SQ A380 SIN-LHR - afternoon or night-time?

[TanyaB]

Thought you lovely SQ experts might be able to help me out with this one as I'm tossing up between the two flights for my booking.

Hubby and I will have a "sleep, shower and stretch legs" stopover in SIN on way from MEL to LHR (proper stopover on way home) and am wondering which flight to book for the SIN-LHR leg (but must be on A380 as this will be my only opportunity to check it out...we are flying back to SIN from CDG).

The noon-ish flight has us in at LHR at about 7.30pm and then need to catch tube to South Kensington and walk two blocks to Mews Cottage we have rented. Benefits of this are that I barely sleep on planes anyway (we'll be in Y) so I assume this one is sort of an all "daytime" flight and then when I get to London I can go straight to sleep (with any luck!). Downside is that we'll be arrive in South Kensington in the dark and will need to find our way to our tucked away Reece Mews cottage.

The night flight gives us a whole day in SIN and then we fly for a whole 14 hours of nightime (I presume) and I would have to try and get some rest. We would then arrive in London on a weekday at about 6am (battling with peak hour tube pax?) and then find our way to the cottage in daylight - which would be easier. This option would mean knocking myself out with a sleeping pill for a couple of hours on the plane (at least kill some time) and then trying to stay awake during first day in London.

Which one would you choose? Cheers and thanks as always.

[zvezda]

Given the constraints you indicated, I suggest the daytime flight arriving in the evening. Use the wonderful IFE system and caffeine to stay awake. Use melatonin to adjust when you get to London.

[stargold]

Personally I prefer day flights - especially as you'll arrive in the evening fairly tired and you can go straight to sleep. Reece Mews is literally a couple of minutes' walk from South Kensington so you shouldn't have any problems finding it, especially if you print off the map before you leave.

If you don't manage to sleep on the night flight, it will potentially take much longer to adjust to the time as well.

PS. Seats on the Upper Deck are a must!

[TanyaB]

Thank you both so much for responding - yes, I am leaning towards day-time flight. Just waiting to hear back from owner of the property about the availability of the keys.

Also realised if I'm coming in at 9.30pm and then leaving following day at 12ish I think I could have luggage checked through and only have things I need for night in Transit Hotel in our carry-on? Is that correct? (Then I could have a swim in Changhi pool and a massage in the morning prior to departure!!)

[Rejuvenated]

Yes I fully agree with the daytime option. Just in case one can't sleep (regardless of class) one is better off with an evening arrival so you can go off to be after arrival and won't need to put up with an extra 14 hours of staying awake (which will be the case if you arrive morning).

I've done SQ's daytime flights to LHR, CDG, and ZRH before and would prefer these to the night ones if time permits me.

In August I arrived from SQ234 ex-SYD close to midnight and my connecting flight was SQ866 to HKG the following day. But luggage was checked all the way to HKG and didn't have to retrieve them in SIN. I prepared a little clothing inside my carry-on for my overnight at the transit hotel. So I don't think they'll have problems checking your luggage for your connecting flight the next day.

[TanyaB]

Looks like the afternoon flight to LHR might be the one (arriving 7.10pm)...I've just heard back from owner of the property who will meet us there (or leave keys for us if we have been delayed)...naturally she is charging an extra night (GBP172) as we had only booked for arrival the following day. But I'm figuring this is a small price to pay for a jetlag-free start to our precious holiday (and first time flying with SIA!) Can't wait!