Lie flat seat from Australia to UK, or...

zolablue25

malkie76 wrote: »

Being hurt most likely will prevent you from getting allocated an exit row due to not being fully able to help in an emergency. As soon as you mention any issue to the airline you won't get exit rows, and on-board CC will move you.

Not the same thing as bulkhead seats, especially on long haul flights. Most scheduled airlines will put their Special Assistance passengers in bulkhead seats (but not exit rows). Contact the airlines Special Assistance department and ask them whether this will be possible for your daughter. It almost certainly will, provided they deem her fit to fly at all.

Voyager2002

Business class can be almost affordable on the less popular airlines. Food and service may not be as good as a premium airline, but a flat seat should still be available. I suggest you ask Trailfinders for advice (they have a special number for premium class airline booking) but the best deals are likely to be offered in Australia rather than here.

In the meantime, surely she could move into an apartment for a month or so, to cut accommodation costs. As pointed out above, it will be some time before she is fit to fly, and it will not be possible to get insurance cover against anything happening to her back during the flight. Time is the great healer.

malkie76

Voyager2002 wrote: »

Business class can be almost affordable on the less popular airlines. Food and service may not be as good as a premium airline, but a flat seat should still be available.

Can I ask for a couple of examples and estimated costs ? I was under the impression that Australia was one of the most expensive places to get to given the distance in any premium cabin. Which airlines were you thinking of ? (I'm genuinely interested )

ellielovesem

malkie76 wrote: »

Can I ask for a couple of examples and estimated costs ? I was under the impression that Australia was one of the most expensive places to get to given the distance in any premium cabin. Which airlines were you thinking of ? (I'm genuinely interested )

Air China, Asiana and Thai Airways are some affordable options, probably starting around the £2500 mark. I'm never sure what kind of product you're actually getting on these airlines though so for peace of mind and a truly flat bed I stick with BA!

malkie76

Thats the issue though! A quick search suggests around the £3 to £3.5k mark for business on those carriers, and their business products aren't fully-flat beds. You'd need to pay for First class on those airlines, and pay around the £5k mark.

Like you mention, BA is one of the few who offer fully-flat in business class

Mr_Lahey

malkie76 wrote: »

Thats the issue though! A quick search suggests around the £3 to £3.5k mark for business on those carriers, and their business products aren't fully-flat beds. You'd need to pay for First class on those airlines, and pay around the £5k mark.

Like you mention, BA is one of the few who offer fully-flat in business class

Etihad and Emirates are both flat bed and both cheaper than BA. Both also pose less of a risk in terms of the flight being affected by strikes or threats of strikes - Also, you are less likely to lose your baggage.

laura.1984

I flew to perth using Etihad and had a lie down and it was fab

Tojo_Ralph

.....
Maybe it's just me, but something just ain't adding up here.

Mr_Lahey

Tojo_Ralph wrote: »

.....
Maybe it's just me, but something just ain't adding up here.

Interesting.... Care to elaborate

BigBouncyBall

hmm this does all seem strange. If your daughter is nearly paralysed with this injury she wont be able to fly for some time if at all. Cost does seem to be more important than just getting her home at the moment. If the travel insurers aren't interested then it looks like you her or will have to take out a bank loan.