Hi need some advice about what is the best way to fly to OZ

We have a 4yr old & 6month, Should we just do it in one long flight or break it up into smaller chunks with a day or two breaks between flights.

any advice would be great

Lorna

 

Hi Lorna,

Fortunately for me I do not have children that young so the problem never arose for me, my personal suggestion would be to take a night flight and hopefully the kids will be tired and sleep most of the flight. I came over with Singapore Airline and their staff seemed to be very attentive to parents with kids. I would suggest that if you fly on the A380 that you try for seats on the upper level, it is quieter and less people there. I think the children would find this less intimidating.

A suggestion I saw on here some time ago was carry surprise toys for the children, so for your 4yr old you could have 3 or 4 small surprises that you could give out one at a time when boredom strikes.

As for is it better to stay over for a couple of days to break the journey, the main thing I think you would have to consider is that if you leave the airport to stay in hotel, then you have to take all your luggage with you, so your choice is do you move all your luggage with the children to a hotel for the stop over or do you just have a 3 or 4 hour break in the airport before moving on? If you check the airport that you will be using as the midway point, check to see what is available to keep the kids amused in the airport. Places like Singapore have a butterfly room where you can take the kids round.

I hope these suggestions and ideas may help. It’s been a longgggg time since I had to keep a 4yr old amused:biggrin::biggrin:

 

Some people who fly to Aus via Malaysia or Singapore would try to ensure they get about a half-day stopover there. Most flights are forced to make one stopover because of the distance. I have heard lots of people do stop in Singapore for a half day-ish but they book a hotel room at the airport there. It's a really big airport and there's heaps to do in all the terminals there... it's great if you want to catch a bit of shut eye and a shower before the connecting flight.

Flight lengths - typically 13-14 hours to Malaysia or Singapore and then an additional 7-8 hour flight depending on whereabouts in Aus you're headed after that!

I find it's always the shorter flight that gets you the most fed up on the way there!!

I highly recommend Singapore Airlines for their flight attendants, comfort on the planes (as they're all relatively new A380s) and the food compared with most airlines I've ever used is outstanding even in their economy class!!

They'll take good care of you. That's the path I'd take if you wanted to stop over somewhere.

As I said, Singapore's main airport has heaps to do - there's a swimming pool and loads of other stuff, shops... even a zoo I think someone told me but I never found it!?

Also definitely worth taking on the other suggestions about surprise toys! That's a good one.

Best of luck on your Aus adventure!!

Luke

 

Hi
We came with little ones,, twice !!
I was paniking like mad as neither of my kids could sit still for an hour ,lol, never mind 8 hours!!! Both times we flew London to Singapore, stopping there for about 5 hrs then onto Brisbane landing at 7am.
The kids were fab! We didnt let them sleep unless they were on the plane, and when at Singapore we let them run around the Sunflower Garden and play in the little play area. By the time we had let them run off steam and had gone for something to eat it was time to board again. Once on board they just slept or watched the movies (surprisingly enough) on the screens. It was much better than i thought it was going to be.

I hope this gives you a bit of reasurrance that it might not that bad,lol
Good Luck
Cal x

 

Hi Lorna,
I flew in March with a 7 yr old, and 2 yr old. I found it better on the way back with a 7 hr stopover in Singapore, as we booked into the transit hotel at the airport, and even though we only got about 4 hours sleep, we did get to lie out on a bed, get a bit of shuteye, and a shower so felt refreshed somewhat before the next leg of the journey. The way out only had a 2 hr stopover, and it felt a longer journey.

Next time I'd do the same, as I think a longer stopover where you leave the airport would just add extra hassles with moving luggage etc, whereas there's none of that when using the transit hotel. The airport has lots to do anyway. We slept, had breakfast, shopped and visited the butterfly garden, then it was time to go.

Even though the kids slept at the airport, they still had plenty of time to run about and play in the play areas there, so had a bit of time watching tv on the flights and colouring in, before eating then going for a sleep again.

Shazzie

 

I dont have kids but my recommendation is keep going and get here. IF you start stoppinog overnight you have to start adjusting to that timezone!! Not an easy thing!

It seems like a long flight but once you are here you know that if you wanna sleep for a day you can! WIthout fear of trying to get to another airport!!