Sorry I always seem to ask questions on this site and never answer them, but I'm having a bit of trouble booking our one way travel out to Melbourne. I want to fly with Emirates and stop in Dubai and Singapore on the way, but no tour operators seem to want to know about one-way travel. I've tried Travelbag and Kuoni but am getting nowhere. Any suggestions really appreciated.
Kim.

Try

www.austravel.co.uk
www.statravel.co.uk
www.leestravel.co.uk
www.travelocity.co.uk

for a start.

I know Austravel do as I have spoke to them already for when I go.

also try
http://www.kangarooclub.co.uk/
http://www.airline-network.co.uk/
good luck

I work for Kuoni!! If you want to fly with Emirates you would only be able to stop in Dubai as that is their hub. Tour operators only sell package round trip tours thats why we couldnt help. The contracts the airlines give us are VERY srict and stipulate this! If you really want to do Dubai AND Singapore the you could buy a one way LHR-DXB-SIN ticket and then a full fare SIN-MEL with Singapore AIrlines or Quantas...this will be expensive but is probably the only way you could do it! Hope this helps....feel free to email me for advice!

Lucy
x

We used an independant travel operator, Travel Connection, in Chester. They booked us one way flights directly with the airline of our choice and then booked various hotels from tour operators (Travel 2 as it happens).

Try contacting a small local independant agent and explaining exactly waht it is you want. We've found they're generally more knowledgable than the big operators and will do whatever it takes to tailor your package.

www.expedia.co.uk

ALthough we didn't stop over, we flew London-Dubai-Singapore-Brissie last November and there were definitely people getting out at both stops.

As an aside, we had a terrible time on Emirates and would never fly with them again

Bundy

Do share your nightmare with Emirates (if you dont mind of course), I am looking at booking flights soon and so an insight into what I may expect would be good.

Well, the main one is that they left our luggage sitting on the runway at Dubai for a day on our way home. Apparently this is not an uncommon occurence, particularly on the Brisbane route. One guy we were talking to at the lost luggage desk at Gatwick had had his and all his family's luggage lost on the way out and on the way back, which beggars belief. Emirates were totally unhelpful in reuniting us all with our luggage (there were about 30 of us in all) - they simply didn't care, no word of apology. To make it worse, they knew as soon as we had taken off from Dubai that all our luggage was still on the runway, but they didn't have the sense to send an Emirates rep to meet us at baggage collection so we all had to go through that horrible feeling of watching the carousel go round without your bags appearing. It's never happened to me before and I've flown all round the world.

In addition to that, there were other niggles - the seats were really uncomfortable. One reason we picked Emirates was because of the seat pitch (I'm quite tall and have abnormally long thigh bones!). Although there was just enough legroom, the seats have this wierd attempt at lumbar support which actually makes the whole thing really uncomfortable. There might be less legroom on BA/Qantas, but the seats were more comfortable.

The food wasn't great either and they ran out of beer, which upset Mr B greatly!

Being a middle eastern airline you get all the annoucements in a number of languages which is fine and to be expected, of course, but it does grate a little by the end

Didn't find the steward/esses particularly welcoming - for instance, they wouldn't hand out water in the middle of the night.

The projection equipment on part of our flight wasn't working either, which didn't help - needed our entertainment!

And everything is pastel coloured! It was like a bad Laura Ashley nightmare!

All in all, the flight was okay, but not fantastic. And the luggage thing sealed Emirate's fate with us. I had to go to my brother's 21st birthday party (which we'd specially arranged to come back in time for) wearing a bikini for underwear and all my mum's clothes!

That was certainly more comprehensive than I expected. thanks for sharing Bundy, emirates will be off the list me thinks.

I wouldnt be able to wear my mums clothes and so I would def. not be able to risk my luggage going missing.

LOL! It was a nightmare by all accounts. Not sure how they secured their award winning status. It's not just me, by the way, I've heard complaints from others too.

To add insult to injury, we sent them a letter saying we were none too pleased with their service and we've never even had a reply. Total lack of customer service.

However, I appreciate that we had a bad experience and that others may have found Emirates faultless. So it's just our opinion, but we'll not be flying with them again!

Those that do fly with Emirates, take plently of spare clothes in your hand luggage to avoid this kind of thing! The clothes I had with me didn't last me the 3 days it took to get our luggage back. Oh, and if you do lose your luggage and live more than 100 miles from the aiport, you have to pay to have it couriered to you.

Nobody's mentioned going direct to Emirates. I've seen this flight on their site in the past.

Like Bundy, I wouldn't go direct to Emirates if you paid me. Lousy service from cabin crew and ground staff, both in London and Dubai. I got stuck in Dubai overnight, travelling alone, cos the plane had a tech problem, but we had no info, no food, no drinks, and nowhere to sit - 10 hours of it. Worst bit was the way the Arabs kept eyeing me up as a white woman travelling alone. I felt very uncomfortable. No help from the staff to phone ahead and say we were delayed - they just weren't interested....though they helped the Arabic guys in the line behind me.
Also no water service, nothing between meals unless you went to the galley and insisted.

Wouldn't fly with them again unless it was the last seat going - and then I'd have to think hard. I complained to the airline too, Bundy, never even got an acknowledgment.

Bloody hell!!
Mine wasn't a recommendation, although I know a guy who knows the guy who runs emirates () and was hoping for an upgrade when we go. Sounds like it might not be worth it if your experiences are typical

It is most def not worth it. I have flown dozens of different airlines, and I have to say that BA are def the best so bite the bullet and book with them! Great inflight entz and if you can afford world traveller plus, go for it!
Lucy