couple of questions for an upcoming flight.
im flying UA NRT-SIN coming from IAD then SQ SIN-JNB.

1.will my bags be checked all the way through or do I need to claim them at one of the 2 transfers?

2.it says plane change for iad-sin change in NRT...do I not have to switch terminals or anything also the same in SIN, would the SQ flight be in the same terminal?

3.I have a 2 hour layover in SIN...if I have time what is the best *G or IFL as I am flying 1st iad-sin business sin-jnb also in NRT

4. on the way back I have an 1h35m in SIN then 1h 50 in NRT...enough time?

Wow! Long way to fly to JNB eh!?

YAY for my 500th post...only 9500 more to go for FT Evangelist!

1. If it is one ticket all the way, they should check your bag through.
If not, they might give you a hard time.... But, make them check your bag all the way through.

2. In NRT, upon arriving you will have to re-clear security (so, all the liquids rules will apply just like US security). Then, get to the UA gates.
Terminal is the same. Only you will walk from arrivals to security to gates.
UA gates are close to where you clear security.

in SIN, i am not sure...but SIN is a super-efficient airport. No problems changing terminals.

3. In SIN, I liked the SATS gold lounge (Terminal 2) and NRT the ANA lounge (*G). THere are shower rooms in both of these lounges.. Food choices aplenty. For vegetarians, the SATS Gold lounge in SIN had better choices.
Never used IFL's in either airport.
ANA is better than RCC at NRT... imho.

4. you have plenty of time for the transfers..you should get some lounge time in during this as well.

On the way there ...

Flying first to SIN means you have access to the nice NH F lounge at NRT.
Flying business to JNB means you have access to the SQ C lounges at SIN. UA arrives at T3, and IIRC JNB flight departs from T2. You can transfer between terminals airside - either by train or by walking (via T1).

On the way back ...

Flying first from SIN means access to the SQ F lounges. Even with terminal transfer you will still have time for a shower and breakfast in the lounge.

thanks!!!!
Yeah its the long way cause it an award ticket, and only way to get to the world cup.

any other suggestions for the trip?

You should be able to check through your bags all the way from IAD to JNB, even with separate ticket, as long as you can show confirmed booking. But I believe from your other posts in FT, the flights IAD-NRT-SIN-JNB are in the same tix, thus no worry about the check-through bags.

If it says there is a plane change in NRT, yes indeed a plane change. I believe UA uses gates mostly in Satellite 3 as well as 4. When you get off from your flight from IAD, just follow the INTERNATIONAL CONNECTION. Since you are in F for NRT-SIN, you can either visit UA IFL near Gate 31, or NH F Lounge in 4th Floor of Satellite 4. I personally prefer NH F Lounge. Well don't worry about the distance between the satellite. It takes about 10 minutes to go from NH F Lounge to gate 31 for example.

UA flight will arrive in SIN at Terminal 3. Your flight to JNB departs from Terminal 2. You are in C. Thus, you will only allow to use SKL C. I suggest after you land you just go to SKL C at Terminal 3. It's more spacious and the shower is better than the one in T2.
From T3 to T2, you can take a skytrain airside. Very quick.

On the way back, with only 1 hour 35 minutes connection at SIN, I should say, you still have time to visit SKL F to refresh before going to UA Gates at T3. Your flight from JNB may arrive in T2 or T3. And almost 2 hours connection in NRT is plenty of time to visit any lounge.

Have a great flight!

with coming in on SQ J class after 2 intl legs on UA F is there an arrivals lounge I can shower at in JNB?

If I was not a hard-core FTer, I would be recommending the non-stop IAD-JNB SAA flight to you. But here I am envious of your 30k mile trip

ha, its all award miles, no award seats on iad-jnb, let alone during the world cup, i still cant believe i got a seat for it anyway, so ill take it anyway i can

Wow! Congrats on getting the award seats! I have heard about the agents helping people find creative routes to get award seats, but this gets the cake. Did you find it yourself on ANA tool or another site or did the agents find it for you? Are these UA miles?

it is on United miles.
I kept calling back again and again and again. didnt use the ANA tool, I didnt even think this was a valid routing so I wouldnt of even looked at it, let alone a LONG LONG couple of days.

where do I get my tickets in SIN for my UA flight?

You don't get a ticket (it's all e-tickets these days for *A carriers), but assuming you are asking about the boarding pass UA has a transfer desk in SIN where you can get it.

Usually in JNB since your ticket is Star Award.

I figured as much, just didn't see the transfer desk on my way down for UA. and yeah def ment boarding pass, lol


BTW the trip here was wonderful, had great FA's who were actually didn't dissapear, and kept my glass full......hope for the same on the way home.

Food, not great, but for airline food, im not going to complain, but SQ destroys UA in food, but hell everyone knows that.

here's to a great trip home!