11 replies to this topic

[misstd]

So we are Going to Australia from uk in November to visit family in Canberra and see Sydney too, it was something we kept putting off before hubby's accident 6 years ago and now we are finally going to do it! Honeymoon to Vegas was long enough flight though so originally we were going to break up the flight with a few days in Singapore, this is working out really pricey so now we think we are just going just going to do the stop over, Singapore airlines offer a 16 hour on way there, 18 hour way back stopover, we would land about 3 pm and fly again at 7am, it would be enough time to stretch his legs, go to the toilet and have a shower in hotel close to airport, alternatively we can go virgin Atlantic flight (we have flown with virgin before and very happy with them, never flown Singapore airlines) but its more money (600 more) and only a two hour stop over, what would you do? What happens to your luggage on a long stopover as obviously we would need it all, and how long before flight do you need to get to the airport? Is it worth all the hassle?

Any help would be great!

[Tetracyclone]

Singapore Air has a great rep. I personally do not like long stopovers, but that is me.

[MTB John]

How about a couple of days in Bangkok?

It's a lot cheaper then Singapore..

Of course it's also a lot less wheelchair friendly but certainly doable if you do not mind a little adventure..

[HiltonP]

The Virgin flight cannot really be considered to be a stopover. You can do next to nothing in two hours and certainly will not have any access to your luggage.

The Singapore airlines offer is not much better. If you are going to disembark and check into a hotel that will involve going through customs (at least two hours) and travelling to the hotel (one hour). On the return journey back to the airport you will need another hour, plus the three hours in the airport prior to departure. That leaves you little more than nine hours rest time. It is better than nothing but does not seem worth the effort.

Personally, I would make a proper stopover in Singapore and spend at least two nights there, and then another two nights on the way back home. Singapore is reasonably accessible and quite a pleasant place to visit, so your time spent there would not be wasted.

Check with Singapore airlines and see if they offer a package deals which include hotel accommodation for both legs of the journey. We took advantage of such an offer in 2000 and it worked out really well.

Most international flights require you to be at the airport at least three hours before departure.

[plank]

Misstd,

This may well be longer than necessary and give more information than you want, but I just feel the need to tell this story.

February 2010 and the family which includes myself (I am AB at this time), my wife, my first son, his wife and two daughters, my second son, his wife and son, set off from Hobart to travel to South Africa where second son's wife was born so we could all be there when number one grandson is christened. So far so good. We flew Singapore Airlines and I would have no hesitation in recommending them. They were great.

Stopover in Singapore. We booked into the airport hotel. Not one "near the airport" but actually inside. No need to go through customs or security. Had a shower and a sleep and a shower. I forget the details now, but I think we were on the ground for around 10 to 12 hours and then back on the plane to Johannesberg.

So far, so good.

Three to four weeks in South Africa looked after brilliantly by my son's inlaws. It's a terrific place to visit, but remember I had not been injured at this time so I defer to HiltonP as to how things are in that regard.

Board the plane (Singapore Airlines again) for SIngapore mid March. This time we decided to spend three nights in Singapore as we had not been there before and have a look around. Singapore is OK.. Very hot. Too westernised for our liking, but perhaps we didn't find the heart of the place. Not complaining though, the people were friendly and we did enjoy ourselves as we checked out all the touristy places.

Final morning. Due to fly out at 5PM. I wake up and decide I should go and poo. (sorry but this is my story). Sitting there in the hotel room toilet, minding my own business, doing my own business, and I start to feel clammy and dizzy. I think - woo, better just sit here for a while until this passes. Next thing I know, I am on the floor, there is blood everywhere and my wife is shouting 'Don't move - Stay where you are". I can hear her calling the front desk and asking for medical assistance. I just lay there. I could see my hand dangling in front of my face (I don't know what position I was in) and I could not move my fingers. I knew I was in a bit of strife.

OK. Long story coming to an end now. Singapore General Hospital is just fantastic. Cleanest place on God's earth. They put the titanium cage around C4,5,6 and did what they could to prepare me for the trip back to Australia. Spent about 4 weeks there.

Back to the topic. Singapore Airlines were brilliant in accommodating the change in tickets. We (me, my wife and number one son) flew back to Australia on a commercial flight with me on a stretcher on top of a row of three or four seats. My view was the overhead locker three inches above me. We had a doctor and a nurse accompany us. The airline did everything in their power to make that 11 hour flight as comfortable as possible for us. (Taking your own doctor with you has the advantage that he can intravenously pump you full of go to sleep drugs so that 11 hour seems like 30 minutes). I might mention at this point that having good travel insurance made this happen. I am not cashed up enough to have paid a doctor and nurse to hold my hand.

