NELBHOY

Are there any regular fliers out there that know when flights to OZ are at there quietest i.e. least busy? Looking to validate early to mid next year and leaving from LHR. Cheers.

Pollyana

February is often not too bad - kids are at school in both countries

moneypenny20

But that tends to be when the older travellers come over, main heat is over and not many kids about

JAJ

When demand is lower, airlines usually cut prices to fill the aircraft. There is no guaranteed way to get an "empty" flight.

moneypenny20

Unless you're John Travolta of course

lapin_windstar

I don't think it ever really gets quiet because even when it's "quiet" in the UK or Australia, there's usually something happening in/near the stopover cities that keeps those sectors busy. Basically anything happening anywhere outside the Americas is going to impact London-Sydney because all the planes go through Europe, the Middle East or Southeast Asia, and Australiasia. The prices via China and the US will also affect pricing on the other routes. December and January is obviously brutal though.

NELBHOY

Thanks guys. Makes sense about February. We're trying to get out on my wife's BA staff travel tickets (she's classed as retired staff, she is only 40) The priority is low so it's a case of getting on if seats are available
If flght is busy we'll be sleeping in Hatton cross tube station

Alfresco

And it won't be warm in February. Good luck!

goldchoccycoin

Can recommend Jury's Inn Heathrow only 200m from Hatton Cross Station if in dire straits! Only 49 quid for a double room 3 weeks ago!

sassie

I hope you have more luck than we did a few years ago. It took us 5 days to get on a flight and we had fairly high priority. Luckily we lived fairly close to the airport. Like my partner, who is now also classed as "retired staff', she should be able to logon to the BA website and check loads, etc.

Also be prepared to be bumped off at Singapore or Bangkok. Thats also happened to us a couple of times. I guess its the price you pay for using staff travel!

NickyC

I can see nothing's changed much then.

When I first arrived in Australia 30 years ago I came on a (slightly iffy) staff travel ticket with BA. It took me four days to get on a flight and I was worried sick I'd get offloaded in Bombay or somewhere similarly ghastly. I only risked it because the cost to me was 36 pounds - instead of the 360 pounds for a full fare which was an absolute fortune back then.

NELBHOY

It's swings & roundabouts with staff travel I find. We flew out to OZ on staff travel 6 times & only got bumped off once at Bangkok, although it was for 2 days!! Lucky enough to get Club seats most of the time as it was usually on my priority, which was higher than my OH.
It's funny, you can always spot staff among passengers in the departure lounge. They always look worried
Don't miss trying to get a shuttle from GLA to LHR though

martin102

Fly on 11th September as long as your not superstitious. We flew then and the plane was nearly empty.

Wol

Christmas day is always very light - but not in your timeframe!