flying between USA and Sg with kids?

[TravelingCircusof5]

Hi,
We've been in China 4 years and have been given the choice to move to Sing or stay in China. We have 3 kids 11,9 and 2.5 Mostly we prefer Sg but I am worried about adding 5-6 hours air time to an already long commute to east coast USA, where our family is. As it is, 14 hours is long enough to keep a toddler happy on a plane. How do you find the commute? Any routes/ layovers better than others? Any advice?

[kalihikai]

Sing Air has the Singapore-Newark and Newark/Singapore non-stops which are heavenly! It's the longest commercial flight in the world --- scheduled flight time of 18 hours and 50 minutes. That said, I find it so much better to have one flight to the US instead of the connection through Tokyo.
Also, the flight time from EWR to SIN is brilliant in that you fly through darkness the entire way!
The additional flight time from Singapore to US East Coast versus Beijing to US East Coast is negligible relative to the duration of the trip!

[kimora]

Sing Air has the Singapore-Newark and Newark/Singapore non-stops which are heavenly! It's the longest commercial flight in the world --- scheduled flight time of 18 hours and 50 minutes. That said, I find it so much better to have one flight to the US instead of the connection through Tokyo.
Also, the flight time from EWR to SIN is brilliant in that you fly through darkness the entire way!
The additional flight time from Singapore to US East Coast versus Beijing to US East Coast is negligible relative to the duration of the trip!

Singapore Airlines only flies business class from NY-SIN, if your company is paying for that, DO IT otherwise it is a lot of $$$$

[carolynW]

Travellingcircusof5.... I know this is a different topic but if you want to keep your kids language up and want to bring your chinese nanny, its possible (though the MOM does not allow for chinese maids), the exception is if they have worked for you and know your kids for over a year. Its worth seeing if your ayi wants to come to singapore if language is important, tho I think she may have to take an english test.

[sgnyc65]

yes, the direct flight to NYC from SG is business only and costs a fortune if your company is not covering it. We fly to NYC every summer and the flight is indeed long, but personally I would prefer to be in Singapore than in China with a family. We like flying through HK the best on Cathay Pacific. It's about 3.5 hrs to HK then 16 to NYC from there. It's a nice break, Cathay's lounge is great and we get a chance to stretch our legs.

[noodlemama]

I don't mean to sound harsh or anything but I found it interesting that the flight time to NY is such an important factor in making the decision to move to Singapore or not.

How often to you fly to the east coast? My two are now 14 and 17 and were born here and lived here their whole life. While it was not fun at all when they were both small, I did give them some things to help make them sleep sometimes. I know I sound like a terrible mother...I was taking them to a small town in the mid-west, with a 30-hour door-to-door travel time.

But it seems in your case, you have built-in help with your two older ones. You are only talking about a couple days of your life here being on a plane. I would be more concerned about schools and housing in Singapore.

[BigSis]

I suppose the simple answer is not to go back home for a year or so. I found travelling with a 3 year old to be much easier than a 2 year old as they begin to be able to amuse themselves better when they get past 3 years.

Assuming your move wouldn't be for a few months, I'm sure you could postpone any trips back home for a while or even fit one in before you make the move here and then you might be able to put off going back until the youngest is well into their 3s.

[TravelingCircusof5]

Thanks for the help and suggestions.