Hey all - I have a 5.5 hour layover in Singapore on an upcoming trip and was wondering if that's enough time to leave the airport and sample Singapore. I'm flying business with QF and connecting to AY (also in Business) so I guess I could spend my time in a lounge instead.
What would you do or suggest?
What would you do during an extended layover in SIN?
Firstly, look at the actual "usable time" which I estimate as 4 hours since the remaining time is spent getting from arrival gate to lounge or taxi rank on arrival and getting back through immigration/from lounge to gate for boarding when you return. Then if you leave the airport and go into town or part-way there, this reduces the time further by around one hour, so you'd end up with 3 hours in town which is still enough for a meal and drink or to see something of interest.
Otherwise stay in the transit area and go visit the outdoor pool in T1. It's cheap enough, will definitely freshen you up and gives you a shower, towel as part of the package, then retreat to the lounge. The pool is about AUD$15 pp, see the Changi Airport website for opening hours. If you have One World status, then use the QF lounge in T1 instead of Dnata lounge which AY may try to offer, as the QF lounge is fabulous.
If you decide to leave the airport, perhaps go to one of the following: East Coast beach area for local food or Katong for other dining options and/or mall, Gardens-by-the-bay for a look at an attraction, Marina Bay Sands (Ku De Ta) for the view and a drink, Little India or Arab St for a more ethnic food experience etc etc. Enjoy!
Singapore's Changi Airport actually offers a bus trip around the city for layover passengers, for more info check the airport website. You can't get off the bus of course. I think the layover needed for this is 4 hours? Anyway, bear in mind that 5.5 hours between flights means at most a 5 hour layover, more likely closer to 4.5 hours. You could spend that time wandering around Changi, it has lots of diversions, plus of course relax in the Qantas lounge. The Aerotel at T1 (same terminal as used by Qantas and Finnair) has a pool, you have to pay to use it but that could be a nice diversion. Otherwise you could catch a taxi to the east coast area, some good restaurants there. Jumbo Seafood is well regarded for Singapore chilli crab. But I think going into the city itself is not wise. Takes at least 30 minutes there by taxi, so you are immediately facing a one hour commute and in the evening traffic to the airport can be quite heavy. Allowing time to get back for checkin and security etc and maybe a shower at the QF lounge to freshen up and you might have two hours in Singapore, not really worth it.
I frequently take the opportunity to hop on the train to somewhere relatively close for roti prata, sate,or to gorge on black pepper crab. The terminal is great by anyone's standard, but the food not far beyond is worth the extra effort in my opinion.
After working up a sweat whilst scrambling around, it is of course nice to make use of the QF loung showers prior to the next leg...
If you have One World status, then use the QF lounge in T1 instead of Dnata lounge which AY may try to offer, as the QF lounge is fabulous.
Thanks flyingvisit! I'm only Silver QFF, but as I'm flying business I assumed I'd be able to use the QF lounge, is that right?
The 'usable time' is a really good point, I've never been to Singapore, never outside the airport anyway and thought this might be a good chance to see a brief glimpse of downtown. Especially knowing I tend to go a bit stir crazy after an hour+ in even the nicest lounge ;)
Singapore's Changi Airport actually offers a bus trip around the city for layover passengers, for more info check the airport website. You can't get off the bus of course. I think the layover needed for this is 4 hours?
Thanks Mal! I had looked at this option on the airport site, but being trapped on a bus doesn't appeal to me. It seems there's lots to do at Changi though, which may be a good time killer.
Yeah, their public transport is very good with a direct line to-from the airport. Allow 30mins to catch the metro back from city centre to airport. Dependent on what line you catch you may also need to transfer from one train to the other, if so, then add another 15mins to your travel time. Should be enough time to peruse a mall and sample a meal or two.
I always plan on taking a taxi to Changi from the city 3 hours before departure time.
So if your arriving aircraft is on time, unless you have an APEC card it could take 45 minutes from landing to getting into a taxi, at which point you're down to an hour of useful time in the city.
I agree that its not really enough time to comfortably get to the city, look around and get back. If you are returning in peak hours it is often very difficult to get a taxi and you can queue for up to 30 minutes. You can always get the train back but its part of the suburban network and trains are packed in peak hours and you may have to wait for 3 or 4 trains, although trains run frequently. Alternative is just to look round Changi village next to the airport and have a drink or local food overlooking the Johor straits. Get a taxi there and back.
