To not want to fly to Australia?

[Reluctantflyer]

Our DC is working in Australia for a couple of years, and DH is understandably very keen to visit.
I'd absolutely love to spend time with our wonderful DC and miss them like crazy, but am feeling quite stressed by the prospect of:

A long long flight when I really don't like flying (had bad experience with plane being struck by lightning a few years ago). I've never flown for longer than 5 hours.

Being cramped on an airplane - I can't sleep at the best of times and can get quite anxious in crowded places. A bed would be amazing but business class is £5000+ per seat!

Snakes, jellyfish, crocodiles and dengue fever etc.
Heat and sun- I can't go out in the sun due to previous skin cancer.

The cost- DH thinks there is no point going for less than 3 weeks. We usually go on holiday for a week in Europe so this would be eye-watering by comparison.

Can anyone talk me down from not really wanting to go?
I'm assuming that flying is the only way to go - we can both take 3 weeks off work if needed.

I know I sound like a right curmudgeon, but it was never on my list of places I would otherwise go or spend our limited savings on. I like Scandinavia....

Any tips for making the journey and the trip less awful?

If you really can't face it, then perhaps your DH could go on his own.

Thanks for reminding me see how miserable I'm being and that the most important thing is seeing DC.
I just have to crack on and find some flights that work.
@KimberleyClark @Tropicalsunshine Longer stopovers with a hotel bed to sleep on sounds like a good plan. It might take a bit of research I think
DC is in a small town in Queensland.

@Coffeeisnecessary £3000 sounds potentially doable for us- are there any websites or ways to track down flights you can recommend I try?

I have no idea what to do there yet- I just need to book some flights first then there is no going back...

I was going to suggest maybe 10 days in Singapore/Malaysia and you meet in the middle? Would that be an option

I do understand your concerns re a long flight.However this is a once in a lifetime opportunity! Maybe see how a more comfortable seat(say economy plus) if there is one may be better? As far as snakes and so on goes unless hes working in the outback not too much chance of seeing one? I think if you dont go you may regret it .

We went for a couple of weeks, it was ok.

DH was not keen on the flying, so I booked flights that broke the journey into 3 relatively short flights (Glasgow - Dubai-Singapore - Melbourne). Had a swim at Dubai Airport, very civilised.

Perth would be a lot shorter...

Apparently it is very expensive atm, so I'd look at the costs carefully. Other option would be meet DC somewhere in Aisa?

OP, I’m a really bad flyer and the only way I can through Australia - Europe flights is with an overnight stopover. I don’t sleep on planes, but fill in the time with on demand movies and gin and tonics.

Come in winter. I’m a Queenslander by birth and I hate summers there, hence why I moved to Victoria.

If OP is not a fan of the heat, SE Asia is probably not a great idea.

I'm in Australia and I actually had to wrestle a crocodile on my way to the train station this morning. And then a shark jumped out of my toilet. If I hadn't been able to ride away on my giant spider I don't know what would have happened.

Coming to Australia and having a dangerous encounter with a wild animal is about as realistic as an Australian thinking they'll step off the plane in Heathrow and be greeted by the king.

In all seriousness, it is a long way but travel can be about challenging yourself. You'll see your DC and you might even like the place.

Wear a hat, long linen sleeves and SPF. You'll be ok- there are a lot of fair skinned people here you just need to be sensible about. It's usually just european backpackers you see cooking themselves at the beach in the middle of the day.

I'm in regional QLD & have covered a lot of ground in this state. What town is it? I might be able to help allay fears or offer ideas of things to do.

The killer wildlife thing is vastly overstated. Country locals are welcoming and love a yarn if you just say hello.

Singapore is an awesome stopover. Incredible place to visit.

If you come in autumn/winter QLD is lovely. (Don't even think about north QLD in summer if not used to heat.) Southern QLD (where I am) can be quite cold in winter. So no baking.

It's a once in a lifetime experience - that in my book is worth spending more money and the long flight.

Even if it's not your chosen destination, I would go if I had a reason to like this - a friend or family member there. It's a place quite unlike any other on Earth so I'm sure it will be interesting to visit.

2 years is also a long time not to see your child - I missed my parents terribly during the 3 years we didn't see them due to corona (I live in Europe, not Australia!)

Could you look into medication for the flight anxiety? And I'm sure there will be reasonable precautions people take about the wildlife - there aren't just crocodiles roaming about waiting to eat people!

Could you go in their winter to avoid the sun? It might also be worth talking to a doctor about this issue specifically.

Golly. A small town in Queensland would be an amazing experience. Very different from a week in Europe. You must do it.

I flew to NZ in 2019.

Personally I'd just get there in one go. Layovers prolong the jet lag and the worry about getting another flight.

I'm not sure Premium Economy is worth the price difference. I flew Qatar and the economy seats were quite spacious- not so much when I flew with BA to San Francisco.Maybe spend the money on a flying without fears course.

Long haul is a different experience from short haul. The planes are bigger and there are drinks and meals.
I don't sleep on airplanes at all, but I take a Boots Sleepeze tablet on the first couple of nights at the location and that seems to get me over the jet lag.

