SIN Transit time.

[albatross710]

I am considering flying into SIN with SQ and then flying out on 5J (Cebu Pacific)

Arrival time on the SQ 1530.
Departure of the 5J flight is 1625.

I think the time is a permissible connection time for SIN and certainly easily doable even including the time from T3 to T2.

If I check-in on the 5J flight before leaving Australia then I can just go straight to the gate with no need to clear customs.

I might have to take some work gear with me which will mean I need to check some luggage. In this case I'll have to clear customs (adding 1 minute), collect bags (5 mins) and then make my way to T2 to check the bag with 5P whom will probably close the check in counter 30 minutes prior to departure. The Singapore closing time isn't mentioned on their website, although they do list Philippines and Dubai.

My thoughts are that the connection is doable provided I have carry on only and I'm happy with that.

Anyone have experience on the confidence level of making this connection with bag collection and recheck. My main concern is meeting the 5J checkin time.

Thoughts?

Alby

 

[dajop]

Sounds OK if your SQ flight runs to time. I probably would risk it without checked luggage, but wouldn't risk if I had checked luggage, as there are several things that could throw the plan into disarray, including long taxi, docking at far gate, just missing train to T2 (if you land at T3), etc ... Have you checked flightstats to see most recent on time performance of the SQ inbound flight?

 

[SeaWolf]

For Singapore that's fine, as long as everything runs on time. I've made tighter connections than that (I think 45mins is the minimum). Obviously if there's any delay, you're going to have trouble.
I'm guessing these are on separate bookings? Maybe wait until 1625 on the day of the week you plan to travel (e.g. Thursday, Friday whatever) and look online to see how much it would cost to buy a 'next flight' ticket for the 5J flight. That way you know roughly how much you'll be up for if you do miss the connection.

 

[albatross710]

For Singapore that's fine, as long as everything runs on time. I've made tighter connections than that (I think 45mins is the minimum). Obviously if there's any delay, you're going to have trouble.
I'm guessing these are on separate bookings? Maybe wait until 1625 on the day of the week you plan to travel (e.g. Thursday, Friday whatever) and look online to see how much it would cost to buy a 'next flight' ticket for the 5J flight. That way you know roughly how much you'll be up for if you do miss the connection.

Thanks for the thoughts on that. Did you have checked bags to re-check? This is one advantage of Changi's gate screening, means getting out and re-entering is actually quite quick.

Sounds OK if your SQ flight runs to time. I probably would risk it without checked luggage, but wouldn't risk if I had checked luggage, as there are several things that could throw the plan into disarray, including long taxi, docking at far gate, just missing train to T2 (if you land at T3), etc ... Have you checked flightstats to see most recent on time performance of the SQ inbound flight?

On time performance is quite good for SQ on the BNE-SIN sector. I think you are right though, it does rely on everything going to plan.

Thinking about it, it might just be too tight with any checked bags. With cabin bags very doable.

Alby

 

[yohy?!]

good luck on 5J would be interested to hear about the flight - i havent been game enough to try them yet

 

[RB]

We had a 50min SQ-SQ last year that didn't happen-all Ok as far as getting on a later flight but not everything goes 100% all day every day.

 

[albatross710]

good luck on 5J would be interested to hear about the flight - i havent been game enough to try them yet

I've flown with them on internal PH flights. It's imperative to pay the extra $5 to sit in the front row and exit the aircraft first.

 

[Pushka]

Mostly Singapore is good but one visit we waited 45 minutes for luggage. We were about to file a lost luggage report. And the queues for immigration take quite a bit longer than a minute. What is the checkin time for the second flight with luggage? Must be at least 60 minutes? It's international.

 

[SeaWolf]

Thanks for the thoughts on that. Did you have checked bags to re-check? This is one advantage of Changi's gate screening, means getting out and re-entering is actually quite quick.

My bags were interlined through, so that was one less thing to worry about. My bags made it to my final destination with no trouble at all, though I did notice the bagtags had HOT printed on them. I decided this must be the check in agents opinion of me.

 

[dajop]

Mostly Singapore is good but one visit we waited 45 minutes for luggage. We were about to file a lost luggage report. And the queues for immigration take quite a bit longer than a minute. What is the checkin time for the second flight with luggage? Must be at least 60 minutes? It's international.

T1 is the worst for immigration, if transitting there 1 min immigration queue won't happen. At T2 or T3 a relatively short immigration queue is a possibility, even a probablity.

Also, for check in cut off it varies by airline, eg. for SQ it is 40 mins. I think Cebu Pacific probably has 45 mins as their standard - remembering at Changi, international is just like domestic anywhere else

 

[Pushka]

- remembering at Changi, international is just like domestic anywhere else

Haven't noticed that really. All I see are queues! But they do process faster there than anywhere else I've flown.

