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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

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Original poster

Airline recommendations to Australia

36 replies

99redballoons · 15/02/2008 11:25

Hi, hoping to travel to Australia in April with dh, ds(4), & dd(2). My sister recommended Singapore Airline because it's she felt it had more to offer the kiddies in headrest entertainment. I have been checking prices and availability online but nothing is coming up for them, mainly BA/Qantas. Have been told they just have films for kiddies.

Who would you go with and is it worth looking at different dates to get the one you want?

OP posts:

Aquasea · 27/03/2008 05:15

My advice would be to avoid BA at all costs. We flew BA/Qantas to Oz at the end of last year and the BA plane was horrendous. It looked like it was held together with chewing gum and gaffa tape. It should have been retired years ago. The inflight entertainment didn't work, our baby basinette was broken and the staff were rude and disinterested. Qantas (who I have never been a fan of either) were by comparison heavenly!

lp77 · 01/04/2008 13:02

we have recently flown with emirates but had to ask for kids food, but think the crew we had were trainees on first sector they took ages to serve food....
but I never got a look in at entertainment system, looked fab but every time i went to use it one of the kids woke up , youngest 5 months so not quite into it all, oldest nearly 2 and also not too interested...
but yeah i like emirates but have heard good things about singapore n cathay.
Am quite tempted by virgin but we fly into brisbane so cant be bothered with internal flight as soon as we land

clam · 05/04/2008 17:13

Emirates.... brilliant, not least because of the in-built cameras on the plane's fuselage so you can watch take-off and see what's underneath as you're flying. Plus fab food and extensive in-flight entertainment. Flies from Heathrow and Gatwick, via Dubai, which is interesting to see.

alibo · 08/04/2008 17:56

flew to oz with emirates on my own with 2yr old-brilliant for all reasons mentioned.

jenkel · 08/04/2008 18:18

Just come back from Sydney with Malaysian, kids food was good (better than the adults), on demand films/tv, games etc, apparently the best seat pitch. Flew with an 5 and 4 year old, to be honest they were pretty good, 3 hour stop over in Kuala Lumpur, it helped getting a late night flight for the first leg, we left Heathrow at 10, so after calming them down from the excitement they did sleep most of the first leg which was 12 hours, the 2nd leg was only 7 hours so that wasnt too bad. I would advise to fly singapore/emirates or malaysian. We were trying to book singapore but way too expensive, but apparently while we were away they had just started using the new plane, no idea what it was and they have only one but the comfort/space is a lot improved, so that was probably why we couldnt book anything cheaply. Spoke to somebody who had flown economy on it and they thought it was a vast improvement, but you I dont think you have any idea if you are on that plane or not until you get to the airport so taking a bit of a chance.

Notquitegrownup · 08/04/2008 18:26

Just got back from Sydney with Singapore Airlines. They were good - the new airbus 380 is fabulous, and the leg space for adults fantastic. I would agree that the inflight entertainment for under 3's was very limited, with a choice of the Dora episode or Alvin and the Chipmunks.

However, they do really good stopover deals for your stay in Singapore if you need accommodation.

One hint. They took ages - around 2 hours -to serve the meals (including kiddy meals) after take off. Take snacks if your are like mine, famished at take off and asleep shortly after.

Breaking in Singapore on the way home was a brilliant way of limiting the jet lag and of breaking up that horrid flight home.

Have a great trip.

Dizzymummy · 12/04/2008 22:56

Singapore Airlines - fantastic for children! request bulkhead seats.

ShinyPinkShoes · 12/04/2008 23:03

Another vote for Singapre Airlines- they really are fantastic

Stretfordmum · 22/05/2008 20:25

Singapore Airlines are great for children. The staff ask you for the children's name and remember them and come and check on your family reguarly - very personal service.

The staff will serve up baby or children food first and if you want to you can get your food later or take turns between parents so that you can help feed the kids.

Request the bulkhead seats as there is more legroom but these can not be guaranteed - so check in early so make this more likely.

They give you a nappy, wipes, bib pack for babies - nappy sizes are small for UK babies so go a size bigger than you think.

The other airline that has a great reputation is Gulf Air as they have sky nannies to help you with your children!!! I'm not sure if they fly to Australia but you could fly to Dubai and change from there.

lixanismapolium · 11/06/2008 20:58

Korean Air are really good and are a bit more understanding/sympathetic than most when it comes to small children. Have flown to Australia with them 8 times and would probably not fly there with anyone else these days.

potoroo · 11/06/2008 21:44

We've flown BA/Qantas twice to/from Australia and weren't impressed.

Recently flew Cathay who were brilliant - especially with two children. They also brought the pram to the plane when disembarking in HK, Sydney and London, which BA/Qantas did not.

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