Christchurch to Bangkok Singapore Flights

  About Christchurch

Christchurch is Canterbury, New Zealand's most famous and populous city. Recognised for its English heritage, the city enjoys multitudes of ethnicity and is a gorgeous tourist location. While it is an ideal vacation spot, you will have to make peace with the fact that the trip to Christchurch will be time-consuming.

Best time to reach Christchurch

Christchurch's proximity to the South Pole makes the winters in the city rather frosty. The temperatures easily dwindle between 11 degree Celsius to 13 degree Celsius during the day and drop to zero in the nights. You can snuggle up for a romantic rendezvous and indulge in some of the winter sports that are possible in this Canterbury region. The months of June to August are only recommended if you wish to engage in the scenic white bliss of Christchurch. The place does give a Narnia vibe so you will feel like you're in a movie. However, for great weather that balances the cold winters and the bright summers, spring is the most ideal season to visit Christchurch. The city's landscape turns into a beautiful expanse of hues thanks to all the flowers that bloom once the winter thaws.

Another wave of season that brings the best of Christchurch is from March to May. Summer is another favoured season that many tourists opt for as the temperatures are high compared to the Christchurch standards. However, it could get expensive as it also brings forth the tourist season. This could lead to unavailability of cheap hotels in Christchurch. To ensure that you don't pay exorbitant prices for a vacation in the city, you should make prior hotel bookings in Christchurch. You might even receive some fabulous online deals for flights and accommodation. Make sure to cover all your travel and hotel expenses before arriving in Christchurch.

Places to visit in Christchurch

The best place to start exploring Christchurch would undoubtedly be the Canterbury Museum. The museum has been part of the city since 1870, which makes it one of the top attractions in Christchurch. You will be passing through the famed Christchurch Botanic Gardens to reach the museum. It would be an ideal time to get close to the natural beauty that the park inhabits. From native to exotic plants, the garden would certainly marvel you and lift up your senses. Christchurch is big on lawns and gardens along with their food culture. You will find many parks in the city aside from the famous Botanic Gardens. North Hagley Park is also an excellent place to visit in Christchurch. It is pristine and has a very soothing and tranquil vibe.

An interesting institution to visit would be the International Antarctic Centre. Basically, this place inhabits the treasured collections of the Antarctic along with a quaint cafe and bar. Located in the centre of Christchurch is the Cathedral Square, an Anglican cathedral that offers quite a fascinating appearance. It is quite intriguing and something you might fancy. The city also has a pretty public art gallery called Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhet?, with exquisite exhibits. Next on the list could be the exquisite T?ranga - Christchurch Central Library, located at the heart of the Canterbury city, basically a haven for bibliophiles. You can also check out the Air Force Museum in the city which was earlier named The Royal New Zealand Air Force Museum.

Things to do in Christchurch

Lake Roto Kohatu is a lovely small lake that is nestled in the city limits of Christchurch. The place is surrounded by lush green grasses which make it an ideal picnic spot. You can always opt to carry a lovely picnic basket along with some fun activity list and head to the lake with family. There are boating facilities also available on the lake, something you can opt for as a tourist. Christchurch's most popular location is the Sumner Beach. Its beauty and serenity with the cold blue waters rushing to the shores makes it quite a spectacle. Not to mention how it also offers a plethora of water and beachy activities that you can take up. Exploring the Tuawera - Cave Rock located on the outskirts of the Sumner beach is also worth exploring. It is known for its unusual formation which is a result of a volcano

Another interesting activity to take up would be taking up Punt rides. With plush seats on the punt and a person rowing it, you can enjoy the scenic views of the Avon River. It is a romantic setting and might go well with you and your partner. You can also opt for canoe riding at the Antigua Boatsheds. The boatshed is actually a famous tourist attraction, and you can also take up boating as an activity. You can also rent a bike and ride up the trails in the Bottle Lake Forest Park. The park has some extraordinary views that would leave your spellbound. While you might have a lot of things to do in Christchurch, do not miss out on indulging in their food culture. The city prides itself on the fabulous slew of food establishments.

Food and restaurants in Christchurch

Christchurch's food culture is fabulous and perfect for foodies. As a coastal city, one would assume that Christchurch is rich in seafood and has multiple joints favouring the same. However, you would be surprised to know that the city actually houses an abundance of international cuisine from Indian vegetarian to European-fusion. An elegant noon with a spread of delectable gourmet food served with piping hot tea paints quite a Victorian picture, yes? Places such as Penny Black Victorian Tearoom, 50 Bistro, Mona Vale Homestead and Pantry, Social Wine Bar and The Tea Rooms are some of the establishments that offer an English ambience teamed with lip-smacking food and top-notch tea.

