Booking flights to Australia

fiveub

fiveub

fiveub

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I have never booked flights before myself so far away, so want to make sure I do it right, and get them cheap too. :)

Has anyone booked flights to Australia here and how would you recommend doing it, and got any tips? :)

(Will be a return flight to Melbourne)
 
Personally, I just Googled a random "flight price comparison website" and evaluated my options considering criteria such as:

- how many stops involved (you want as few as possible)
- the length of time between your flight transfers
- time leaving the UK and arriving at Melbourne
- the carrier (I went Emirates and was very happy with them)

Ultimately you don't want to cheap out too much for such a long flight.

Also, don't forget to get your visa online :)

Went to Melbourne to visit my girlfriend who was working at the University for Christmas/New Year a couple of years back - problem was I got stuck in the snow and I only just made it out there in time for Christmas! Luckily Emirates put me up overnight in a lovely hotel in Dubai (all you could eat food too!).
 
snap! I'm doing this as well soon! But not a clue of what or who we are buying with, but the gf has done it before, as have her parents. GF's older sister now lives out in Cairns(free accomodation! :D) But certainly the last couple of times they have flown, they have booked flights direct with Cathy Pacific iirc
 
CaptainRAVE said:
Ultimately you don't want to cheap out too much for such a long flight.
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Can second this, it is definitely worth paying a little extra (within reason of course).

Also worth bearing in mind is stop overs, it obviously depends on how long you will be away for. Stopping off somewhere can be a nice way of breaking up the travel time and seeing somewhere else (it can alter the flight prices a bit too) but you may have fork out for accomodation if you stop for a day or two.
 
My Dad lives over there, so will be staying with him etc, it is mainly the flights I need to sort out. :)

Is a VISA required for a holiday for a couple of weeks?
 
flightcentre are a good option for flights to AUZ. We flew with quantas on the new 380 3 years ago and it blew the 747 away.
 
[TW]Fox;22335877 said:
Use Skyscanner, pick cheapest decent Asian airline.

Emirates, Malaysia or Singapore airlines are the best on that route.
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I found Quantas were really good too.

Use Skyscanner as Fox says. I used STA (student at the time) because they were able to match the internet and took the hassle out of sorting me a visa.
 
Or Cathay Pacific, always fly with them to Hong kong, which is one of the stop over to Australia on some routes, very courteous flight attendance and good In flight entertainment, good leg rooms too.
 
I usually check out 'er:
http://www.kayak.co.uk/
and probably loads of other places too. Avoid Quantas and of course Brit Air if you can; though I have to say in the interestes of cheapness I would fly with most anyone Well perhaps not Air Indian. Some airlines have been known to turn of the air con in the interests of economy - honest injun!! Some of the middle east airlines are trying to carve a market and are good example = Etihad Air Ways. I flew them a few weeks ago when I was given a ticket Business class - out of this World. However, on leaving Sydney whilst waiting on the run way we were forced to return to the Airport building as the Police came aboard and removed someone - this resulted in us not being able to leave that evening as there is a flight ban after about 11pm ish ( Sydney residents complain about the noise) Next day it was a very indifferent - chucked onto a flight with Qantas
visa 'er:
http://www.immi.gov.au/visawizard/#vw=#a_step_1
There should be no probs in respect of a Visa for you. If your Father is an OZ citizen and was so at your birth then you have the right to Oz citizenship If you are under 18 and your Father has acquired OZ citizenship then it may be possible to have you suitably added thereto. Melbourne is a great place in every way - but then it's Gods own country moy oath! and then the Sheilas all that good livin and the sun etc it sure don't do them no harm
Any problems Brad and Don will be on your case check em out here:
http://fosters.co.uk/goodcallcentre
Make sure you have no food with you when going thru customs
 
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Years ago now but i used airline-network think it changed it's name but if you google airline-network the new name will come up. Could also check the bay and the tree you never know.
 
Go speak to Flight Centre, you can generally get a good deal there.

(Family live in Melbourne, done the journey twice in 18 months - once via Doha, once via Singapore).
 
Check with Emirates they tend to have a number of offers out to Austrailia.

I would also suggest a quick look at Trailfinders they are very good as Travel Agents
 
I found Thai airways to be cheapest, but wouldn't advise flying them, I also took a 9hr stop over to knock another ~£100, that wasn't worth it either. The Phuket to Perth flight had no on board entertainment either.

If you can, I would strongly suggest breaking the flights up and having a day or two stop over halfway.

Also know your plans, helps when you get questioned.
Unlike me who didn't know what the hell I was doing, other than meeting a mate at the airport, where you staying = no idea, who you staying with = no idea. Etc.
 
I have heard Emirates are the best, but I guess they are not so cheap?

I need to look around on Skyscanner then and also look into the VISA! Thanks. :)
 
[TW]Fox;22335877 said:
Use Skyscanner, pick cheapest decent Asian airline.

Emirates, Malaysia or Singapore airlines are the best on that route.
Click to expand...

This. They're all very good but Singapore Airlines have always been very, very good to us.

e : ^ Not sure if Emirates are considered the 'best' as I haven't looked at the rankings in 3 years but they're good. I still prefer SA for whatever little that counts.
 
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Aye SA for us also. London Singapore, Singapore Melbourne. Should work well.
Emirates might be wortha look if they fly direct to Melbourne from their halway point, as it splits the times of the flights into closer to half/half.
 
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