betsyboob

Hi all,
Need to book flights to Oz -(Brissy), where can you stop?
We have a 1 yr old and a 3 year old so it might be a good idea to break the journey up?
I think you can stop a Singapore but how many hours in is that and how long is the rest of the journey after that?

Also any ideas on cheapest airfares?

verystormy

There are lots of options. Cathay stop in Hong Kong, Thai stop in Bangkok, Emerites stop in Dubai and Singapore, which might be good as it would give you two breaks. Then of course you can go the other way round via the states which is normally a stop in LA. If you go via Singapore it is about 12.5 hours, similar for Bangers and about 13 to Hong Kong. The advantage of going via the states is that the luggage allowance is a lot more generous at 46Kg per person. Though Singapore Air were doing a offer that people have mentioned on here that if you notify them at time of booking that you are emigrating you can get 40Kg allowance, so you might want to do a search for this in the forum

BrisbaneBound2008

We're flying in May to Brissy, via Singapore with Singapore Airlines. Be careful as most other flights advertised go to either Sydney or Melbourne and you have to change planes there to get to Brisbane. You don't need to change so may times. We fly to Singapore and change planes to go direct to Brisbane. If you want to stop over somewhere with the Kids this is then ideal as you aren't stopping more than you have to.

We did a round the world trip once and vowed not to go near US again so not sure what options you can get going that way as we've never looked - it always seemed a longer way round in my head anyway!

Singapore is a great city, nice and clean, we don't stopover anymore but in the past we've had 2night there to break up the trip and my mum always does a few nights stopover.

To give you an idea our flight will leave Heathrow at 22.15 - arrive singapore 1800 (singapore time) We then leave singapore at 22.10 (singapore time) and arrive in Brisbane at 06.40 (australian time). I let you work out the hours!

Booked our tickets through Trailfinders (always use them!) and they cost £321 each for 2 adults plus taxes so 970.40 in all.

Hope that helps - When are you guys leaving?

Catherine

Buzzy--Bee

We went via Miami, Mexico, LA and Hawaii with two 2-year olds, taking 5 weeks. This was on a Qantas discovery ticket flying BA, AA, Mexicana, AA (again) and Jetstar.

Fantastic time had by all and recommended, plus as previously mentioned you do get the 46kg luggage allowance, which with 4 of you will add up to over 200kg including hand luggage. Actually carrying this amount of stuff is another matter....

Here's the logisitics thread of doing this -

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=463889

Buzzy

railman2404

nice link cheeers

darren k

We go on the 27th to Brisbane via Kuala Lumpa (12 hours) stayin there for 2 nights then on to Brissy (another 9 I think). Cost for 2 adults and 2 children including 4* hotel for 2 nights was £2700
The thing was we wanted to go Dubai and Singapore but couldn't get flight at the end of month due to Chinese new year they said

Funky Monkey

As someone kindly pointed out a while back on here be careful regarding luggage allowances if emmigrating. We go this year but because we validated the visa on a "holiday" we can only take 20 kg's each. You may not be emmigrating but bear it in mind.

Wol

We usually fly via Tokyo. Couple of nights in a clean, comfortable hotel and no hassles.

Kooky.

A huge proportion of Asia moves around for Chinese New Year, Darren. The mainland Chinese go home, other Chinese working away or living elsewhere go home or on holiday, expats take advantage of the public holidays to get away. People book their flights over a year in advance. It gets pretty messy and prices go up ridiculously.

One thing to bear in mind, though, if you are flexible. People in this region tend to book up more than one flight (can do it without paying, through an agent) and only make up their minds immediately prior to ticketing, so some flights do free up nearer the time.

Kuala Lumpur is not a bad option for just a couple of nights anyway. Just keep your hand on your wallet.

WithIce

Singapore breaks up the journey nicely. If your stopover is less than 24 hours consider the transit hotel at Changi airport:

www.airport-hotel.com.sg

A very good option if you don't have much time but want a room to relax in or sleep in. You stay in transit, so don't leave the airport and don't have to go through immigration. Changi airport has lots of facilities:

www.changi.airport.com.sg

If you've got a few days Singapore is a lovely place to visit. Either stay in the Orchard Road area if you want to be near shops and restaurants.

http://www.visitsingapore.com/publis...hard_road.html

Or head to Sentosa Island (about 20/30 mins from the airport), a great beachside option, great for relaxing and for children (wherever you stay make sure its got good a/c).

www.sentosa.com.sg

Its a resort island with several hotels, places to eat, an aquarium, cinema, luge, beaches etc etc. It has free buses around the island and is connected to the rest of singapore via road, monorail or cablecar. Very relaxing and fun way to get over the jetlag!

WithIce x

darren k

Thanks for the advice

LoobyLoo!

We stopped at Bangkok for a couple of days to visit family with our 1 year old and 3 year old. Although Thailand is a lovely country i wouldn't recommend taking little kids there, it isn't very child friendly and the pollution gave the kids terrible coughs and my 1 year old the most awful conjunctivitis

We also had two hour stops in Dubai which turned out to be a 'get off the plane and leg it to the gate just in time' stops due to flights coming in late, still was nice to get change the kids in the gate and freshen up just before setting off again.

On our 1 hour stop in Singapore we didn't bother getting off, the kids were happy to stay on and have a wonder round the plane.

Either way it will all be ok i'm sure.

grahampaula

Hi we flew with emerates and broke the journey up both ways .
we stopped in dubi for 2 hours then on to singapore stayed there for 1 night and then on to brisbane , then on the way back we did it the other way round , its a bit of a slog but worth it. good luck