Travelling to Sydney alone with a 5 year old. Advice please?

[mulanje]

In search of advice: I'm travelling to Sydney in July with my 5 year old to meet up with my husband who's working out there for a short time. I was all set to book Qatar flights when I was warned by a travel agent not to go with them: she told me the Doha airport is dire and quite intimidating. She said that she had flown with them and they only had a 1.45h transit and had to go through customs again. It was boiling hot, no one queued, everyone jostled and she nearly missed her plane. She said that a woman travelling on her own with a young child would be very ill-advised to go via Doha as women are not treated well. It's really put me off, but I can't find any evidence elsewhere that it's that bad. Help!

www.airlinequality.com has recent reviews of airports and airlines including that of Doha.

I would actually look at using an alternative airport if you are flying to Australia; what using another airline and transitting instead through Singapore's Changi airport?. This is a very nice airport all told for passengers.

Singapore Airlines.
And Changi Airport in Singapore is the best airport in the world.
We go to Aus every 18months and always that way.

Agree with Singapore Airlines. Changi Airport has a swimming pool in one of the terminals (I forget which, but they're all accessible) Take your swimming gear in your carry on luggage and spend your layover time exhausting your child.

I travelled to NZ on my own with a 19 month old under extremely distressing circumstances (sis was dying) and Singapore Airlines were fantastic. FIL had a discrete word with them at Heathrow and before we knew it we were whisked through the first class check in (no waiting), teddy had a luggage tag with flight numbers tied fetchingly to his neck bow and DD was indulged the whole way.

We've always had good flights with Qantas via Singapore (UK to Sydney). We are flying with Singapore airlines this time...such a good reputation & apparently very childfriendly.
I've flown solo with DS from UK to middle east with Etihad x4 and had very stressful/unhelpful experiences every time (although my DH always had great flights with them).
Malaysian airlines also have a child friendly rep.

Qantas via Hong Kong? I did that last year - actually stayed in Hong Kong for a couple of days to see friends, but Hong Kong airport is also pretty civilised for a short turnaround too.

There used to be some quite good deals with ANA or Japan Airlines via Tokyo, which involved one night in an airport hotel at Narita as part of the deal, but I have a feeling prices have got ridiculous on those flights now because of the strong yen.

Also, I have always found Virgin to be a pretty good airline to use with children (I'm a single parent and have done a lot of long haul flights with two children from when they were tiny, and at least two-thirds of those flights were with Virgin - I have always been happy with them) but I don't know where they stop off on their Sydney flights.

What slug said - the pool is great - there is also a hotel at the airport (actually in the same terminal as the pool) where you can book a room for a few hours, I think 6 is the minimum but if you have a long gap between flights at least you can get a bit of sleep in a propper bed. Don't worry about towels for the pool- you pay for the pool and get a pack with a towel and some other bits, comb and shampoo I think off hand.

There are also loads of shops, eating places, from fine dining to burgers and everything in between. I actually believe you could spend a week at Changi. I bought a Singapore national costume for a 4 year old - maybe your 5 year old would like one.

BA/Quantas also do the route, I've never flown Singapore airlines but no one seems to have a bad word about them.

I don't know if they still do it, but there was a free bus from the airport to Orchard Road - main shopping area (one time I had a 12 hour wait between flights slo did a bit of shopping).

........................wondering if I can stow away to Changi

Changi all the way it's a great airport & has children's play area. I love Changi....

I flew with Korean Air and stopped over in Seoul. Was fine and they were cheap!