Etihad/Emirates/Singapore/Malaysia

[Norfolkit]

Just about to book some flights out to Oz (Brisbane) at the end of September and these four come out the cheapest and all the timings are OK with Malaysia being the best fit. Never travelled with any of them (only used Qantas to go out there). Any personal recommendations?

[Matt..]

Singapore were very good for my trip to australia and are probably one of the best airlines for that route.

http://www.airlinequality.com/
There are reviews on that site.

[Puggit]

Singapore and Emirates are likely to get you on an A380 if that's important to you.

[GWC]

I flew with Malaysia airlines to Australia a few years back and they were very good and excellent value, the main reason we flew with them was that in economy they had 2 inches more leg room than any other airline on that route at the time.

[Ynox]

Go for Singapore / Malaysia.

Otherwise you'll have a 6 hour then a 16+ hour flight. At least Singapore / KL are more half wayish.

[Jackleman]

Singapore is a 5 star airline, don't think the others are.

[Vanessa B]

I have flown with Singapore once, in 2009, which was great because it was on the A380 and the service was very good. However I usually use Malaysia (in Economy Class)and have been very happy with them every time. I have used Etihad once and the crew were ok but I wasn't overly impressed also I hated Abu Dhabi airport for the stopover, KL and Changi are so much better if you are going to have to hang around an airport for a few hours.

[Mr Pointy]

Singapore Airlines in economy is ok but no longer light years ahead of the rest. On a flight that long I suggest the seat is one of the most important factors & the Malaysian Seat pitch looks to be a bit longer than that on Singapore, although possibly the seats are narrower. This site has details of every seat on each type of aircraft so when you know which type the route uses you can compare:

http://www.seatguru.com

If you travel on the A380 I suggest you sit upstairs as it's less crowded with a 2-4-2 seat arrangement as opposed to 3-4-3 downstairs. Although the aircraft is large you have no idea when you are inside as it's broken up by the bulkheads & the seat pitch is frankly not generous. It is a very quiet aircraft though. There are some seats with more legroom (Preferred Seats) & you can book these for £30 per seat per leg.

I've never flown via Malaysia but it's possible you could get a shower at Changi which is a major boost after 13 hours cooped up & another 10 or so to come. Most Singapore tickets allow you to stopover so you could even spend a night in Singapore.

[Norfolkit]

Thanks for the replies folks. One of the reasons I want to fly via Singapore is the roof top bar, Nice to actually get outside and get some honest to God fresh air while in transit, nice to get real air and that lovely humid warmth after 12 hours of recycled crap.

SIA it is then, although that gives me a 10 hour layover at Changi.

[anonymous-user]

Malaysia is a great airline and Kl is a good airport to transit in as it is much quiter than Sing, for me as I have a history with my heart (and in view of their treatment of the guy who had aheart attack a few months ago) I have instructed my agent not to even look at Sing as a carrier for me in the future, I also don't like transit in the middle east airports as the security checks to reboard are very time consuming with long lines of people and run by nasty liitle minded security people, even worse than heathrow..

[Norfolkit]

Is there something like the Changi rooftop bar in KL, it is nice to be able to get outside

[XJSJohn]

Personally, SIA or MAS all the way!

Changi Airport is hardly a crowded place either, and if flying SIA you will go through T3 which is the nice new one!

Can also do one or 2 day transit city breaks in SIngapore where SIA offer you some very good discounts on hotels etc i believe! Also useful for adjusting to the jet lag!

[anonymous-user]

There is no outside bar at KL, just the indood jungle, which is a couple of trees in the center, it is just easy to transit, as it is just not busy, there is nothing special, it is also a long way from the city unless you are overnighting. never been to T3 at Sing, as I say I think Sing treatment of the guy who was ill on the way to London was awfull soo they are out for me, but if John says T3 is Ok then I' sure it is.

[Mark.H]

Jackleman said:

Singapore is a 5 star airline, don't think the others are.

Qatar airways make the same claim too and they are ste compared to Emirates/Etihad...Id go for Emirates/Etihad for the following reasons

unlimited free booze in any class
seats no worse than anyone elses with a bit more leg room
touch screen tv in the chair infront with every box office film on board
all of series like friends,simpsons etc
all uk nr1 songs since the beatles
cracking food

[Matt..]

I think this thread should you can't really go wrong with any of these airlines. If only the airlines that went to the US were as good as the ones on this route!

[Jackleman]

Mark.H said:

Qatar airways make the same claim too and they are ste compared to Emirates/Etihad...Id go for Emirates/Etihad for the following reasons

unlimited free booze in any class
seats no worse than anyone elses with a bit more leg room
touch screen tv in the chair infront with every box office film on board
all of series like friends,simpsons etc
all uk nr1 songs since the beatles
cracking food

It is isn't a claim, it is an industry award that is given to the airline.

I have flown with Qatar 3 times now, once to Nepal and twice to Bangkok. The flights to Nepal (12 years ago) was not so great, but the two trips to Bangkok have been sublime with everything you have mentioned in your list above.

[XJSJohn]

Matt.. said:

I think this thread should you can't really go wrong with any of these airlines. If only the airlines that went to the US were as good as the ones on this route!

Funny, i find the carriers that primarily serve the Europe / US routes to be significantly worse than the Middle Eastern / Asian airlines.

[Puggit]

XJSJohn said:

Matt.. said:

I think this thread should you can't really go wrong with any of these airlines. If only the airlines that went to the US were as good as the ones on this route!

Funny, i find the carriers that primarily serve the Europe / US routes to be significantly worse than the Middle Eastern / Asian airlines.

I'm wondering whether to stick the WHOOOSH parrot in?

[XJSJohn]

Puggit said:

XJSJohn said:

Matt.. said:

I think this thread should you can't really go wrong with any of these airlines. If only the airlines that went to the US were as good as the ones on this route!

Funny, i find the carriers that primarily serve the Europe / US routes to be significantly worse than the Middle Eastern / Asian airlines.

I'm wondering whether to stick the WHOOOSH parrot in?

that'll teach me for posting from an iphone

[Jackleman]

XJSJohn said:

Funny, i find the carriers that primarily serve the Europe / US routes to be significantly worse than the Middle Eastern / Asian airlines.

I think it partly to do with the fact they have access to cheap fuel and probably labour also, I would not dream of flying with a carrier like BA on one of these routes.