Flying from Oz to UK - do you have a preferred airline?

[Archduke]

Hi there am booking flights from Oz to UK for a 2 wk trip in Sept/Oct with 2 kids.

Have previously flown Singapore or Malaysian air, but am thinking of Emirates this time.

Has anyone flown with Emirates? Are they ok? Worth the extra $300/ticket??

I would stick to Singapore Airlines.

Emirates aren't that great anymore if they ever were whereas SA just quietly gets on with it with a lot more grace and style.

Why so down on Emirates Weebirdie? I agree Singapore are ace, we flew with Emirates years ago (12) and they weren't that great, I'd heard they've improved - have I missed the window?!

I fly Emirates to avoid flying into (and then out of) London. It means I can do the trip in two rather than three flights.

That's the only reason though. Dubai airport can be difficult I find. Sometimes to have to go on a bus to get to your gate for example.

The last time I flew Emirates we took off and then they announced that the TVs weren't working. On a sixteen hour flight. Don't worry though as they had complimentary magazines. They were in Arabic.....

To be honest, I think most of the airlines are much of a muchness... We're looking at whoevers the cheapest out of singapore, qantas, Emirates or etihad for our feb trip to Oz.

To be honest, I think most of the airlines are much of a muchness... We're looking at whoevers the cheapest out of singapore, qantas, Emirates or etihad for our feb trip to Oz.

Anyone but British Airways (or Qantas on BA codeshare). Awful service, they change your prebooked seats without telling you, just generally awful and I will never fly long haul with them again.

I have heard good things about Emirates

Degust is right, they are much of a muchness. However, if you can fly with an airline that has an A380 on at least one of the legs, that makes a huge difference in terms of your comfort and sanity.

I flew last week with Emirates from oz to ireland. The cabin crew were excellent on A380 and useless on B777

Archduke, I don't have a down on them. Im flying with them next week. I guess Im saying that from experience I don't believe their hype, not even in their business class.

Its not a bad experience but its not what they think it is either.

I fly OZ to UK and back a few times a year. Singapore and Emirates are my preferred airlines but they are all much of a muchness. I've found those 2 have edible food and shorter stop overs.

I liked the Singapore stopover for the showers at the airport. Lovely to be able to board the 2nd leg feeling human. Also I think it breaks the flight durations better so you don't have 1 short then 1 long. More equal. Don't remember one being better that the other for food though.

Assuming you're in economy I would be looking at the aircraft you'll be on for that route.

A380 - any of them are great, but SIA has a slight edge as they have a larger pitch (space between seats) than UAE. The A380 economy configurations are generally (with the exception of AFR who are all round crap) the widest in the sky, and the aircraft itself is quite, vibration free and generally has the highest passenger satisfaction ratings across the industry.
777 - any operator with a 9 abreast economy configuration, i.e. not UAE. 10 abreast on a 777 is narrow, cramped and uncomfortable. SIA and BAW/CPA have 9 abreast configurations.

Of course, there's also your preference as to where and how to break the flight - I've never done Oz but I've transitted through Dubai and was less than impressed. Changi in Singapore was nicer, but I think the legs to Oz may be more uneven.

Also, UAE and Qantas have all but merged, so QFA also flies through Dubai and their A380 and 777 experience is probably better than UAE. I have no clue about their service levels though.

I used to fly Emirates all the time, but stopped since they joined up with Qantas, as I'm not a fan of them.

We've been on Etihad the last few times and I liked them. They even got the chef in business class to cook my ds some chicken nuggets and chips when they realised our requested child's meal hadn't been loaded on to the flight!! They codeshare with Virgin Australia, and DH likes them because they keep the swearing in the movies....

Cathay is decent via Hong Kong.

I would be hesitant about Etihad. There is a lot online if you dig around, about how poorly they treat their staff. They took out an injunction against a Pilot forum, so no one is allowed to mention the airline at all.

That would put me right off tbh.

I chose emirates last time because I can book through qantas and get points but the service in economy on all the legs was DIRE compared to Singapore or actual Qantas planes... Agree A380 is nice to fly on... Only drawback with Singapore can be weird stop over lengths but you can always get a room in the transit hotel (and that may be different depending on where you are flying from)

God you people are fantastic! I go off and walk the dog (cook dinner, have a wine, etc etc) come back and you supply all the info!

We will be flying from Adelaide so QANTAS/BA are a non starter (thanks to compulsory stop in Melb/Syd, no thanks) so choices are Singers/Malays or Emirates. Emirates have A380s (although the others do too) on at least one leg, and the stopover is only 1-2 hrs rather than hours and hours with the others. But they are more expensive, and YES, we would be flying cattle class

Oh and Cathay although lovely takes too long from where we are. Will take a look at Ethiad, but will be mindful of your post Yorkie.

Has anyone flown Business or First with kids???? really anyone? It would be my dream.

Themummyonthebus - are you in the industry? Who are AFR?

Savoy the thought of a 16 hr flight with no telly to entertain my girls gives me the RAGE!

When we flew with Emirates (aaaages ago) we were right down the back of the plane and aircon or something just dripped on us (me and dh) for the whole flight, and dh's seat was broken, AND I got stopped in Dubai and got taken away to a small room and practically interrogated as I didn't have the right visa in my passport (actually I did) it was a bit scary.

AFR= AirFrance

Anyone but BA
Singapore are my favourite.. Must admit Etihad were ok. Just not as good food, entertainment as sia.
Dm flew Emirates and thought they were just fine.

Singapore every time, I will never fly BA again. We fly business class with kids every year, used to be Singapore to London, now Houston to London, it's the last remaining perk at dh's company. It's really a fantastic way to travel, if you can get over the narky comments about small kids in business class from other passengers as they troop past us down to economy.....

Emirates entertainment system (when working ??) is far by the best out of the lot....particularly for kids. Flying Singapore or Qantas means loading lots on the iPad or portable DVD player, they just don't have all the endless Disney stuff that Emirates does..

The Singapore airlines entertainment system is fantastic! Not sure why you think otherwise. Here's the selection for kids - TV programmes. They also have movies, games... www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/flying-with-us/televisionlanding/youngones/

We fly Emirates when we visit the UK. Don't think the fare is much more than any of the others, and we can avoid Heathrow.

And if you want, there's also premium economy on Singapore airline flights...