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!

CBD sweets will be your friend.

What are CBD sweets?

This thread is really helping me. I am planning on going to NZ next year and I am nearly 60… have been really worrying!
Have traveled too and from Sydney a few times but that was 30 years ago !!

I usually fly business class with Singapore Airlines to melbourne and have a 3 hour stopover but the reviews are not so good this year or the lounge facilities so have booked business with Emirates which comes out near the top for service, comfort, food and the price is the same really.

I dislike flying after a very turbulent flight back from NY once. But I've since had two cockpit visits (for the kids, not on my own!) and the pilots explained how good their systems are at spotting turbulence ahead (plus the reports from other pilots). You definitely feel it a lot less in the big planes too. I would pick stopovers both ways as I find it easier to cope with broken up flights.

I also feel less anxious flying business and first - I appreciate that this is totally irrational given that your flat bed isn't exactly going to make your odds any different but the constant flow of food and drink is distracting. I also make sure I have at least three drinks in the lounge before boarding, at which point my nerves are sufficiently anaesthetised.

A few years ago I travelled to UK with friends - my 1st ever long haul flights. Absolutely petrified & the nervousness meant I became very nauseous & dont remember much of our stopover in Singapore.

I travelled around in UK after a week or so & then later returned home to NZ - by myself & a bit scary but so incredible to know I've done it & managed.

I flew Economy with Singapore Airlines both ways, fantastic staff & very helpful. Like others I found earphones & music & half a sleeping pill on the way home helped. The worst bit of turbulence was still over Europe before the Indian Ocean from memory.

Do it, enjoy ... & hopefully then you'll be planning subsequent holidays like me

@DuckbilledSplatterPuff about swollen ankles…avoid salt, move as much as you possibly can, at least every hour, do ankle circles and other exercises (there’ll be a video you can watch in the inflight library), elevate your feet on a pillow and after a brisk walk elevate your ankles on your hand luggage when in transit / refuelling

I have just retruned from a solo trip to Australia..
I went with Qatar and it was fine. 7 hours from manchester to Doha, about 2 hours at Doha airport, and then a boring 14 hours to Brisbane.You just have to prepare yourself for being bored and uncomfortable, and endure it. I toyed with the idea of going business class but really couldn't justify £5000 vs £1000 economy. I'd rather spend the money in Australia doing interesting things.

There are loads of films, TV shows, music, audio books, radio shows etc etc on the in-flight entertainment.

There was maybe 2 or 3 minutes total of turbulence the whole way.

There are plenty of information boards and people in the airports who can direct you to where you need to go.

Quantas has just announced a non- stop flight to australia, which I think will take 21 hours or something, so it's not really that much quicker than two leg journeys.

BTW, the best tip I had was to set your watch to the destination time as soon as you get on the plane, and behave in accordance with that. I didn't get jet lag in either direction.

Oh, and book direct with the airline rather than through those third party companies that are on Skyscanner. You might save £100 but I have heard some of them can be a bit dodgy if you want to change anything or have any problems.

I would also say, book aisle seats so you can get up and wander round as often as you like without disturbing other people.

Business class you can lie down and snooze.
I always check out the media available - which movies I want to see ( often have good international ones), radio -some good comedies, tv episodes.
How often do you get that amount of time to sit and watch the tv of your choice.

It looks like Singapore Airlines is the fastest flight from heathrow to cairns, just over 21hrs with a 1.5hr stopover in Singapore. Some of the other airlines have 2 changes and up to a total of 40hrs travelling.

I get them too and travel socks/compression are wonderful.

Go for it. You only live once 😁

You'll be fine once you set up your in flight entertainment. The time will pass quickly.

Enjoy your holiday. You deserve it 😊

We have a daughter in Aus and flown numerous times. Fly direct to Perth, just under 17 hours, then internal flight from there. Premium economy is great, ours were not much over £3k return but in our opinion well worth it. Wider seats, better food, attentive service and less than 30 seats in that compartment. It can be a little bumpy over the Indian Ocean if you fly during our summer July-August but not at all bad. My husband isnt a good traveller but always been OK on the direct flight, its the stop over/changing plans/negotiating an unfamiliar airport that stresses him out, all of that is avoided by flying direct. Goo for it!

I often travel long haul on my own, but we all have to start somewhere.

I would not pay cold hard cash for first (but use miles to do so) just dont think its worth the extra expense over business. Not all business class offer the same experience. Say if you used Emirates with a stop in Dubai, you will have a driver pick you up and take you to the airport, one less thing to be worried about getting there on time, same coming back (and when you land dependant on where you fly into), lounges are nice to relax in before your flight, and of course you get extra luggage allowance and more carry on

whoever said

''Don't go via the Middle East as it's tricky as a lone woman if you aren't an experienced traveller.''

