Re: Business Class
 

When we flew to Oz last year for a holiday we flew with Malaysian Airlines and I would thoroughly recommend them. Good food, good telly and excellent stewards. We have two children, at the time of the holiday they were 4 and 2 1/2 and it was the first time they had ever flown before.

The stewards talked to them as if they were real people and not just a pain in the ass (as so many people think kids are), they gave them colouring books, jigsaw puzzles and cuddle toys. And their meals were really good too, in fact it is the only time I have ever seen my daughter eat pasta!!

My daughter was awake the whole way to Oz, so therefore I was awake also. The children were very good and I was amazed this being their first trip on a plane.

One thing I will say. You can't request the seats by the doors, as children aren't allowed to sit there. We tried to book those seats and that's what we were told. Also bulkhead and the sky cots are only allowed to be used by children under 1 years old. It might be different for different airlines but that's what I was told at Malaysian Airlines.

As for flying First or Business class then go for it, I say. If I could afford it I'd do it!!

Re: Business Class
 

hahaha!! this made me laugh out loud!

We have flown business class with Air France, and it was a load of crap, we were so exicted as it was being paid for us and we were moving to a new country thinking it would be a great start. So we sat down, the plane took off, the tv's didn't work, I was gutted, a 15 hour flight with no tv. The food was awful, and the flight attendants were snotty bi*tches. We even had to get our own drinks etc from the galley as they couldn't be arsed to serve any drinks mid flight. A total disappointment. But anyway, seeing as Air France is not in the running, if you can afford to fly biz class with Singapore Airlines/Quantas etc, do it. Then you won't be wondering what is like whilst sat in economy and wishing you'd treated yourselves.

Re: Business Class
 

Im contemplating whether I should spend 2K that I made from selling a website and upgrade myself to business :p or 1st... I think its worth it... seeing all the lounges, short queues, just general better service is great... pamper yourself everyonce and a while :D

Re: Business Class
 

Fully concur on Malaysia, used them last time, probably the best cabin service we've experienced. I've found all airlines are pretty good with children. Bulkhead seats don't go to those with children, handicapped, elderly etc. The obvious reasoning is these persons may be an obstacle during an evacuation. If you want the bulkhead seats don't pretend to have a 'gammy' leg or something like that.

Children are like teenagers and adults alike - some can be pains, some aren't. :D Invariably with children (as with pets) they are quite often a reflection on the way they have been brought up/trained.

OzTennis :)

Re: Business Class
 

So are you gonna go for Business/First or stick with cattle class? :)

Re: Business Class
 

cutting but very very true

Re: Business Class
 

I may as well put my penny worth in ;)

We flew Business to Brisbane with Emirates last year and from our point of view it was worth it!

We didn't have long to spend on 'holiday' so it was important for us to get there as quickly as possible without any stopovers. We flew non stop virtually (1 1/2 in Dubai to change planes and 1/2 hour Singapore to refuel) and found the journey to be a total doddle.

Took and evening flight to Dubai which arrived in the morning (had a good sleep on flight)
Took daytime flight to Singapore which arrived at night I think (I get a bit confused with the time difference!) Stayed awake for flight
Took evening flight to Brisbane which arrived in the morning - slept on the flight.

We didn't get any jet lag whatsoever and the kids had a fabulous time too, although they are older than yours at 11.

For us it was a case of spending all that money and only being in Australia for just over a week and a half - or spend a bit more and get a full 2 1/2 or 3 weeks to check the place out. Stopovers add to the cost also depending on where and for how long you stay somewhere.

There you go, whatever you do.......just enjoy it.......you're make a new life :)

Cheers
Cheri x

Re: Business Class
 

We flew Cathay and signed up for the Marco Polo club before joining. On eight flights with them we've never had to queue for check-in. We've been invited into the lounge on several legs and have clocked up a lot of air miles. The service is superb (they just got voted airline of the year for the second year running) - no worse than you'll experience in club. In club you basically pay a lot of extra money for a bit more sitting down space - everything else is just ephemeral. I tend to spend most of my flights standing up anyway :)

Re: Business Class
 

Having just flown to UK and now back to Oz in the course of 10 days, I would say business class is worth it. I arrived back Tues night and was at work Weds am, feeling fine. Slept a fair bit, was very comfortable as the seats recline a good way- although the leg from London to Sing was far better (with Skybeds) than the Sing Melb leg where the plane was quite old and ratty.

Sing Airlines was not bad and service was ace....definitely worth asking to go 'upstairs' if it is a megatop, as it is a lot quieter and fewer passenger to crew ratio!
(I have to say my employer paid for it, but it will make going back to cattle class very hard!)

Re: Business Class
 

My sister flew to see me in business with China Air with her one year old - lots more space and hugely more comfortable than economy.
You don't get the fully flat beds that you get with Qantas or BA but you do get more space and good service and just a generally better flight. China Air Business wasn't that much more expensive than an economy flight with BA

Re: Business Class
 

Yes we went Business Class as I was 28 weeks pregnant and Littlen was 17 months old. He still just about fitted in the Bassinet and he slept 10 hours of the flight to Singapore. I advise medicine and a night flight :p

He slept all the way from Singapore to Perth.

We worried about the money but are glad we did it. Only problem now is that we can't see travelling any other way (unless we were on our own) :rolleyes:

Oh and we also slept for 10 hours (Qantas flat beds) so in our minds we paid for the flight to be over with as quickly as possible.

Re: Business Class
 

We flew business class with Gulf Air Christmas 2004. The tickets cost exactly the same as a BA economy was. The service was okay, not amazing, but the extra room was well worth it and i believe that since then they have introduced flat beds too. The food was MUCH better than economy. We joined their frequent flyer program and in the one journey eared enough points to get a free flight each to Bahrain, and, as frequent fliers (and even though it was our first flight) we got upgraded to first class on the london to Bahrain leg of our Aus flight. For me it was well worth it.

Re: Business Class
 

China Eastern has bigger seats in Economy too, no need for business class. Just be prepared to have weird announcements in Chinglish and weird food served [a bun with chocolate in the middle, that kind of thing]. I always fly China Eastern to Oz from here, its cheap as chips.
Back to the topic though.

Re: Business Class
 

good luck - a recent trip from beijing sat next to a patent lawyer on a china eastern flight he pointed out that they estimate 20% of the parts on a chinese plane are fake.

Re: Business Class
 

:scared: How do Boeing or Airbus let them get away with it? Their ass is in a sling just as much as the airline if something goes wrong.