I have taken the Singapore Air flight from LAX to Singapore and connected with Silk Air three times (last time was 3 years ago paid US$1120 for LAX to Singapore via Tokyo to Manado and back (booked at the Singapore web site, and it was US $45 cheaper than my friend who is VP of a huge ticket company could get wholesale, so check regularly you may want to try YAPTA.com which lets you track ticket prices and emails you when it goes down)
Every trip was flawless. A tip for food on a large plane like a 747. If you get a special meal (I get the Asian or Indian vegetarian) you will get served first since they want to get rid of the special meals right away so they can start with the chicken or fish routine.
Upon arrival in Indonesia, always ask about the
departure tax and be sure to save local currency. When I was last in Manado, you checked in and got your boarding pass, and just before going up the stairs you paid about US$8 in local currency for the departure tax and got a sticker or stamp on your boarding pass. Every airport has a different rate, so ask and tuck away enough rupiah for the airport tax and any snacks at the airport etc. In most countries the taxes are already included in the fare.
If you are bring US Dollars cash make sure the
bills are clean, unmarked, crisp and recent. This applies in particular to US $100 bills because they have had counterfeiting problems with the 100 dollar bill, so newer and crisper is best and will get you a better rate. Old bills may be refused.
I prefer the discountable (you will probably not get miles f you get the discounted flight, you will have to check this out and figure out if it is worth paying more to get miles) one stop to Singapore via Tokyo because it is cheaper than the non-stop from LA and I like to get out and stretch my legs for an hour in Tokyo. Everyone goes on the same flight in morning to Manado.
And yes, you do get the full baggage allowance the whole way based on the Piece Concept (
PC) which applies to flights from/to US or Canada. Two pieces of luggage each weighing 50 pounds
If you fly one airline to Asia and then different one to Manado your luggage for you Manado flight will be subject to the Weight Concept (
WC) which is standard for most international flight of a total of 20 kg (44 pounds total) Flights on Singapore Air and Silk Air are considered to be on the same airline because Silk Air is a subsidiary of Singapore Air and their is no break in the flight as you continue on the next available flight
You will see the codes PC or WC in your actual ticket.
Here is the web site about baggage on Silk Air (a subsidiary of Singapore Air) which explains the baggage concepts. Since one is flying Singapore Air and connecting on the next available flight it is like you are coming from Canada or US and thus the Piece Concept applies because essentially you have not broken your journey. If you stayed in Singapore for several days I am not sure what would happen. You need to ask.
SilkAir: SilkAir Experience - On the ground - Excess baggage
They also may allow about 10 Kg for divers. Ask. It is unclear if it applies to WC only or also to PC
Plus you check your bag at
LAX all the way thru to Manado
So be sure to take what you need for your overnight in Singapore in your carry on.
I always take my reg/gauges/computer and BCD and a thin exposure suit (I use the suit for padding) in my carry on and only ship my spare clothes and fins. I use a separate regulator bag clipped on to my carry on with snap bolts as it makes it easier to get the regulator out for inspection. If you go via Tokyo, as soon as you get off the plane you go thru security with your carry on luggage before going to the wait in the departure lounge.
Be sure to check out the beautiful inside gardens in the Singapore Airport terminals especially the
orchid garden with koi pond in Terminal 2 Free wifi at Singapore airport and free terminals to use for internet access all over the place including departure lounges.
A tip for your return trip, though you may be given a boarding pass with an assigned seat for the Singapore_LAX flight when you check in at Manado, when you arrive at Singapore airport go to one of the transit desks and see if you can get moved to seat with more leg room Often seat with extra leg room because they are designed to have a baby "bed" mounted on the wall in front of the seat, become available at the last minute. Presumably those seats were held back in case someone traveling with a baby needed them and those are nice, extra legroom and no one in front leaning their seat back on your making it impossible to view the video screen etc. By the way, with Video on Demand you knock off a few movies and you are in Tokyo, a few more and your are in Singapore.
Some airlines may throw in the connecting flight to the international gateway (e.g the SFO to LAX flight) for no extra cost. I recall being a flight several years ago from LAX to Fiji and someone was on my flight and they paid the same amount starting in San Francisco. Ask.