Singapore — The good news is that after nearly two years, we can begin travelling to many of our favourite places again. Three more countries will shortly become accessible, as vaccinated travel lanes (VTL), this time to Malaysia, Sweden, and Finland were announced on Monday (Nov 8).
The not-so-great news is that gone are the days of simply buying a ticket, packing a bag, and leaving since the Covid-19 pandemic has made travelling significantly more complicated.
But, as the saying goes, forewarned is forearmed. So our best travel tip in the age of Covid is this — prepare well by reading up on the requirements of:
- Your destination
- Your carrier/s
- Singapore for when you come home
This may involve a significant amount of paperwork. Take your time, it will pay off in the end.
And, as pandemic rules can change pretty quickly based on on-ground situations, it’s not enough to read about these requirements once. You’ll need to stay updated on the latest information from your destination and carrier in order to make sure your requirements are correct and complete.
The sources of information for these requirements will vary, of course, but for your homecoming, the ICA’s safe travel page will be your best bet.
Pro-tip 1: Do as much preparatory work online as you can—fill up forms, upload required QR codes or other documents, download the Covid app of your destination, and finally, check-in—anything that will help you avoid long queues and crowds will be a bonus.
However, having said that, be mentally prepared to endure long queues anyway, especially in newly-opened destinations where the process of welcoming visitors after twenty months may still need some polishing in order to run smoothly. You’ll need to be patient, so bring a book or load up on your favourite podcasts in preparation. With some luck, you won’t need these.
While we’re on the subject, you also need to give yourself enough time to check in. For economy class passengers, the recommended time for checking in is four hours before your flight.
And if you’re a Crazy Rich Asian and only fly business or first class, you still want to get to your check-in counter at least three hours before takeoff to give yourself enough time.
Pro-tip 2: Travel insurance, vaccination certificates, and Covid tests. Find out what you need.
Travel insurance used to be optional, at least for some destinations. Nowadays, it may no longer be the case. This is one of the things you’ll want to make sure of before you leave—and your destination may require you to get the type of insurance that covers you in the event that you get Covid.
Some airlines and destinations require proof that you took a Covid test 48 to 72 hours before you board, such as Qatar Airways. Some require an RPT PCR test, others accept antigen tests. Some don’t, including Turkish Airlines, as long as you are fully vaccinated with an approved vaccine.
And while most destinations require Covid tests when you arrive, some do not, provided you show proof of vaccination or recovery. Note that not all proofs of vaccination are created equal, so again, find out what your carrier and destination require.
As for Singapore, a Covid test is required upon arrival, which passengers may pre-book and pay for ($160).
Pro-tip 3: Your passport number and flight details will be asked for several times. You may as well commit them to memory or have them written down in an accessible place so that you don’t have to struggle with it.
Last bits of useful information…
The Singapore Airlines website has a very informative landing page for all things Covid, if you’re travelling via SIA.
It especially includes the requirements for all the countries under the VTL scheme, so if you’re planning to travel to any of those destinations, check it out. /TISG
Read also: Get ready! Singaporeans’ favourite SEA travel destination, Thailand, opens Nov 1
Get ready! Singaporeans’ favourite SEA travel destination, Thailand, opens Nov 1