Short SQ-to-SQ transit at Changi

[kpc]

My transit time in Sin has been reduced to 50mins (previously 65 mins) for my Syd-Sin-Bkk flight in July due to SQ 978 Sin - Bkk being rescheduled to leave 15 mins earlier. I'm very familiar with Sin (eg getting from T3-->T2) but do you think this is cutting it fine? eg can I get to the boarding gate more than 10 mins before flight departure? Will my checked luggage make it ? SQ 978 is the last flight to Bkk so if I missed the connection due to a late inbound flight, I assume SQ would put me up in a hotel in Sin? Not my my preference, of course....

[SQflyergirl]

It's quite doable. I'm not sure if the MCT legal minimum has been breached though - I can't remember off the top of my head anymore.

[kpc]

looks like someone has done it easily before, but I guess the key is that there is no delay in the incoming flight!!

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/12841852-post22.html

[MAN Flyer]

I would be more than comfortable with a 50 minute connecting time, and you're luggage should easily make it.

My luggage once made it in the old days (pre-10 minute gate closure stuff) when I arrived at one end of T2 just before my flight was departing from the other end. They were waiting for me (shouting my name as they saw me legging it towards the gate!) and despite us pushing back almost as soon as I had boarded, my luggage made it. I was doing SYD-SIN-SGN.

You need to remember this is Changi we are talking about, which has no equal when it comes to ease of transit/transfer.

[Kyo]

I'm going to go against the trend here.

Firstly, if you do decide to do this, make sure you don't have to stop for a toilet break.

I've had instances where a slight delay and slow taxi to a far gate might have you worrying in your seat. Assuming a worst-case but reasonable scenario of 12-15 mins delay, that leaves you with 35 mins to transfer from one terminal to another. Assuming you get a far gate and take 5-10 mins to get off the plane (not unreasonable as they connect the bridge and allow premium pax off first) and get to the skytrain, that leaves you with 25 mins. Assuming you miss the skytrain and have to wait 4 more mins (plus 40 seconds x2 for doors to open both ends), that leaves you with 20 mins. Train travel time will take roughly 2.5 minutes. That leaves you with 17.5 minutes.

Assuming you get the furthest T3 gates and need to take a skytrain and transfer to the other skytrain, and you miss the first skytrain, you'll need to minus another 4 more minutes (plus 40 seconds x2 for doors). Train time another 2-odd minutes. That leaves you with 10-odd minutes. You need to get there 10 mins prior departure.

Which for me, is a risk I wouldn't take, despite knowing Changi inside out.

If you have any other alternative, take it. Or book JetQuay for a transit (buggy gets you everywhere in about 10 mins max) or travel in J on the first flight in case you need a little bit of protection.

65 mins I am comfortable with, 50 mins I am not.

Then again, sometimes all you need on a slightly delayed flight is a gate agent who walkie-talkies ahead / provides you with a buggy to connect. Make sure you stress this as you check-in at the counter for your first flight.

[SQflyergirl]

Oh how i miss the days of the special Kak Kamisah or Uncle Steven transfer ...... your 50 minutes would be a no sweat-er.

[kpc]

If you have any other alternative, take it. Or book JetQuay for a transit (buggy gets you everywhere in about 10 mins max) or travel in J on the first flight in case you need a little bit of protection.

65 mins I am comfortable with, 50 mins I am not.

Then again, sometimes all you need on a slightly delayed flight is a gate agent who walkie-talkies ahead / provides you with a buggy to connect. Make sure you stress this as you check-in at the counter for your first flight.

As mentioned in my first post, I booked the through flights to Bkk (award in Y) a month ago, and it is due to SQ's reschedule of the flight to Bangkok which has left me with only 50mins (originally 65 mins) transit at Sin. I guess the worst case scenario is that I miss the connection, in which case I would expect SQ to put me up for a night in Sin to catch the first flight the next am to Bkk....not my preference.

I can always hope that my arriving flight is to T2...I might ring SQ tomorrow and see what they have to say as it is their rescheduling that has now left me with a very short transit time. Wonder if I can request for Sq to provide a buggy to meet me on arrival...


PS: I read somewhere that the MCT at Changi is 60 mins but 45 mins for a Sq-Sq connection.

[Kyo]

I'd ring SQ today. Why wait til tmrw... seems like you already know where things stand!

[kpc]

I'd ring SQ today. Why wait til tmrw... seems like you already know where things stand!

...cos the Sq office in Syd is now closed; I could ring Sin but there is no urgency as the flight is 6 months away...and there will probably be another scheduling change prior

[feb01mel]

...cos the Sq office in Syd is now closed; I could ring Sin but there is no urgency as the flight is 6 months away...and there will probably be another scheduling change prior

Wow, the way you mention your case seems so urgent, that is why Kyo gave you his precious advice...else normally Kyo do not write so much....

[kpc]

Wow, the way you mention your case seems so urgent, that is why Kyo gave you his precious advice...else normally Kyo do not write so much....

as stated in the first post...

My transit time in Sin has been reduced to 50mins (previously 65 mins) for my Syd-Sin-Bkk flight in July

...anyway, I much appreciate the constructive posts and advice given above

[Dent@SUB]

I have a similar problem like you.
When I issued my ticket sometime last year, the SQ951 and SQ12 connecting time for April'10 still 60 minutes. But then they rescheduled SQ11 for depart 10 minutes earlier. So the connecting time now only 50 minutes. I rang SQ office, and they said it's still doable...
Btw, my ticket is on F.....

[MAN Flyer]

Which for me, is a risk I wouldn't take, despite knowing Changi inside out.

As a matter of interest, how many transits have you done at Changi ?.

[Kyo]

As a matter of interest, how many transits have you done at Changi ?.

For someone living in Singapore, more than my fair share

Yes, I do transit here sometimes, not in the triple digits like you, however.

And I do often swing from T2 or T1 to T3 because I need to visit the Pedro or Apple stores, and sometimes I do that as fast as humanly possible. Does that count?

[LionCity]

Generally I do find that the flights do come in earlier than scheduled. It is rare in my past experiences to find the flights arriving exactly at the dot or later. This may give you some comfort.