Nervous of flying alone to Australia from UK

[BigRooLittleRoo]

Hi - I’m hoping for some wisdom! I’m wary 60s and not well travelled. Don’t like flying and not confident at airports etc. Always had OH with me but things are ending after 30 years. 😣 My adult DC, only family, is in Australia and wants me to go over for 1-3 months. After a v difficult time with my marriage, it is appealing. But I’m v nervous of undertaking the long flight. I had a friend who went over and had terrible turbulence and was terrified, which doesn’t help! What if I get there and can’t face the flight back!! 😫

Is it best to do the trip in one go? I kind of lean towards that rather than a lengthy stop-off, alone in some airport.

Is there a better time of day/night to depart (or do you have to go with what’s available)?

I could potentially afford first class - would that be worth it?

Many thanks!

Booking economy isn’t being frugal. Booking business or first class is extravagant.

I complained to a pilot friend of mine about turbulence and he told me that while I was sitting in the back of the plane worrying about it, the pilots were up front discussing where to go for dinner. I think of that whenever it gets a bit bouncy. I also remind myself that I go over waves in a boat and I'm not afraid of boating.

Is it best to do the trip in one go? I kind of lean towards that rather than a lengthy stop-off, alone in some airport

Do the oner, definitely. I'm terrified of flying and having to do a stopover in Qatar just about ended me.

I like this

Which city in Aus are you going to? Perth is a 17hr straight flight, whereas other cities require a refuel en-route.

Relatives a similar age will only travel that far on business class. If you need to re-fuel- check the turn around times. Some cheaper flights might stop in Hong Kong or SIngapore for say 8 hrs- which I wouldn't recommend!

If its a short turn around like 1-2hrs, they will usually tell you which gate you need to get to to re-board the plane, but ground staff are also helpful.

Would your family there be able to afford a holiday to Sth East Asia- Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong etc? I arranged this once where I flew from UK and family member from Aus and we both arrived at the airport within an hour of each other. Had a week holiday there- then both flew from there to Aus together.

I have found that having the flight arrive in the afternoon- Aus time was better, because you could soon go to sleep. Try to get some sun during the day as it helps adjust your body clock quicker. I also used to stay up later and later in the UK and try to semi adjust to the new time zone beforehand.

I've done the European-->Aus flight so many times I've lost count.

Luck of the draw re turbulence. I found there was generally always bad turbulence coming toward the West Coast of Aus.

First class is very expensive. Nothing wrong with travelling business, flat bed, sleep for @ hours, watch movies and eat for the rest.

Tell the staff you're nervous, they'll take care of you.

Thank you again for all the great and generous advice which I VERY much appreciate. I shall read it all again very carefully and make notes! Maybe a table 😆
@2bazookas I like the idea of Trailfinders - handhold would be good. Have ruled out first class - and boy some of those prices look higher than I’d seen - but am convinced of business. So that’s a definite. Wasn’t entirely sure what the difference was tbh (said I’m not well travelled 😂).

Gosh, it sounds as if I’m making plans, doesn’t it! 🤔 🇦🇺

PS @MarmiteCoriander My DC is currently near Cairns

Agree, business rather than first. If stopping over aim for Singapore or KL. some stops will be for 3-4 hours only. You’ll have access to the business lounge with sofas, magazines etc, food/snacks and a bar for drinks.

I enjoyed the stopovers, I ate at different cafes, it was great! I wouldn't pay for business or first, personally. The flights are so long that people just watch movies or try to sleep. I'd get an aisle seat so I could get up without disturbing anyone. There's plenty of food on offer too.

Yep and get some sleeping tablets

If you book with Qatar and go via Doha you can book (it’s at the end as an extra) a transit service. Used by all kinds of people as an add on service and might be perfect for you. Yes definitely go business if you can it will make all the difference and you’ll have a single private seat/booth and can use the lounges. Don’t worry about the whole trip just face each stage at a time and follow the signs. My 12 year old flies alone now and says if you can sit down, eat and watch a film you can cope! Do arrive ridiculously early to the airport and if you fly in the morning reduce stress by booking an airport hotel that’s at the terminal.

For cairns I would fly Singapore Air with stop off in Singapore. SA are a fab airline and it is likely to be the cheapest BC option on that route.

100% go Business if you can afford it. My idea of heaven would be a business class flight to Australia on my own!

Might a fly with confidence course make you feel more, um, confident?

www.britishairways.com/en-gb/information/travel-assistance/flying-with-confidence

What on earth are you talking about? The Middle East isn’t tricky as a lone woman at all. It’s easier than US and no different to Asia.

Agree with going business or first, if you can afford it. It’s a much more comfortable flight.

