Tell me about flying to Australia.

[Helenluvsrob]

Yep literally anything !
Hoping to go at xmas ( I know I'm mid and it'll be hot in Sydney but we don't have flexible dates )

What to do - about both on the journey and when we are there.

Best airlines / ones to avoid.

E.g. Dd transferred in Beijing and that was a trial - the chicken feet in soup want expected thigh cheap beer in vending machines was a perk!

I've done this flight 4 times and would definitely recommend the shortest stop over you can manage.
I've flown with Cathay, Malaysian and Singapore. All very good but enjoyed Malaysian Airlines the best- short stop overs in the beautiful Kuala Lumpar airport, excellent service, newish planes. Food was excellent too - had Asian for every meal. You'll love it! Enjoy your trip!

Definitely recommend Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways. Try and avoid Qantas as they are absolute crap. Air New Zealand is absolutely fantastic, but I think the flight/s would go via Auckland, so that'd waste time on this trip.

On the way over, I'd also recommend flying straight through, with just the refuelling stop (usually 2-3 hours in Singapore or Bangkok). It's too much faff leaving the airport and then coming back just a day later.

However, on the way home, it's nice to delay the inevitable and stop off for 3-4-7 days somewhere, but as you only have two weeks this time, that's probably not practical.

My elderly mother (late 70s) flies Manchester to Sydney every year to see us with a couple of hours stop in Dubai. She flies with Emirates.

She's never had any problems and recommends the airline to anyone who'll listen! Personally I like KLM but will never fly Virgin again.

I always prefer just to power through and get them rather than stopping over somewhere for a night where you have to go through all the rigmarole at the airport again.
Have you booked yet? I'm already booked for Christmas

Also last time I went last year I packed , books , magazines, colouring books and I never even openled my bag, only watched films so I won't be making that mistake again. We flew emirates and are flying them again

Also last time I went last year I packed , books , magazines, colouring books and I never even openled my bag, only watched films

I do this too - pack everything "just in case" and never end up using it. My bag usually just ends up under my seat and used as a footrest for the entire flight (got to be handy for something I suppose, lol).

I've been known to drag magazines through trips comprising multiple (long haul) flights and then placed, unread, back in the magazine rack once we're home six weeks later.

But I can guarantee the one time I decide to travel light will be the time the inflight screen is broken, or there's a massive delay or something....

if you've got two weeks then power through.

If you have a short stop over (4-5 hours) pack a change of clothes and have a shower.

Also what city ar you going to? Will you need to transfer again once in Australia? If so that will be the biggest thing. You have less luggage allowance and less hand allowance on most internal flights particularly if it's small airport.

I think my record door to door with out a hotel was 35 hours.

We travelled by Emirates via Dubai (1 hour stop over) and would do again. I hate flying and just wanted to get it over with. Long flight made bearable by the fact we booked a night at a hotel within Sydney airport on arrival - so stepped out of arrivals lounge, 30 second walk to hotel, then hot shower and 12 hour sleep. Bliss!