A question of logistics?

[dosborn]

I am trying to coordinate meeting up with my father in law whilst in transit at SIN. He is not an experienced traveller and not mobile phone savvy. I have visions of me being faced with the dillema of having to go and look for the father in law or get on my flight!

I arrive (with wife, plus 3yo & 5yo) on QF9 from MEL at 2115. The father in law arrives on JQ61 at 2130.

We all depart at 2305 on QF9 to LHR.

My dillemma is what instructions to give to the father in law to meet up with us?

Wait at the gate he arrives at, and I will come and find him?
Come and meet us at the gate we arrive at? (Is it correct to assume it is the same aircraft the continues QF9 to LHR?)
Meet at the lounge (I assume my single WP won't be enought to get a group of five in to the F lounge )
Meet at a transit counter or somewhere else?

I just don't know Changi Airport that well and am concerned I will confuse him with complex instructions.

Welcome any thoughts or advice.

Thanks

 

[ozmille]

The Jetstar flight is due to arrive about 10 mins earlier then QF into SIN so I think it easiest for you to meet at the QF gate as this will be the same gate you depart from 1h40min later.
Don't know which class you are travelling in but 5 seems a bit much to get in the F lounge with.

Mille

 

[Flashback]

I'd try your luck in the J lounge, given the young age of the children. In SIN there's not much difference between the J and F lounge anyway.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

What date are you travelling? Are there any other AFFers on that flight I wonder?

Is your FIL travelling ex DRW or MEL on JQ61?

Can you call the F or J Lounge in SIN to ascertain how many guests you can have so at least you know what lounge you are entitled to use. Then tell him when he gets off the JQ flight to make his way to the F or J Lounge whichever is applicable which I'm sure ground staff could give him directions to.

I don't know if they will do a meet and assist type thing but if you tell him to write down your mobile phone number in case someone in SIN has to call you although it would probably be an IDD number given that you'd have an Aussie mobile number.

PS Have you organised your seating on QF9 SIN/LHR so you are all seated together or as close as possible?

 

[JohnK]

From personal experience QF9/10 usually arrives/departs from one of the furthest concourse C gates. The QF/BA lounges are located in between concourse C/D and is a fair walk from the gates.

If everything goes to plan you may be lucky and get 30 minutes in the lounge. Is a lounge visit really worth it with 2 young kids and I am assuming an elderly gentleman?

Not trying to be nasty in anyway (and I am not saying it is not possible) but I wonder what the lounge access rules would be like if every Platinum tried to have 4 guests into the lounges?

 

[medhead]

If everything goes to plan you may be lucky and get 30 minutes in the lounge. Is a lounge visit really worth it with 2 young kids and I am assuming an elderly gentleman?

Not trying to be nasty in anyway (and I am not saying it is not possible) but I wonder what the lounge access rules would be like if every Platinum tried to have 4 guests into the lounges?

From my experience with 2 young children it is worth it just for the shower alone. (we did have enough guest spots in my case)

You could try going into the lounge in shifts. The timetable says QF9 is scheduled to arrive before JQ61. So why not take the family to the lounge first that way the kids can get refreshed for the onward flight. Then meet the FIL from his flight.

Also the 3yo doesn't take up a guest spot.

 

[markis10]

I would take the lounge option, the 5YO will probably not be counted although as Medhead says, its only 3Yo and under that dont count by the rules.

 

[dosborn]

I wonder what the lounge access rules would be like if every Platinum tried to have 4 guests into the lounges?

My wife has a QP membership, I assume that will get us into the J lounge at least - WP + QP + 2 guests + 1 3yo?

 

[JohnK]

You could try going into the lounge in shifts. The timetable says QF9 is scheduled to arrive before JQ61. So why not take the family to the lounge first that way the kids can get refreshed for the onward flight. Then meet the FIL from his flight.

Sure the lounge may be worth it for some people during a short transit but do take into consideration that it could well be a 10-15 walk from gate to lounge and then the same from lounge to gate.

My wife has a QP membership, I assume that will get us into the J lounge at least - WP + QP + 2 guests + 1 3yo?

If 2 members then you will get in to the business lounge easily. By the way I did not mean to be rude and I have broken the rules (nicely) more than once.

 

[dosborn]

PS Have you organised your seating on QF9 SIN/LHR so you are all seated together or as close as possible?

I did try. The FIL is on the DRW - SIN JQ sector and we are on MEL - SIN QF, so we are not on the same ticket. My priority was four seats across the middle (we got 53D - G) on the A380. I called QFF and they told me they would put a note in the booking for us all to be seated together on the SIN - LHR sector but I don't really like my chances?

That would mean the JQ check in staff having to do something clever in DRW, after we are already in the air.

 

[Heleigh]

In 2001 friends on a different flight and I tried to meet at the gate but changi didn't have screens for arrival flights. Have not had the need to meet people on different flights now usually travelling on same.

The airport may have changed or try QC they may be able to advise which gate.

If not the back up plane may be to use the web lay out map from changi airport print out hard copy send / email to FILaw and high ligthing meeting point (maybe lounge).

Also, you being WP and wife QC - don't see problem with all of you using the lounge.

 

[JohnK]

In 2001 friends on a different flight and I tried to meet at the gate but changi didn't have screens for arrival flights. Have not had the need to meet people on different flights now usually travelling on same.

In recent years I have met people coming off flights while I have been in transit in SIN. If it is a QF through flight it is not hard to work out the gate number as gate showing on the departure screen will be exactly the same gate it is arriving.

If it is a terminating flight then just go to the transfer desks and they should be able to inform you of the arrival gate.