Flights to Australia

Now33

We have been invited to a wedding in Australia (Sydney) in April 09. This will be our first ever visit to Australia, and I am wondering if any one can give any advice about booking flight tickets etc. We would hope to fly from Manchester.

Things I am interested in are: when would be the best time to book given that we are still a year away; who would be the most economical airline to travel with; is it best to travel direct etc.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Incapuppy

There have been several threads in a similar vein recently, if you search the forum for 'Australia' that should give you some useful info to be getting started with ;0)

Engadine

Flights for April will go on sale around May or June. I am hoping to go back to Sydney around March or April next year.

Last time we didn't do a stopover either way but would recommend doing one on the way back to break up the journey. Next year we are definitely stopping somewhere for a couple of days on the way back

newcook

how spooky - I have been invited to a wedding in oz next April - I wont be able to attend though as they have decided to get married on the easter weekend so prices will be a hell of a lot more expensive!!!

Potaroo

In Oz now on holiday:j

Usually try to book around November time for travel in March-May avoiding the Easter peak.

Happy to recommend Malaysain airlines as best seat pitch and usually best pricing if you get in early enough. If you miss the November sale then try again in early Jan. Found that Trailfinders are pretty helpful in the past but do all my own booking now.

Hope this helps:beer:

richardw

Best way is Singapore Airlines from Manchester via Singapore and you may get to go on the new A380 double decker aircraft.

Scubabe

Gosh you're all booking early!
I'm an Aussie living in the UK and I've never booked a flight home more than 6 weeks in advance - in fact, my last trip home I only booked it 2 weeks beforehand, and I have never paid more than £725 for a flight, and usually get them for around £600-650.

My tips: Get a flight which lands in Sydney in the evening. I usually land about 7pm or so, clear customs, grab bags, train into Circular Quay, walk 100m to my hotel and dump bags, have a shower, then walk all the way down to Harrys for a pie floater (best meal in Sydney) - the meal is fab and the walk there and back helps with the jetlag. Back to hotel and in bed for midnight-ish, and then when you wake up the next morning no jetlag, yay!!

I usually fly Singapore and find their prices are good, Qantas are exxy but worth it, and would never fly BA again