Don't miss this great opportunity to see your DS and travel to the other side of the world.

I just can't imagine how any of that outweighs seeing your kids?????

I've managed to go back and forth to Australia about 10 times now with no crazy illnesses, wild animals out to get me. Australia is superb and has so much to offer.
For the flights I take the shorter 7 - 8 hour one 1st to Abu Dhabi and aim for afternoon flight, have a good walk and eat on the layover. Then the longer flight in, where even if you can't sleep the aircraft is set to rest mode, low lights and quiet.
Its a day really for such reward!

Snakes, jellyfish, crocodiles and dengue fever etc

Australians killed by snakes in an average year - 3 (from a population of 26 million)

Australians killed by crocodiles in an average year: 1-2, and there are no crocs at all in most populated areas.

Australians killed by jellyfish in an average year - 0.5 and, again, they are only an issue in certain areas.

Cows kill more Australians than snakes.

Refusing to travel for your reasons is like refusing to come to the Uk in case you get bitten by a Scottish wild cat. You sound like an idiot.

I've been trekking in the Outback anfmd stuff, and didn't see anything deadly. I have seen crocs, but we specifically went on a river cruise to see them, so it would have been disappointing if I hadn't.

Could you meet halfway somewhere? That's what my BIL and sister do when they want to see each other.

I live in the tropical part of Australia - y’know, it’s the size of Europe right, so the weather isn’t ‘hot’ everywhere. I’ve never ever even heard of dengue fever. I just googled it. Baring on in mind I live in one of the most mosquito dense areas, shouldn’t that tell you something?
I have also never seen a croc despite living in croc territory. You know crocs are only in the northern part, right? Your chances of bumping into one in Melbourne, Perth, Sydney or Brisbane is as unlikely as Prince Harry’s private life.
Snakes, again, can pretty much guarantee you won’t see one. Or a spider.

Your kid is here. I know I’d swim to the other side of the planet to see one of my children if need be. Economy flight would be preferred though. Go on a Singapore or Emirates flight and you’ll be all good. Jeez, you may even like it.

You sound like my father. He’s in the UK and refuses to come to visit us in Aus despite me offering to pay for a flight. He’s too worried about spiders and snakes and the heat! Even when I’m FaceTiming him wearing a beanie hat and jumper because I’m cold. Even when I FaceTimed him from Canberra in the snow, he’s still thinking it’s too hot for him! FGS!

This is the second thread in a few weeks about how awful posters who have never been to Australia picture Australia to be. The other thread was worse and full of posters who seem to have been transported back to the 1950's and were terrified about travelling to the new word and being eaten by giant koala's! For heaven's sake. Dangerous animals are rare outside of Zoo's. The only real risk would be a snake so don't walk in long grass in shorts and open shoes. Unless you plan on swimming in a swamp (do not do this) then you will need to go to a Zoo to see a crocodile. I've lived in Aus my entire life and have never seen a crocodile outside of a Zoo. We don't die in hordes of fevers so I don't know where you plan on going to catch that.

You'll find Australia to be perfectly civilised with lots of cities and lovely towns. You can enjoy our lovely summer atmosphere with rooftop bars, inflatable movie screens, night markets and evening swimming. We have a lovely and safe country. Leave the attitude from the 1950's behind. I doubt very much that your reasons would be acceptable on here if you suggested that you were frightened to travel to many other countries around the world.

Emirates premium economy, go via Dubai choose a long layover (less than 24hrs or you'll need to check in again) go to a hotel get some rest and a good stretch then start again to Australia.

You'll have a fab time and you'll be glad you went once you get back.

Stop over for two days each way. Hong Kong is a good one.

premium economy

aisle seat

get a small prescription of Valium from the doctor for flying phobia

enjoy

I havent RTFT but if you go via US with Air New Zealand, you can book the "sky couch" for two people, which is 3 economy seats with removable arm rests so you can turn it into a bed. Cheaper than business but gives you both the benefit of swapping to get some proper rest. My colleague books it when they go and visit family.

It's not boiling hot is Australia all the time, we've been to Brisbane at Easter a few times and it's usually pleasantly warm rather than baking hot, or go in our summer.
The thing to avoid is Christmas - it is boiling and the flights are a fortune

@Reluctantflyer you should try and go it will be great to see your DC in their home.

How about getting a credit card where you earn airmiles or cashback and using it for every purchase and paying it off each month, the additional earning may pay the difference between economy and the next level of comfort.

Use top cashback or similar to earn on all your purchases to top up the kitty.

Don't fly straight there OP. I've been to Australia a couple of times and the long flight and huge time difference are miserable. If I ever go again I will definitely be breaking the trip up with a couple of nights somewhere en route in both directions. Most flights now seem to go via the Middle East, so via Dubai, Doha, etc, but you can also go via Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, etc. I'd find somewhere nice to stop over that you can look forward to as part of the trip.

And then just look forward to seeing your DC. If you are an anxious flyer see if you can get some anti-anxiety meds to take so you feel more relaxed, but even some Rescue Remedy or a relaxing drink would help. Australia is actually really nice when you get there and even if you don't like creepy crawlies they're not generally in your face. It's one of those places that generally sounds much scarier than it is.