Transit thru Changi

[ferntree]

I guess this is a bit of a "how long is a piece of string?" question, but what would be a sensible minimum transit time to allow in a booking with SA that means transiting thru Chiangi airport. Both flights will be with SA. In answering, please keep in mind that I am somewhat neurotic and was clearly born to worry!

Thanks in advance.

 

[JohnK]

I wouldn't book any transit less than 2-3 hours but if possible longer would be better in case of any delays.

 

[AIRwin]

Why not post in the SQ forum?

 

[ferntree]

I wouldn't book any transit less than 2-3 hours but if possible longer would be better in case of any delays.

Thanks John, I was thinking along similar lines. Trouble is, none of the options taht the SA website throw up are that long.

 

[HS-TQE]

I would recommend at least 2.5 hours between flights at Changi, regardless of carrier.

SQ from personal experience did help on the last occasion a flight was delayed, and was able to be rebooked on a connecting flight (fortunately was only a few hours later as it was within the ASEAN region)

 

[JohnK]

Thanks John, I was thinking along similar lines. Trouble is, none of the options taht the SA website throw up are that long.

If on same ticket then I think 1 hour is valid and you are protected.

If you are on separate tickets then minimum 2-3 hours.

 

[ferntree]

I would recommend at least 2.5 hours between flights at Changi

John and HS-TQE:

Thanks, I'll try entering a multi-flight booking and see if that helps. Even if protected by being on the same ticket, it would still be more than inconvenient to miss a connection.

 

[ferntree]

Making it a multi-city booking works well ... gives me an option for 3 hours 20 min at Chiangi. Is there any disadvantage in making it a multi-city booking? For example, would I have to go out thru immigration and come back in again at Chiangi?

 

[bcworld]

Making it a multi-city booking works well ... gives me an option for 3 hours 20 min at Chiangi. Is there any disadvantage in making it a multi-city booking? For example, would I have to go out thru immigration and come back in again at Chiangi?

Where are you booking this? I can't think of a site that makes you do a multicity to pull up all the available connections. And no, you would not have to do that.

 

[ferntree]

Where are you booking this? I can't think of a site that makes you do a multicity to pull up all the available connections. And no, you would not have to do that.

Thanks: SA web site.

 

[ferntree]

Why not post in the SQ forum?

Sorry, yes, good point. I put it here because the itinerary starts and ends with domestic VA flights, but should have thought a bit more. Sorry.

 

[dajop]

John and HS-TQE:

Thanks, I'll try entering a multi-flight booking and see if that helps. Even if protected by being on the same ticket, it would still be more than inconvenient to miss a connection.

Making it a multi-city booking works well ... gives me an option for 3 hours 20 min at Chiangi. Is there any disadvantage in making it a multi-city booking? For example, would I have to go out thru immigration and come back in again at Chiangi?

Unless you want to allow for extended lounge time, 1 hr is fine if all on the one ticket.

If you arrive within 20-30 mins of departure of the outbound flight, or later, then SQ will put you on the next available flight (usually the next flight unless it is full).

If the alternatives you are talking about (1 hr and 3:20) are connections from the same flight into Singapore, I am not sure how a 100% chance of a 3:20 connection is more inconvenient than a 95% chance of 1 hr connection with a 5% chance of 3:20 connection.

What flight are you looking at into Singapore? There's some stats around that give you a good idea of reliability. If coming out of MEL, for example. the last flight, SQ 208 is the most unreliable. Of the top of my head, for the other flights SQ 218 tends to get in early, SQ 238 on time and SQ 228 early/on time. Not sure of SQ248 as it's relatively new.

Also beware of your connection - some of the SE Asia flights might be on SQ code on Scoot.

 

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

No need to go in and out of immigration at Singapore unless you happened to have an inbound flight where you needed to collect and recheck your bags. If they're both SQ then no issue there.

 

[wsthong]

Transiting in Changi for KLIA. Do I need to recheck my luggage.
Have done this for a while.

 

[JohnK]

Making it a multi-city booking works well ... gives me an option for 3 hours 20 min at Chiangi. Is there any disadvantage in making it a multi-city booking? For example, would I have to go out thru immigration and come back in again at Chiangi?

No disadvantage to multi-city booking. That's a much better connection.

 

[AIRwin]

Sorry, yes, good point. I put it here because the itinerary starts and ends with domestic VA flights, but should have thought a bit more. Sorry.

Oh no worries... Where will you be originating from?

 

[TomVexille]

On one ticket, I've seen as low as 55 minutes offered. Which I'd consider okay if you know your way around the airport. If you didn't 90 minutes would be plenty.

 

[kamchatsky]

I have done 50 mins transit at SIN on SQ-SQ flights. The inbound flight to SIN was late by 20 mins and arrived at T2. The outbound flight was at T3 so we had to run + sky train madly to T3 and then ran to one of the outlier gates. We barely made it as SQ held the outbound flight for us. Our checkin luggage also made it.

 

[ferntree]

Unless you want to allow for extended lounge time, 1 hr is fine if all on the one ticket.

If you arrive within 20-30 mins of departure of the outbound flight, or later, then SQ will put you on the next available flight (usually the next flight unless it is full).

If the alternatives you are talking about (1 hr and 3:20) are connections from the same flight into Singapore, I am not sure how a 100% chance of a 3:20 connection is more inconvenient than a 95% chance of 1 hr connection with a 5% chance of 3:20 connection.

What flight are you looking at into Singapore? There's some stats around that give you a good idea of reliability. If coming out of MEL, for example. the last flight, SQ 208 is the most unreliable. Of the top of my head, for the other flights SQ 218 tends to get in early, SQ 238 on time and SQ 228 early/on time. Not sure of SQ248 as it's relatively new.

Also beware of your connection - some of the SE Asia flights might be on SQ code on Scoot.

Thanks, that is REALLY REALLY helpful! And yes, I've noticed the Scoot trap and will do my best to avoid it!

 

[JohnK]

I have done 50 mins transit at SIN on SQ-SQ flights. The inbound flight to SIN was late by 20 mins and arrived at T2. The outbound flight was at T3 so we had to run + sky train madly to T3 and then ran to one of the outlier gates. We barely made it as SQ held the outbound flight for us. Our checkin luggage also made it.

But surely that's not ideal to be rushing to make onward flights? All to save a few hours? Not fun.

I've started planning June trip to Thailand and can see SQ offering a few 60 minute connections to/from BKK. I'm not comfortable with wife/daughter in tow especially given my luck. I'd much rather have 3-4 hours and relax in between flights.