[holland]

HI,

We have 1 hour and a half to change planes at Singapore...thought it was just refuelling...ooooppppssss...Im panicking, has anyone else done this??

[james the mechanic]

We had only 50mins in Singapore, (why prolong the agony?)
We still had time to grab something to eat, freshen-up and stretch our legs a bit, don’t panic you have heaps of time.:nice1
James

[Debbie P.]

Are you flying all the way with the same airline? If so, no worries, because they'll transfer your hold luggage, so you just have to stagger off one plane and onto the next. You should be OK - and it'll be nice to have an opportunity to stretch the legs & have a quick gawp at a really amazing airport! If you get a chance, go for one of the free massages offered in the airport lounge (assuming they still offer them).

I'd be a bit worried if you were actually flying on with a separate booking and had to check in luggage etc, but your initial message suggests that's not the case.

[speckythecky]

We had an hour in Japan, one of the worst hours in my life, never been so tired, uncomfortable and unable to communicate. So this time we are going via LA and having 4 days.
Will let you know which is better!!

[thezorbster]

Don't panic, we had the same, along with a 4yr old to transport from one end of the airport to the other but there's plenty of time, provided, as others have said you are travelling on with the same airline. I'm assuming it's Singapore Airlines? You'll even have time to take in the orchid garden and dip your toes in with the Koi carp.

[holland]

Ha ha sounds good Zorbster, yes we are flying with Singapore Airlines...and you've all answered my questions, because I was wondering how I was going to wait for luggage, check in and take off in an hour and a half!!!!

Im relieved now..thanks.

[holland]

Has anyone tried to get there luggage allowance altered? Been on Singapore airlines website, and its 20-25kg, but in some cases they have gone upto 40kg for migrants...if you have, any tips??

[holland]

ok, I did research on this forum, and rang the number StevieD gave...and weve got 30kg, I tried to push it to 35kg, and she was having none of it. I asked her to send a confirmation email and she wouldn't, her name, and she wouldn't give it, she assures me that I will have 'no problem checking' in asshe has put a note on my file....does it go as smoothly at check in as I am being lulled into believe?

[Silverwing86]

Hi Holland,

This can be troublesome, it would be good if you could get something in writing. We arrived at the end of January this year with Singapore Airlines (also a short stopover, plenty of time and indeed the airport is something else !!) and had arranged extra bagage allowance.

When I booked the tickets I mentioned we were emigrating and that we'd heard of the possibility of getting extra kg's. Initially I was told that it would not be possible. Then I called a different department (suggestion of my travel agent friend) and they were more helpful. They gave me 10 kg's extra right off and after I had sent an email with a scan of our passports with the Blue stickers I got 10 more, makes 40 kg's each.

I do have to say though, that I too initially had trouble getting them to confirm, but persisted (strongly yet politely :D), and managed in the end.

Upon checking in we were initially told it was not possible even though we had permission (!), showed them the confirmation on paper and only then did they, very reluctantly, agree. I have heard of cases where people didn't have the confirmation in writing and had to pay extra when checking in anyway :(.

My suggestion would be to try again. We travelled from The Netherlands so I guess the number I called wouldn't be of much use to you. Try a different department if you can, if not, you're likely to get another person on the phone then before and that can make a difference. It doesn't matter that you've already booked the flights, it can be arranged after the fact.

Good luck with it, will keep fingers and toes crossed...

Silver

[leachio]

We flew from Manchester with Singapore Air in March with a 2hr stop over for plane change. All we had to do was enjoy the scenery the airline did the rest! We managed to blag 40kg each and because we had paid for the kids to have a seat each they got 40kg each too. I will say however that if anyone is taking a car seat on board for their infant to sit in then it does count as hand luggage, we had to re-jig our other handluggage to accomodate. I think though that its down to luck on the day with who you get on the phone or at the check in desk we were very lucky on both counts.

[willsken]

Hi Holland,

This can be troublesome, it would be good if you could get something in writing. We arrived at the end of January this year with Singapore Airlines (also a short stopover, plenty of time and indeed the airport is something else !!) and had arranged extra bagage allowance.

When I booked the tickets I mentioned we were emigrating and that we'd heard of the possibility of getting extra kg's. Initially I was told that it would not be possible. Then I called a different department (suggestion of my travel agent friend) and they were more helpful. They gave me 10 kg's extra right off and after I had sent an email with a scan of our passports with the Blue stickers I got 10 more, makes 40 kg's each.

I do have to say though, that I too initially had trouble getting them to confirm, but persisted (strongly yet politely :D), and managed in the end.

