Weekend in Australia

[chopper2311]

I know it's mad, but we're looking at flying to Sydney to attend a friends milestone birthday party and catch up with a lot of old friends.

We would ideally be flying from Manchester but could do Heathrow. We've never flown to Aus so are after a little help on which airline to go with. There's the obvious for economy; emirates, BA, Etihad, Cathay Pacific. But we're also looking at premium for BA & Cathay, are either worth the extra £2k?! We don't want to stretch to Business as it's only a quick trip and we hadn't budgeted.

Does anyone have any pros/cons for which economy flight to pick or experience of either of the premium economies are worth it.

Oh, and any recommendations to stay in Sydney??

Thanks!!

If you are determined to do it we would prefer Ethiad, Emirates or Singapore Airlines over BA. But BA is ok.

Drink lots of water on the flight or you’ll get headaches due to dehydration.

Definitely take an eye mask, one of those inflatable U-shaped pillows and ear plugs - yes, not the best look but you sleep much deeper.

I've been to Oz for 36 hours & felt awful, didn't enjoy being there at all!! Wouldn't recommend it....& I was flying from Singapore in a 1st class seat, not fromthe UK!
I'd also say you'd need at least a week & try at least going business class so you can lay down, think you'll still feel a bit rough though!

What party of Sydney are the majority of your friends/the birthday party? With so little time you don’t want to be staying too far away. There are a lots of AirBnB in Sydney, all areas and sizes.

When you're asking for advice about a carrier, what are your key criteria? How much money can you throw at it? As that makes a big difference!

I’m sorry I haven’t any actual advice about the travel as never been to Australia but I just wanted to say OP, amongst the voices saying it’s crazy and not worth it, I totally understand your reasons. As you’ve said it’s for a milestone birthday and to meet up with friends. My grandma and lots of my family live in Canada. When I was a child I used to visit every summer with my parents but as an adult with family of my own and an inflexible job I am unable to visit as much as I’d like. My Grandma recently had a 90th birthday party, in Canada. There were over 100 people in attendance- my aunts, uncles, cousins, family friends. My parents attended from the UK but I was unable to due to cost and work. I haven’t seen my grandma in nearly three years, as I say, she’s just turned 90, she’s in good health but who knows how long a 90 year old has left. If there was any way I could’ve been there, including flying to Canada just for the weekend, I would’ve done it. My grandma would’ve remembered it for the rest of her life. It may have been the last time I’d have seen my Grandma (planning a trip hopefully this year or next). No there wouldn’t have been any sight seeing, the jet lag would’ve been a killer and it wouldn’t have been the best for my carbon footprint but for me it would’ve been priceless.

I’ve been to oz 4 times ,the shortest being 17 days. I don’t sleep well at all on planes apart from the last time we did business class there and back which helped . I’d never go for a weekend, the jet lag really knocks me out for a good 2-3 days after.
I hope you enjoy yourselves

I don't doubt any of us don't understand the importance of the visit, @MemoriesOfAnotherFuture! But there's a huge difference between a 6 or 10 hour flight to Canada and an almost 24 hour flight to Australia, with an 11 hour time difference!

BIWI I know it’s not the same at all, in terms of the travelling and time difference (although where my grandma lives involves three flights- NE England to European hub airport such as Schipol or CDG, to main Canadian airport such as Toronto, then on to smaller Canadian city, so it works out around 20 hours of travel), I just wanted to say to the OP that I understand. Btw- love your low carb bootcamp threads and looking forwards to following along in a couple of weeks!

I've been to Australia 4 times now. The first time o flew I went with BA, cost around £900 , all the other times I went with cheaper airways, like Etihad. I didn't see much difference in economy/premium, I felt the price difference didn't really reflect it. Go for it!! Loved Sydney, very expensive though.

Can't you take a day or two's unpaid leave?

I’d defo make sure you booked your seats (extra) and if in economy choose first line seats (more leg room.

If your not fussy with food, economy is fine, sometimes emirates email you to ask if you’d like an upgrade. Did this once to dsis.
She went mcr-Dubai. 2hr+ wait over then Dubai -Sydney the longest time!

