Qantas vs Singapore Airlines... Opinions?

[Ryan T. Lion]

Hi all

Am I right in thinking that from the UK -> Adelaide you pretty much have the choice of:

Manchester -> Munich -> Singapore -> Adelaide (Singapore Airlines)
or
Heathrow -> Singapore/HK -> Melbourne/Sydney -> Adelaide (Quantas)

Also, Quantas vs Singapore.... any experiences/comments?

Thanks bigtime, guys

RTL

[moviemummy]

Hi all

Am I right in thinking that from the UK -> Adelaide you pretty much have the choice of:

Manchester -> Munich -> Singapore -> Adelaide (Singapore Airlines)
or
Heathrow -> Singapore/HK -> Melbourne/Sydney -> Adelaide (Quantas)

Also, Quantas vs Singapore.... any experiences/comments?

Thanks bigtime, guys

RTL

Hi

Can't you go Heathrow -> Singapore -> Adelaide with Singapore airlines? We have been looking into that. Last time we went Edinburgh -> Heathrow ->Singapore -> Melbourne -> Adelaide. OMG not to be recommended!!! Was awful. But as that was our first trip we didn't know any better. Lesson learned.

L x ;)

[tinkham_lee]

We have flown.
Heathrow - Hong Kong - Adelaide with Cathay Pacific
Heathrow - Kuala Lumpur - Adelaide with Malaysian Airlines

Both airlines are great. I would recommend Malaysia over Cathay. Malaysian airlines have won skytrax awards and has the most legroom out of all the other airlines. They have shorter transfers and were cheaper too.

[ajford]

we have been looking at flights but we don't want a long stopover anywhere as we have 2 children, so just want to get there. If the stop over is for a few hours do you stay on the plane or do you get shoved into a room while they do the refueling.

[Adelaide_bound]

I believe you aren't allowed to stay on a plane when they are refuelling due to H&S or some such stuff (in case it blows up or something probably), so will have to get off and trapse back on again - annoying, but a nec. evil of long haul travel.

[Ryan T. Lion]

we have been looking at flights but we don't want a long stopover anywhere as we have 2 children, so just want to get there. If the stop over is for a few hours do you stay on the plane or do you get shoved into a room while they do the refueling.

Hi. I've never once stayed on the plane during a refuelling stop over, I think they restock with food etc also so apart from H&S with fuel matters - the passengers would be in the way.

I like the idea of getting off and stretching my legs for a bit, although some of the stopovers on the cheaper flights are a few hours.

[snifter]

You can do Heathrow - Singapore -Adelaide with Qantas (BA share often enough).

We did this last trip and had a few hours at Changi to shower, get some fresh air and let our son run off his energy before getting the onward leg direct to Adelaide.

You should also be able to go with Singapore airlines direct route also from London - Singapore - Adelaide.

[snifter]

we have been looking at flights but we don't want a long stopover anywhere as we have 2 children, so just want to get there. If the stop over is for a few hours do you stay on the plane or do you get shoved into a room while they do the refueling.

If its a 45 minute stop for refuelling you are always asked to leave the plane. Some people are actually not going to come back and others will join. You get to amble round the terminal for the duration.

If you have a longer layover you will actually be changing flights and getting back on a different plane for the next leg.

Personally I'd always have a couple of hours at Changi (Singapore airport) for a shower, let the kids run round (they have plenty for kids to do, swimming pool, cinema, play areas, free use of computers and internet and so on) and then get a connecting flight. I hate the short stop for refuelling then being herded back onboard. I love the showers at Changi and sometimes even have a massage. Makes the last 7.5 hours flying much more bearable.

Also often the short stop flights for refuel only fly on down to Melbourne and you then have to change there, wait an hour or two for the connecting flight to then fly back up to Adelaide. Which is very boring and takes longer than if you had a couple of hours stopover in Singapore and flew direct.

[snifter]

O re Qantas v Singapore airlines

I've used Qantas a fair few times and tbh over the years the standard has slipped in some ways, improved a bit in others. Most airlines have made noticeable cutbacks, thinner socks, blankets, flight packs are much cheaper etc. The actual flight attendants have always been good when flying but I've found the ground staff more lacking. O and the kids buggy on board issue is a major minus for us. BA were great on the first leg, we took it on board, Qantas made us check it all the way through. I was not happy.

Singapore Airlines rate highly in my book but for some reason we didn't fly with them last time (I think it was more expensive by a fair bit so for a 4 week trip we went the cheaper Qantas option). I always find all the SA staff way nicer and more than happy to help.

Personally, if you want better all round service etc I'd say SA every time.

[Ryan T. Lion]

We were tempted by Singapore Airlines, then I noticed the Qantas "Premium Economy" which would really work for us (medical issues mean keeping legs elevated as much as poss during flying) although it is quite a bit more expensive.....

Might look into whether Singapore can offer special seats for legroom.

Cheers all - lots to think about !

Ry.