Upon checking in we were initially told it was not possible even though we had permission (!), showed them the confirmation on paper and only then did they, very reluctantly, agree. I have heard of cases where people didn't have the confirmation in writing and had to pay extra when checking in anyway :(.

My suggestion would be to try again. We travelled from The Netherlands so I guess the number I called wouldn't be of much use to you. Try a different department if you can, if not, you're likely to get another person on the phone then before and that can make a difference. It doesn't matter that you've already booked the flights, it can be arranged after the fact.

Good luck with it, will keep fingers and toes crossed...

Silver

Silver, once again we had the same thing happen. I spent ages arguing with them at the check in about extra luggage. I had the email confirming this would be OK with me and they still resisted. In the end I got quite cross and they let us through. It took so much extra time we nearly missed our flights and they held the plane for us!!(We flew on the morning Sadam Hussein was executed and the security lines were horrendous!!) We literally had to run for the plane, stress or what! (Well OH and the boys ran, I trotted and kept call “wait for me…..”):D

[nippa&pippa]

For others, if it is Dubai, good luck! as 1 hour isn't enough if plane running late! because they stopped all planes at drop off point which is so far away from terminal, so you have to get off plane, run into bus...wait patience in bus before take you to terminal, anything up to 20mins :D (they take time to get through the "traffic" of planes, cars, buses and lorries :laugh ) and then you have go through customs which always packed as no separate customs for inbound and international transfer!! Once you got through customs, then you have to find your boarding gate as isn't there any map telling you where are they (after you work out which is your flight number and gate in arab before finally turn up in english!! but lucky we knew our gate number as mentioned inflight as we landing in duabi)
Once found out where, you have to run to boarding gate, find yourself been call into plane again without any time to go to toilet or stretch the leg! Phew!
It was nightmare if you got young children and baby as in our case, we end up carry all children and bags running for boarding gate! We were shattered...

[Cardy]

WE DID THE FLIGHT VIA SINGAPORE WITH THE 90 MINUTE GAP FINE AND YOU DONT HAVE TO COLLECT YOUR BAGGEAGE THEY DO IT ALL AND YOU DONT SEE IT TILL YOU GET TO NZ.
wE HAD OUR BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE INcREASED 3 TIMES BY PHONE AND E MAIL AND WERE STILL OVER WHEN IT GOT WEIGHED IN AT HEATHROW BUT THE WOMAN WEIGHING IT JUST SAID ARE YOU EMIGRATING WE SAID YES AND SHE SENT IT THROUGH !! NO CHARGES. wE MIGHT JUST HAVE BEEN LUCKY DONT KNOW.

[willsken]

WE DID THE FLIGHT VIA SINGAPORE WITH THE 90 MINUTE GAP FINE AND YOU DONT HAVE TO COLLECT YOUR BAGGEAGE THEY DO IT ALL AND YOU DONT SEE IT TILL YOU GET TO NZ.
wE HAD OUR BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE INcREASED 3 TIMES BY PHONE AND E MAIL AND WERE STILL OVER WHEN IT GOT WEIGHED IN AT HEATHROW BUT THE WOMAN WEIGHING IT JUST SAID ARE YOU EMIGRATING WE SAID YES AND SHE SENT IT THROUGH !! NO CHARGES. wE MIGHT JUST HAVE BEEN LUCKY DONT KNOW.

Shhhhhhhhhh!!:laugh :laugh

[whiskythedog]

Yes we flew with Singapore Airlines from Manchester and got the allowance increased to 30kg each and this was agreed by e-mail. By the time we checked in I think they were just over that but it wasn't questioned at all once they saw the passports.

[holland]

Mmmmm, think another phonecall is required!! I asked her twice to send an email............'We don't do this', I was thinking 'you blinking do', I tried to get 35kg, 'we don't do this', I persisted sayig I dont want any stress at the airport check in,and would really like some confirmation.... ''there will be no problems at check in!'..........

yeah yeah

Also, Im going to be getting e-tickets????????????/ HELP

[marcia]

Instead of ringing why don't you email them? Thats what i did and when they ageed 30kg for each of us in a return email i just printed that off and kept a copy with our e-tickets in case there was a problem. (there wasn't!)

Kids car seats - i personally wouldn't bother with them on the flight, we sent ours through the hold. It wll give you a bit more room to stetch out, you can snuggle the little one on your lap and stretch your legs out on their seat! Remember when you do change flights you will have to lug the car seat along too!! Anyway just a suggestion!

Good luck - oh yeah don't worry about e-tickets they are fine - must admit i was a bit wary of them at first too, but they are fine, and if you do the internet check in 48 hours before your flight, you can go in the faster queue at the airport too!! :clap

[holland]

I presume they just send the e-tickets via email nearer the time? Do I just use these and check in like normal tickets??