I'm a nervous flyer too, but there are several things I try remembering when I'm up there- turbulence doesn't hurt the plane, no modern plane will ever be brought down by turbulence, pilots are completely non-plussed about it, they have systems to see where the air will be bumpy and avoid these so nothing you encounter is anything more than an irritation.

It's also pretty much guaranteed at some point so expect it and have a plan when it happens- the best I've heard is to stick on some dancing music on your headphones and try to bounce along with it!

If you get anxious try to ground yourself- they recommend listing five things you can see, five things you can feel (external), five things you can hear to yourself and then repeating. It helps keep your mind calm.

I also try to think of my cabin crew friend when I fly- I've asked her if she's ever had turbulence that worried her and she says she's known a few fellow crew members get hurt when not buckled in, but she's never been worried about it. She actually says she looks forward to it as she gets a sit down and she thinks it livens up the flight!

If you sit over the wing or slightly ahead of the wing you will have a smoother flight so worth paying to book seats here. I find a glass of red wine helps make me sleepy so I get less worried too. Morning flights are supposedly generally smoother than afternoon ones.

I wouldn't worry about not being able to take the return flight. I once totally freaked out after a connecting flight in a tiny plane and got stuck in an airport for a day and after a couple of hours I'd calmed myself right down and was dying to just get home, I was actually kind of glad to be on the next flight!

If you are feeling really unsure many airlines run a fear of flying course which might help you with your confidence.

My parents did the trip to Australia Business Class in their late 60s and it was very much worth it in their opinion. We somehow ended up doing Singapore to Cairns on a 737 or similar- the sort of thing you go Majorca on - and that wasn't fun. It's a long flight.

I’m a silly thing actually getting a bit tearful at you all helping me! Not so alone am I after all! Xx

After years of flying without any problems I developed a fear of flying after one horrendous experience. I won't describe it here but trust me when I say most people won't experience anything like it .

I tried various things to address my phobia including a flying lesson in a little two seater. Bizarrely I was fine in the little plane.

The only thing that works for me is valium. I have heard doctors are reluctant to prescribe valium now for flying so not sure if you could get it. I have heard of people using antihistamines that knocks them out. There is a course you can do where you go up in a plane where you receive an education from pilots and doctors and flight crew. I have heard good things about them.

So interested in this thread as it's possible I will also be flying to Oz to visit a close relative within the next year.
Do you mind me jumping in and asking ....
swollen ankles... even a short flight makes mine balloon,
and takes weeks to go down...is there anything one can do? I'm quite worried about such a long flight.

Singapore is one of my favourite places - the people, the culture, the shopping! Raffles has just reopened after a massive restoration. I haven’t been for at least 10 years and swimming in the rooftop pool at the Marina Bay Sands is top of my bucket list.

If I were flying all that way with time on my side and money saved from not flying First, I’d be stopping over for a couple of days!

Go via Singapore and book a sleep a the in-airport hotel there. They will do a wake up call for you at any time you like, you can likely get your big suitcase sent straight on. The airport is lovely and full of orchids. Seriously, google Changi airport and you’ll see what I mean.
Business class will give you a much bigger space to yourself on the aeroplane and access to nice lounges at all the airports you pass through. I’m not sure if 1st class is worth the extra price difference. Consider using a travel agent rather than doing it yourself and then they will sort it for you if anything goes wrong like a flight gets seriously delayed or canceled.
Get your child to pick you up from the airport in Australia and it will all feel quite doable.

They've suspended the route but I do not recommend travelling London- Perth with Air Asia! Grand airline for short flights but v similar to Ryanair £280 for the flight tho. I was 22, broke and could cope.

You'll be grand. I flew it a few times. Transitioned through Abu Dhabi even without booking a lounge most (all?) Airports have showers which is nice if you have time. But I'm a bit older now and would prob book a lounge.

"Cattle class" was fine for me. If you can afford bc/ 1st without batting an eye lid go for it. I would bat both eyes and could spend the money on much better things.

If stopping over I recommend Singapore. I went to a lot of se Asia as a single female. Singapore is v safe and felt like a western city with an Asian twist. Bangkok is fantastic but can be overwhelming. My aunt and uncle in their late 60s stopped in Singapore on route to brisbane for 2 nights

This video explains turbulence well and helped put my mind at rest.

I think these days with the in flight entertainment systems long haul isn't so bad though as a smoker I prefer a stop off. For shorter budget flights I download podcasts on my phone and use noise cancelling headphones. I spent my most recent trip listening to gardening podcasts from the RHS which were interesting but so soothing I started to fall asleep. My DH went for comedies like the the unbelievable truth from the radio but I had to keep nudging him when he started laughing too loudly.

Ooh and yes to Singapore airport. It's beautiful!