Christchurch has a soft spot for dumplings and Asian food. They simply cannot do without dumplings in their platter. If you also fall in the same category, then you should visit some of their fine food establishments with Asian cuisine. Zen Sushi and Dumplings, King of Snake, Shanghai Street Dumplings, Pot Sticker Dumpling Bar and The China Kitchen, are some places where you will find some lip-smacking food as well as an authentic Asian vibe. If coffee is what you seek, you should check out Coffee Embassy Espresso Bar, Black and White Coffee Cartel, Underground Coffee Roasters and Unknown Chapter, to name a few.

Not just roasteries but the city also favours breweries with aplenty in the locality. When in Christchurch, you should head to The Institution, Craft Embassy, Dux Central, Welles Street and Smash Palace for the best-crafted beer. While there are lovely food joints and breweries to keep you busy, ignoring your sweet tooth would be a crime. Don't miss the bakeries of Christchurch for they have some exquisite cakes, pastries, and baked goods to elevate your senses. Their bakeries also have a lovely melange of culture from Danish puffs to Dutch apple pies. The city sells culture on a platter which makes it quite an experience. You should head to some classic bakeries such as Copenhagen Bakery, Glamour Cake, Bakermans of Fendalton, Japanz Bakery and Vic's Bakehouse.

How to reach Christchurch

Christchurch airport has brilliant flight connectivity with some of the Indian cities. Although there are no direct flights flying to Christchurch from India, they do have a slew of connecting flights and layovers that make the journey possible. There are only a few dedicated flights flying to Christchurch from India, but they are available regularly. Airlines such as Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Malaysia Airlines, Etihad Airways, Emirates, to name a few, have flights to Christchurch from India. The most popular route to Christchurch often taken by travellers is from Singapore. Since the flight connectivity to Christchurch from Singapore is comparatively good. Not to mention how it has the most number of flights flying to the New Zealand city, it only makes sense to opt for this international route to reach Christchurch. Most of the flights flying to Christchurch from India have layovers in international cities such as Singapore, Auckland, Melbourne, Wellington, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Abu Dhabi, to name a few.

Although there are flights that would reach you in about 19 hours and 10 minutes, the flight tickets to Christchurch with such time duration would be expensive. In fact, it might cost you in lakhs to book a single journey to Christchurch from India, if you opt for the fastest flight. However, the most popular flights considered for Christchurch fall under the price range of INR 47,000 to INR 51,000. These flights to Christchurch will reach you in about 21 hours and five minutes, depending on the connectivity and weather. There is no additional transit visa required to fly to Christchurch from India. Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai are the prime cities where you will find flights to Christchurch. New Zealand, in general, is quite expensive as a country so you will have to ensure that you have reserved enough money for this trip. The flight tickets to Christchurch alone are super costly. If you make prior flight bookings to Christchurch, then you might receive some excellent online flight deals.

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  About Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines is the official flag carrier airline of Singapore. The airline's hub is located at Singapore Changi Airport. Singapore Airlines has been ranked as the world's best airlines time and again by Skytrax, a United Kingdom-based consultancy that is famous for its airline and airport review and ranking site. Singapore Airlines has been recognised by Skytrax four times in the past for its world-class performance and facilities. Singapore Airlines has also been acknowledged by Travel & leisure for being the best airline several times in the past 20 years. The airline has a slew of airline-related subsidiaries that function under the brand. The aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul businesses are all managed by SIA Engineering Company. Singapore Airlines' two subsidiaries in the aviation industry include SilkAir and Scoot. While SilkAir is known to operate regional flights and follow domestic routes with a few secondary cities, Scoot wholly operates as a low-cost carrier. Singapore Airlines was the first customer for the Airbus A380's launch.

Airbus A380, known to be the largest passenger aircraft, was first chartered by Singapore Airlines. Boeing 787-10 and the extremely long-range version of Airbus A350-900 were also launched by Singapore Airlines. The airline is easily among the top 15 carriers across the globe with respect to revenue passenger kilometres. It is also the tenth-ranked in the world in terms of international passengers carried. In 2019, Skytrax voted Singapore Airlines as the World's Best Airline Cabin Crew. In the same year, the airline also took home several accolades including the second and fourth positions as World's Best Airlines and World's Cleanest Airlines respectively.

