Flying to Australia

[Kneetrembler]

Which is the best Airline to fly to Australia with business class & for what reasons, bearing in mind that we would also like to have a couple of stop offs.

Advice appreciated.

[xxplod]

VA Premium Economy is a proper step up from economy albeit not 'proper' business with a flatbed and is good value.

[anonymous-user]

Kneetrembler said:

Which is the best Airline to fly to Australia with business class & for what reasons, bearing in mind that we would also like to have a couple of stop offs.

Advice appreciated.

Singapore International Airways, via, obviously, Singapore. Much prefer bus class with SIA to thtat of BA. And service to die for. Singapore is great for a 1or 2 day stopover - plenty to see and do!

Other option for me would be Virgin Upper Class - again great service and the car to/from home/hotel makes life easy! Not sure where (even if!)they fly to in Australia - never used them on that route...

[greygoose]

I went with Emirates and stopped in Dubai and Singapore which broke the journey into bearable stints.

[siscar]

xxplod said:

VA Premium Economy is a proper step up from economy albeit not 'proper' business with a flatbed and is good value.

I'm sorry but it's nowhere near business class, it's economy with a bit more legroom and way too expensive for what it is. I'm about to fly to Australia business class with Emirates for just over £4k for two people, I'd struggle to do that with Virgin PE and certainly wouldn't get the space, the service, the lounge access or the chauffeur that I get with Emirates.

To answer the question - Singapore and Etihad are my first choices but Emirates on the 380 is good although the lounges in Dubai can get full and not all of their other planes have the new seats. BA is good but expensive and unreliable (cabin crew about to strike again), I like Malaysia but others have been less keen. Qantas is a bit 'there you go mate' Australian for my tastes. Virgin Upper is good although I'm not keen on the way you have to get up and have the seat converted into a bed and they are a bit claustrophobic for me. Cathay is OK as well although like Virgin they put you in a stall all hemmed in. I've not done Gulf but my business partner finds them good, I've not done Thai either.

I do this route a lot and choose on price and timing, Amex platinum often have some good deals - like the £4k for two people I'm doing with Emirates. Personally I like flying in the morning to arrive there the following evening, then you can go straight to bed when you get there and feel fairly human the next day. Much better IMHO than leaving here later and getting there in the morning.

Obviously if you are stopping on the way a key choice is where you want to stop, Singapore or Hong Kong are the obvious choices. Personally I'd just go straight through unless they are places you want to go to, you can do it in two flights these days and whilst it's a long time in the air you can sleep, eat, watch films and only have one lot of jet lag to get over.

Edited by siscar on Saturday 20th February 08:57

[Kneetrembler]

Thanks very much for you detailed and helpful advice.

[flyingjase]

Has to be BA or Emerates (sp?)

I'm flying to Oz a few times a year for business at the moment and BA offer the best product (IMO) Etihad beds are too small and Qantas don't offer flat beds (unless in First)

Emerates are good but I collect BA airmiles so they get the vote (current potential strike accepted)

[Olf]

In order of pref probably Sing, BA, Emirates, but it's very close.

Sing for the A380 and the new beds which are great. BA for points and status and flat beds. Emirates for indulgence but the middle east stop off isn't enough progress for my liking.

[Kneetrembler]

Olf said:

In order of pref probably Sing, BA, Emirates, but it's very close.

Sing for the A380 and the new beds which are great. BA for points and status and flat beds. Emirates for indulgence but the middle east stop off isn't enough progress for my liking.

I presume with Emirates that the only stopover is Dubai, whereas with Sing and BA you can have stopovers in Hong Kong,Singapore etc.

In order of what I have read and spoken to a few people, the majority all go for Sing, but is that just with the A380 ?

[Fats25]

I have flown Emirates, Singapore, Cathay, BA, Virgin and Malaysia business class to Australia. Admittedly all of these were before the 380's.

If I had to put them in order it would be like this:-

Virgin
Singapore
Emirates
BA
Malaysia
Cathay

[thehawk]

Emirates also fly to Singapore, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpar - very good airline but they also stop in Dubai which means it becomes a 2 stop trip each way.

[furtive]

I've found the Qantas business class seats to be more comfortable than the BA ones. They might not be completely flat but they are much wider

[Nicholas Blair]

furtive said:

I've found the Qantas business class seats to be more comfortable than the BA ones. They might not be completely flat but they are much wider

Would agree - BA pretty cramped and uncomfortable and invariably IFE is knackered.

I'm with BA and Qantas schemes, but all this strike talk gives me the craps so no more BA I'm afraid.

Haven't tried out Singapore Airlines offering yet, I'm tempted to do so, and Singapore is a great stopver anyway.

[Don]

Singapore Airlines. I believe the youngsters today type something like "FTW" after a statement like that.

In any event Singapore Airlines offer the nicest experience - or did when I was travelling to Australia relatively frequently. Their business class was very comfortable.

Malaysian airlines are fairly pleasant too, even in econocheap, but when they offer you beer or Orange juice take the beer and don't try "G&T, please" as it's not going to work.

[AndyAudi]

Been a couple of years but Virgin Upper Class London-HongKong-Sydney

Good Things
Complimentary Cars & London enroute Check in
Departure Lounge in London
Recovery Lounge on return for a shower & a nice girl to give you a shave
Hong Kong Lounge, good food & staff.
No prob's with bed/seat surprisingly comfortable I'm 6', if you want it converted head back to the bar & ask while you have a drink.

Bad Things
Fine if your on your own but cubicle would not be great for communicating with others.
Sitting on right side of the plane, cubicle light is on right which casts a shadow when writing. (left side no prob's).
Sydney Airport - no dedicated Virgin Desk to allow early check in, & no virgin lounge (they used Air New Zealands)

Edited by AndyAudi on Wednesday 24th February 14:18