Hi there
Can anyone suggest the best airline to fly with from UK to Adelaide??
I am looking for the shortest route (in hours) - preferably from Manchester UK to Adelaide. although if we need to travel to London, then so be it!
Would appreciate peoples comments on the service they have received etc etc etc
Thanks!
MrsDF

When we emigrated in 1991 we flew Qantas via Singapore - OK ish - only an hour or so stopover in Singapore - but wouldn't fly with them again by choice.

Last time I did the trip I flew Cathay and loved it - the food was great - the approach over Hong Kong incredible - but there is a 5 - 6 hour stopover there.

My friends flew Malaysian - business class - and thought it was wonderful.

Not much help I know but however you fly it's a bloody long way :lol:

Thanks Wizzywozza!
.....what do you do with yourselves when you have a 5-6 hour stop-over?
I assume you have to 'check out' and then 'check in' again ??
Sorry for sounding so dumb!? but need to know what's involved...certainly do not fancy an overnight stay in singapore, hong kong or such..... just want to get there !!!

There's quite a few shops in HK airport - nice ones too - and I had a 12 year old with me!

It takes a while to transfer levels for the ongoing flight, then we wandered, ate, spent an enormous amount of time changing some pounds to HK dollars, buying a phone card, then trying to work out how to call Oz from a Chinese pay phone with a video touch screen :lol:

Played a lot of cards with my daughter - oh and the loos in HK airport are nice and clean!

If you have more time there between flights you can go into HK but I think you have to pay an airport tax then - it was about $50 each I think but that was in 1999, and we didn't have enough time to justify going into HK - am gonna have a holiday there sometime I hope.

Hi,

When I've visited Adelaide I've gone with Singapore airlines, can't fault them on anything.

My route from Manchester to Adelaide has involved a long wait in Singapore airport (Changi) though - from around 8.30am till 11pm. You can book a room in the transit hotel for as long as you want, to sleep and rest, and go on the 2 hour free city bus tour, but unless you actually book a stopover in an outside hotel, you are classed as being in transit and don't leave the airport (apart from the city tour). There are lots of shops in the airport too so you can pass the time fairly easily.

I've done a stopover on the way back and found it a good way to break the journey, but you do have to take your luggage on the bus to and from your hotel whereas you don't get it back until Adelaide if you're a transit passenger at Singapore.

Elaine M

Just on a side note - my parents flew Singapore when they visited in 1993 - flight and airline excellent..... BUT...... my mother had her handbag stolen in Singapore airport with all their cash, travellers cheques, tickets, jewellery, passports, medications etc etc in there. It was a nightmare to sort out when they finally got here - starting with immigration at Adelaide airport - also the Singaporean police were next to useless, and it took about a week of their holiday and numerous phone calls to sort it all out here and about 6 months when they went back to the UK. My mum has never got over it.

Thanks for all the info !!

We used a company called EXPEDIA on the net and they were the dogs do dahs.They were cheaper than booking direct and there phone assistance afterwards was superb,plus they list all available and the times they take.Highly recommend them.We flew with singapore and they were v.good also,free g'n't's for 19hrs helped.And dont forget the rooftop pool in singapore airport if you stop there for a couple of hours,very nice after 13hrs onthe plane even at night.



DAZ medium 103

Travelbag is an Oz travel specialist, you could do worse than ask them. When I worked for a conference travel company they used them all the time, as have we on 2 occasions now and been happy with their service.

Also, since it's going to take some time for your stuff to arrive out here (presuming you are talking about your final emigration rather than a validation trip) then you might consider stopping over for a few days somewhere - our logic was that since we were flying over these places, it was cheaper than paying for a separate visit some other time and we stopped in the US for Disneyland, then Fiji for a week!

Elaine

hi we travelled from manchester to adelaide last year in july via kuala lumpar (i dont think that's spelt right :huh: ) with malaysian airlines they were really great with the kids gave them a goody bag etc we spent the day in kl shopping as the kids were too tired to travel far, this time weve booked with singapore airlines but we are spending a couple of days there to avoid all the jet lag the tourist board in conjunction with the airline do a special stopover package which is cheap and includes transfers and hotel room with both these airlines you dont have to go via london so its only one stop and your in adelaide :dancing dog:

Thanks for all the feedback.
So, it looks like Singapore Airlines are good, Malaysian OK.
Has anyone got any comments (good and bad please!) on Qantas, Emirates and/or Cathay Pacific.???????

Hello - check out the FAQ section as there is 2 topics about flights, one is called flight costs but gives you some details about airlines etc, the other if flying via singapore and tells you what you can do during your stop over.

Sasha :)

We were very happy with our Qantas/BA trip - plenty of tv/games in the back of the headrests and things like that to keep the kids occupied!

Elaine

We have flown on Singapore, Malaysian and Qantas/BA and liked them all!! I have to say though, despite their planes being older and less up-to-the-minute technology-wise (i.e. tv screens not in headrests!) I preferred Qantas to the others. We flew with them when Megan was just a baby and they were soooooo helpful!! You usually find that the Qantas/BA flights are more expensive, although they will often include some 'free' internal flights which is good.

I fly back to the UK on Tuesday with Malaysian. It will be interesting to see how much easier it is without the kids in tow!!

Julia

Just read Elaine's posting - guess they've updated their fleet now!

