Where to buy flights to Sydney with stopovers?

isie1980

My husband and I are taking our 3 small children to Sydney next Easter time for a close friend's wedding. We hope to stop in Singapore for a couple of days on the way out and then in Dubai on the return leg. Do we need to purchase flights individually UK-Singapore, Singapore-Sydney and Sydney-UK and associated hotels, or is there some clever website that will help me put together a package?
We've only previously driven to Europe with the kids so lengthy flights is quite daunting!

Voyager2002

I suggest you talk to an expert: Trailfinders would be the obvious agent, or simply call Emirates. EK is an excellent airline; Dubai is their hub; their telephone sales people are helpful and professional while their fare rules generally make stop-overs easy.

I must say, it beats me why you want to stop over in Dubai and Singapore, which are probably the two most boring places on the entire planet. However, they would be good choices for hassle-free transfers to a comfortable hotel if all you want to do is sleep and break up a long flight.

Doshwaster

Emirates would be my first choice and they also have a codeshare agreement with Qantas so between them they will have your route covered.

http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/qantas-emirates/global/en

I'd also look at other options for stopovers. Bangkok is much more fun and cheaper than Singapore. It just depends on how long you want to spend in each place and what you want to do.

richardw

What age will your oldest child be on the return date?

PompeyPete

I wouldn't bother with Singapore or Dubai for a stopover either.

Also have a look at Oman Airlines or Garuda Indonesian.

macman

Hong Kong over S'pore for a stopover.

PompeyPete

Quite a bit of strife in HK at the moment.

Doshwaster

PompeyPete wrote: »

Quite a bit of strife in HK at the moment.

I'll be there next week! It all looks very peaceful though so as long as China don't roll the tanks in then I won't be worried.

Trouble seems to follow me around on holiday. I've been in a middle of a coup in Bangkok before and French air traffic controllers seem to plan their strikes deliberately to annoy me.


Hope you are having fun in Bali.

isie1980

Well Dubai on the way back is for 2 or 3 nights visiting family who are out there, but Singapore isn't a definite and I welcome alternative ideas. The plan is a bed for a night or two depending on flights for some decent kip and obviously a bit of sightseeing whilst there. At the time of travle my eldest will be nearing 4 & my twins will be just turned 2. Leaving them behind isn't an option so I need to make the travel as easy as possible for us all.
Part of me thinks maybe no stops is easier to get it done with but I've not flown with the kids before at all so am clueless.

Voyager2002

Kuala Lumpur might be as good for your purposes as Singapore, but a good deal cheaper. And dare I say it: Malaysian Airlines used to be known for exceptional comfort and service. After their recent disasters I expect that they are having to give away their seats, so if you are brave that could be the travel bargain of a lifetime.

Otherwise, a few days in Bangkok might be a good idea. From there, a few hours on a bus or less time on a domestic flight would take you to a tropical island with perfect sandy beaches...

Cyberman60

I'd recommend an agent such as Travelbag who did me a very good deal to Australia many years ago.