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SQ Exec economy worth exteneded layover?

SQ Exec economy worth exteneded layover?

Old Mar 24th, 2005, 05:04 PM
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SQ Exec economy worth exteneded layover?

Question for you experienced FTers...
I am going to LAX-DPS (bali) on vacation for the first time this April on a SQ award ticket booked through UA with my girlfriend.

My current itin:
SQ 29 1:05am-11:35 am LAX-SIN
SQ 146 4:40pm-7:10pm SIN-DPS

My first choice was to take SQ 19 LAX-SIN 9:20pm-5:40am (Executive economy) connecting SQ 142 SIN-DPS 9:35-12:05pm but the SIN-DPS portion is not available for an award ticket. Do you think it would be worth it to go ahead and take SQ 19, fly in a superior plane with superior seats, spend the day in Singapore, and take either SQ 146 4:40pm or SQ 148 7:00pm to Bali?
This way, I can fly executive economy which I'm sure is much more relaxing than normal economy, see a city for a half day or so, take a break from being cramped in a plane, and still get to Bali in the same evening as my original itinerary.
I would like to know if leaving SIN airport during my layover is possible, are there things to do nearby, will I have to lug around my checked bags, and if getting back to the airport in the evening is a gamble.
I have never been to Singapore so I may willing to try this.
Any suggestions?
I would appreciate any kind of advice.
Thank you in advance!

atsu888 is offline  
Old Mar 24th, 2005, 05:15 PM
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i flew sq 19 last oct. in exe. econ. fabulous flt. get a seat just behind the bus. class, i think it was around rows 33-35, a small cabin.

not too much to do around sin airport, but easy and cheap taxi ride into town, and return should be no prob. not sure about luggage lockers, so check website.

i would take the sq19, and spend the day in sin, i think its worth it.
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Old Mar 24th, 2005, 05:23 PM
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I haven't been to SIN or flown SQ, but I would definitely take flight 19. Besides all the positives that you cited, it is also 2 hr 20 min shorter (leaves 3h 45m earlier and gets to sin 6h 5min sooner).
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Old Mar 24th, 2005, 05:59 PM
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You can easily go to downtown (and elsewhere) by taking the subway (MRT) straight from the airport. Or there's also a free organized tour of Singapore from the airport too.
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Old Mar 24th, 2005, 06:04 PM
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i believe they will check your bags through to bali....singapore is good for a few hours and a nice idea to unwind....you will however be quite tired upon arrival....you might see if they have showers available in the airport...i bet they do...

i would take the break...plenty of time to lay back in bali
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Old Mar 24th, 2005, 07:20 PM
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I would take the non stop Exec Econony, there are day rooms at Singapore Airport and even if you chose not to go into town you have a Swimming Pool, Cinema, lots of shops, Massage area in the transit area. You can also take a 4 hour tour of Singapore, just go to the various Counters dispalyign the Stopover Tour sign, easy. Or just get an MRT ticket and head downtown. If you feel you just want to rest then take a day room at the transit hotel ( inside the lounge area ), take a swim, visit the Gym or have a massage, then it's a 2 hr 30 min hop to Bali.
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Old Aug 22nd, 2005, 10:30 AM
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I have a 3 hr layover in SIN on a flight from PEK to BKK. I'd like to get into the city for a admitadly very quick visit just to say I've seen it and get an impression for a possible return visit?

Any suggestions on which MRT stop would be most central/interesting for such a short layover?
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Old Aug 22nd, 2005, 12:14 PM
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If your stopover is actually 3 hours then I honestly think you would be wasting your time. Although Singapore Airport is fast ( recent trip there were actually queues( my spelling gets worse ) and it was at least a 15 minute wait, which for Changi used to be unheard of!, you still need to allow a good 20-25 minutes from landing to clearing Immigration and heading to the MRT, before which you need to change money, although frequent a 5 minute wait would be normal, last time I did it on the MRT you needed to change trains for the mainline, then even fast downtown add another 20 minutes, hop back on the train and then back through Immigration etc, it really is too tight to be worth a quick look for 5/10 minutes.
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Old Aug 23rd, 2005, 09:41 AM
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Thanks James. Looks like I'll be drinking in the lounge ;-)
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Old Aug 23rd, 2005, 09:52 AM
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My tip would be to take a light weight change of clothing in your carry-on and head straight to the Shoer facilities in the Gym area ( upstrairs in the transit area ), the shower rooms are superb! Have a great shower and change and then perhaps go for a relaxing foor massage ( close to same area ), that will really put you in a good recovery mode after a long flight, also close to same area is the open air Sunflower Graden so even if it's an airport it is open air/fresh air, there is a bar/cafe just inside close by and you can take a drink outside. Nice way to easily pass 3 hours and help ward off the effects of the long flight.
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