We flew with Malaysian a couple of years ago to Sydney....the plane/food etc was good but most of the staff were very rude, I got run over by a trolley whilst queueing for the toilets and got some verbal abuse for being in the way!!!! Also, there isn't a great deal to do in Kuala Lumpar airport except for run away from the annoying perfume people who are trying to sell you goods that are more expensive than in the high street in the UK.....mind you we were there both times at night, apparently during the day there is some sort of TV show that you can get yourself on and win some prizes!!!! Next week we are flying with Singapore, the airport looks unbelievable, and I've only heard excellent reports about the airline...

Stayed in Bali for 3 days 2 nights, great time, broke the journey really good.

Steve and Lynsie B)

Thanks guys!
I guess I will just wait til I know when I am going and go with the best option available at the time !!
(cheapest/shortest route!!)

Hi - I have flown with Malaysian, Qantas and Singapore airlines. If you Fly Qantas you might end up on a BA flight as they are twinned. I flew Qantas for the safety aspect at first but found myself on a doddery BA Plane :-(

Malaysian airlines are great. We emigrated with Singapore airlines in 1989 and that was great. I would say that it would be between Malaysian and Singapore airlines. I really like Kuala Lumpur airport so they would be my first choice.

We have kiddies so we chose Singapore as they have a Childrens playground type thing at the airport so they can play for a while after wandering about the duty free.

We booked with LEES Travel:

http://www.leestravel.com

John B - Cordi's Pappa Guiseppe (he he he)
Amanda's Hubby

I have just got back from Adelaide and flew with Singapore Airlines.

I have nothing but praise for the airline. Modern planes with plenty of leg room. The food was excellent and the crew were forever coming round with drinks, hot towels etc. Also the entertainment system was superb. Loads of new movies which you could start at any time and pause whilst you 'powdered your nose'. They also had nintendo games which helped to keep the kids on the flight amused.

The only thing I would say is do have a stopover. The journey in one go is just too knackering.

All the Very Best
Steve

Wow Steve - were you flying first class? You only get Nintendo on BA if you're first class - and you have to take the films when they offer them, you can't start them when you want.

Elaine

[Wow Steve - were you flying first class? You only get Nintendo on BA if you're first class - and you have to take the films when they offer them, you can't start them when you want.

Elaine]

If only Elaine!!!!!!!!

No the services were available to us mere mortals who have to go economy. I believe if you fly first class then they actually have a chef to cook your meals in situ.

Steve :spin:

Hi All
We have just returned from validating and we flew with Singapore. They actually worked out cheaper than nearly all the others and i can't find a fault with them. We travelled with out 5month old son, got a sky cot and they really looked after us. I would agree about the stopover, we was dead on our feet after getting back.

Matty D

Matty I have to ask what is a sky cot? I understand that it is a cot but how does that work on a plane are they strapped up to the hand luggage compartments? :o

Sasha :)

You sad, Welsh bint!! 'Course they're not up with the hand luggage - though not a bad idea! :lol:

The cot is attached to the bulk head wall - so you don't have a row of seats in front of you, but if you're tall the cot almost sits on your knees! And if it's bumpy you have to wake the baby up and strap them on to your lap. <_< That said, much preferable to a seat with a littley - unfortunately they said Katy was too old to have one. :angry: Still, won't be a worry for me when I fly back to the UK ALONE tomorrow!! :bouncing smiles:

Tomorrow is it Julia? Happy flying! It was good meeting up with you last week. Won't be long now before you're here for good!!!

Elaine

Aye that be true my lovely! :lol: I hope the flight goes well for you and there is loads of turbulance! :lol:

I'll speak to you when you get back you Essex girlie! <_< Have a good flight and safe journey - the plan didn't work then to stay out there longer!! Couldn't you have fobbed them off for a bit longer?

Sasha :)

All good things must come to an end...................but back in November!!! :thumbs up:

On the subject of flights how did people find the various airlines when it comes to leg room? Are there any that are better than others or are they all pretty much the same.

Sasha :)

Hi Sasha,

The last time we went to Oz for a holiday, we flew with Singapore Airlines. We found the leg room very good, better that others that we have used on long haul flights. The service was brilliant too.

It seems that others agree with me on that. We also enjoyed looking around
Changi Airport (Singapore) it's beautiful! We will be flying with them again in October and as we will have nearly nine hours there, we will probably book a room in the transit hotel so that we can have a shower and maybe a sleep!

Our son and dil flew Malaysia and reckon that was brilliant too!

:medium smiley:

Malaysia has the most legroom - in economy.

Is that really possible Ann - an airport that can be described as 'beautiful' - sounds like a contradiction in terms to me :happy25:

Elaine

I guess I must be a 'sad' old thing Elaine, I just love airports. :loopy:

Changi is particulary beautiful with the lovely koi ponds and gardens especially the orchids garden Not to mention the shops, restaurants, hairdressers, movie theatres - lots of fun for the children and swimming pool and Jacuzzi etc. Plus of course, the transit Hotel, and massage, fitness centre etc etc......

To me the holiday has started when I get rid of my cases! Also, I think a lot of countries could learn from Singapore! For a start the toilets are lovely and I can't say the same about some I visited in Gatwick Airport recently! :medium smiley:

Koi ponds and gardens with orchids... now I'm inclined to agree with you!

We once had a laugh at Iceland's Keflavik airport - hung in the rafters is a little one-man plane, apparently the only plane ever built there :D

Elaine

this is for you sas and brooky

:thumbs up:
kev