Flying from Norway to Singapore has been a topic surrounded with quite a bit of uncertainty in the Norwegian colony in Singapore. Therefore, when we sniffed that four families were flying approximately at the same time Friday 14 January, we drummed together a temporary WhatsApp-group to compare notes. Our conclusion can perhaps be that flying from Norway to Singapore is, if not easy, then at least more pleasant and straightforward than it was a few months ago.
Disclaimer: This is not a travel guide from Singapore to Norway (for one, we are not covering the necessary process of getting a re-entry permit). Nor is it a comparison between different airlines. We only share the experience from four families flying back to Singapore from Norway Friday 14 January 2022.
No hick ups for the Ambassador
His Excellency Eivind Homme, Norway’s ambassador to Singapore, flew Swiss air from Gardermoen. Eivind reported Saturday morning that he had landed in Singapore. No hick ups. Things go quicker at the airports now than on his last trip to Singapore in September 2021. Still, there are expensive tests and a lot of paperwork. Eivind is ready for 10 days quarantine and looking forward to a vaccinated travel lane between Singapore and Norway.
Erik thumbling in
Erik Ingvoldstad, Chief Innovation Officer and Co-founder of EedenBull flew Turkish airlines from Gardermoen. He reported Saturday afternoon that everything had gone smoothly. Except his fingerprints were not recognized in immigration in Singapore and he had to wait an extra 45 mins to get allowed in.
Free ART for the Culture-boss
Jon Vikan, CEO and founder of the Norwegian Cultural Center in Singapore. Together with his wife Olga and their two children, Jon travelled with Qatar airways from Gardermoen. They arrived at Gardermoen 2 hours before departure and were out of Changi 1,5 hours after landing. Their experience is that soft copy of documents, except passport and work pass, is sufficient documentation. They conducted a free Antigen Rapid Test (ART) in Sandefjord, which the airline approved without questioning.
Short queues for Leona, except when leaving plane
Leona Geilvoet, VP Culture and Organisational Development in Wilhelmsen. Leona flew KLM with her husband and child. They went to Gardermoen on Thursday and conducted the ART at Dr Dropin.
Worth noting: Currently, professionally conducted ART is sufficient, since it is what Singapore currently demands, even though KLM incorrectly indicates on their website that Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is necessary.
There was only a short queue at Dr Dropin, and Leona had the fit to fly documentation within 20 minutes. Dr Dropin states that the waiting time has gone down over the last weeks, but that it is longer in the afternoon than in the morning. Leona with family stayed at Radisson at Gardermoen from Thursday to Friday and flew at 12.40 pm via Amsterdam. No waiting time at the check-in at Gardermoen. Hard copies of documents (ART-results, re-entry approval, ICA health declaration and vaccine certificate) were thoroughly checked. Leona opted for 6 hours transfer in Amsterdam (did not risk the 90 min alternative). Competent and calm personnel checked all the documents also in Amsterdam.
There was nothing negative to note about the flight itself. However, at arrival, passengers were only let out in groups of 30 PAX, which led to queueing and waiting time inside the airplane. It seemed a bit counterintuitive from a safe measures-perspective.
Leona’s husband also had trouble with the thumb-recognition and had to wait for an extra 45 mins at the immigration. But at least he could then enjoy the nice company of Erik, who suffered the same fate, ref above.
Pre-Covid feeling
These families now serve 10 days home quarantine and express that they look forward to getting out to meet people and to have a VTL-arrangement between Norway and Singapore.
Based on the above, we can indicate that flying from Norway to Singapore still involves quite a bit of bureaucracy and possible extra expenses for testing, and (if needed) hotels. However, overall, it is not overly complicated, and the experience of flying resembles the feeling from pre-Covid days.