I suspect I have done this exact flight combo in to get the great deal with AY you end up getting QF35 lunch flight which leaves a long lay before the Helsinki connection, I was on holiday so it wasn't a fuss and I wanted to try the Finnair A350 First off, yes you can use the QF Lounge, and it is by far the best option, only down side is they will not announce the flight
Next, I honestly don't think it is worth leaving the airport, you could get in to town, have a quick dinner then return, but not really see any sights
Lastly, if I do one of the Finnair deals again (around $5.5k is a good deal inc the euro connection, and Helsinki is a great place for connections as you get stright into the Euro zone) I will go through Hong Kong where you can pick either a 2.20h or an 11h lay over and you get CX
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How long, is long enough, for a layover in Singapore?
newbieADL
newbieADL
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 07 Jul 2015
Total posts 56
Hey all - I have a 5.5 hour layover in Singapore on an upcoming trip and was wondering if that's enough time to leave the airport and sample Singapore. I'm flying business with QF and connecting to AY (also in Business) so I guess I could spend my time in a lounge instead.
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flyingvisit
flyingvisit
BA
Member since 29 Jul 2016
Total posts 34
Hi NewbieADL,
Mal
Mal
Member since 14 Jun 2013
Total posts 109
Singapore's Changi Airport actually offers a bus trip around the city for layover passengers, for more info check the airport website. You can't get off the bus of course. I think the layover needed for this is 4 hours? Anyway, bear in mind that 5.5 hours between flights means at most a 5 hour layover, more likely closer to 4.5 hours. You could spend that time wandering around Changi, it has lots of diversions, plus of course relax in the Qantas lounge. The Aerotel at T1 (same terminal as used by Qantas and Finnair) has a pool, you have to pay to use it but that could be a nice diversion. Otherwise you could catch a taxi to the east coast area, some good restaurants there. Jumbo Seafood is well regarded for Singapore chilli crab. But I think going into the city itself is not wise. Takes at least 30 minutes there by taxi, so you are immediately facing a one hour commute and in the evening traffic to the airport can be quite heavy. Allowing time to get back for checkin and security etc and maybe a shower at the QF lounge to freshen up and you might have two hours in Singapore, not really worth it.
SeatNextToYours
SeatNextToYours
Member since 12 Mar 2014
Total posts 115
I frequently take the opportunity to hop on the train to somewhere relatively close for roti prata, sate,or to gorge on black pepper crab. The terminal is great by anyone's standard, but the food not far beyond is worth the extra effort in my opinion.
After working up a sweat whilst scrambling around, it is of course nice to make use of the QF loung showers prior to the next leg...
newbieADL
newbieADL
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 07 Jul 2015
Total posts 56
newbieADL
newbieADL
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 07 Jul 2015
Total posts 56
victort
victort
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 14 Feb 2017
Total posts 77
Yeah, their public transport is very good with a direct line to-from the airport. Allow 30mins to catch the metro back from city centre to airport. Dependent on what line you catch you may also need to transfer from one train to the other, if so, then add another 15mins to your travel time. Should be enough time to peruse a mall and sample a meal or two.
OOLflyer
OOLflyer
Member since 13 Feb 2017
Total posts 8
I think you're a bit short on time.
Bra
Bra
QF
Member since 11 May 2015
Total posts 6
I agree that its not really enough time to comfortably get to the city, look around and get back. If you are returning in peak hours it is often very difficult to get a taxi and you can queue for up to 30 minutes. You can always get the train back but its part of the suburban network and trains are packed in peak hours and you may have to wait for 3 or 4 trains, although trains run frequently. Alternative is just to look round Changi village next to the airport and have a drink or local food overlooking the Johor straits. Get a taxi there and back.
DBPZ
DBPZ
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 26 Feb 2016
Total posts 38
If it is longer than 5hrs and it is in daytime, I'll certainly ride the train to city and find somewhere for some drinks.
Notso Swift
Notso Swift
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 06 Oct 2016
Total posts 32
I suspect I have done this exact flight combo in to get the great deal with AY you end up getting QF35 lunch flight which leaves a long lay before the Helsinki connection, I was on holiday so it wasn't a fuss and I wanted to try the Finnair A350
First off, yes you can use the QF Lounge, and it is by far the best option, only down side is they will not announce the flight
Next, I honestly don't think it is worth leaving the airport, you could get in to town, have a quick dinner then return, but not really see any sights
Lastly, if I do one of the Finnair deals again (around $5.5k is a good deal inc the euro connection, and Helsinki is a great place for connections as you get stright into the Euro zone) I will go through Hong Kong where you can pick either a 2.20h or an 11h lay over and you get CX