Flying to Australia - Best prices/Free Internal Flights, etc

Craig_3

Hi guys.

I've booked a month off work from 17/10 to 17/11 this year, and myself, my wife and our 5-year old daughter are going to head to Australia for as long as we can in that time (ideally the full month).

So what I need to know is the best (cheapest) way to get to Perth, ideally from Manchester (although we can get adjoining flights if it works out cheaper to do that and go from London).

Also, we will be using probably 3 or4 internal flights each whilst we're over there. So again, if it's going to work out cheaper to pay a bit more for the main flights, but get cheap/free internals, then I can do that too.

Any help/assistance/guidance would be greatly appreciated, as I am now looking to book this ASAP, so my wife has something to look forward to holiday-wise.

Thanks
Craig

Incapuppy

Speak to a company like Austravel, Travelbag, Trailfinders etc - they are the experts at this sort of thing.

ems2

For the internal flights use virgin blue, generally the cheapest. Also sign up to au.travelzoo.com for their weekly top 20 email and they will alert you to some great deals for flight/hotels/excersions etc
To get there; have a look at travelmood.com or use the link to the emirates site through the Aresnal website as there is a code built in (presumably for fans) that gets you a discount that might be cheaper.
If you havent been before leave at least two days when you get back to recover, it is a long flight.

Enjoy!

richardw

emirates or Singapore Airlines from Manchester fly to Perth with one stop in Dubai or Singapore. Talking to travel agents may give you ideas about offers that include 'inclusive tour' fares that may need at least one night in a hotel to be booked at the same time, this could be in Dubai or Singapore as a stop over.

For internal flights look at the perth airport website http://www.perthairport.com/Default.aspx?MenuID=55

There can be good prices on Qantas so don't assume they are most expensive.

dogpants

Last two flights to OZ have been with Emirates Man to Kuala Lumpur and then Air Aisa X
Kuala Lumpur to Gold Coast. We saved about £700 last November for instance.
internal flights often a toss up depending on sale offers.

Craig_3

Thanks for all the info guys.
I'm going to check the sites out.

Am I better to book now, or leave till later for Oz ???
I'm leaning towards entering panic-mode right now - Plus I'm getting ear-ache from my wife, who wants it booked NOW!!!!!

richardw

If you want to fly MAN-DXB or MAN-SIN demand is likely to be high so book now, if you want to fly via heathrow hell, there are more options, but the ear-ache if you do that might be unbearable!

Potaroo

Try Malaysian they fly from Manchester too. Internal flights - Virgin Blue. Register with them and you get advance notice of their sales.

I have used Malaysian 6 out of the last 7 trips and cannot recommend them enough for economy travel.

www.tripadvisor.com is very good with independant reports.

Perth is lovely, not as vibrant as Sydney but in a beautiful location. To see what the live weather is like in Perth, Try http://map.mainroads.wa.gov.au/trafficam/SelCamera.asp?Map=Perth

Bit I forgot - http://www.eta.immi.gov.au/ for your visa application. Much cheaper than using a travel agent and if you get rejected just follow the instructions to forward it to the UK office who will/should allow it through. As it is valid for a year you can easily do it before booking flights.

GLENO

Potaroo......Malaysian do not fly from Manchester direct anymore....you have to go via Heathrow......they stopped flying direct from Manchester around two years ago.

Craig.....bit of advice ...done the same trip you are after going on....Singapore Airlines will be expensive but will be worth it....Great Service, Good aircraft and if you want to go via Heathrow you can be booked on the new Airbus A380 which is excellent..Good flight departures from Manchester and connections in Singapore....(which is a lovely place)..we stayed in Perth for a month two years ago and used Singapore Airlines From Manchester and connected to a flight to Perth from there which takes around 5 1/2 hours......good thing is that Singapore are only +1 -1 hours in time difference do you can adjust much more quickly after your long flight from the UK which will take around 12 hours+......had a four day stopover in Singapore on the return to break up the journey....had a great time.......Perth is excellent too.........Can't wait to go again!!!

Flown with Emirates also but the service on Singapore is excellent compared to Emirates.....Dubai Airport is also very very crowded in the early hours of the morning depending which flight you are on from Manchester....the afternoon departure from Manchester gets you there around midnight and the evening departure get you there around 8am in the morning if you were to pick Emirates I would choose the evening departure from Manchester based on experiance.....HAVE A GOOD TRIP!!

Potaroo

GLENO wrote: »

Potaroo......Malaysian do not fly from Manchester direct anymore..

Oops:o.........so they don't - I must be a southener:rotfl:

Malaysian still highly recommended and also purple parking at heathrow. Flew with Singapore last year and very good but Malaysian have the edge - look at seat pitch (price too).
Also would suggest breaking the trip on the way back by overnighting at the Pan Pacific Hotel at Kuala Lumpur. It is a 1 minute (complimentary) buggy ride from the terminal and means a good nights sleep before the 10am, 13 hour flight back.

Tips in Perth. 5yr old will love Caversham Park - Everyone will enjoy Rottnest Island and the Quokkas (take the Ranger tour then go back later on) - The AQWA -Perth Mint - Free CATs - Museums and Swimming with dolphins at Rockingham which is about 40 mins south of Perth.

We swam with the whalesharks at Ningaloo reef this April and would agree that it is one of the 50 things etc. But think you are too late to enjoy that pleasure. However once you have been to Oz you probably want to go back again and again......:j

Craig_3

Fantastic info.
Thanks Potaroo.
I'll take a look at Malaysian, and check out the sites in Perth.

Any tips for the rest of Oz ???
Probably going to fly from Perth to Ularu then on to Melbourne, followed by a drive up the entire East coast before heading back to Perth for the flight home.

Thanks
Craig