To complete this saga - another 6 weeks in a spinal unit in Melbourne (the Austin), rehab in Hobart, and two years down the track - here we are.

So, Singapore Airlines are great. Stopover at the airport hotel. (Didn't collect our luggage - just took a change of underwear). Three day stopovers in Singapore are fraught with danger (unless you don't poo).

Thanks for listening and have a good stay in Australia.

Plank

[Ches]

It took us about 30 hours to get from Dallas to Wellington, NZ.. stops in Los Angeles, and Syndey on the way.. I never needed to poo on the way, but like magic within 10 minutes of being at the hotel in NZ I was racing to the potty.. guess I got lucky.

After making the trips.. I decided if I ever did that again I would INDEED stop and spend a few nights somewhere or spend that money on first class all the way.. In hindsight it wasnt that bad,, just long and boring.. and uncomfortable.

[misstd]

Hmmm decisions, we were thinking of the hotel in the airport, but don't know if we would have to still get there three hours earlier, the Singapore flight we were thinking of is just so much cheaper than booking seperate flights, but then it does sound like a lot of hassle, better than having a BM on the plane though!

Plank thanks for your story! I guess you don't have the best memories of Singapore! But it's good to hear that they treated you well!

I will definitely look into a package deal with few nights stopover as we would need luggage to get showerchair as my hubby can't transfer onto toilet. And also Bangkok as think quantus stop there if cheaper, bar Sydney for 4 nights we will be staying with family so shouldn't be too pricey.

I looked at first class (actually a 'suite' - private room!!!) and it was £28,000!!!! Bargain??!!....

[Izziwhizzi]

Misstd

I've not looked at flights to Oz for me recently, but can tell you my experiences.

I flew to Oz going via Los Angeles (overnight), Fiji (5 days) then New Zealand for 3 weeks until we flew into Oz. Flew around Oz quite a lot, and then came back from Oz via Hong Kong (4 days) and then home on the 13 hour flight across Russia.

I have flown to the Caribbean and the West coast of the States many times, sometimes being on the plane 12-14 hours.,

I would personally think a 14 hour flight is about enough for a tetra. At the end of the flight I am popping pain killers and sweating and very stiff and spasmy. If you think that a 12 hour flight is probably a period of 24 hours up in a chair. So then you and your bum needs a break.

If t is possible to get a decent sleep in Singapore without going out of the airport security/check in I would do that. You can have enough stuff in hand luggage to cope. And don't worry about a shower, thats what a flannel and all that duty free perfume samples are for :-) just sleep.

Also I inject some tinzaparin or similar for the long haul and the day or so after (anti DVT meds). Bum always sits of a cushion in the plane seat so for me that means my feet are dangling - not good.

My 78 year old MIL has just flown to Hobart (SIL lives there, so she does often). She did in one trip on Air Ethiad in a posh business class, but not first. A frightning £3.2k ticket but she got a bed and limo collection and she slept when she wanted, ate when she wanted etc and was in great form. Hardly any jet lag.

[misstd]

never heard of air ethiad lol that is quite frightening but sounds awesome! i think we will do the layover, even if we only get a couple of hours to stretch out and toilet it will be worth it, we only just managed the 10 hour flight to vegas so will need to break it up, but it works out too much more money to do two seperate flights and couple nights in singapore. Am seriously considering the crowne plaza hotel which is inside the airport, at the moment it is 160 pound, pricey but worth the convience, and cheaper than the two flight option!

[Tetracyclone]

If I were to overnight in Singapore I would go here, and blow my savings:

http://travellingabr...ands-hotel.html

[MrBump]

I just done the trip 2 weeks ago.
I stayed in Singapore for 24 hours. Enough time for a lay down, toilet and shower.
I could quite easily go straight thru but I liked having a rest and just to be sure if I needed to go to the dunny.

[misstd]

If I were to overnight in Singapore I would go here, and blow my savings:

http://travellingabroad-ideas.blogspot.com/2012/01/ultra-modern-marina-bay-sands-hotel.html

Wow that looks amazing!!! Hehe But maybe I best win the lottery!

Yeah I think it's prob best to stretch the legs and be near the toilet if need be!