Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to go to Australia for the weekend?!

920 replies

HufflepuffHarpy · 07/07/2019 07:16

My best friend (male if relevant) is getting married in the autumn. I'm in the UK (where we both grew up) he now lives in Australia.

I desperately want to go to the wedding.

It will cost £1000 for the flight plus accomodation etc over there which is in no way small money.

I have 4DC so would be asking my parents (very hands on babysitters, have had them for me and DH to go on holiday etc) to have the DC (all under 10) while DH is at work.

I would leave on a thursday AM flight and get back tuesday pm. SO literally fly in for the wedding, the day after and then back home.

Am I being totally crazy to consider this?! (Haven't actually asked DH yet!!)

OP posts:
Inniu · 07/07/2019 10:06

I’ve done weekends to California not as long but similar idea.
Just do it. Maybe try to add another day before the wedding so the risk of a flight delay or missed connection doesn’t mean missing the wedding

lilpumpsmum · 07/07/2019 10:06

Peanut butter - they are just waking up I think Grin

Original poster
HufflepuffHarpy · 07/07/2019 10:09

DH also thinks that a week in total is better and will give me a day before the wedding in case of delays.

he has said he will see if he has enough leave to finish at 2.30pm each day so he can do the after school time with the DC.

It is a lot of money and its a long term commitment of no new clothes and books for me!!

It will be 'my' money not 'family' money so overall it wouldn't deprive the family of anything. the money would be loaned from out 'shit its all gone wrong' savings fund.

OP posts:
lilpumpsmum · 07/07/2019 10:11

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 I'm so excited for you.

WobblyLondoner · 07/07/2019 10:12

@CarolDanvers assume that's meant for me? Yes I did fly more in the past, though not a huge amount. Now I try very hard not to unless it's a long trip somewhere or I have no choice because it's for work. If I'm going somewhere in Europe I try to get the train. That okay?

The OP asked people's opinion and a few on the tread are mentioning the environmental impact of individual decisions like these (which add up to something far more substantial). Seems fair enough to me.

bingbongnoise · 07/07/2019 10:12

@HufflepuffHarpy

bing i have been to NZ (twice actually) so i do know how long the flight is. you do not need to stay overnight on the way?! stopover is 5/6 hours in singapore.

Well if you have BEEN before, then why are you even asking if it can be done in a weekend ... You MUST know it can't be done. (IF you have been!) Wink You must also know that the stopover is not ALWAYS in Singapore!

A couple of people (including the OP and @Cannyhandleit ) are saying there are non-stop flights to Oz and NZ, and you don't HAVE to stop overnight. I am not saying that's not true, but I have never known/known of a single person who didn't stop overnight (in Dubai or Singapore for example...)

So what airline companies offer these straight through from the UK to Australia flights? I would like to see them.

So, which airlines do them? Can you post a link please... With a list of prices......

(And don't move the goalposts by saying you live in China or India! We are on about direct flights from the UK to Oz and NZ!)

Original poster
HufflepuffHarpy · 07/07/2019 10:14

eeek!!

looking at my own personal savings account now to see how much i have...

OP posts:
IrishGal21 · 07/07/2019 10:14

It takes about a week to get over the jetlag. You would be mad to go for a few days at least see a bit of the country.

I do know someone though that did a reverse...they flew from Oz to the UK last summer for a week just for a wedding, they had a free flight due to DH business.

Book Opodo or Skyscanner for the cheapest flights.

dragonfruitshoot · 07/07/2019 10:14

Ridiculous for some obviously, but the carbon footprint would be the main consideration for me, I would not be able to justify it, so would not go.

SarahBeeney · 07/07/2019 10:14

There won't be any jet lag if OP just stays on UK time. Yes it will be knackering.

MarshaBradyo · 07/07/2019 10:15

Oh I meant the term being ridiculous btw

‘Brigade’ - when the planet is going down the pan

lilpumpsmum · 07/07/2019 10:16

@bingbongnoise Qantas

Violet25 · 07/07/2019 10:16

QANTAS does a direct London- Perth route -depending on the winds it’s between 17-20 hours. We did it last year and I much prefer it to stopping in Dubai or Asia. However it is still another four hours or so to the east coast. So total travel time is much the same unless your final destination is Western Australia.

funmummy48 · 07/07/2019 10:16

You can catch a Quantas flight direct from the UK to Perth. It’s approximately 17 hours. My son did this flight at Christmas. Just mentioning it as someone said they didn’t think a direct flight was possible.

Original poster
HufflepuffHarpy · 07/07/2019 10:17

bing i didn't go for a weekend last time i went to NZ - i went for a month each time. and i flew london-singapore-sydney-christchurch. singapore stop over was 6 hours, 2 hours in sydney.

There are non-stop flights but only to perth i believe.

It is not an overnight stop. its 6 hours ish.

The flight i have looked up goes via singapore (as i prefer singapore airlines if poss) and has a 6 hour stopover.

just put it into any flight search!

not sure why youthink i am lying? Confused

OP posts:
lilpumpsmum · 07/07/2019 10:18

@bingbongnoise just did a quick search for a flight to Perth tomo. Direct from LHR.
obviously expensive as its for tomorrow.
Not sure they fly direct to all major cities in Oz but a check google can always help

to go to Australia for the weekend?!
IrishGal21 · 07/07/2019 10:18

If you stop in Sinagpore make your way to the rooftop bar to while away the hours :)

soulrider · 07/07/2019 10:19

I'd try and find flights with a shorter stop over. We've always only had a couple of hours.

MarshaBradyo · 07/07/2019 10:20

Since you’re going, get a two hour stopover

honeycrumpet · 07/07/2019 10:21

bing she’s not saying “in a weekend”, she’s saying “for the weekend” ie with flights on Thursday and Tuesday not Saturday to Sunday. Also Qantas do direct flights from Heathrow to Sydney: www.qantas.com/gb/en/promotions/fly-non-stop-to-australia.html

BadLad · 07/07/2019 10:23

The flight i have looked up goes via singapore (as i prefer singapore airlines if poss) and has a 6 hour stopover.

Excellent choice. Singapore Airlines are brilliant, and the airport is by far the best in the world.

honeycrumpet · 07/07/2019 10:23

Sorry Perth not Sydney!

notapizzaeater · 07/07/2019 10:23

I'd do it too, glad DH on board ....

skybluee · 07/07/2019 10:24

OP, life is short. Your friend means a lot to you. A lot of people wouldn't be in a position to do this - you are. So go. Embrace life and do what makes you happy. You have the backing of your DH. It's a one off. You can handle it.

You will remember it forever.

How exciting.

I also would try to extend it to a full week if possible as I think that would be better if it's an option.

If you're going to Australia on a return trip, whether the return portion is one month away or one day away, it's the same in terms of carbon footprint.

fedup21 · 07/07/2019 10:25

i can afford it in that i would have to 'borrow' it from our savings and pay it back over the coming year.

I am a SAHM

How will you pay it back?!

Swipe left for the next trending thread