Travel to Australia - which is the best airline?

[spaceforthree]

With two youngsters I am DREADING it!!

We will probably have to go Economy or Economy Plus so wondered if anyone could recommend an airline.

Used BA to fly to Sydney via Singapore and they were okay.

Have heard that the service offered by Singapore airlines is good too.

If you do go to Australia try and break the journey; the best part of two days on a plane is no fun at all.

Singapore airline was great.
We last went (Dec) with Virgin, and it wasnt good at all.

Qantas/Ba - they code shaare.
Singapore
Emirates

I usually fly Qantas due to getting FF points.

NOTHEROLDIE why wasn't Virgin very good?

Emirates - I'd always, always choose Emirates.

I've flown to Australia with both BA and Emirates and done other long haul flights with Virgin, Singapore and other airlines. Singapore are good too but, for me, Emirates wins every time.

Yep went with Emirates, (without kids tho) they were good.

Virgin cramped 2 adults and 4 kids in just 4 seats wouldnt let us use the bassinets for babies (2 families each with 2 kids). Other parent sat behind. Initially my 2 yr old was seated away from us in another block!!

And even with repated requests we didnt get food for my little one, so we just 'pooled' it all and shared!

BUT they did have TVs in the seat (as most long haul airlines do) which was a Godsend!

However if Virgin was the cheapest (I'm a tight wad) I would fly with them again, BUT with snacks galore and not sit at bulk head seats.

Just take plenty of things to do, treats, and thier usual comforters, blanket/teddy etc. Make it fun, it can be an adventure, or a nightmare. :)

We went with Qantas last year, and they were great. Fantastic staff, really helpful (dd1 is ASD, and they went out of their way to make sure we cuold keep her as stress free as possible)

Generally we try to avoid BA - usually have nothing but hassle with them (pre-children they seemed incapable of booking dh & I to sit next to each other. we have an uncommon surname, but were usually sat on oppoite sides ends of the cabin, despite bookng at the same time etc - normal excuse was "oh, didn't realise you wanted to sit together . they also tried to book dd1, then aged 3 and disabled in a separate cabin form the rest of us, and kept moving her seat - i had to phone every day in the weeks leading up to our departure and ensure we were sitting together. generally unhelpful staff, ime)

have flown Emirates before - lovely staff, really helpful - cuoldn't do enough for us (dd1 was a baby then). Nice food, iirc.

Emirates are fantastic with kids - we flew to Sydney with them when I was 24 weeks pregnant and we had 16mo DD1. The crew were fantastic and nothing was too much trouble, the provided her with snacks, fruit, a meal and playpacks. We spent a night in Dubai then flew to Sydney. It was great for DD to have a break and run around the hotel like a previously caged monkey, it was also nice to have some good food.

Emirates were great when we flew with 7mo DS. My DH has also flown with Singapore Airlines and they were also very good.

We chose not to have a proper 'break' in the journey, but had a few hours between flights and that was fine, as it gave us chance to each go for a shower, eat, DS had a play on the floor/sofas, then we carried on. I would consider not having several days' break, but making sure you have enough time between each leg of your flight to get a proper break in. I would say go for 4-6 hours. In either Dubai or Changei airport there will be enough to do for the kids for this time.

Another vote for Singapore - v. spacious seats in economy, and great stopover at Singapore airport. You can use one of the swimming pools of a hotel at the airport, and you can hire rooms by the hour, for a quick shower and some privacy, if you want it.

Emirates or Singapore.
Hated BA, hated Quantas.
Flew with 14mo twins.
Lived to tell the tale !

Singapore Airlines!! Simply the best!

DH and I both agree and have in the past organised our holiday destinations so that could fly Singapore Airlines.

I've been to Australia (24hrs straight thru)with Quantas (soooooo rubbish and smallest seats ever, even in business and the service is awful awful awful), BA (both econ and business - not exactly great, planes dirty but service ok) and the lovely Singapore Airlines - been 3 times with them (econ = good - Business = great such fab service and First Class = Out of this world!!!!).

Also been with Air Pacific (came from Tokyo to Fiji for hols and then Sydney) but not relevant for you I guess.

Just do Singapore Airlines - you'll not regret it.

Singapore Airlines. Everytime. They have brilliant service and planes. Plus Changi Airport is great.

I've flown BA, Qantas, Thai, Etihad and Virgin to Australia.

We are trying to choose between Emirates and Singapore - those of you that recommend Singapore, could you pls tell me whether they good for flying with infants? We will be flying with an 8 month old on way over and 10 month old on way home.

Sorry for hijacking your post spaceforthree, I was just about to post about the same thing!

Aah, thanks everyone. I think it'll be Singpore or Emirates then. Has anyone been on both and can compare seat room as I'm guessing that will be the most important thing ona journey that long?

Flew Emirates when we went with the children, including DD2 who is disabled and needed a special meal. They were excellent, confirmed we were travelling with a disabled passenger and were very helpful. Couldn't seat all 5 of us together on the Dubai - Perth leg but did everything they could to make it easier for us and guaranteed me the bassinet with the baby.

I've also flown to Oz without the children, once with Singapore and once with Emirates - both times were very good but SA had the edge (helped by flying on the new Airbus A380 which was incredible).

I like Emirates but would also strongly recommend Etihad. I don't rate BA/Quantas so highly.

Singapore Airlines were/are great with kids. I asked for special assistance as I was flying on my own and wanted help with all my luggage, pushchair, carry on etc. One of the staff met me in the lounge, carried my bags, got me a drink, warmed up baby milk etc. Then when on-board they came and took DD up to business class for a wander so I could have a minute to myself. Love them. Would only ever fly with them to Aus.

My choice in order would be:

Singapore
BA/Qantas - BA longhaul bit and Qantas if you have to on the short bit
Cathay Pacific
Thai
Malaysian
Emirates - only if all of the above fail!

Have done them all longhaul to Australia with and without children.

Emirates are by far the worst airline ever!

Any views on Air New Zealand? I see they do Premium Economy.

Another vote for Singapore.

Second is Emirates.

Changi Airport is fantastic.

I've only flown air new Zealand once long haul and I found the legroom wasn't very generous.

Air new zealand are starting with the new bed seating in economy and I'd certainly book with them if it was affordable.

We flew Air New Zealand (prior to having kids) and thought they were great. Hubby is 6' 2" and didn't have a problem with leg room. We stopped over at Los angeles for a few hours which helped stretch the legs a bit though.
food was lovely too I seem to remember!