Airport question - connecting flights

[acookie]

Hi all

Hope you can help me out with my query on connecting flights (I've never flown on connecting flights).


So I'm flying with Sinagapore Air from Perth to London - it will be PER - SIN, 2 hour gap, SIN - LON.

I'll be doing an onlne check in and print my boarding passes when I'm in Perth. At this point can I print my boarding pass for my SIN - LON flight? Or do I have to check in at the airport in Changi? Also, when arriving in SIngapore do I have to pass through customs or can I go straight through to T3?

Finally! Is a 2 hour lay over enough to make the SIN - Lon flight?

Thanks

 

[serfty]

Is it all on the one booking or do you have two?

Connecting in SIN for SQ flights is a reputedly a breeze, so you should have little issue either way.

 

[anat0l]

If your PER-SIN and SIN-LHR (assumed London Heathrow) flights are on the same booking reference, I can't see why you couldn't online check-in for both legs in PER. More precisely, in PER you should be able to:

• Check-in for both flights
• Obtain boarding passes for both flights
• Check bags all the way through to LHR

You can do this as well if your two PER-SIN and SIN-LHR are on two separate bookings (rather than one), although you would probably then online check-in separately for both flights (rather than doing it all in one fell swoop). However at the airport all the procedures end up the same.


Now if your PER-SIN flight is delayed, you have technically more "protection" from Singapore Airlines if you had booked all your flights on one booking reference rather than as separate bookings, e.g. if your PER-SIN flight is delayed and causes you to miss your SIN-LHR connection, SQ should (in theory - this is guessing!) put you on the next flight and give you any necessary assistance, free of charge. This is because as Singapore Airlines have specifically sold you a connection that, in their good faith, should be possible, it is up to them to honour that. If you have two separate bookings they may not offer you any assistance (other than put you on the next flight) if you miss your connection (as the connection has not been explicitly sold), but knowing Singapore Airlines they may just accommodate you anyway.

In saying that, 2 hours should be enough time anyway for a connection at SIN. The minimum connecting times at SIN are typically timed at around 55 minutes; since you do not have to worry about bags or checking in, all you have to do is get to the new gate (and in very rare cases, change terminals, since I'd imagine your flight from PER would arrive at T3, but I could be wrong so please check your ticket). There is no need at SIN to pass through immigration / customs (following on from this, there is no need for you to fill out an immigration card, since you will only be in airside transit at SIN). Make sure that if your flight from PER looks like it will be significantly delayed, get in touch with a Singapore Airlines official ASAP.

Hope that helps.

 

[acookie]

Yes both flights are on the same booking. So it all seems relatively easy.

 

[dajop]

I'd imagine your flight from PER would arrive at T3, but I could be wrong so please check your ticket

Occasionally flights can end up in T2 (especially with the aircraft type used to/from PER). In any event acookie does arrive in T2, it is fairly easy to find the airtrain to T3 where the London flight will be departing from - there are actually two airtrains that travel between T2 & T3 - and really only takes 3-8 minutes depending on the wait. Regardless of which terminal, if the PER flight is running quite late (ie less than 45 mins connection time) staff will meet the plane to assist/direct passengers to the correct gate.

As for 2 hours, plenty of time [as a tip, unless you want to just collapse in a heap right at the gate or on the LON plane, the screens will indicate "boarding" about 1 hour prior to departure. This means that people are entering the gate area, but not necessarily boarding the aircraft. Boarding closes strictly 10 mins from scheduled departure time - never earlier - which means you can wander around the airport, turn up at the gate 25-30 mins before departure, when the screens will indicate "final call", and comfortably make the flight]

 

[acookie]

thanks for all the info, much appreciated

just another quick question, before boarding the flight to London do I have to go through another security check and cabin baggage check?

 

[dajop]

just another quick question, before boarding the flight to London do I have to go through another security check and cabin baggage check?

Yes. All security is at the gate at Singapore (at some gates in T3 it is shared between 4 gates, but essentially the same principle). The queues for this vary in length, but tend to shrink as you get closer to actual departure time.

 

[Fantic125]

Also note that because you will have to go through security screening prior to boarding the aircraft in SIN, that the LAG's (Liquids, Aerosols, Gels) rules apply, so nothing larger than 100mls will be accepted for carry on baggage.