We were flying in from Hong Kong when our luggage was delayed. Happened to a group who were arriving for a conference from around the world. Think it was Terminal 1.

 

[dajop]

We were flying in from Hong Kong when our luggage was delayed. Happened to a group who were arriving for a conference from around the world. Think it was Terminal 1.

Terminal 1 is pretty average. Seen long queues at immigration, long waits for luggage (EK, CX, QF) but 19 time out of 20, T2 and T3 are really quick at both immigration and luggage, the worst usually the taxi queues (and they can be bad at certain time of day). Although not sure if T2 has changed since Tiger and Cebu Pacific have taken up residence there.

 

[jetlagger]

Terminal 1 is pretty average. Seen long queues at immigration, long waits for luggage (EK, CX, QF) but 19 time out of 20, T2 and T3 are really quick at both immigration and luggage, the worst usually the taxi queues (and they can be bad at certain time of day). Although not sure if T2 has changed since Tiger and Cebu Pacific have taken up residence there.

Looking beyond the veneer improvements of T1, it still is the original 'modern" Changi terminal. The low ceiling in the departure hall makes it feel somewhat claustrophobic compared to T2 & T3.
It appears to be the busier, inclusive of arrival immigration & taxis during peak hours & evidently most cosmetically worn of the terminals, though IMO still very functional & one of the most efficient on a regional scale.

 

[Cynicor]

I wouldn't do it with luggage. It is the most variable of factors in the plan, with immigration being close second. I have had queues at Changi Immigration. They are almost all less than 10min long but add that to luggage delays and you miss your flight. Better off with an alternative I feel- no luggage, different flight, o'night in sing

 

[jetlagger]

I am considering flying into SIN with SQ and then flying out on 5J (Cebu Pacific)

Arrival time on the SQ 1530.
Departure of the 5J flight is 1625.

I think the time is a permissible connection time for SIN and certainly easily doable even including the time from T3 to T2.

If I check-in on the 5J flight before leaving Australia then I can just go straight to the gate with no need to clear customs.

I might have to take some work gear with me which will mean I need to check some luggage. In this case I'll have to clear customs (adding 1 minute), collect bags (5 mins) and then make my way to T2 to check the bag with 5P whom will probably close the check in counter 30 minutes prior to departure. The Singapore closing time isn't mentioned on their website, although they do list Philippines and Dubai.

My thoughts are that the connection is doable provided I have carry on only and I'm happy with that.

Anyone have experience on the confidence level of making this connection with bag collection and recheck. My main concern is meeting the 5J checkin time.

Thoughts?

Alby

Back on topic..

My experience suggests that I would not risk with the MCT as stated in your post. It seems very tight, especially adding in the time consuming factor of checking in luggage.
I have done so many of the SQ arrival to SIN & 5J departures & always allow an extra buffer zone.. Just in case.. & believe me the situation of closed & delayed flights can & will function at the worst of times.
Cheers,
jl

 

[MYT105]

Also have to factor in the time to do the security check at the gate which happens for all gates at SIN, if no queues can stil ladd a few minutes to the time taken to get in to the boarding area.

 

[albatross710]

Thanks for the experiences. I think based on this, the 55 min transit time is just too close. Given that there are plenty of other travel options, they will be more practical.

Might as well be spending some time in a lounge for a three hour transit refresh than trying to rejig a few days of meetings.

Hapy travels.

Alby

 

[dajop]

Also have to factor in the time to do the security check at the gate which happens for all gates at SIN, if no queues can stil ladd a few minutes to the time taken to get in to the boarding area.

Actually, not really for the purposes of knowing whether you will miss the flight or not. Security, without queues only takes 1 minute, and at the close of boarding there are normally never queues (with one exception) Basically, as security is mainly gate based, if you reach security and security is still open - then the flight is still open for boarding. The only exception to this is shared gates in T3 and at the end of piers in T1&T2, if they happen to have 2 flights going at once, and even then, going up to security with a BP for a flight that is departing in 15mins will get you through in a minute as well, they allow you to jump the queue full of people eager to board their flight in 75 mins time

 

[jetlagger]

Thanks for the experiences. I think based on this, the 55 min transit time is just too close. Given that there are plenty of other travel options, they will be more practical.

Might as well be spending some time in a lounge for a three hour transit refresh than trying to rejig a few days of meetings.

Hapy travels.

Alby

Wise choice

 

[Simo]

good luck on 5J would be interested to hear about the flight - i havent been game enough to try them yet

I have done 5J many times.

Not great service but air fare price is very good.

IMHO would not risk that tight of a check in between flights.

You will also have to clear customs and rebook.