One way to Australia....Air Asia? or any other suggestions?

[TVR1]

Hello all,

Not my usual posting area but I will find myself flying to Adelaide in December. All things being equal, my permanent residence will be granted 31st October. I havn't confirmed flights yet, however, as this date may be subject to change and I also have to work around notice at work etc.

Most of the year has involved shipping stuff over to Oz,saving money and trying to tie up various loose ends here. As a result, I want to get there for the best possible value. Air Asia can get me there for about £390 including taxes! Yes, the figure is correct....£240 from Stansted to Kuala Lumpur and then £139 to Adelaide.

Now, I have read Air Asia reviews and I am fully prepared for what I will not be getting (ie no food unless pre-booked,no entertainment, seats that don't really recline....in fact, Ryaneasyjetair) this doesn't bother me too much-I have flown Ryanair and know what to expect-I was only a bit nervous about putting up with it for 26 hours travel.

My question is simply, can I fly with another airline (Singapore/Quantaas/Cathay/BA) and get anywhere close? The prices I am getting for early December are around the £685-£800 mark? Do people still sell unwanted tickets/airmiles to a third party for a discount or are there any 'secret squirrel' websites or travel agents (other than the usual suspects)that offer genuinely low fares?

Help much appreciated and many thanks in advance!

Cheers

Ed

[v15ben]

There are other offers floating about from time to time. Malaysian and Air New Zealand campaigns from earlier this year spring to mind, but they won't be as cheap as Air Asia. Not sure I could cope with Air Asia for 26 hours, but given what you're getting at the end I am sure you can put up with it

[Puggit]

That price seems obscenely low - it's up to you!

I know if I wasn't paying I'd fly with someone else - but if I was paying that's a big, big saving...

[BigAlinEmbra]

Don't skimp on flights over 6 hrs, otherwise you might as well just pay several hundred pounds to someone to repeatedly kick you in the testicles.

I flew out to SE Asia in January and Thai Air were one of the best airlines I've flown with.

[Vanessa B]

Try www.cheapticket.co.uk

I used them for 3 flights to Oz last year, have just entered your departure deatils into the site and they are offering cheap flights with Malaysian and Singapore, both of which i would recommend.

[anonymous-user]

I use Air Asia every week to comute to work and they are nothing like Ryan Air, they are actualy fare with the customer, you can buy food on the plane, in fact what you pay for is what you get.
Having said that every time I looka t Air Asia X for long haul I find it is hardly any cheaper than Malaysia so look at MAS

[motomk]

Don't visit this section much but saw your post elsewhere.
Malaysian will get you to Adelaide with one stop as will Singapore or Qantas but then I guess you are not really interested in how many stops it makes. I recall reading that Malaysian are having a little fare battle with AirAsiaX. AirAsiaX I am pretty sure can't get you to Adelaide, Might involve Jetstar or something like that to get you there as AirAsiaX don't fly to Adelaide but I think they have a tie-up with Jetstar. Jetstar = Qantas lowcost.
When I came over many years ago Singapore had a special fare for migrants which involved 40kg of luggage as opposed to the usual 20kg.
I am not sure how much Tiger(Singapore Airlines) or Jetstar are from Singapore to Adelaide but they do a "bus tour" either through Perth or Darwin probably invlove a lot of musical planes.
Do you have to fly in December? as that is one of the peak times from memory. Moving even to November I think saves a little bit. Other side of new year too might be cheaper too.
AirAsiaX can get you to Melbourne and Perth, maybe book a fare from Melbourne or Perth to Adelaide with one of the locals. Jetstar,Virgin Blue, Qantas or Tiger. There are prices of AUD$40 to get to Adelaide from Melbourne, of course your luggage costs $400!!;)
I have also heard Etihad are priced ok into Australia as are Emirates. Both of these do not fly to Adelaide either but Etihad is tied up with Virgin Blue and it looks like Emirates is too so they can get you to Adelaide.
Other ones I can think of to purely get to Australia are Royal Brunei, Cathay and Qatar Airways. Virgin go into Sydney as do BA.
http://www.webjet.com.au/travel/10-ways-to-save/

Edited by motomk on Tuesday 28th September 08:38

[Jackleman]

I flew back from KL with Air Asia in Feb this year, I was a little worried that I might be in total discomfort so I paid a little extra for a seat with extra leg room. The flight was fine, I bought food on the flight and this was also OK. You have to pay about £10 for a little media player if you want to watch any movies etc but all round very good for the money, the stewardesses are very easy on the eye also ;-)

[Dr Jekyll]

Australia? In economy?

