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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Australia 2015/16

27 replies

MeepMeepVrooooom · 15/01/2014 16:22

I am considering going to Australia in 2015/16 for 3 weeks to stay with friends that moved out there.

My only issue with this is my DD will be 4 or 5 depending on when we go. Is it fair to take her on such a long flight?

OP posts:
extremepie · 15/01/2014 16:31

I would say it's fine, where abouts are you planning to go? I flew to Perth and it was 11hrs, 2hr stop, then 5 hours so not too bad but going to Sydney would be more like 2 11hr flights :/ To be fair you sleep a lot and they have movies on the plane, you can take things to do so I would think it's fine :)

I'm jealous, I loved Oz :D

Original poster
MeepMeepVrooooom · 15/01/2014 16:37

Planning to go to Perth. That doesn't sound as bad as what I was thinking.

Thanks. I really want to go but trying to be realistic with the time scale for saving and honestly don't think I would cope with such a long flight and a toddler haha.

OP posts:
Longdistance · 15/01/2014 16:39

Why would it be unfair to take her? I took f
dd1 at 13mo. We went to Sydney, then Melbourne, then Perth.

We then emigrated there when dd1 was 2, and dd2 was 3mo.

JassyRadlett · 15/01/2014 16:40

I go for 3 weeks every year with DS who is now 2 and a bit.

Honestly, it will be fine. Lots of people do it. Three weeks is good too - you get time to get over the jet lag and settle in.

I'd recommend flying through SE Asia rather that through eg Dubai, as you get flight legs of more equal lengths (assuming east coast). We fly through Singapore and make sure we have a 12-hour layover for our flight. Singapore has an airside transit hotel which you can book in 6 hour slots - it gives you a break from the plane, a chance to get a decent sleep and stretch your legs and frankly Singapore is an amazing airport - it has a pool, a cinema, a children's play area, a butterfly house, and and and.

I've got all the way through with a much shorter layover and it's fine (our saviour is stickers and sticker books but my DS is much littler) but the longer layover gives you a better break without having to clear customs, get your luggage, transport to hotel, unpack, etc etc for just a day or two for a proper stopover.

Original poster
MeepMeepVrooooom · 15/01/2014 16:44

It was more because it's just the two of us. I wasn't sure how fair it would be to take such a young kid on such a long flight with only me for entertainment Smile

Thanks ladies, you've filled me with confidence that it is do-able.

OP posts:
Longdistance · 15/01/2014 16:50

You'll be fine Meep.

I travelled back from the Oz to Uk on my own when dd1 was not quite 3, and dd2 was 13mo.

Now my dd2 is 4, I'd take her on my own at this age, I'm sure it would be easier than when they're younger.

arethereanyleftatall · 15/01/2014 16:53

Yes, we just got off a 16 hour flight this morning. Plane packed with kids. Girls 3 and 5 loved it. Movies all day long =perfect.

arethereanyleftatall · 15/01/2014 16:54

Yes, we just got off a 16 hour flight this morning. Plane packed with kids. Girls 3 and 5 loved it. Movies all day long =perfect.

specialsubject · 15/01/2014 17:10

long-haul flights have more entertainment than just you :-) - the seat back TV is full of all sorts of stuff and any 4/5 year old worth its salt will be enchanted with limitless TV.

Original poster
MeepMeepVrooooom · 15/01/2014 21:08

Ooooh I think I was picturing your bog standard jet2 flight to spain for almost an entire day.

This is sounding more fun the more I read Smile

Thanks everyone

OP posts:
Mimishimi · 15/01/2014 21:12

We've done it with kids that age. Much easier than when they are toddlers. I second getting flights with lots of stopovers - Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok are all good airports.

Original poster
MeepMeepVrooooom · 15/01/2014 21:23

Great I'll def pay attention to the stop overs. Do any of you have any recommendations of airlines?

OP posts:
MadAsFish · 15/01/2014 21:25

Singapore, if it's at all possible.

