Long Connection Times?

Hi everyone,

I'm just looking at flights to Manila from London. To get a flight that only has 1 stop would be nice, but the reality is that the cheaper I can get the flight, the better. Saying that, I also have a short time in the Philippines, about 9 days, so a shorter flight time to avoid becoming to exhausted is also important. However, I have found a flight with 2 stops, and a total flight time of 30 hours, apx. The stops are first in Amsterdam for 2.5 hours, and second in Beijing for 10.5 hours.

My question is, are the waiting lobbies a place that a 10.5 hour wait can be comfortably done in? I know this will depend on the person, and their general mentality, but to save ≈£200 and to the detriment of 10 extra hours of time I would otherwise have to spend there on a shorter flight, I think I am going to consider it.

I guess I'm wondering if anyone can enlighten me as to the type of place these waiting lobbies are, though, to help me make a decision.

Many thanks.

So do I get to leave the airport? I was under the impression there is a waiting lobby that one is constrained to until the next flight?

Hi mate. When I looked at flights a while back I found some for about £650 that stopped once in I think Hong Kong. But since looking again I can't find any like flights. The flight I mentioned above is is about £455 return, any flight that I can find that's 20 hours is in the £750 region. I'm pretty new to booking long haul flight, as you can probably tell. Other than places in Europe, I've only booked a flight to NYC, so not to savvy when it comes to where to look for these bigger flights.

Can you suggest a website that might be good to look at flights on?


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Thanks for taking the time to reply guys.

Cheers mate, that's actually where I got the mentioned flight from.

Why not investigate a transit hotel so you can sleep relax and freshen up it will make a big difference when you get to Phill.

Yes it will cost a bit but your still save. It will also help you make use better of your time once in phill

Hi Greenspin,
If I was a single man I would spend 10.5 hours in any airport lounge to save approx. £300.....

Cheers mate, I'll check out what that is.

I'm seriously considering it. By the sounds of things I can go on a tour to see the Great Wall' whilst I'm waiting in Beijing.

It's with China Southern if that's what you mean mate?

Does the underlined bit mean they won't feed you when you're in transit waiting for the connecting flight, or on a 10-12 hour flight it's self? Also who is KLM?

Cool, thanks mate.

Someone I know flew recently from the UK on China Southern; he said it was an experience not to be repeated.

It is in fact the same aircraft, with a local crew, that continues on from Taipei to Manila, a flight of about 55 minutes' duration. In the schedule, KLM allows for a 90 minute stop in Tapei in both directions to allow for maintenance and servicing but it can - and apparently does - leave earlier. If you can book 2 - 3 months ahead, KLM's fares are the cheapest from Europe; just avoid travelling to the Philippines in December.

Why avoid December mate? I'm going to be leaving 26th December as that's when my holiday will be from Uni.

Chrimbo........!

Does it make it hard to travel? I'm not a fan of Christmas. I have to do it as I look after my sister, so I do it for her. But other than that I wish it would disappear. The girl I'm going to see is not overly religious though, so I don't think I will have any problems there.