Thanks for advice I will email today

[marcia]

We printed the e-tickets off, they emailed them to us!! We didn't get anything through the post from them!

[holland]

Ive emailed, and they have sent me a long email congratulating us on emigrating to Australlia, and said we can have 40kg...............awaiting reply to see of I get KG's deducted for NZ!!!!!

[HelenandPhil]

Hi Holland,

We also have 1 1/2 hrs in Singapore with SAL.

Our travel agent has told us the airline have agreed 30kg but we dont have it in writing. Can you post the email address you used to get your confirmation(or send us a private mail)

Thanks ad ood luck!

[holland]

Hi,

Im FUUUMMMIIINNNGGGGGGGG....apparently I am being told you dont get extra baggage if you are going to NZ...maybe you need less clothes than if you go to Australia!!!!!!!!!!!! They have said they will give us 25kg, and extra 5kg, but thats it. Ive emailed back.....ill keep you posted.

[holland]

Helen and Phil,

I just emailed the address it says on website, just google SA, then look under 'contact us'...let me know if you need any more info...cant get into mny emails at the minute to give you axctual address...let me know how you get on!!

[Rinkydink]

I flew Singapore Airlines last year to NZ - airport is amazing with loads of freebies - they do give you an airport map that you can pick up at the info kiosk that details all the facilites on offer - they also have amazing rooftop gardens as well as a rooftop swimming pool - although they are designated smoking areas it is well worth a gander - especially the sunflower garden which was filled with the most amazingly huge sunflowers! My stop over last time was 9 hours so I took the free city tour. They leave every couple of hours and there is an airconditioned coach with tour guide that takes you on a tour of Singapore City and then a quick boat trip out into the harbour - it was quite amazing!

[holland]

No reply, think they are ignoring me!!!

[LesleyS]

Jade

Sorry to hear about the lack of customer service.

Did you book your flights one way directly with SAL? We made enquiries with Trailfinders, and they have quoted us 3 x £1060 for return flights in Oct (we don't have PR yet).

Every time I try to go on the SAL website I can't seem to get a ticket price?

Frustrating!!!!

Kind regards
LesleyS

[holland]

Hi,

We booked with e-bookers, we couldn't find prices on SA website either, we paid £973.00 all in, one way to Auckland. ( for both of us).

Still no reply from SA, going to re-send email

Jade

[willsken]

Hi,

We booked with e-bookers, we couldn't find prices on SA website either, we paid £973.00 all in, one way to Auckland. ( for both of us).

Still no reply from SA, going to re-send email

Jade

Jade you are having the same problems as I had with SA. They upped ours by a bit but wouldn't match what they gave if you were off to Aus. Didn't back down either and I really pestered them. :mad:

[holland]

:raebanana :raebanana :raebanana Ive pestered and pestered and pestered, and I have an email saying we have both got 30kg!!!!

[dilanium]

I see people getting higher luggage if they're emigrating to NZ, but do you think they would give a higher allowance to someone on a longer student/work visa (say 4 or 5 years?).

I'll try either way, but otherwise, I'll be paying extra for luggage, and I could always use that money elsewhere.

[Silverwing86]

:raebanana :raebanana :raebanana Ive pestered and pestered and pestered, and I have an email saying we have both got 30kg!!!!

Way to go Jade, well done :clap !!!

Silver

[holland]

Don't think ill eat on the plane though!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks

J x

[HelenandPhil]

Hi Jade,

Congratulations ona hard fought victory:yes

We are on our second email no and still no response,:mad: the email address we used was UK_Feedback@Singaporeair.com.sg

Is this where you managed to drag a response from?


It is wierd that an airline with such a good reputation on this forum and elsewhere for good service in flight, messes customers around so much over this....:roll

[holland]

Hi helen and Phil,

yes this is the email, Forward it to them again, and say 'just forwarding as I am unsure whether or not this email has been recieved as I have had no response, explain that you went with this email because it has such a good reputation, and that you would really like to minimise the stress when you check in, so a confirmation email would be really appreciated'.

In summary.....grovel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol

If you PM me your email address, I will forward you the email I sent and the responses...don't give up!

J x

[holland]

PS, its UK_feedback........did you put the underscore??

the email we used was:UK_Feedback@Singaporeair.com.sg

[holland]

Helen and Phil,
How did you get on??

J x

[HelenandPhil]

Hi Jade,

You were right, persistence paid off! after three emails we have got our extra baggage allowance confirmed:cheers although we probably will find we have been taken off meal allowance on the plane now!!!!:laugh

Thanks for your help!! See you on the other side....:raebanana

Helen and Phil