Long transit in S'pore???
 

Hi

Thought of posting this thread and seeking the views of everyone, At the moment I'm in two minds whethr to travel in Emirates or Quntas to OZ with my little baby (1 year). I have heard both the airline offers high range facilities for infants. But with Quants there's nearly a 6 hour transit at S'pore which I personally likes to hang around at. I was told that S'pore airport has a nice play area and private nursary area for the little ones.

But amidst everything I'm panicking about the risk of high exposure to swine flu for my baby by having a long transit time at S'pore air port.
Where as with Emirates the transit time will be roughly 1 hour where we have to go in haste.

So what would you think, Will the chances of capturing Swine flu be high with a long transit time at S'pore airport?

Re: Long transit in S'pore???
 

I sincerly doubt you have anything to worry about in the way of swine flu. Can't see how you would be more likely to pick it up at Singapore Airport than any other airport. And Singapore airport is immaculate. Heathrow is like a third world airport in comparison, so not sure if you are flying from there or not, but thats where you'll need to use alcohol gels etc!

Personally I am a bit of a worrier and would hate a 1 hour stop over in case something happened and I missed the plane :) And also the chance to stretch your legs and have a coffee would be a bit plus with a longer stop over.

Re: Long transit in S'pore???
 

got to agree with the comment above - singapore is probably the cleanest and nicest airport in the world, plus i'd be worried that a slight delay at your first departure airport could lead to you missing the connection.

we spent 7hrs in Changi in Feb waiting for our connection to the UK and it's a great airport with enough to keep you and the little one occupied.

:thumbup:

Re: Long transit in S'pore???
 

There is no chance of missing the plane, as it is the same aircraft. The change of aircraft happens in Dubai, with a refuelling stop in Singapore.

Re: Long transit in S'pore???
 

ahh, everything becomes clear now!

personal choice i suppose, plus what is the overall flight time for both options? that is probably what would make my decision for me. the less time the better..

:D

Re: Long transit in S'pore???
 

With Emirates, its 3 sectors at roughly 7 hours each. With Qantas, estimate 12/13 hours to singapore and then roughly 7/8 to oz.

Re: Long transit in S'pore???
 

No idea where the OP is flying from, but i'm sure emirates also do a 2 sector flight. The layover in dubai might be quite long and then it's a straight 13hrs ish through to aus on an airbus a340. this was one of the options we considered (just for the extra 10kg of baggage!!) but the layover was something ridiculous like 10hrs :ohmy:

would have considered qantas but i need that extra inch or two of legroom that you get with singapore ! :D

Re: Long transit in S'pore???
 

well we are not flying from UK, so that actually there'll be a change of flights. well overall flight time will be much longer with quantas than emirates. Also quants flight is a day trip and emirates is a night flight. This will be my baby's first ever flight, so what can keep him more at peace and comfartable?

Re: Long transit in S'pore???
 

Do yourself a favor and if stopping for a couple of hours+ then use the Plaza Premium Lounge. Free food, showers, drinks and relaxing. Thats not to say that Changi isnt an awesome airport, it is, but gives a nice place to unwind. Cheap and very welcome after a long haul flight.

http://www.plaza-ppl.com/sg_en/

Re: Long transit in S'pore???
 

As has been said, Changi is the best airport we've been to. It is spotlessly clean (as was our experience of our short break there) with cleaners everywhere. My 4 year old dropped a glass bottle of blackcurrant in the lift (cheers then) and it took less than a minute to find someone and he went immediately to sort it out with a smile, bless him. There is a little toddler soft play area (up the lift in Terminal 2 I think it was), next to the little slide/climbing frame and before you get to the Cactus Garden. Little one is probably a bit young for the swimming pool though. There is also a family room for feeding, changing etc which we didn't see as ours are past that now! There is a "skytrain" which plies between the terminals apparently (which we didn't use), which would be a good way to see the facilities in all three terminals

We flew Emirates (didn't rate, although others swear by them), flying Dubai then direct to Melbourne. On the return we stopped at Singapore for a short break and then when returning to the UK from there we had a connection at Dubai (4 hour wait, but not too much problem) then back to Birmingham.

Seven hours sound loads when you are sat in your living room or at work, but I've always found time flies when you are at an airport. By the time you go through passport control and security (again Singapore passport control was the friendliest I have met, even at 2am, andm they even gave the kids some toffees too.). Then of course reclaiming luggage, changing little un, feeding him/her and yourself and going for a look around all the shops all takes quite a long time.

Personally, I prefer a bit of a stopover, as it gives me something to look forward to, ie, to have a break in the monotony of flying and a chance to stretch my legs. OH prefers to get it over with which we did with BA last time - to me it was awful as it was just too much in one go; personal choice at the end of the day. Have a good flight.

Re: Long transit in S'pore???
 

Also meant to say that you get 30kg allowance with Emirates which I think is quite generous although you would have to check. With all the stuff you have to cart around for a little 'un, this isn't to be sneezed at! As I said though, it wouldn't be enough for me to fly with them again though.

Re: Long transit in S'pore???
 

yea thanx everyone for ur views, personally i think it's a wise dicision to stop over for sometime, But im still woried wheather my little one will catch swine flu in Singapore airport sine it's crowded from endless number of passengers:confused:

Re: Long transit in S'pore???
 

Think if you are going to contract swine flu, it is more likely on the flight than the airport whichever it may be! You are also just as likely to catch it in Aus as anywhere!
We have had a couple of short stays in Singapore airport & it never felt crowded.
Young babies & toddlers travel very well. Much less troublesome than toddlers.
Stop stressing & enjoy!:thumbup:

Re: Long transit in S'pore???
 

exactly what l was thinking SC....all that recycled air for hours on end!
Like you say, you can catch it anywhere...just relax and enjoy.

Re: Long transit in S'pore???
 

On a personal choice I don't think I will ever fly with Emirates again, supposed to be a great airline, absolute joke. We went on 6 or 7 Emirates planes in total to get to oz and all of them where terrible. The seats where like sitting on plastic, I think we could of handled it if is was a short flight but to Oz you would expect something better...... the food was rubbish on all flights, and we waited over an hour for someone to take the trays away.....got to the stage where us and a few other people got up and gave them to the crew because they were ignoring us when we buzzed them.

We stopped in Dubai for one hour which was good as its a v.busy airport, but time we got off and back on again it was about 30 mins so not that long, however the cleaners took a passengers shoes which he left on the plane! lol so they had to be given slippers for the rest of the journy..... hhe :blink:

I know i'm sounding like a moaner but trust me, when you spend near to a grand for a flight you expect something better than that. Also on the way home, someone was smoking in the toilets, we told the air hostess who turned a blind eye to it!! :ohmy: .....

We also stopped in Singapore and it is a very clean airport so I dont think you should worry to much about swine flu, the plane is probably the worse place to be honest..... but up to you really at what you want to do.....but I for one know I wont be going with Emirates again..... :sneaky:

Rant over! lol x