Singapore Airlines adds more VTL flights from January 2022

Singapore Airlines has announced a significant expansion in VTL flight capacity to 12 cities in its VTL network, starting 17 January 2022. 

Amsterdam, Barcelona, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, London, Milan, Munich, New York, Paris, Rome, Seattle and Vancouver will see expansions, while Kuala Lumpur will be added to the VTL network from 29 November 2021 and Houston & Manchester from 19 January 2022. 

All in all it means more options for entering Singapore quarantine-free, and hopefully, easier award redemptions too.

SIA’s expanded VTL schedule

SIA VTL Flights

Singapore Airlines’ full list of VTL flights can be found on its dedicated VTL landing page. The following destinations are seeing additional services added from January 2022. 

Amsterdam

SQ329 is currently operating 4X weekly as the designated VTL flight from Amsterdam to Singapore.

From 17 January 2022, SQ323 will operate 3X weekly as an additional designated VTL flight from Amsterdam to Singapore. 

Barcelona & Milan

SQ379 is currently operating 3X weekly as the designated VTL flight from Barcelona and Milan to Singapore. SQ355 will also operate as a designated VTL flight from Milan to Singapore from 7 to 21 December 2021.

From 19 January 2022, SQ377 will operate 2X weekly as an additional designated VTL flight from Barcelona and Milan to Singapore.

Houston & Manchester

Back in October, I wrote about how Singapore Airlines was planning to restore service to Houston via Manchester, but not as a VTL service. Passengers entering Singapore from Houston or Manchester would still be required to serve a 7-day SHN under existing Category II rules.

It seems Singapore Airlines has decided that the demand warrants a VTL designation, at least from 19 January 2022 when SQ51 becomes a 3X weekly VTL service.

Kuala Lumpur

Starting 29 November 2021, SQ107 will operate daily and SQ121 will operate three-times weekly as the designated VTL flights from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore.

SQ108 will operate daily and SQ122 will operate three-times weekly as the designated VTL flights from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur.

This marks the first time the VTL concept is being applied to a flight from Singapore (even with the current South Korea VTL, travellers are free to take any non-stop flight from Singapore to Seoul). 

London

SQ317 is operating daily as the designated VTL flight from London to Singapore. SQ321 will also operate four-times weekly as a designated VTL flight from London to Singapore from 9 to 22 December 2021.

From 17 January 2022, SQ319 will operate daily as an additional designated VTL flight
from London to Singapore.

Munich

SQ331 is operating thrice-weekly flights as the designated VTL flight from Munich to Singapore.

From 17 January 2022, SQ331 will be increased to five-times weekly flights from Munich to Singapore.

New York & Frankfurt

SQ23 and SQ325 are operating daily as the designated VTL flights from New York and Frankfurt respectively to Singapore. 

Starting 17 January 2022, SQ25 will be operated daily as an additional designated VTL flight from New York (JFK) and Frankfurt to Singapore.

Paris

SQ337 is operating as the designated VTL flight from Paris to Singapore. SQ333 will also operate as a designated VTL flight from Paris to Singapore from 11 to 21 December 2021.

From 18 January 2022, SQ335 will operate three-times weekly as an additional designated VTL flight from Paris to Singapore.

Rome & Copenhagen

SQ353 is operating twice weekly as the designated VTL flight from Rome and Copenhagen to Singapore.

From 19 January 2022, SQ351 will operate two-times weekly as an additional designated VTL flight from Rome and Copenhagen to Singapore. From 2 February 2022, SQ351 will be increased to three-times weekly flights from Rome and Copenhagen to Singapore.

Seattle & Vancouver

In October, Singapore Airlines announced a return to Canada after a 12 year absence, with service to Vancouver (and onwards to Seattle). This was originally intended to be a seasonal route that ended on 15 February 2022, but a decision was made to further extend the route till 26 March 2022.

From 18 January 2022, Singapore Airline will add an additional service to this route with SQ27, operating 2X weekly from Seattle and Vancouver to Singapore.

How are existing bookings handled?

Customers who already have bookings on direct flights from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur (and vice versa) from 29 November 2021 onwards will be automatically re-booked onto designated VTL flights, provided these bookings were made directly with Singapore Airlines. In other words, you will not be automatically rebooked if you booked through an OTA like Trip.com or Expedia.

SIA customers with existing bookings on other routes will be notified if their flight is designated as a VTL flight. If they do not meet the VTL requirements, they may opt to rebook their flights or request for a fee-free refund. 

If you were holding on to some speculative award bookings on a flight that’s now been designated into a VTL, you really can’t lose. If you plan to take that flight, congrats, it’s now a VTL service. If you can’t take that flight because of work or other commitments, you have an excuse to get it cancelled for free on the grounds that it’s been redesignated. 

Conclusion

While it won’t help those heading overseas for the December holidays, those planning to travel in January or Chinese New Year now have additional options for flying back to Singapore quarantine free.

The additional capacity should hopefully mean additional award seats in the Saver category, though I haven’t taken a close look at that situation yet. 

I was hoping for some additional capacity to Melbourne for the Australian open, but I suspect that’s not within SIA’s control at this point, and is more of a political decision to be made depending on how the Australia VTL goes.