SINGAPORE – When Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced on Saturday (Oct 9) that travel curbs would be further eased, Ryon Chan, 17, rushed down to the Singapore Airlines (SIA) service centre in Orchard Road.
His parents had entrusted him with a special task – to reserve four tickets to the United States so that they can attend his eldest brother’s convocation at the University of California, Berkeley on Dec 18.
His brother, 24, is also celebrating his birthday the same day he is graduating with a business degree.
Speaking to The Straits Times, Ryon, a Year 5 Anglo-Chinese School (International) student, said: “We ‘die die’ must go. We came down today just to reserve tickets; you can do it only at the counter or via the hotline.”
Ryon also visited the SIA website but did not expect that it would be hit by technical difficulties following PM Lee’s announcement.
Travellers fully vaccinated against Covid-19 will, in the coming weeks, be able to visit 11 countries without quarantine and with fewer swab tests, under the Vaccinated Travel Lane scheme.
These countries, whose Covid-19 situations are stable, are Brunei, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, South Korea, Spain, Britain and the US.
From Oct 19, vaccinated travellers from Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Britain and the US will also be able to enter Singapore without quarantine.
ALSO READ: Quarantine-free travel to countries including Britain, Canada and US from Oct 19
When ST visited the Ion service centre at 6pm on Saturday, a few people were seen waiting outside but left after being told by SIA staff that there were already 40 to 50 people inside.
ST understands that there was an expected waiting time of three hours.
Mr. Kumar’s Summer Trip Trek
Meet Mr. Kumar—his age is 50, and he thinks “Why wait in line?” He’s booked a flight for his 19‑year‑old son, a freshman juggling math and CS at the University of Chicago.
“With the quarantine rules gone, the kid can roll back home during winter break,” he says. “Everyone’s on the lookout for him, and let’s not forget our labradoodle who’s been missing that playful tail‑wag.”
Travel Fever Is Off the Charts
Travel demand has hit the roof, and families aren’t shy about splurging—some are shelling out up to $5,000 for a business‑class seat to London.
Eileen Chua’s Family Switch‑Up
- Freelance writer Eileen Chua (50) originally had London on her itinerary.
- She switched to Paris because ticket prices nudged a tad lower.
- Last holiday: Australia, 2 years ago.
- Next stop: Britain (train or flight) so her 12‑year‑old can root for Tottenham Hotspur.
- “Dad and son will probably watch the football, while my daughter and I might catch a few plays,” she says.
Why the Price Tag? Supporting Singapore Airlines
Ms. Chua explains the hefty spend is part of her pledge to support SIA, which just raised $8.8 billion from a rights issue last June.
“I want to back SIA—Singaporean pride means we’re “loyal to our country,” she asserts.
COVID‑19: It’s a Bumpy Ride, but We’re OK
With borders opening wider, Ms. Chua ships no fear at the rising Covid‑19 cases—except for kids, who usually fare fine.
“We’re living it. Kids get the virus, it’s mostly asymptomatic. My husband and I are getting boosters soon, so, we’re good! ”
In response to queries from ST, SIA on Saturday said: “Singapore Airlines has seen very high demand today for our Vaccinated Travel Lane flights.
“While we had anticipated this and added more resources at our customer servicing points, our agents may take longer than usual to respond to queries or attend to customers due to the high demand.”
Customers are advised to check flight schedules, book flights and manage their bookings via the Singapore Airlines website or mobile app.
• Additional Reporting by Toh Ting Wei
This article was first published in The Straits Times. Permission required for reproduction.
COVID-19coronavirusSIA (Singapore Airlines)Air travel