The airline is majorly owned by the government of Singapore's investment holding company called Temasek Holdings. The holding company has a whopping 56 per cent of voting stock in the airline. While the government of Singapore does hold a tremendous stake in the airline, they have stressed on the fact that the state is not involved in the management aspect of Singapore Airlines. To the government, the Singapore Changi Airport is of more importance to them over Singapore Airlines. The airlines' branding efforts have been recognised worldwide. Their emphasis on the promotion of the airlines' female flight attendants, also known popularly as Singapore Girls, has left quite an impact on the brand. It has been widely known and appreciated. The logo of Singapore Airlines is a bird which is inspired by regional folklore and features a silver kris (keris).

Fleet size of Singapore Airlines

As of 2020, Singapore Airlines' fleet size stands at 131 total passenger carriers. All the aircraft in their fleet are Airbus and Boeing. The airline accommodates five wide-body aircraft from Airbus A330, Airbus A380, Airbus A350 XWB, Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Boeing 777. The first Airbus A330-300 was introduced in 2009 with the initial batch being leased instead of purchased. The aircraft had regional business-class products with a 2-2-2 seat configuration. Singapore Airlines received its first set of Airbus A350 in the third quarter of 2018 which enabled non-stop flights to New York and Los Angeles while a stop-service to Seattle was also introduced. After many delays, Singapore Airlines became the first airline to launch and operate the coveted Airbus A380-800, introduced in 2007. The first trip of the aircraft was from Singapore to Sydney. To promote the same, the airline also auctioned all the tickets after signing an agreement with eBay, proceeds of the same to be donated to charity. They managed to raise about USD1.3 million for charity through the auction for A380 tickets.

As part of their future expansions, Singapore Airlines recently announced that they would be merging with their subsidiary SilkAir. The merger will mostly be taking place in late 2021 or perhaps early 2022. Further part of this plan is to phase out SilkAir's two Airbus A319s and seven Airbus A320 fleet. Their narrow-body fleet would comprise of Boeing 737-800s and Boeing 737 MAX 8s. The plan is to integrate some of these aircraft to Singapore Airlines with upgradations to the passenger cabins. The main goal behind refurbishing the aircraft is not just to make enough room for better facilities that Singapore Airlines is known to deliver but also to bring forth a standard wide-body fleet. As part of the Singapore Airlines, the aircraft would require to have some sort of uniformity with respect to their passenger cabins. As on 2020, there are 17 Boeing 737-800s and six Boeing 737 MAX 8s that are in the SilkAir fleet with additions of more 31 MAX 8s on order. In 2017, Singapore Airlines proposed to purchase 39 aircraft from Boeing which included 20 Boeing 777-9s and 19 Boeing 787-10s. Further, on the deal, they also have reserved options to purchase 12 more aircraft.

Singapore Airlines Baggage Allowance

Singapore Airlines has certain baggage allowance restrictions that need to be adhered to by all passengers. Depending on the countries that the airline flies to, the protocols regarding baggage is altered. As Singapore Airlines accommodates several cabins including Suites and first-class and economy class lite, the baggage allowance differs for all of them. Suites and first-class passengers are allowed to carry 50 kg with two-piece of baggage that can weigh up to 32 kg each. Business-class passengers are allowed to carry 40 kg, which can be divided into two pieces. The economy class has three following segregations, namely flexi, standard and lite. The maximum weight for these cabins is 35 kg, 30 kg and 30 kg respectively. The protocols for weight changes depending on whether you are a member of the Star Alliance gold plan or if you have KrisFkyer Elite Gold membership. No matter what though, the dimensions of the baggage cannot exceed 158 cm, as it is a mandatory clause for all Singapore Airlines flights.

With respect to weight, the airline is very strict as the excess weighing baggage would not be allowing through check-in. Hence, you might have to purchase extra weight at the counter for the baggage, or you will need to dispose of some of the essentials from the bag. They are very particular about the size and dimensions of the bags too. With respect to cabin baggage, the Suites, First Class and Business class can carry two pieces not exceeding 7 kgs each. The dimensions of the baggage should also not go beyond 115 cm. As for the Premium Economy Class and Economy Class, the airline allows one piece with a weight of up to 7 kg and not more. The sum of the dimensions is similar to that of the first class and business class baggage. It is strongly advised by the airlines not to pack valuable and fragile items such as laptops, important documents, jewellery and precious stones, medication, perishable items and negotiable papers in the checked baggage.

Singapore Airlines In-flight services

Suites - Singapore Airlines' suites have a solo and double suites with a luxurious double bed, a private screening, wireless tablet to control the lighting, in-flight services and more, sumptuous meals that come with the airline's in-flight menu. You can live the suite life in-transit.

