EK SIN-BNE-SIN any feedback or advice?

[Archipelago]

Have booked the boss on a SIN-BNE-SIN business trip with EK in Y for a 4 day conference on the Gold Coast 18-22 April

Any feedback on these flights from AFF members who travel this route?
EK 432 outbound and 433 for the return leg

Would be interested to hear reports on usual loading in Y and other advice for the trip, any previous aircraft changes, Changi tips.

Boss is a UK national, so would be interested on hearing how the immigration experience is on arrival to BNE at 1am, as he has to transfer to the Gold Coast to his hotel.

Finally - any recommendations on the ground transfer from BNE to the Gold Coast?

 

[Mattg]

A friend of mine always uses EK432 when flying to Australia because it's (a) not a redeye, and (b) tends to be lightly loaded in Y. I haven't taken this flight myself but am told BNE is usually very, very quiet at 1am.

I can't help with the ground transfer but maybe someone else can.

 

[I love to travel]

Not sure whether shuttles would operate at that time. Certainly no trains. There are quite a few airport hotels now at different price points so maybe hotel then shuttle or train in the morning. Train takes about 90 mins, the connection to local public transportation. Still can be quicker than driving if there is a problem on the M1

 

[Must...Fly!]

BNE airport hotel then the train down in the morning, connecting with the tram would be my vote too, assuming you don't have to be on the GC super early.

 

[pangwen]

Con-x-ion does operate shuttles from Brisbane Airport to Gold Coast at that hour. Just tried a dummy booking from BNE to Hilton Surfers Paradise at 0100, and the Con-x-ion website gives an option for a 0215 departure from BNE, arriving at 0345 at Surfers. Cost is $54 one way.

Not really the timing for me, but I suppose this is the best you can do if arriving just after midnight (unless you stay at an airport hotel as per other posts).

Airport Transfers Australia Wide | Con-x-ion

 

[Archipelago]

Con-x-ion does operate shuttles from Brisbane Airport to Gold Coast at that hour. Just tried a dummy booking from BNE to Hilton Surfers Paradise at 0100, and the Con-x-ion website gives an option for a 0215 departure from BNE, arriving at 0345 at Surfers. Cost is $54 one way.

Not really the timing for me, but I suppose this is the best you can do if arriving just after midnight (unless you stay at an airport hotel as per other posts).

Airport Transfers Australia Wide | Con-x-ion

That is a great bit of advice, will check them out. Many thanks for the link and costing - much appreciated

 

[JohnK]

I've done the outbound BNE-SIN a few times and twice with infant daughter. Very light loads each time. On my own I've had exit row each time to myself. With wife and daughter we've had bulkhead each time and both times bulkhead to ourselves.

Daughter doesn't like bassinet and one time the row behind bulkhead only had 1 person sitting up so wife took daughter back a row and daughter slept on seat with seat belt on next to wife. Other time daughter slept on bulkhead seat with seat belt on in between wife and me and slept most of the flight.

I've done the inbound SIN-BNE a couple of times and loads a little better than outbound but still not full. BNE airport very quiet at that time of the night.

First time hired a Hertz car but counter closed and managed to get a cheap Avis walk up rate at open counter. Second time took taxi to Milton which is a little expensive at ~$65.

I'm doing SIN-BNE-SIN again in June-August and will try to hire a car on return to BNE as I'm arriving Friday morning then heading off to SYD Friday night.

 

[Archipelago]

Thanks for all of the info so far, very helpful

Noted JohnK on loadings, always good to hear actual anecdotal reports
As you said, loading was light when I did the check-in this evening and got a forward window - he can try for an exit row at airport

Have booked the Con-x-ion transfer for him when he arrives, and booked additional night at the hotel down near the event so he can check in early.

Out of interest, posted the same question on the ABT Community section, got totally flamed. AFF much more helpful.

Now the hurdle is for the connecting flight from HKT-SIN, on a separate ticket with MI. Have found some posts on FT saying that its possible to thru-check from HKT on MI with different bookings but not 100% on this. Would be good for the boss not to have to clear and re-check bags etc in SIN. Lets see.

 

[JohnK]

Now the hurdle is for the connecting flight from HKT-SIN, on a separate ticket with MI. Have found some posts on FT saying that its possible to thru-check from HKT on MI with different bookings but not 100% on this. Would be good for the boss not to have to clear and re-check bags etc in SIN. Lets see.

Don't worry about cecking bags through. Just get the boss to head to transfer C in SIN with passport and luggage tags and they will issue EK boarding and manually re-tag luggage. Then head to EK lounge upstairs.

 

[Archipelago]

Here's a first. Found an email address for Silkair in coughet.
Emailed them around 1am this morning with boss's MI and EK booking details

Received a reply back from them at 9am this morning. They have the details for the onward flight now in the system and married to the MI PNR

I'm speechless. That's a first for me in getting a reply from a contact email for an airline, so fast, and with a result.

 

[Archipelago]

aaand, flight done

 

[pangwen]

aaand, flight done

View attachment 123403

Hope the connection to the hotel went well!

 

[Archipelago]

Hope the connection to the hotel went well!

It did. Got the feedback this morning. Boss arrived early and was through by 01.00. Conxion pick up was supposed to be 02.15 but the counter staff had him on an earlier van in under 10 minutes and he was at his hotel in the Gold Coast by 02.00

He said it was quick, seamless and comfortable, and they dropped him right to the hotel door. This was for the basic shared van service which was AUD$54

Bargain and recommended. Will use it to get him back up to BNE for the departing EK flight on Saturday night

 

[AIRwin]

I was just looking at SIN-BNE flights on the QF website and noticed that the timing of EK432 has changed to depart SIN in the morning (around 10 am) and arrive BNE in the evening (around 8 pm)?

 

[I love to travel]

I was just looking at SIN-BNE flights on the QF website and noticed that the timing of EK432 has changed to depart SIN in the morning (around 10 am) and arrive BNE in the evening (around 8 pm)?

What dates was this. Would be interested in seeing what it means for the bne to sin sector timings

 

[AIRwin]

What dates was this. Would be interested in seeing what it means for the bne to sin sector timings

After 27 October 2018 but no change to BNE-SIN timings (which I don't mind)

 

[JohnK]

I was just looking at SIN-BNE flights on the QF website and noticed that the timing of EK432 has changed to depart SIN in the morning (around 10 am) and arrive BNE in the evening (around 8 pm)?

I received a notification last week and was too lazy to check.

We're on this flight on 05 Jan 19 and is scheduled to depart SIN 10:10am and arrive BNE at 7:40pm. Only problem is we don't get to SIN until 12:55pm on same booking.

A little better than previous arrival into BNE but doesn't connect same day with 3K from BKK. Need to see if Qantas can change us to last 3K flight BKK-SIN the previous night.