Which Airline to Oz?

Moanin

Hi all,

My wife and 1 year old son are heading to Sydney in September for 3 weeks.Just woondering if any of you can give advise on your experiences with airlines on this route? We were contemplating Singapore Airlines.We will probably stop over for one night but don't know where? Any advise also grateful

Thanks

dermot_sheehan

I went virgin atlantic in september last year, I think I got a cheap enough deal on their website (around 600 GBP, about 880 euro) from heathrow to sydney. I went with no stopover (just ninety minutes on the ground in hong kong, though you can book a stopover on their website if you want).

cee_jay

I flew there with Singapore Airlines and couldn't recommend them highly enough

daveg

cAr0l wrote:

I flew there with Singapore Airlines and couldn't recommend them highly enough

I hear Singapore airlines are the best. Supposed to be great for kids. They fly via Singapore or via the States (San Francisco). Emirates are supposed to be second best followed by B.A.

POK3RPRODIGY

what are quantas like??

dublad23

I'm going with Quantas in 2 weeks so will report back - they were the cheapest though - €890

I have previously flown with JAL - Very Green Tea and Sushi and Kenya Airlines

They were nothing special but they got me there and back.

JAL provided a night accomodation free as we had to stop over and I thin their policy is to stay over

empirix

BA and quantas are in partnership, personally i found them pretty cool, really friendly, on the way from Bangkok to Sydney (following my girlfriend) i was travelling alone and was near where the stewardess's sit, had a good laugh and they gave me extra dinners and ice creams cause i was backpacking and looked poor(lol)! Quantas were pretty cool on the way back(2 years later), [snip][/snip], have to say the male staff on Qantas are as gay as sin. Enjoy

BuffyBot

Signapore can be pretty good, service and facilities wise. Virgin and Singapore both will have AVOD entertainment which helps, but space on both can be a little restrictive.

Qantas can be a little hit and miss, depending on different factors.

Look into the middle-east airlines such as Qatar, Emirates, Ethiad and Gulf which may offer some good value options too.

daveg

We bought a BA RTW ticket. Flew BA London to Hong Kong. They were superb. Then Qantas from HK to Cairns. Thought they were crap in comparison. Flew Virgin from London to Florida last year. They are not as good as BA imo.

spurious

Have flown BA/Qantas before and Singapore Airlines on another trip.
Singapore Airlines were excellent.

Flying Cathay Pacific to NZ this summer.

Re stopping off - I like Hong Kong. I find Singapore too hot and sticky. A friend of mine swears by Kuala Lumpur.

Wherever you stop off, spend a night or two there and see a bit of it. A short stop would be hell with a small child.

meglome

dublad23 wrote:

I have previously flown with JAL - Very Green Tea and Sushi and Kenya Airlines

They were nothing special but they got me there and back.

JAL provided a night accomodation free as we had to stop over and I thin their policy is to stay over

I'm thinking of flying out there via Tokyo, is that what you did? If so how much?

Should I book the flights through the likes of Trailfinders or directly?

BuffyBot

Flew Virgin from London to Florida last year. They are not as good as BA imo.

They're never quite as good on what's called the "bucket & spade" routes, simply because the crew tend to hate them, and the older planes get put on them.

Darren

On the Kangaroo routes I've flown BA, Cathay, Qantas and Emirates. Emirates are the best I've flown with but that was 10 years ago. I flew Bangkok - LHR a couple of months ago with Qantas and I hated it. There was nothing wrong with Qantas jut a horrible long journey.

daveg

BuffyBot wrote:

They're never quite as good on what's called the "bucket & spade" routes, simply because the crew tend to hate them, and the older planes get put on them.

Yeah older plane, (some) ignorant staff (some very good staff). Very little drinks/water unlike B.A. Had terrible turbulence on take off from Heathrow. Nearly sh*t myself. Not their fault however.

jdivision

Flew Virgin from Antigua to London last year. Horrendous staff, completely obnoxious.

FunkyDa

2 thumbs up for Singapore! Flew to Melbourne, last February - Aer Lingus to Amsterdam, then Singapore from there to Melbourne. Good service and plenty of inflight entertainment. However, I found the cabin temperature to be low, after an hour, or two. Blankets are supplied, but I'd suggest bringing a jumper, or fleece jacket, to wear.

Third_Echelon

Singapore Airlines are definitely the best that I have ever flown with. Flew with them to New Zealand via Singapore a few years ago and I cannot rate them highly enough. They made a very long journey effortless.

Their food, entertainment system and staff are all top-class.

If I'm ever flying down that part of the world again, I'd make a point of flying with them...

Moanin

Thanks everybody for your replies.We were straying towards Singapore Airlines and stopping in Singapore for 1-2 nights.I think most people have give n them thums up so we will prob go with them.

SoBe

another vote here for Singapore Airlines,and if you want to avoid all the heathrow bs you can fly via frankfurt,i also recomend that route

Absolut

meglome wrote:

I'm thinking of flying out there via Tokyo, is that what you did? If so how much?

Should I book the flights through the likes of Trailfinders or directly?

I booked tickets for this summer, Shannon - London - Bangkok, all with British Airways, then Singapore to Cairns and Sydney to Tokyo, with Qantas, and Tokyo - London - Shannon with British Airways. Cost me €1136, including tax.