First-class - The first class has a reserved private space with doors, extra-wide seats, mood lighting, in-flight entertainment sponsored by KrisWorld and perfectly comfortable for passengers. The first-class passengers certainly receive some exquisite in-flight services in Singapore Airlines' flights.

Business-class class - The business class varies depending on the aircraft flown by the airlines. The international business class and regional business class have a different setting, but the in-flight services are quite similar. The seats can be extended to flatbeds and with exquisite other features like mood lights, comfortable seats, power plugs and more.

Premium economy class - The in-flight services of Singapore Airlines for premium economy is quite fancy as it allows decent legroom with a calf-rest and foot-rest attached to the seat. Not to mention how the recline is also quite generous as it stretches up to 8 inches. The seat-pitch is also 38-inch. Along with the seats, you will find facilities such as two USB ports, adjustable personal lamp, ports for power supply to charge electronic gadgets.

Economy class - The economy class are also well-designed with personalised AVOD systems installed by KrisWorld, space for headrest, good reclining seats with decent legroom and provisions of great hospitality offered by Singapore Airlines' in-flight services.

Popular routes and top cities for Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines flies to several domestic routes and international routes while offering a phenomenal service worldwide. Some of the top cities that Singapore Airlines connects to include Sydney, Beijing, Shanghai, Paris, Hong Kong, Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Rome, Tokyo, Osaka, Kuala Lumpur, Kuwait City, Auckland, Cape Town, Seoul, Colombo, Bangkok, Abu Dhabi, Los Angeles, Newark, Seattle and Hanoi, to name a few.

Why travel by Singapore Airlines?

Singapore Airlines is one of the top airlines worldwide for its excellent connectivity to various international cities. The airline's website, as well as the mobile app, enables several facilities such as keeping abreast with the flight status, Singapore Airlines' flight schedule, web check-in facilities and booking a Singapore Airlines flight. Everything is a fingertip away.

  About Bangkok Airport

Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport is often referred to as Bangkok Airport. It is one of the two major international airports that serve Thailand. Although Don Mueang International Airport was also recognized for its international flight services. However, the same was halted in 2007. Now the airport serves as a hub to low-cost airlines that connect in Bangkok. Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport is sprawled across 8,000 acres of land and is one of the biggest international airports in the Southeast Asian region. It is also a hub for aviation in Bangkok.

Suvarnabhumi Airport was originally chartered with limited domestic flight services. However, it soon started expanding to add more domestic and international flights. Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport is currently the important hub for Thai Smile Airways, Thai Airways International and Bangkok Airways. The airport basically serves as a regional gateway to several foreign carriers too. It has been recorded to be the 17th busiest airport in the world and 11 busiest in Asia. The airport has the capacity to accommodate about 60 million passengers in a year. There are over 95 airlines that operate from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport.

About Airport Terminals

Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport has three terminals in total. Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 are responsible for operations of international flights. Meanwhile, Terminal 3 is focussed on domestic flights to cater to connectivity in Thailand. The two terminals are located right next to each other while the domestic terminal or Terminal3 is 500 meters away from Terminal 2. The distance between the terminals is not massive. The proximity often makes it confusing. The departure and arrival zones in the international terminals have dedicated immigration counters as well as check-in and baggage to make it easy for the travellers. The terminal's roof has been designed aesthetically with the use of structural elements and bays that have been placed in cantilevered wavelike forms. The airport is capable of accommodating an Airbus A380. There are two parallel runways at the airport with a total of about 120 parking bays for flights. The passenger terminal is recorded to capacitate about 76 flight operations every hour. An underground rail link station has also been constructed to connect the terminal with the city centre. Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport's terminal passenger terminal is famed for being the fourth-biggest building in the world, following Hong Kong International Airport, Beijing Capital International Airport and Dubai International Airport.

About Airport Authority

Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport is funded and operated by the Airports of Thailand Public Company Ltd. (AOT). The airport's body is responsible for six international airport ventures in Thailand. Four more airports have been added recently under its wing. The statutory body received recognition as one of the most valuable airport operators across the globe. The organization was established in 2002 after a consortium between private firms and the state-owned Airports Authority of Thailand. The Thailand government holds a higher share in the consortium with about 70 per cent stock. The Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport is the most profitable venture for the airport's authority with passenger statistics of about 63,379,077, as recorded in the year 2018. Over the years, the airport management has done a phenomenal job of efficient connection of the international airport with the city centre. They have also worked towards fixing some of the pressing matters to bolster the functions and efficiency of the airport in terms of safety and connectivity.

