One trip and two great cities
Michael Daly is ‘‘all business’’ as he flies from Wellington to Singapore via Melbourne.
Wellington-MelbourneSingapore – it’s a great trip, and even better if you go business class. Singapore Airlines introduced the route in early May, replacing the Wellington-Canberra-Singapore route it had run for 19 months. The Boeing 777-200 service via Melbourne leaves the capital at 1.45pm on Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The trip to Melbourne takes three hours 45 minutes, then there’s a one-hour, 20-minute wait in Melbourne.
From Melbourne, it’s a seven-hour, 55-minute flight to Singapore, arriving at Changi Airport at 10.45pm (local time). Singapore Airlines says a stopover in Melbourne is allowed within the fare, so stopping in Melbourne doesn’t increase the airfare cost, although Australian departure taxes would apply with a stopover.
Admittedly, all the attention, food and drink you get in business class, along with the large seat and generous leg room, add to the attraction of the flight.
But Singapore Airlines must be doing something right anyway, winning the Skytrax Airline of the Year award in 2018 – regaining its top position for the first time in a decade.
At the other end, my experience of Changi Airport – Skytrax’ best airport in the world for the past six years – was wonderfully brief. My luggage took only a few minutes to arrive and I was through immigration formalities with barely any delay.
Looking on Singapore Airlines’ website, the price for an economy seat from Wellington to Singapore on flight SQ248 in a week’s time is around $750. Business class is way more expensive around $2500.
To explore Singapore I was given a Singapore Explorer Pass, which provides admission to more than 20 attractions around the city. The pass is available for one, two or three days, and ranges in price from $62 to $129 for an adult.
The attractions include several museums or museum-type places plus other attractions, including a visit to Singapore Zoo and the neighbouring River Safari, a ride in the cable car, and the giant ferris wheel known as the Flyer.
It will also get you into the conservatories at Gardens by the Bay, onto Sentosa Island and into one of a large selection of attractions on the island, along with entry to Adventure Cove Waterpark. There are a couple of strenuous outdoor activities, one breakfast and a chicken satay meal.
The writer travelled to Singapore courtesy of Singapore Airlines and Wellington Airport.