Flying to Australia - In need of advice as I'm clueless!

McCreary

Hi everyone,

I'm going to be flying to Melbourne the week after next on my own for a conference. I've never travelled long-haul before and I'm slightly clueless about some aspects of it. I wondered if you would be able to answer some of my questions?

I'm going to be flying with Emirates and have a connecting flight at Dubai. I'm assuming this means that I have to change planes since it's a different flight number. I then get on a new flight a couple of hours later which flies to Melbourne. However, on my booking confirmation it says that the plane stops once during this part of the journey (at Kuala Lumpur). Does this mean that I stay on the plane when it stops at Kuala Lumpur as the flight number does not change or do I have to get off the plane?

As I'll be stopping in Dubai and Kuala Lumpur will I need VISAs? I've already sorted out a VISA for Australia.

As the flights have been booked together does this also mean that I collect my bags at Dubai and re-check in or I pick up my bags at Dubai?

Thanks for any help you can provide!

Matt2389

Hey, no you won't need visas for Dubai or Kuala Lumpur

littlereddevil

If it's Emirates all the way you won't have to pick up your suitcases. I hope it was a real good price to make the 2 stops worth it.

Mad-Frog

Don't worry, when you check in at the airport here your bags will checked in all the way to Australia.

On arrival at Dubai you disembark the aircraft follow the transit signs, your hand luggage will be scanned then you will be in the departure lounge until your next flight, lots of bling and wealth to wander round and nosey at

It depends some places you get off but I would suspect in Kuala Lumpur you might stay on the aircraft either way you won't be there for much more than an hour

You don't need Visa's either

Emirates is always my first choice for flying long haul, relax you will enjoy it

McCreary

littlereddevil wrote: »

If it's Emirates all the way you won't have to pick up your suitcases. I hope it was a real good price to make the 2 stops worth it.

I think there are only a couple of direct flights from Dubai to Melbourne a day. Not sure how much it cost as I'm not paying for them.

Mad-Frog wrote: »

Don't worry, when you check in at the airport here your bags will checked in all the way to Australia.

Thanks, I thought this was the case. One less thing for me to worry about!

Mad-Frog wrote: »

On arrival at Dubai you disembark the aircraft follow the transit signs, your hand luggage will be scanned then you will be in the departure lounge until your next flight, lots of bling and wealth to wander round and nosey at

Thanks for the explanation! This is my main concern about the whole trip. I'm really worried that I miss my connecting flights as I've heard Dubai airport is huge.

Mad-Frog wrote: »

It depends some places you get off but I would suspect in Kuala Lumpur you might stay on the aircraft either way you won't be there for much more than an hour

As I mentioned before this is my main concern as I've only ever travelled to places direct and I'm travelling alone on this occasion. I heard that sometimes you are taken off the plane and placed in a holding area. I know I stop at Kuala Lumpur on the way over but possibly Singapore on the way back. I think each stop is a maximum of 1h 30m and it's classed as a 'continuation'

Mad-Frog wrote: »

You don't need Visa's either

Emirates is always my first choice for flying long haul, relax you will enjoy it

I didn't think I needed Visa's for the stops. I'd heard that Emirates were good and did request them. Thanks for all your advice.

jamsandwiches

Join Emirates "Skywards" club - you can do it online at Emirates website and claim your skywards points. Even if you do not use them again you can sell them on ebay.

hermante

Mad-Frog wrote: »

It depends some places you get off but I would suspect in Kuala Lumpur you might stay on the aircraft either way you won't be there for much more than an hour

If you search on FlyerTalk it seems that you may not HAVE to get off but people have reported disembarking for the 90 minutes. I would leave the plane just to stretch legs and get some air, unless you are flying First class why would you want to sit in the same tiny seat for 17 hours.

roadatlas

Just to let you know there is Duty Free on arrival at Melbourne Airport so don't risk buying it on your travels or it may be taken off you en-route. Each country seems to have it's own interpretation of the LAGS rule. Australia allows 2 litres of spirit/wine... though the bottles are 1.25 litres and not a problem. Not sure about cigs but I think it's a carton of 250 per person.

Enjoy Melbourne :-)

spottydog

roadatlas wrote: »

Just to let you know there is Duty Free on arrival at Melbourne Airport so don't risk buying it on your travels or it may be taken off you en-route. Each country seems to have it's own interpretation of the LAGS rule. Australia allows 2 litres of spirit/wine... though the bottles are 1.25 litres and not a problem. Not sure about cigs but I think it's a carton of 250 per person.

Enjoy Melbourne :-)

Australia allows 2.25 litres of alcohol per person and bottles in duty free are usually 1 litre (although you get the variations and specials as you do anywhere else in the world). Ciggies are 250 per person which is one carton (standard packs are 25 here and a carton is 10 packs)

McCreary

Thanks for the advice everyone. Still slightly nervous as I fly on Wednesday!

Just to confirm, I don't need to re-checkin when I get to Dubai for the next flight as they have been booked as a journey to Melbourne? I just check in at the start of my journey?

Doshwaster

McCreary wrote: »

Thanks for the advice everyone. Still slightly nervous as I fly on Wednesday!

Just to confirm, I don't need to re-checkin when I get to Dubai for the next flight as they have been booked as a journey to Melbourne? I just check in at the start of my journey?

That's right. You should be issued with all of your boarding cards at check-in.

Dubai is a huge airport but it's fairly easy to manage. Emirates have exclusive use of Terminal 3 so there will be no moving between terminals. KL is also an easy airport to cope with.

Just use the stopovers as an opportunity to stretch your legs and freshen up. I often take a change of clothes in my carry-on luggage. Going on that long a journey in the same socks and underwear isn't fun.