Rabies

I have flown with both Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific to Sydney. SA wins hands down. Great service and very helpful staff. CP was ok, but the food was poor and it didn't help that their entertainment system was going a little bonkers at times.

Go with Singaore Airlines.

daveg

meglome wrote:

I'm thinking of flying out there via Tokyo, is that what you did? If so how much?

Should I book the flights through the likes of Trailfinders or directly?

We booked a 7 stop RTW ticket with Trailfinders (B.A.). We flew Shannon - London - Hong Kong - Cairns - Sydney - Melbourne - Christchurch - Hawaii - L.A. - Dublin.

I would highly recommend trailfinders. We used them also for transfers/accommodation and excursions and we found their prices unbeatable (believe me I tried). Fantastic service and great advice.

I would not recommend the B.A. RTW ticket for the following reason. We only flew 1 flight with B.A. The rest we with substandard (B.A. standards) airlines. We flew as follows:

Shannon - London: Airlingus (Flight was fine).
London - HK: B.A. (great flight).
HK - Cairns: Qantas (shíte plane, not a great flight - Very sub B.A. standards).
Cairns - Sydney/Melbourne: Qantas (Better plane than above - ok flights).
Melbourne - Christchurch: Jetstar (never, ever again. Worse than Ryanair).
Christchurch - Hawaii: Qantas (Same as Cairns flight).
Hawaii - L.A: American Airlines (again shíte plane and service).
L.A. - Home: Air lingus (Surpisingly ok but not anywhere near B.A. standards).

My point is booking a B.A. RTW ticket you expect to fly more than 1 B.A. flight and at least flying B.A. standards of airlines. The Jetstar flight was the worst. They were even going to charge us for excess baggage (Think of using Ryanair with all your bags for a RTW flight).

Third_Echelon

SoBe wrote:

another vote here for Singapore Airlines,and if you want to avoid all the heathrow bs you can fly via frankfurt,i also recomend that route

yeah i went via Frankfurt... a lot easier indeed..

Ausdubliner

Singapore Airlines were really good. I flew with them to Dublin in January.

Last time I flew to Europe I went with Qantas/BA. Qantas were great....BA were very ordinary and probably wouldnt fly with them again if I can help it.

MikeTheMan

Flew with Qantas in January Dublin - Frankfurt (Aer Lingus)
Frankfurt - Singapore - Sydney - Melbourne (Qantas).

can't reccommend Qantas highly enough. The Frankfurt > Sydney service was operated by the same aircraft (747 Long Reach). Flew in Economy Class. Good food, fed regularly, loads and lashings of wine (kept on giving me more!!) and good IFE with seatback PTVs. flight over was great. flight back was slightly loooooooooong and didnt help because I was cranky after being sunburnt in St. Kilda!

All in all, Qantas were great, the crew were professional and extremely friendly and chatty. Plus great value at 940 return all in.

Thumbs up from me.

Skittlebrau

Another vote for Singapore here. Flew last year with them Amsterdam - Singapore and Singapore - Melbourne. By far the best airline I've ever flown with. Excellent entertainment (vital for a long flight). Decent food (surprisingly so). Leg room was fine too (I'm 6 2"). Really helpful staff.

Nice touches like hot towels, regular drinks & snacks. And it was the cheapest flight at the time.

Would definitely be my first choice when I'm flying long-haul again.

dublad23

SoBe wrote:

another vote here for Singapore Airlines,and if you want to avoid all the heathrow bs you can fly via frankfurt,i also recomend that route

I'm flying with Quantas that route.

Dublin - Frankfurt - Singapore - Sydney

dublad23

MikeTheMan wrote:

Flew with Qantas in January Dublin - Frankfurt (Aer Lingus)
Frankfurt - Singapore - Sydney - Melbourne (Qantas).

can't reccommend Qantas highly enough. The Frankfurt > Sydney service was operated by the same aircraft (747 Long Reach). Flew in Economy Class. Good food, fed regularly, loads and lashings of wine (kept on giving me more!!) and good IFE with seatback PTVs. flight over was great. flight back was slightly loooooooooong and didnt help because I was cranky after being sunburnt in St. Kilda!

All in all, Qantas were great, the crew were professional and extremely friendly and chatty. Plus great value at 940 return all in.

Thumbs up from me.

I got the same itinery for €890 - Quantas are defintiely the best priced.

Trailfinders are the cheapest - same flight with Austravel was a €100 more

Cheese Princess

I've flown to Australia a few times with Qantas/BA and Cathay. All were absolutely fine but I have heard from friends travelling with kids that Singapore Airlines are fantastic.
Have stopped in Bangkok, Hong Kong and Singapore. If you're only going to spend a night there I wouldn't really have a preference, not a huge fan of Asian cities.

sheepshagger

Go Singapore Airlines. . .if you have a stop over in Singapore use the Transit Hotel (you don't even leave the transit area to check in). . basically you can hire a hotel room by the hour. . .dump your bags safely in your room then head to the rooftop pool for a swim (it also has a bar). . .you can sleep (they will give you a wakup call). .have a shower then get back on the plane for the second leg of the flight.

Can't beat it travelling that way.