Stockholm-Sydney with kids-Advice

[chrloc]

We are going to Sydney in Feb. 2009 and I love Singapore and SIA!
Therefore a stopover in Singapore is a must. We have two children and a baby (he will be 16 months then). A few questions:
1. Can anyone suggest the best route from Stockholm? I think we prefere a night flight so that the kids will sleep.
2. How do small children (16 months) sleep on the plane since they dont have their own seat? On the floor/my lap/other better solutions?
3. If we decided to go in Nov. when he is 12 months could he have a bassinette?
4. Is the 747 or 777 more spacious in Economy Class?
5. Bying tickets: As far as I can see we cant book tickets from Stockholm on the SIA home page or am I wrong? Other suggestions?

/Tina

[flo]

1. you can go via CPH (772), LHR (380, 744), FRA (77W, 744), AMS (772), ZRH (77W), CDG (77W), ... from ARN cou can pretty much choose the point where you want to hop onto SQ. You might want to go to LHR and take the Airbus 380 to Singapore. It's quiet and spacious!

2. There are baby buckets that can be fixed on the walls when you are sitting in a bulkhead row (make sure you request one of these when reserving! esp. with a baby!)

3. sorry don't know

4. depends. the 77W is very spacious and i find it more spacious than the 772 and the 744. Same with the A380.

5. Yes you can but you still have to choose a transit point!

Have a pleasant flight!
Florian

[chrloc]

Thanks Florian for your quick reply. I hadnt thought about the 380, sounds tempting to try it...
When you talk about baby buckets I suspect you mean the bassinettes=baby cots they put on the wall in the front row where the film screen use to be. I think these bassinettes are only for babies up to about 12 months old.

[jjpb3]

1. you can go via CPH (772), LHR (380, 744), FRA (77W, 744), AMS (772), ZRH (77W), CDG (77W), ... from ARN cou can pretty much choose the point where you want to hop onto SQ.

Except that the CPH and AMS flights are not nighttime flights, right? The ex-CDG nighttime flights are also only on certain days of the week, IIRC.

1. Can anyone suggest the best route from Stockholm? I think we prefere a night flight so that the kids will sleep.

The new Y class cabins would definitely be more comfortable, but the 77W may be just as good as the A380 (less complex boarding and disembarking; efficiency of ZRH vs. LHR; loads on the kangaroo route vs. a non-kangaroo route, for example).

Welcome to SQTalk, chrloc. I think you'll find your children as welcomed on board as they will ever be on any airline.

[jjpb3]

5. Buying tickets: As far as I can see we cant book tickets from Stockholm on the SIA home page or am I wrong? Other suggestions?

It seems SQ doesn't have codeshares originating from ARN. I think you have two options.

(1) Book a separate ticket ARN-xxx-ARN (where xxx is the airport from which you'll take SQ, e.g., LHR, ZRH, or FRA) -- just make sure you allow enough time to connect and that you minimize the risk of misconnecting because of an unforeseen incident on the non-SQ flight (e.g., delay on the departure flight from ARN).

(2) Buy through a travel agent and book all tickets on a single itinerary.

The advantage of (1) is that you'll be able to use OLCI on SQ. The advantage of (2) is that you'll be protected in case you have a misconnect (e.g., weather issues at ARN on the day of departure, mechanical problems with your flight from ARN).

[9V-JKL]

I would recommend ZRH for a less hassle transfer in the evenings.

SQ341 is usually the 1st of the post 10pm departures from Terminal E and there usually isn't anything else departing there at 9pm.

As jjpb3 pointed out, a 77W does have quite a number of advantages over an A380 or even a 744 and I fully agree with him

For bassinet, its not so much the age but the weight and size:
The dimensions of the bassinets are 769 L x 299 W x 200 H (mm). Bassinets can support a maximum weight of 14kg.

[chrloc]

Thank you for the advice.
jjpb3; I would prefere to book online via SIA, but I thinks its to risky like you pointed out, if the ARN-XXX flight is delayed. I suspect the travel agents here in Sweden charge a bit more than SIA online. I will look for other travel agencies online.

If any one has more time to answer questions;
1. Which of the flights departing from FRA,LHR,ZRH would be the least crowded = Higher chance of getting an extra seat for the baby?
2. If we go for the A380 is the upper area nicer and do they allow families with small children upstairs?
3. Chances of upgrade? I am a Kris Flyer member, but with very few points. Most of our points are in Eurobonus (SK). Also, what do staff think of families asking for an upgrade?
4. We would like a stopover with hotel in Singaporeon the way out. Homebound I thought we would use a hotel at Changi airport for a few hours sleep. Is there such a hotel where you dont have to check out your luggage?

[flo]

1. All those places are pretty crowded from my experience. ZRH is the nicest transit location out of these options, though.

2. Sure! The upper deck is splendid and not too crowded. Of course families with small children are allowed!

3. Chances are very slim. SQ apparently only upgrades when there is no other possibility. At least that's what I've read around here. I have been flying SQ since I was a baby and in 20+ years of traveling with them I never had an upgrade, nor my family when I was little

4. Outbound: you might want to check the Crowne Plaza at Changi Airport?

[acey]

If any one has more time to answer questions;
1. Which of the flights departing from FRA,LHR,ZRH would be the least crowded = Higher chance of getting an extra seat for the baby?

Hi there,

I've travelled ARN to SIN 4 times this year (in Y class). Company's headquarters is in Stockholm..hence the frequent (and tiring) visits.

I would recommend using ZRH to transit. Reasons as follows:

1. Long connection time.
2. Nice airport, not crowded generally, unlike LHR
3. Using 77W aircraft
4. Aircraft can be quite empty (like 40% occupied) sometimes, depending on the day of the week (I've travelled from ZRH to SIN twice on Thurs morning flight, quite empty)
5. Friendly staff at the transit check-in desk

[chrloc]

Thanks acey, maybe we will go for ZRH nad maybe a thursady? I saw that they also have a flight at 21.55 in the evening, nice if children sleep. Hope fully its not to crowded.

It would also be fun to try the 380, but maybe the flights from LHR are packed?
Otherwise we could try it when we continue down to SYD.

[jjpb3]

It would also be fun to try the 380, but maybe the flights from LHR are packed?
Otherwise we could try it when we continue down to SYD.

From what my friends tell me, the A380 flights from LHR tend to have high loads.