 

[serfty]

Also note that because you will have to go through security screening prior to boarding the aircraft in SIN, that the LAG's (Liquids, Aerosols, Gels) rules apply, so nothing larger than 100mls will be accepted for carry on baggage.

However, if you are after Duty Free Liquids > 100ml and your final destination is London then you can buy from the Changi Duty Free stores and they will deliver your purchase in tamper proof sealed bags to your gate where you collect them after passing the security and cabin baggage check.

 

[wingspan]

In any event acookie does arrive in T2, it is fairly easy to find the airtrain to T3 where the London flight will be departing from - there are actually two airtrains that travel between T2 & T3 - and really only takes 3-8 minutes depending on the wait.

And it's also a rather nice, fairly short walk from T2 to T3 anyway. I did the opposite direction recently, and it felt good to be able to walk around between flights.

 

[dajop]

However, if you are after Duty Free Liquids > 100ml and your final destination is London then you can buy from the Changi Duty Free stores and they will deliver your purchase in tamper proof sealed bags to your gate where you collect them after passing the security and cabin baggage check.

As long as done at earliest possible opportunity! Last time I purchased such items there was a 1 hour cut off prior to scheduled departure time. (although note - that was at least 12 months ago).

 

[anat0l]

As long as done at earliest possible opportunity! Last time I purchased such items there was a 1 hour cut off prior to scheduled departure time. (although note - that was at least 12 months ago).

I think the timeframes are still current as such. I seem to recall that a friend I was traveling through SIN with wanted to buy some liquor as we were in transit on QF10 (the short stop before the second leg of the long journey). As the layover isn't very long (not far off, if not less than, 90 minutes), when we got to the duty free shop I remember remarking to the sales assistant that my friend only had 10 minutes to make up his mind (i.e. otherwise, the bottle wasn't going to make the flight, so to speak).

Moral of the story here, of course, is not to buy any liquids/aerosols/gels in excess of 100mL (e.g. duty free alcohol) in Perth, even if you buy it after passing through security, because it will be confiscated in Singapore. The exception is if you buy it in Perth and leave it for collection when you arrive home (if there is such a facility).

 

[arraitch]

<snip>
The exception is if you buy it in Perth and leave it for collection when you arrive home (if there is such a facility).

There is, although it involves patronising Perth Airport: F1RST Tax and Duty Free. :shock:

 

[fiscal]

However, if you are after Duty Free Liquids > 100ml and your final destination is London then you can buy from the Changi Duty Free stores and they will deliver your purchase in tamper proof sealed bags to your gate where you collect them after passing the security and cabin baggage check.

Serfy is quite correct here, but did fail to mention that there is a time limit involved, so get shopping early. I think it is 1 hour before stated boarding time (not departure time) so you m,ay not have time anyway...

 

[dajop]

Serfy is quite correct here, but did fail to mention that there is a time limit involved, so get shopping early. I think it is 1 hour before stated boarding time (not departure time) so you m,ay not have time anyway...

I'm sure it's 1 hour before departure time. Have done so about 1:05 min before departure time on several occasions (unless it has changed in last 12 months).

 

[serfty]

I'm sure it's 1 hour before departure time. Have done so about 1:05 min before departure time on several occasions (unless it has changed in last 12 months).

One hour it is!

Crisis update: Changi Airport introduces duty free gate delivery; ACI says economic consequences of any new measures proposed ‘must be understood’ – 15/08/06 | TheMoodieReport.com

... To take advantage of the above special arrangement, passengers must make their purchases at the shops at least one hour before their flight departure time. Passengers may collect their purchases immediately after clearing the security screening checks at the gatehold rooms. ...

 

[fiscal]

One hour it is!

Crisis update: Changi Airport introduces duty free gate delivery; ACI says economic consequences of any new measures proposed ‘must be understood’ – 15/08/06 | TheMoodieReport.com

In June is was traveling back to Perth, and was told by the sales assistant that it was 1 hour before the boarding time shown on the boarding pass. I mentioned it was still more than one hour to departure, but she was adamant. She said that this allowed them time to get to the gate before boarding commenced.

She may have been wrong, but I suppose the moral of the story is to do it asap to avoid disappointment.

 

[ellen10]

Great info on duty free purchases in Singapore. I am hoping to be able to partake in a little shopping. I have fingers crossed with a 2 hour layover.