What's your opinion on (flight connection times?

[Fierlin1182]

Next month I'm going on holiday and have got myself a short stopover time for both flights (including return) - at first I thought, this is going to be great! And then I thought, rats, I'm probably going to end up missing my flight.

I'm changing planes in Singapore - I've been there several times before so I know my way round reasonably. Do you think 1.5 hours is enough for a transfer? Both flights are international, but it's the same airline and likely to be in the same terminal. From past experience I know it takes me FOREVER to even get off the plane... my plan of action is to not carry much with me so as soon as we reach the gate I can just grab my bag and go, no waiting in line to access the overhead lockers. Someone tells me I should chat with the flight attendants and get them to move me nearer the front before landing if the plane isn't full - I'm not sure if that would actually be allowed though...

Anyway, what do you guys think? Do any of you have similar kind of experience? I know Singapore is very efficient but I'm still not 100% sure...
I see all sorts of opinions on travel forums and my parents are divided on the issue.

 

[Mahlzeit]

Sorry this is a little late but i would say an hour and a half would be the minimum you'd ever want between connecting flights. Any little hold up with your first flight and you risk missing your second.

 

[Fierlin1182]

Turns out there was a change of date anyway and I'm now leaving mid-January - so not late.

Yeah, that's what I'm worried about. A friend told me the second plane waits if the first one is delayed, because it happened to her before (same airport). I wonder if that's still the case. I somehow can't imagine it if a lot of flights hit a gutsy headwind on the way over

Pretty much every time I've flown before, which is a reasonable lot, our plane has been "10-20 minutes early", I wonder if they add a bit onto the ETA anyway just to make it seem like they're always early. (just kidding!)

 

[Mahlzeit]

I've done a lot of traveling and never had a connecting flight wait for a delayed flight. You have to realize most of the people on your first flight will either have a different connecting flight or not be connecting at all. You would need a large number of people on your original flight transferring to your second to have them hold the plane. They aren't going to hold up a whole flight just for a few people when they have people on stand-by to fill those seats.

 

[Fierlin1182]

Yeah, that makes sense. Just gotta hope it's the case then, because Singapore is a pretty common place for a stopover

 

[Fierlin1182]

Well it was fine - for both trips the first plane was over an hour ahead of schedule (judging by that I reckon they do add a bit onto the quoted time, just in case or for whatever reason ) and on the way there the second one was delayed for 40 minutes.
It wouldn't have mattered anyway, I found the gate in 15 minutes, terminal change and all, and I wasn't even walking fast. The gate wasn't opened yet so I found a spot by the koi pond (lol, Singapore airport has the most awesome things) and took advantage of the free wi-fi...