to SQ, their new F lounge in HKG is just fine. Not far below the standard of TPR in SIN and MUCH closer to the departing gates...

Thanks vantage03!

 

[Fiches Mouser]

To be fair to SQ, their new F lounge in HKG is just fine. Not far below the standard of TPR in SIN and MUCH closer to the departing gates...

I agree – I actually love their HKG lounge. Nice bar. Good, private seating. Ticks all my boxes, except for having a view.

 

[dajop]

Can't stand the ridiculous "at the gate" security at SIN. For me, HKG wins easily. It's stylish and works so well.

That is the great strength of SIN in my view. I can't stand the ridiculous "central transfer point" security at HKG I have never needed 30 mins to get from plane to lounge at SIN ( whereas I have at HKG due to long security lines), and the gate based security provides a degree of reliability if you are connecting (or indeed checking in from the street) that central security points do not. I'This allows more lounge (or free time, if no lounge access) than having to transfer through a central point.

As far as the airports go, the CX lounges are definitely better at HKG ... but mind you if you don't really care for champagne, the QF lounge at SIN is more than acceptable on the OW side of things. I'd rate the SQ F lounge at HKG better than their flagship at Changi, but never been to the TPR.

If not having lounge access, and I have spent considerable time at both without lounge access at both airports (due to flights on Jetstar, Hong Kong Airlines, Tiger and the like), then SIN is better, quieter and more comfortable spots to relax in (slumber chairs, etc) and I feel a greater range of affordable food options (although HKG is better than most airports on that score). Also, I feel the much derided carpet is actually a tremendous asset as well at Changi, it is very good at dampening the sound and the incessant chatter of hundreds of passengers. .

 

[OATEK]

I have had a long transit in both, and prefer HKG and the security check as you disembark was no issue. SIN was very efficient when we had a short transit QF to SQ, but the queue at the gate, and the arguments over liquids (duty free from OZ), I found annoying.

I agree with others that the terminal in HKG is light and airy, and the lounges fantastic. HKG is my preferred in-bound stopover, so I have been happy to transit out at SIN if it lowers the fare, but HKG is my favourite.

 

[Awesom Andy]

I've been through the 2 airports many times, with various status and airlines. I'll mostly cover it from the point of view of the non-status pax, given there's already plenty of posts on lounges, etc.

If you don't have status, SIN is definitely better. There are more things to do (as long as you can find them), transit hotels inside the terminal, and gates are generally much closer to get to (apart from the far end of T2 and T3). If they can get rid of that carpet, it would be wonderful. HKG is usually more crowded, and it's much more susceptible to airport-wide delays, especially in summer when typhoons and tropical rain can cause havoc for days. In comparison, in SIN, very rarely would you get consistent winds/gusts that's over the limits for safe flight operations. Delayed/cancelled flights generally have a greater effect on non-status pax as all the other status pax have higher priority in what remaining seats that may be available and the resulting waitlists after the flights are filled.

Also, with customs clearances, the queues in SIN are generally much shorter. This does not apply to status pax as much as they are more likely to have arranged for the automated clearances in either/both airports, but non-status pax would be in the queue - SIN: generally 0 - 10 mins, HKG: 5 - 30 mins.

The only thing to watch out for in SIN is that the gates open an hour before flight departure. At this time, you are stuck in the holding room with basically no facilities for most gates. Even something as simple as a washroom visit would require you asking nicely at the counter, where you have to go back out, and then subject to another security check on the way back in. On busy flights, the holding room can run out of seats, but then, there aren't that many seats at the gates in HKG either. For those who like to board early, I suggest heading to the gates around 45 minutes prior to boarding, that seems to be the off-peak time, and you should still be able to find a seat in the holding room, and it's only around 20 minutes before actual boarding starts.

For those who have status, I agree that the lounges are definitely better in HKG. This even applies for the *A status pax who are not flying in J/F as the Gold lounges in SIN are rubbish. However, the SQ lounge in HKG is of a good standard, with showers, and cook-on-demand laksa and wonton noodles. Some sort of bubbles are also available but I haven't checked what it is exactly.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Chocolate and strawberry. Both good in their own way, although Hong Kong wins hands down for pre-check in with food, shopping etc

 

[Happy Trails]

That is the great strength of SIN in my view. I can't stand the ridiculous "central transfer point" security at HKG I have never needed 30 mins to get from plane to lounge at SIN ( whereas I have at HKG due to long security lines), and the gate based security provides a degree of reliability if you are connecting (or indeed checking in from the street) that central security points do not. I'This allows more lounge (or free time, if no lounge access) than having to transfer through a central point.

There are half a dozen transfer security points in the main building at HKG, but the remote ones are easy to miss if you don't already know where they are.
Swings and roundabouts on the usable free time I reckon.

 

[dajop]

There are half a dozen transfer security points in the main building at HKG, but the remote ones are easy to miss if you don't already know where they are.
Swings and roundabouts on the usable free time I reckon.

Yes, but not always staffed.

I will qualify my earlier comments though, in light of swings and roundabouts - if you are are serial late boarder like me, SIN gives you more time (I know SQ closes their gates 10 mins out, and there is never a queue 15 mins out). In 100+ departures from SIN, I've queued for more than a couple of minutes at the gate perhaps two-three times - for 3K mainly. If you like to board the plane early HKG is much better.

The other thing at SIN - like any multiple terminal airport - there isvariation between terminals. Most QF/oneworld types (and therefore probably most AFF'ers) would be most familiar with T1 - which is arguably the least likeable of the three SIN terminals......

 

[Awesom Andy]

There are half a dozen transfer security points in the main building at HKG, but the remote ones are easy to miss if you don't already know where they are.
Swings and roundabouts on the usable free time I reckon.

The other problem with the multiple points is that if you arrive at gate 38+, then went through the nearest transit point before realising that your next gate is 1-25. For most of us, we know to check before hand, or if we can't find what our next gate is, take the APM before going through the transit point. A non-status pax is much less likely to know about this.

In SIN, you don't get this problem. In fact, you simply turn up at the next gate without even needing to search for a transit point. Not until T4 opens anyway. (SIN T4 will have a more traditional set up where departing and arriving pax are separated. It will also not be connected by sky train. It was designed as a replacement of the budget terminal but full service airlines such as CX will be moving there, which I'm sure will be a pain in the rear end.)