Florenceuk
I am in NZ at the moment having flown out with DD 10mths by ourselves. We also flew with Singapore Airlines and they were fantastic. We had booked and I confirmed the 'bassinet' for dd and also the 'meet and assist' which was fantastic. We didn't wait in a que after we checked in - all the way to NZ, which we did direct.
I always find that it is easier to just get where we are going and then adjust to the time zones rather than try and confuse it by stopping and dealing with more than 2 time zones. I guess that is a personal preference though. At Singapore Airport we were met and taken to a wee lounge. It was great.
The flights at the moment ALL seem to be chocker booked and the SIN/AKL flight we had the middle 4 bulk head aisle seat, and a lady with a 4 month old on the other aisle. We thought that we were going to be lucky with the 2 seats in the middle free until a young couple got there!!! Poor things is all I can say! They eventually moved and split up for the flight so that they had some room as we both had the 'sky cot/bassinetts' up.
I am not looking forward to the trip back to the UK alone again, even with such a fantastic airline (what horror storied there are!) but just have to grin and bear it. We are doing the trip again in Feb, so DD will be 14 months and no longer in a bassinett. At least I will have help from DH though with that flight!
Enjoy Christmas in the sun. Bring some back to the UK when you return!
LKM - Are you mad! I can't believe that you are considering the torture of the long haul flights in such succession. Mind you it is pretty raw in my mind, and the lack of sleep is not fun. Even if dd sleeps there is still things like eating and going to the loo to fill that time - sleeping finally happens just when they are thinking about waking up again - if the other passengers all queing near you for the loo hasn't woken them up already!