Flying to Australia?

helpimcrap · 25 May 2014 at 11:50

Hi guys, tried researching this but struggling as it won't be through a holiday company. I'll be flying there and dossing on a mates couch for couple of weeks.

Never flown outside Europe before so couple of questions.

Do i need some kind of visa or is a return flight ticket sufficient?

In terms of insurance I'm guessing it's not E111 form but proper insurance?

Is there anything else I am completely overlooking?

Doggie2k · 25 May 2014 at 12:00

You will need to apply for visitors visa on the Aussie immigration website, don't think you have to pay. It's kind of like a USA esta entry clearance thing.

Insurance is a smart thing to get, our health systems are reciprocal though but still get insurance.

Lastly have fun down here :-)

Glaucus · 25 May 2014 at 12:03

Banks often have travel insurance if you do their premium banking. Otherwise it's fairly cheap. As long as you aren't planning to do skiing, scuba diving etc. those sorts of things bump the price up.

http://www.immi.gov.au/Visas/Pages/651.aspx

I strongly advise a day or two stop off each way. I don't mind long plane journeys, but that really did my head in. if I did it again I would do Dubai and Phuket(their are other options), ~2 days at each, either way. Oh and don't save money by long stop overs in airports, I also regretted that massively to save £100 or so.

JBuk · 25 May 2014 at 12:31

As already mentioned a stopover each way is something worth considering, I've been to aus and nz 3 times , the last time I did no stopover on the way there and I regretted it

Places worth a day or two stopover - Bangkok , Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, hongkong, Dubai

Glaucus · 25 May 2014 at 12:33

Awesome didn't realise Kuala lumped was on the main routes.
I need to get back out there. Need to do middle and east side.

[TW]Fox · 25 May 2014 at 13:38

Glaucus said:
Banks often have travel insurance if you do their premium banking. Otherwise it's fairly cheap. As long as you aren't planning to do skiing, scuba diving etc. those sorts of things bump the price up.

http://www.immi.gov.au/Visas/Pages/651.aspx

I strongly advise a day or two stop off each way. I don't mind long plane journeys, but that really did my head in. if I did it again I would do Dubai and Phuket(their are other options), ~2 days at each, either way. Oh and don't save money by long stop overs in airports, I also regretted that massively to save £100 or so.

Phuket would be a stupid place to stopover on the way to Australia, it isn't a change point for any major carrier on this route therefore would require faffing around with random itineraries and extra flights, as part of a twin centre holiday sure but for a stopover? What a strange suggestion. Plus 2 days at each each way, given you'll want to maximise your time in Australia around annual leave requirements etc 8 days worth of stopovers is quite lol.

A stopover in general is very sensible but keep it to a location where you'd change planes - so Dubai, Singapore, HK, etc.

OhEsEcks · 25 May 2014 at 13:47

That's what my brother does when he comes home. Think it's a 12 hour stop or something in Dubai he said the last time he was here. He hates the flight, he hates Dubai too, but says he's glad just to get off the plane and get a proper bed for a few hours before going on.

Glaucus · 25 May 2014 at 13:48

[TW]Fox;26353335 said:
Phuket would be a stupid place to stopover on the way to Australia, it isn't a change point for any major carrier on this route therefore would require faffing around with random itineraries and extra flights, as part of a twin centre holiday sure but for a stopover? What a strange suggestion. Plus 2 days at each each way, given you'll want to maximise your time in Australia around annual leave requirements etc 8 days worth of stopovers is quite lol.

A stopover in general is very sensible but keep it to a location where you'd change planes - so Dubai, Singapore, HK, etc.

It's the stop over for Thai airline, and was my change over for both flights. How is it 8 days? Not much point stopping for 16hrs. Australia you want to take a lot of AL for anyway. Found managers are fine as long as you give them long notice, like over a year, although will depend on your job.

Rotty · 25 May 2014 at 14:04

Glaucus said:
It's the stop over for Thai airline, and was my change over for both flights. How is it 8 days? Not much point stopping for 16hrs.

you sure?

wouldn't you have to go

UK - Bangkok - Phuket - Bangkok - Aus ?

Glaucus · 25 May 2014 at 14:06

Rotty said:
you sure?

wouldn't you have to go

UK - Bangkok - Phuket - Bangkok - Aus ?

Not when I went

Uk - Phuket - aus.

Probably depends where you're flying to, Australia is a massive place. I went to Perth.

Edit - actually you got me thinking, did I have another stop?
Yep, I'm wrong, Thai airline is indeed Bangkok. I must have done. Perth, Phuket. Bangkok, uk.

[TW]Fox · 25 May 2014 at 14:07

Glaucus said:
It's the stop over for Thai airline, and was my change over for both flights.

No it's not, not unless you concoct some bizarre itinerary. That require changing planes twice, why would you do that? The Bangkok to Phuket leg is pointless, Thai fly direct from Bangkok to Australia!

How is it 8 days?

You said you would do Dubai *and* Phuket '2 days in each, each way'. It's impossible to fly from London to Australia only via Phuket, so you must mean Dubai and Phuket both ways, 2x2 = 4, x2 = 8?

Or is this just another 'what on earth is Glacaus talking about today' post

[TW]Fox · 25 May 2014 at 14:08

Glaucus said:
Edit - actually you got me thinking, did I have another stop?

You must have done!

Glaucus · 25 May 2014 at 14:10

[TW]Fox;26353489 said:
You said you would do Dubai *and* Phuket '2 days in each, each way'. It's impossible to fly from London to Australia only via Phuket, so you must mean Dubai and Phuket both ways, 2x2 = 4, x2 = 8?

Or is this just another 'what on earth is Glacaus talking about today' post

Come on, isn't it obvious. one, one way and one the other.

Caged · 25 May 2014 at 14:13

To be fair I read it exactly the same as [TW]Fox did - two days at each place, each way.

Glaucus · 25 May 2014 at 14:14

Caged said:
To be fair I read it exactly the same as [TW]Fox did - two days at each place, each way.

I agree that would be mad, not what I meant though.

[TW]Fox · 25 May 2014 at 14:17

Glaucus said:
I agree that would be mad, not what I meant though.

But you can't go from the UK to Australia only via Phuket! Nobody flies to Phuket direct from London

Come on, isn't it obvious.

No, it's not, for the reason given above. Phuket would mandate a 2 stop itinerary at the very least, probably 3 stop although there are direct flights from Phuket to Australia they are likely not available on a codeshare from London.

Glaucus · 25 May 2014 at 14:18

[TW]Fox;26353526 said:
But you can't go from the UK to Australia only via Phuket! Nobody flies to Phuket direct from London
.

Already said that I must have got that wrong.
Lets get this thread back on topic.

Tomsk · 25 May 2014 at 14:56

The passanger card
http://www.immi.gov.au/managing-australias-borders/border-security/travel/passenger-cards/

If in doubt about anything you're taking into Australia tick the yes box.
I ticked the dairy box, for a few bars chocolate I was taking over for friends. Customs guy asked me what I had and waved me through.

Tomsk · 25 May 2014 at 15:05

When are you going?
Australia's seasons are reversed compared to the UK. It's autumn there now and will soon be winter.
I was around Melbourne from 15th March and most of the tourist attractions had shut down.

[TW]Fox · 25 May 2014 at 15:27

I went in June and July so mid winter and never found stuff closed.