If your young you can prob get away with it! It’s knackering so be prepared if you can sleep no problem, then have few free drinks and nod off(earplugs)

Ditto op very expensive, sis is there now visiting her son who been there 10yrs and her daughter who’s been there 2 mths

We live in Sydney now and go back to Europe at least once a year sometimes twice.
Pick up the shortest journey time. Driving to Manchester + the extra time to be safe + finding parking and so on will add hours and hours and you don’t want to drive for long on your way back so picking Manchester as your departure airport is your best choice.
Make sure to read the arrival time. If your ongoing flight in on a Monday evening you will arrive on a Wednesday morning.
Now about premium economy. I tried it for sever times and have switched back to normal economy. There is no real difference on how low your seat can go, it is just wider but I am slim so never had issues with that and you have a footrest which I admit is nice. You are serve with nicer cutlery but the food is equally crap so not much difference. Save that money and if you can add a couple unpaid leave or buy the entrance of the business lounge on your transit airport. If you have less than an hour not really worth it. My main argument is that as sleep worse in premium because the only way I can sleep is putting my head on my son’s lap or table and in premium the armrest is fixed so you can’t lift it and neither can my son put his head on my lap.
Have fun, yes it is a bit crazy but if you can afford it, enjoy those little moments!!

I would look at Qatar- can get similar quick transit times but airport much nicer than Dubai. Downside of that is risk of missing connection... I too think you are crazy but only because 2 days in Australia will never be enough! Stay!

Thanks everyone 😊😊

Also did 6 days for a wedding. Best thing I can advise is if you arrive early in the morning to stay awake till 4pm when you arrive, sleep 4pm-9pm, then wake up 9pm-3am and then sleep 3-9am. It almost kills the jetlag. You'll still get most of the day you arrive and should have a decent day the next day.

Where to stay depends on what you want. Woolloomoolloo is lovey as is Darling Harbour. Really depends on what you want from the area.

It’s worth looking at China Southern Air China. They are much cheaper. We are going to NZ next month and we got business on them booking 3 months ago cheaper than economy on quantas , air Nz, Ba etc.

Well according to Bruce Willis in Die Hard all you have to do is ball up your feet tight and then flatten them on carpet. This will cure jet lag.

Get a quote from them flybusinessforless.com you might be pleasantly surprised. I always travel during school holidays so no luck but you might have a great quote!

I’d fly Singapore Airlines, maybe Qantas or Emirates.

I wouldn’t fancy the short turn around, as I reckon you’d need to look at at least 24 hours travelling time- with check in, luggage etc.
Staying in Sydney? Depends on your budget. I stayed in Travelodge on Wynyard which was inexpensive and fine. Oaks Goldborough Apartments near Darling Harbour was great.

Ooh - top tip! Most flights to Sydney leave London in the evening. So if you fly on a Thursday evening you'll arrive in Sydney very early on Saturday morning (around 5 or 6am).

Singapore Airlines have a flight that leaves in the morning. So you leave Thursday morning and arrive Friday evening, around 8-9pm.

It doesn't sound like it makes much difference, but it really does! You can arrive, have a couple of drinks/eat some dinner, and go to bed at a 'normal' time. If you haven't been able to sleep on the flight then you'll be tired anyway, and so you will probably get a normal night's sleep.

And of course it means you don't have to take as much leave!

milkmoustache - the plane would be going if I was on it or not 

You're missing @milkmoustache's point here OP. By buying tickets for the plane that's already going anyway, you are creating demand for the next/ more planes to be scheduled

No Rosenylund - that advice is according to the man sitting next to Bruce Willis on the flight.

(I’m not a Die Hard fan or anything)

Go for it OP, have a brilliant time. I live in Sydney and it’s a wonderful city!!

Flew BA economy in the summer to Australia for 2.5 weeks, flight was OK, space was a bit tight but wouldn't pay to upgrade.

A weekend is a bit crazy but you only live once. Didn't get jet lag on way there, adjusted sleeping time a few hours before and went straight onto activities when arrived. We stayed in Watsons Bay Boutique hotel which was lovely, great food, boat just outside door and by beach but do need to take boat to get to centre. Would add any days you can.