Peace

Airlines: agree SQ is World's best, but Asiana is in top 5 for sure and won Skytraxx award as airline of the year for 2009. BOTH are first rate.

The big DISADVANTAGE is that you are adding 6 hours of flying time EACH WAY by going to SIN; look at a map and you'll see why. SIN is more than 3 hours further West whereas Seoul is directly north of Manila.

Also, you are partly incorrect about schedule: there is a 12 hour layover ON WAY BACK but only 2 hours on the way over so you get to Manila one night sooner than if you transit SIN.

The 12 hour layover is not a bad thing; you can do the Asiana city tour or sleep in the GREAT transit hotel in the terminal. I used to say Changi (SIN) was World's best airport but last 5 years it has ranked number 2, to INCHEON!

And after a trip to the PI last thing on Earth you will want is more sex in EITHER SIN or ICN.

Search the archives and you'll fin a couple reports I've posted on the layover in Seoul and things to do.

If you have never been to SIN, it is certainly worth seeing. BY FAR the most civilized city in all of Asia. BY FAR. But it aint cheap. That said, I was SHOCKED to hear Orchard Hotel is now $200; used to always get it for half that on asiatravel.com. I use SIN as the stopover on the way to Jakarta, just 90 minutes away, but for a waystation to Manila it is FAR out of the way as mentioned above.

Been a few years but I used to get LT from the towers for no more than 200Sing (about $140 at current forex rates). Geylang is cheaper but less kweilo (roundeye) friendly and NOT LT oriented at all.

Check www.sammyboy.sg, the redbook of SIN for details on mongering.

Final point is BOTH airlines are QUITE COSTLY (you do get what you pay for). The cheap fares typically either give ZERO UA miles or at best 70% of miles flown.