Hi

We are looking for some tips about which airline is best for the flights to Brisbane - Do people recomend a stop over as we have 2 small children.

We live near Birmigham

Thanks

Jac

Not sure of which airline to use, we will be using Singapore Airlines to get to Perth.

I strongly advise a stoppover anytime travelling to Oz so that a) you can re-charge your batteries b) its good to see somewhere different which you wouldn't normally travel to and c) it can reduce the jet lag.

Good luck

Warren
Perth 2004..........

Hiya

We fly out on the 31st Oct with a 2.5 year old toddler. Having asked lots of people we opted to do a 2 night stop over in Singapore. We're taking night flights in the hope that he might sleep if we tire him out enough during the day. Wanted to fly from Birm, but the choice was restrictive. Going from Heathrow now with Singapore Airlines who are apparantly very good with small children.

Good luck either way - I'm sure it won't be much of a relaxing, stressfree experience all round

Do a search under airlines, especially Singapore Air, which tends to get best reviews on this site

Hi

pretty much same as above, we are stopping off in Singapore for 3 nights in couple of weeks when we go, gives us a break from everything here to all the stuff to do other side.

Doing 6.30pm flight so works in with sleep pattern....did same last year and it worked really well, recommend Singapore and Emirates both very good with children, can't comment on others as only travelled with them pre children

Teresa

There was a really good thread about this very topic about 2 weeks ago - do a search. You are nuts if you don't have a stopover with 2 young kids! It's a minimum 24-hour trip you know.

Consensus seems to be that Singapore airines rate the best for kids & are among the cheapest. You can get all-inclusive stopovers in singapore from about £20 pp per night - often with free kids. Look on the Singapore airlines website. Quantas also do stopovers but are more expensive. Malaysian will arrange some stops for you, most other airines allow 1 stop or more but you will have to arrange your own accommodation.

Hi Jac

We flew with Singapore Airlines to Perth in April (so a shorter flight than Brisbane!) and opted not to do a stopover. Having seen Singapore already and with three young children (2,4 and 6) in tow, we took a night flight and they slept most of the way. When they weren't asleep they were watching TV (on-demand programmes and films) and playing Nintendo games. We were only going for two and a half weeks and took the view that we just wanted to get there and have more time in Perth. The flight was much better than expected and to be honest I couldn't be bothered with reclaiming all the luggage to do a stopover unless it was for several days. When we go for good and have got a lot more time then maybe we would do a stopover, but didn't feel it was really necessary unless there is somewhere you particularly want to see on the way. How old are your children?

Just make sure that you order kids meals as these were great (although they did come with a lot of sweets!).

Sam

Would certainly recommend Singapore airlines.

I went the non stop route and was OK with it all.
But would think it would be different with little nippers.

My other halfs family just got to the UK and did have a stop over in Singapore but have still suffered with jet lag over the first few days.

TT

I used Emirates in April to get to Perth - Was a visa validation visist so was only there for 2 weeks, hence decided not to stop over.

Flight left Heathrow at 14:00 and arrived in Dubai at 00:10 (uk time 20:00). Had a couple of pints in the Irish bar and then caught the 02:25 (uk time 22:25pm) to Perth. The second leg of the journey which was 10 hours (good tail wind) was effectively though the night so managed to get an hour or so of sleep.

Arrived Perth at 17:50 Perth time - got settled into the house, found a bottle shop - had a few beers - went to bed at about midnight, sleep until i woke the next day and I had not jet lag at all.

The point to the above ramblings is basically to illustrate that the flight times with Emirates to Perth are I believe about the best possible. They also fly from Birmingham at a similar time.

there are 2 flights a day into Brisbane with Singapore Airlines, one lands at about 6:40 am and the second at around 8:15pm.

This gives you the option of having the whole day to check out the new land, or heading off to bed for a good nights sleep first!

Just got back today, and we flew with Singapore Airlines, IMHO they are the best, we flew with 3 young kids they just couldn't do enough for us.

Our 3 are aged 3,6 11 no problems at all, and we were worried like you beforehand but they were absolutely brilliant

I'll be using Qantas from LA to Brisbane via Auckland. I have two small children and I'm seriously hoping they sleep through the whole lot. The flight leaves La at about 10pm, so their bedtime is nigh upon them anyway...

I'll only be doing this once...

Singapore airlines are OK.I have used them several times. They can be a bit cramped.
Of all the major airlines Malaysian and Air New Zealand have the best legroom.
Malaysian service is similar to Singapore and ,on balance, are the best given the extra room. Virgin codeshare with Malaysian on Malaysian planes.
I do not travel with Kids though.

Best wishes

G

Hi

We've made the trip 3 times in 6 months and each time we've went direct from Dublin to sydney with two young kids, 1.5 and 3.5 years old. We travelled with Signapore airlines each time and took night flights out of London (10 pm i think) that gets you into Signapore for about 3pm local time, spent a few hours in the swimming pool in airport, helped to refresh us all and then tired the kids out for the next flight to Sydney at about 9 pm local time. Got into Sydney 7 am local time.

So don't recommend a stop over.

AM

We're off to Brisbane too in August and have a 2 year old boy. Trailfinders are doing deals on Malaysian among others - Malaysian offer a free internal flight to Langkawi/Penang etc. Thought a stopover here would be better than a city destination. Trailfinders also offer discounted hotel accommodation. Mates of mine recommend Malaysian.

Best of luck with your journey.