Is talking absolute rubbish, transiting through say Dubai (have done other ME airports) is no problem at all, yes its a big airport but well signposted and you can follow directions (or get assistance from staff), what on earth would be tricky as a lone woman is absolute tripe.

Check the entry rules for transit passengers ie Singapore if using say Singapore Airlines due to covid regulations, which are changing all the time.

Its your money to spend but for me for comfort and if you can afford it I would choose business.

Get on the plane !

Good luck with this OP...

FYI best ride in turbulence is area above the wing/fuselage junction, so on most wide bodied aircraft that's probably back of business class/front of economy, generally further back is worse ( you can a bit of a springboard effect on long bodied aircraft)

Also when booking flights it's worth being aware "Non-stop" means what it says on the tin, but a "direct" is different - it will have intermediate stop(s) enroute but there should be no aircraft change/ no flight number change...it's a distinction that does occasionally catch people out.

www.rd.com/article/real-difference-direct-non-stop-flights/

HTH

Have a look at Qatar for your flights OP. Their business class is award-winning and the connection in Doha is seamless as a business passenger. It literally couldn't get any easier (no messing around getting transits/long walks to terminals as can happen at Dubai, no having to go through security again as happens at Singapore) and as someone suggested upthread, you can always book their Al Maha meet and greet service in Doha and they will literally have someone waiting outside the plane door for you to escort you through the airport, sort out immigration/security etc for you (if you need it). Qatar actually have a separate security/immigration section in Doha for Qatar business passengers. Last time I went through it, I was the only passenger and I was escorted through like a VIP.

I've travelled a lot between the UK and Asia/Aus/NZ and Qatar are now my preferred airline (I've tried pretty much all of them). I really like connecting in Doha as it's so easy. I also enjoy some time to stretch my legs, have a shower and clean my teeth in the lounge, grab a coffee/champagne/snack/3 course meal (!), even do some looking around the shops. When I get on my connecting flight, I feel clean and refreshed.

I used to fly Emirates business and while I like them a lot, Qatar are better and I think more suitable for you as a less confident traveller because of the easy connection at Doha (and the Al Maha service if you want to be looked after the first time to build your confidence up). They also do a lovely Dipthyque amenity kit in business.

The Covid situation is still a little more complex in Asia so I'd suggest avoid connecting there at present - plus as mentioned already, Doha is a seamless transfer and much easier than Singapore, HK, KL, Bangkok (I used to live in Asia so transited all the major airports with all the major airlines far too many times).

Don't put yourself through the misery of economy. It's harder as a lone traveller in economy as you're stuck sharing space with strangers the entire time. Totally different experience to people flying in economy with family/friends.

Business will give you privacy and space, and ensure you're well looked after at all times - and if there are any issues (such as flight delays etc) you will get priority. And of course then you get priority check-in, fast track security, lounge access, priority luggage (so less waiting when you arrive) etc etc.

I like to sometimes do a stopover on the way back to the UK (but when flying to Aus, I don't like stopovers). It gives you something to look forward to on the way back instead of feeling sad that you're amazing trip is over.

we travel to Australia frequently as I have close family there. Emirates is the route we prefer. 7hrs to Dubai. - change planes- then directly to Brisbane - sometimes refuelling in Singapore but you can stay on the plane if you want.
if you can afford business class you get chauffeur drive from home to U.K. airport and Australian airport to destination.
in Dubai you go straight to the lounge and they let you know when it’s time to board again.
my son who has learning difficulties did this aged 25 - it was brilliant.
best of luck xx

Yes it does thanks! Everyone’s comments help and I’m feeling so much more positive and informed. 😀

Thank you to all the lovely posters who mentioned Doha. And everyone else again too 🥰. I can’t believe I’d never heard if it until today. And certainly not the Al Maha service!
There’s a whole world out there, as they say.

Well worth spending money on business as you get to lie flat and have a decent shot at sleep. This will make you less wrecked on arrival. The extra money for First is just adding luxury. Nice but the real difference is between economy and business.

@StartupRepair Thank you - I’m getting that now. Learnt so much lot today.

As an Aussie who got off the LA/Syd flight this morning (economy) which is peanuts in comparison “only” 13 1/2 hours, I would say if you fly business on long flights you will be fine. I am seriously not doing anything over 9 hours again (which would get me to Singapore) unless we can fly business. We did it to Dallas a few years ago and it was a really fun trip compared to today’s which was a bit of an endurance test even though DH and I had four seats to ourselves and one of them was extra leg room. As others have said as a nervous flier I would do the direct route (which is currently via Darwin, not Perth as WA shut it’s borders but I think it is changing back soon). If you did decide on a stopover Singapore is lovely and super easy, we usually try and spend a few nights there if we are coming back from Europe.

and @madasawethen Thank you both for the tips! Much appreciated.

I don't have any business on here but I often think of when my children are grown up and spread out and I hope I'll be fit and solvent enough to visit them. I look forward to it. safe travels x