FreudiansSlipper · 15/01/2014 21:26

DS went when he was 4, it was just me and him we had a wonderful time and the flight was not a problem at all just need your bag to be super organised.

he loved it still talks about it often if you are going to sydney do to the little australian zoo in darling harbour

we flew via dubai, in think as long as you are on an a280 plane (has 2 floors) it will be comfortable had great leg space even in economy

i was glad for the one 2 hour stop over would not have wanted more

Zara1984 · 15/01/2014 21:30

It'll be fine! I took DS to New Zealand when he was 4 weeks old Grin

Emirates and Etihad are both great with kids. Malaysian has good prices but not sure what they're like with children. Stopover in Asia would be nice and would enable you to get rest. Would not recommend pushing through without a stopover unless you can get a tight connection or are very comfortable
/experienced with longhaul

Zara1984 · 15/01/2014 21:32

At 4 or 5 they are old enough to love the idea of watching loads of TV and playing games! I am dreading our next trip home to the Antipodes when DS will probably be 2.... Much harder

MrsCF · 15/01/2014 21:34

Yes do it, we did it with a 2 and 4 year old, they slept for half the journey and enjoyed all the films etc, it's a great age to go, because your 4 year old will remember and it gets them interested in the world and how it works. My daughter still talks about our trip two years later and what time it is there etc.
We did prepare them to expect a long time on the plane, and bought their own headphones so they knew how to use them on the plane. The Big Yellow Digger is a good book about a pretend trip to Australia, there is a Harry and the Dinosaurs book where he goes to Australia that i found after we had been.
Book it and have a fabulous time.

Original poster
MeepMeepVrooooom · 15/01/2014 21:35

Great thanks. We are going to Perth to visit friends.

I'm going to start looking at prices etc just now just to get an idea.

Ridiculously excited now.

OP posts:
hippo123 · 15/01/2014 21:42

I'm taking my will be 4 year old next year as well. Having recently done a long haul flight with her (US) which was fine, I'm not worried about it. Sticker books, iPad / phone / inno tab etc, pens, movies, they'll sleep for some of it. The thought of doing it is worse I think.

BumPotato · 15/01/2014 21:43

Have recently been with my 5 year old. When she wasn't sleeping, once for an entire 5.5 hour flight), she was eating or watching movies. I was pleasantly surprised by how easy my kids were on the flights.

MooseBeTimeForSnow · 15/01/2014 21:52

I'd recommend Singapore Airlines. I'd rather route through the Far East than Dubai. Don't get me wrong, Etihad and Emirates are great airlines but Singapore airport is just so much better.

There will be on demand tv in each seat.

I think flights are released 9 months in advance. The earlier you book, the cheaper it will be. I've got good fares from Trailfinders in the past.

Original poster
MeepMeepVrooooom · 15/01/2014 21:55

A couple of the websites I've looked at seem to range from between 9-11 months.

Need to start the saving now.

OP posts:
hippo123 · 15/01/2014 21:58

Why don't people recommend Dubai as a stop over if flying to Perth? I've never been so can't comment but isn't that the shortest stopover? If going for a 2 week holiday with 2 young kids would it not be best just to get it all over with quickly? Can't decide what's best now myself .........

QueenofLouisiana · 15/01/2014 22:12

It'll be fine! DS flew to Singapore at 3 and again at 5, went to Melbourne at 7. Go with a decent airline- we like Singapore or Qantas, the seats and food are better. I especially like Qantas' night time pantry system, where DS could go and choose a snack out of the cupboard rather than waiting for a trolley.
I remember DS was very miffed when we first did an Easyjet flight (after Singapore Airlines), he wanted to know where the TV was, when the drinks and free bag of goodies would turn up. He was sadly disappointed!
I usually book in September for an August trip, direct with the airlines.

pinkandsparklytoo · 15/01/2014 22:22

You'll be fine! DH and I flew to Sydney when DS1 was 4 and DS2 was nearly 1. The first flight is the longer one, so try to do that at a time when they will be able to go to sleep to take up a lot of it.