Top airlines flying from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport

The demand for Bangkok in India as a tourist destination is quite high. Hence, there are several Indian airlines that operate from the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport as well. In fact, the first flight to fly to the Bangkok Airport was a Lufthansa Cargo which took off from Mumbai. Some of the Indian airlines that operate from the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport include Air India, GoAir, IndiGo and Vistara. They have direct connectivity and fly on a regular basis. Airlines such as Thai Airways and Thai Smile, which predominantly operate from Suvarnabhumi Airport also have direct services to Indian cities such as Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi Ahmedabad, Chennai, to name a few.

As an international tourist destination, the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport also sees much air traffic from international flights. Some of the prominent airlines that operate from the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport include Air Astana, Air China, Air France, Air Macau, All Nippon Airways, Asiana Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Bangkok Airways, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Cambodia Airways, China Airlines, Druk Air, EgyptAir, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, Finnair, Garuda Indonesia, Gulf Air, Japan Airlines, Jetstar Asia Airways, Kenya Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airways, Korean Air, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Nepal Airlines, Norwegian Air Shuttle, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Srilankan Airlines, Swiss, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines, Uzbekistan Airways, Vietnam Airlines and Ural Airlines. These airlines cater to various parts of the world and have impeccable connectivity. There are reservations for cargo flights to function from the Suvarnabhumi Airport. They are Lufthansa Cargo, Cathay Pacific Cargo, DHL Aviation and Singapore Airlines Cargo.

Facilities at the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport

ATMs and currency exchange - There are foreign exchange booths and ATM kiosks available at the airport. You can withdraw money or exchange to local currency to make your trip convenient.

Baggage - Baggage services are available with plastic wrapping and porter services. You can also find trolleys at regular intervals.

Internet and communication kiosks - There are internet kiosks that have established at the airport. You can get your work done while you wait for boarding. There are telecom desks where you can purchase local mobile SIM numbers to avail WiFi. Postal services are also available.

Restaurants and cafes - There are many food establishments and restaurants at the airport's terminals. The departure zone has a slew of joints, including ones with liquor and coffee.

Medical care - Medical rooms and pharmacies have been installed at regular intervals. You can make last-minute purchases of prescribed medicine, or you can get necessary tablets or toiletries.

Prayer rooms - Devoted prayer rooms and multi-faith corners have been established at all terminals. There are monks' reception rooms also available at the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Transit hotels - To make the passenger's experience at the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport good, they have also installed an in-transit hotel. You can check-in for the few hours you need to wait and even rest as much as you can.

Spa and massage - The airport is blessed with good serviced spas and massage parlours. For in-transit passengers who need to take a second flight or who need to wait due to layovers, can avail this service.

Smoking zones - There are dedicated smoking lounges in the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. These are available at all the terminals' departures and arrivals. You can even purchase boxes in case you need it for the time being.

Special assistance – The airport also has professionals who cater to the special needs of passengers who fall under the category of senior citizens, expecting mothers and physically disabled. The professionals have been trained to help out the individuals by enabling a smooth transition of their check-in and boarding processes.

How to reach Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport

By Bus and car rentals

The Airport Shuttle bus operating from the city is another efficient way to reach the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. These buses have a direct connection to the airport from within the city, making travel cheaper and easier. Along with the buses, you can always book a ride to the airport too. There are five routes from the airport that have a direct connection with the Bangkok Airport. These routes connect from Bangkok's downtown as well as Chonburi Province, connections from North Bangkok and Bang Na Bang Pakong which stands at the South. The main entrance to the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport though is at the Samut Prakan Province. There are elevated highways and flyovers which need to be used to reach the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. You can find a car and rental booking booths at the airport's arrival segment. Even the entrance to the airport has a dedicated taxi counter where you can book your ride to the city.

By Airport Rail Link

One of the best ways to reach the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport opened in 2010 after much delay but has since managed to receive good passenger traffic. Called the Airport Rail Link (ARL), the rail is operated by SRTET which is a subsidiary of the State Railway of Thailand. The long 28.6 km gauge line runs at an elevation for most of its length. The link directly connects to the passenger terminal building off the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. The rail services start at 6:00 in the morning till 24:00. There are two interchange stations called Phaya Thai and Makkasan which run on different lines, also available. The future plans to expand the airport is also in talks where the Airport Rail Link plans to merge and complement the SRT Red Line commuter service. This way, you wouldn't need to change the metro links to reach the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport.