Do I need a return ticket to enter in Singapore?

[Saudade]

I am planning to go to Singapore next week for medical reasons so I am not sure if I need to be there 2 or 3 days, could I buy a one way ticket and enter Singapore without a ticket to go out and later buy it or I need to bring a return ticket?
I am not very familiar with Air Asia tickets, so I am still have to check if is easy to change the day of the ticket in case I need it if I enter with a return ticket and need to be longer there.
Terimakasi

 

[Anglian]

AirAsia do not change flights under any circumstance, a return ticket is cheaper,expect you already figured that, personally I would get a ticket from Singapore airline which the flight dates can be changed.
I've never been asked for a return ticket, I doubt if they will ask you

 

[Vanhelsing]

I've arrived into Singapore many times on a one way ticket never being asked to provide details of onward travel. Many travelers use Singapore as an insertion point to then travel overland by bus or train into Malaysia and beyond.

 

[Puspawarna]

Cheap AirAsia tickets cannot be changed without considerable expense. I've had to do brief trips to Singapore frequently thanks to my ophthalmalogic issues, only being able to guesstimate when I'd be able to come back to Jakarta. Therefore, I have bought round trip tickets that I was confident would work even if my doctor wanted to inflict a sadistic amount of testing/procedures.

So, for example, on more than one occasion I had a ticket to return to Singapore on a 6:30-ish pm flight, but due to good luck with the eye doctor I was at the airport and ready to go home by 2:30.

Do you think AirAsia would put me on an earlier flight? No. Eff'ing. Way. I mean...sure they would, if I wanted to pay $300 or so. But they showed zero flexibility in terms of changing my ticket.

Singapore Air, on the other hand, is totally flexible and understanding. But the price of the original ticket is much higher. So, you just have to decide what kind of flexibility you are willing to pay for, and take it from there.

Me, I go with Air Asia's cheap round-trip tickets, understanding that I may waste several hours because I can't change the ticket. I'm just happy the eye doctor didn't need more time with me.

 

[sumyunggai]

Air Asia have Premium Flex.

You get:

20kg luggage (15kg is free for domestic, otherwise you pay ~150,000RP)
'free' change of date (subject to difference in cost)
priority check in
lounge access at KLIA only
meal
free seat selection

The cost is around 200,000 IDR. I think the priority check-in would be worth it some places. I had a hellish experience at KL after a long flight from Europe. Otherwise I think the date change option is just a trick. You pay to be able to change but then when you try and change you still have to pay.

The other option is just to buy the ticket at the last minute (no return ticket). I have done this before, it can work ok. For example, if you book in advance the costs is 500,000IDR. And if you buy on the day maybe 700,000IDR. Which is the same extra cost as 'premium flex', but if you had premium flex you'd pay the 200,000 IDR flex fee, AND the difference in ticket price as well. This is only really a good idea if the ticket costs don't get too high. (On longer routes last minute can be very expensive.)

 

[R Cameron]

The cost is around 200,000 IDR. I think the priority check-in would be worth it some places. I had a hellish experience at KL after a long flight from Europe. Otherwise I think the date change option is just a trick. You pay to be able to change but then when you try and change you still have to pay.

I just checked for Jakarta to KL on a random date in February and it shows 449rb for the base airfare and an additional 600rb for the Premium Flex!

 

[Jarno]

If you want to avoid this hassle, fly to Batam and take the ferry.
The hassle of return tickets that is, it'll cost you a bit extra time getting to the ferry and the trip to Singapore also takes an hour or so.

 

[Felicity]

I am planning to go to Singapore next week for medical reasons so I am not sure if I need to be there 2 or 3 days, could I buy a one way ticket and enter Singapore without a ticket to go out and later buy it or I need to bring a return ticket?I am not very familiar with Air Asia tickets, so I am still have to check if is easy to change the day of the ticket in case I need it if I enter with a return ticket and need to be longer there.Terimakasi

In my experience, about return ticket withAir Asia, the check-in staff asked my return ticket but I didn't have. I was still able to check-in, he said just in case the immigration in Singapore would ask, return ticket would make it easier.So, I booked a return tickets by Traveloka while waiting for the departure, but didn't pay it yet. I got like 3-4 hours until it was expired. So the reservation was just to show to the Singapore immigration, if they asked. All went well.

Second experience, about changing date with Air Asia, it costed me 40 dollar. I had to change my return date 2-3 hours hours before the flight, so instead of buying new ticket for about 60 dollar, I paid 40 dollar and change the date. I paid it when I checked-in. All went well

oh it was all cheap/promo tickets, nothing luxury.
Hope it helps. I love traveling!

 

[Saudade]

Thanks a lot to everybody for your advices and share your experiences.
Anglian about the return tickets been cheaper I am not sure about that because these days I think for many companies there is not difference, because we choose the day with the prices on one way or return, one by one, so at least with Air Asia, Lufhansa, Air France and KLM I think the prices I was checking in different times were the same one way than buying return tickets but I am not totally sure how this things are really working.

 

[Saudade]

I am in Singapore already and nobody asked me for a return ticket

 

[R Cameron]

Sometimes countries want to see proof you plan to leave (not necessarily return, just leave). Here's a little "travel hack" to get a real ticket for 10usd (which is later cancelled): https://flyonward.com/

You can accomplish basically the same thing with cost if you book through a US airline/travel site. Any airline ticket purchased in the US automatically comes with a 24 hour no-fee cancellation period. Book before you head to the airport, cancel when you arrive at your destination. Just don't forget to cancel.