Switching from SQ to BA in Singapore to lengthen LHR transit time?

[cgichard]

My dilemma: travelling MEL to LHR in May next year, to connect with tour group on BA group ticket to Athens dep. from T5 at 8.15 am.

I plan to use KF reward points for the return and have enough also for MEL to SIN outward (or even MEL to LHR if you really do use 15% fewer points for booking reward flight online?). In the past (annual flyer on this route) I've used SQ228+SQ322. But arrival into LHR at 5.55 am seems uncomfortably tight, with T3 -> T5, separate tickets & baggage to clear, although having a EU passport should help.

I'm wondering about the feasibility of switching to BA16 at Singapore; it leaves only 5 mins earlier than SQ322 but is due in 25 mins earlier. BUT would involve changing terminals and not being able to book my bag straight through to LHR from MEL on SQ.

Is SQ 228 arr. 21.45 a feasible connection with BA16 dep. 23.25? How would the baggage transfer be done? Would BA be likely to check it through to the Athens flight, given the different ticketing? If so, could I use Flight Connections at LHR to save time? Or is it more reliable, in fact, to retrieve bag at T3 and go via HEX to T5 and check-in from scratch there. Can that be done in 2hr 45?

 

[simongr]

IS hand luggage only an option?

I would think 2 hours 20 is fine at LHR - but I don't check luggage.

 

[cgichard]

IS hand luggage only an option?

I would think 2 hours 20 is fine at LHR - but I don't check luggage.

Thanks, Simon. Thanks for the reassurance, but unfortunately hand luggage only is not an option.

I'm female! And I'll be away 3 weeks in all, in 2 utterly different environments - 1 smart and 1 scruffy. And I feel the cold, so need many layers.

 

[tuapekastar]

What are the consequences of missing the tour group's departure from LHR? Catch up with them at the 1st stop? With separate tickets I would not take the risk at all (I am very careful in these situations) if there were any dire consequences to not connecting with them at LHR. I would schedule to arrive at LHR the day before and overnight in an airport hotel. I think it is tight-ish in any case.

 

[cgichard]

Thanks, Tuapekastar. It's a private tour travelling on from Athens airport in their own bus, so no way to catch up with them. And an important prior commitment means I can't leave earlier than about lunchtime on the day of departure from MEL.

I have looked at going directly from Singapore to Athens via Frankfurt (Lufthansa) perhaps - but that means unfamiliar airlines (recent LH reviews are not encouraging) and breaking the journey with a wait at Frankfurt airport, rather being able to settle to sleep for the long SIN - LHR leg. And any arrival delay at Athens could still upset connecting with the tour at the airport there.

 

[Awesom Andy]

I would stick with SQ in this case. If something goes wrong with the BA flight, they really only have 1 plane so if it's late, it's late. If it's cancelled, it's cancelled. (I don't think you are early enough to make the BA 744 connection). At least with SQ, being their home base, there is a chance of them finding a sub aircraft.

 

[dajop]

I'm wondering about the feasibility of switching to BA16 at Singapore; it leaves only 5 mins earlier than SQ322 but is due in 25 mins earlier. BUT would involve changing terminals and not being able to book my bag straight through to LHR from MEL on SQ.

Just for reference, not sure if this alters anything, but SQ do check baggage through even when travelling on different tickets on different airlines. I was advised last year at check in, with a separate booking on Hong Kong Express Airlines (!) , basically they will through check to any carriers except Jetstar, Tiger, Air Asia and their counterparts in other parts of the world. IIRC, upon presenting the two or three itineraries they would even through check you all the way to ATH, whether you did SQ->BA->BA or SQ->SQ->BA. You would need however to present your luggage tags to BA and get them to issue your boarding passes.

 

[albatross710]

I have looked at going directly from Singapore to Athens via Frankfurt (Lufthansa) perhaps - but that means unfamiliar airlines (recent LH reviews are not encouraging) and breaking the journey with a wait at Frankfurt airport, rather being able to settle to sleep for the long SIN - LHR leg. And any arrival delay at Athens could still upset connecting with the tour at the airport there.

Would it be a consideration that travelling direct SIN/FRA-ATH could same a reasonable amount of flying time as well as avoiding the mess and taxes at LHR.

 

[cgichard]

Would it be a consideration that travelling direct SIN/FRA-ATH could save a reasonable amount of flying time as well as avoiding the mess and taxes at LHR.

Yes, those are valid considerations.
However, against that route is the fact that I would then be excluded from the group ticket for return to LHR, LHR's poor reputation, unfamiliarity of FRA compared with LHR etc.

I'm now looking at going via Hong Kong instead on BA7317/QF9 (or is it 29?) ex MEL, to link with BA26 due at LHR at 4.50am to give me more time for transit from T3 to T5. I would gain an hour in arrival time but have to leave MEL over 2 hours earlier. Is anyone familiar with that route? I vaguely recall reading of proposed changes to it.

Awesome Andy's point is one I hadn't considered. Presumably the same would apply to BA26, which is not based in HKK.