re: The Air Travel & Airports Discussion Thread Quote:
Originally Posted by ajmat Its more than enough........ |
Thanks ajmat Quote:
Originally Posted by SCORPION 1) One hour should be more than sufficient. |
Thanks SCORPION Quote:
Originally Posted by dean5545 I had recently travelled by Singapore airlines from New York to Mumbai. There was supposed to be a 50 minute halt in Singapore where in I would switch flights.
However my New York-Frankfurt-Singapore flight got delayed by 15 mins so Singapore airlines had booked me on a flight next evening. They gave me hotel accommodation, food and visa expenses. However I lost 2 days.
So in short these short interval layovers where in you got to switch flights are a bit risky. If the first flight is even 10minutes late you may miss your flight. However, I had plenty of time for my Shanghai- Singapore- Mumbai flight which was having just 1 hour layover and I had to catch a metro to go to the other terminal. So it all depends on when your first flight lands. |
That is interesting to know that you had a free 2 day stay at Frankfurt. In my case the next flight from SG to BOM is about 12 hours later and hence it may not be that wonderful. Quote:
Originally Posted by carboy I would never book an international stopover less than 90 minutes. 1 hour is good if everything goes right but if even one small thing goes wrong (if your flight reaches 15 minutes late or there is unusual crowding at security check), it would very tight. You don't get off the flight as soon as it lands - it usually takes 15 minutes before you are out. You may also need to do a security check again which may take 15 minutes if there is crowd. If there is also a custom & immigration check (for e.g. you are are going to a country & transferring to a domestic flight to go elsewhere in the country - which is not your case), I keep 2 hours at the minimum. |
Corporate policies my friend. I had another option of a 8 hour layover at Changi but from midnight to 7:30 am in the morning. I hope there won't be any delay in my HK to SG flight during return. Quote:
Originally Posted by noopster @sunilch- Not sure why you are doing a stopover for Hong Kong. There are direct flight options (Cathay, Hong Kong Air IIRC) that will get you there for cheaper.
One hour at Changi is usually *just* enough. My flights to and from Auckland last year were like that. But that is because the flights to Middle Earth are few & far between. Hong Kong you have tons of options!
Edit: if you must stop over in Singapore, try getting the 8-hour transit visa and go see the city at least, like Ajmat is suggesting | Quote:
Originally Posted by mpksuhas In case you get transit visa, Singapore airport conducts free bus sightseeing tours. You can opt for the same if interested. They have two preset routes. |
@noopster and @mpksuhas: Since this is a company (business) trip I had limited options. Cathay has a perfect direct flight for this route with ideal timing as well (Midnight to 9am local HK Time and vice-versa in return) but that is 2x the cost of the SG Airlines flight. Second option was Air India but the timing doesn't match. That flight lands in HK on Monday morning and hence wasn't suitable as the company doesn't want me to lose the productive Monday first half And I can't take the AI flight the night before as that will require changing the travel plan dates which is not acceptable in as per the policies.
For return I had two options with SG Airlines: 1st was the one that I chose. 2nd had a layover of 8 hours starting from midnight till 7:30 am at Changi local time. I have been to SG earlier and hence have seen the city. The only thing that I have not see is the Botanical Garden and I am not sure it that will be open in that time slot. And I just can't accept sitting in the airport lounge at Changi for 8 hours doing nothing but trying to sleep there. I haven't see the Business Class lounge at Changi so I am not sure if we get sleeper chairs or beds there to send the night.
So this the world of strange corporate policies. By title/designation I am entitled Business Class travel and the travel department will not allow me to travel in Economy even if I ask for it - without creating a fuss about it and forcing me to get multi-level approvals from higher ups for the same (I anyways couldn't as this will be my first Business Class travel and I want to experience the same). But I have to choose the cheapest option, even if it is an inconvenient one
Last edited by sunilch : 25th July 2019 at 22:17.
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