[Rude-boy]

Dr Jekyll said:

Australia? In economy?

One day i will visit OZ.

That will be the day I can comfortably aford the 2 Business Class seats for the g/f and I.

[TVR1]

Jackleman said:

I flew back from KL with Air Asia in Feb this year, I was a little worried that I might be in total discomfort so I paid a little extra for a seat with extra leg room. The flight was fine, I bought food on the flight and this was also OK. You have to pay about £10 for a little media player if you want to watch any movies etc but all round very good for the money, the stewardesses are very easy on the eye also ;-)

This is what I have read too. Frankly the slight, possible discomfort angle is far outweighted by the cost.

[Wanchaiwarrior]

Of course its your money, but for long haul cattle class flights I always like to stop of for a couple of days, usually Hong Kong 'cos I have PR there as well so catch up with mates.
If not stopping there, a night in Seoul with dinner and brekky is included in the fare with Korean Airlines, well from here it is.

With Such a long journey and it being an adventure to leave UK permanently, I would suggest stopping somewhere for a few days as a nice start to a big chnage in life.

Cheers

Jamie

[TVR1]

Wanchaiwarrior said:

Of course its your money, but for long haul cattle class flights I always like to stop of for a couple of days, usually Hong Kong 'cos I have PR there as well so catch up with mates.
If not stopping there, a night in Seoul with dinner and brekky is included in the fare with Korean Airlines, well from here it is.

With Such a long journey and it being an adventure to leave UK permanently, I would suggest stopping somewhere for a few days as a nice start to a big chnage in life.

Cheers

Jamie

You are probably correct. However my situation is slightly different as I lived and worked in Hong Kong with 6 very interesting months in North Luzon, Phillipines in the early nineties when I was 22 running a club called Manhattan, at the New World Harbour View Hotel (probably not there any more)I know Wanchai very well, you dirty bugger Is Popeyes still on Lockhart Doa? Came back to take my degree and then off to live in Australia from 1996 to 2003. Although I always fancied the JAL stopover.

Maybe I am wrong but I figured I just want to get there, when my Visa is granted, rather than muck around with stop overs.

[Wanchaiwarrior]

TVR1 said:

Wanchaiwarrior said:

Of course its your money, but for long haul cattle class flights I always like to stop of for a couple of days, usually Hong Kong 'cos I have PR there as well so catch up with mates.
If not stopping there, a night in Seoul with dinner and brekky is included in the fare with Korean Airlines, well from here it is.

With Such a long journey and it being an adventure to leave UK permanently, I would suggest stopping somewhere for a few days as a nice start to a big chnage in life.

Cheers

Jamie

You are probably correct. However my situation is slightly different as I lived and worked in Hong Kong with 6 very interesting months in North Luzon, Phillipines in the early nineties when I was 22 running a club called Manhattan, at the New World Harbour View Hotel (probably not there any more)I know Wanchai very well, you dirty bugger Is Popeyes still on Lockhart Doa? Came back to take my degree and then off to live in Australia from 1996 to 2003. Although I always fancied the JAL stopover.

Maybe I am wrong but I figured I just want to get there, when my Visa is granted, rather than muck around with stop overs.

Ah, I went to Manhattan a few times, bearing in mind this is late 90's. Not sure if its still there. Popeyes is still there, think its one of the one's by Markarti's Disco? I havent been back since Xmas 2009 and have heard Wanchai has become more "business" like over the last few years. For the last couple of years there before I left (12/05)I used to live in the block of flats directly across the road from the HSBC on the corner of Hennessey Road and Luard Road, before that 7-8 years or so on Lamma Island.

Looks like you've been there, done that and bought the t-shirt, so may be a more direct route may be best.

Oh, and good luck for whe you get to Oz !

[RobDickinson]

Sounds like a decent saving of money you could spend on something else but I'd spend the extra on a decent cattle class flight.

[Colonial]

Dr Jekyll said:

Australia? In economy?

Toughen up princess. It's not that hard.

I've done it a number of times. Singapore and Etihad are the two best I've found. British airways the worst.

I'd go with Etihad - generally cheaper, great service and not too bad for comfort.

[Silver993tt]

Dr Jekyll said:

Australia? In economy?

I did NZ twice in economy with no problem at all. I flew with Singapore Airlines and pocketed the £7000 saving I made on the two trips by not flying in business class. Comfort, food and service was excellent.

Edited by Silver993tt on Thursday 30th September 07:37