Long haul advice please.

**Cherrypie** · 05-05-2006, 11:44pm

Without meaning to bore you all to tears, as you may know we are hoping (fingers crossed) to emmigrate to NZ in the next few months.

DH and I have been exploring the various flight options.

On the one hand we can get a direct flight to NZ, via LA (with NZ Airlines). Just one short stop for refuelling.

We can also stop off (LA, Hong Kong or Singapore) for several hours (about 8 I think).

Or we could stop overnight at said destinations.

We'll be travelling with a 2 year old and an 8 year old.

My inclination is that I know the flight may well be hellish, but we'll be just as well to do the direct flight to get it over and done with.

My concern about the stops for 8 hours or so is that it's not really enough time to get into the city to do anything. And I don't fancy being stuck in an airport for hours with two kids going stir crazy.

Staying overnight is an option - but apart from the added expense of hotel accomation, I'm concerned that this will just prolong the agony. As our sleep patterns will be all mixed up, whose to say we'll sleep then anyway?

Would really appreciate your advice and thoughts. Have also posted poll to get overall view!

**schnapps** · 06-05-2006, 09:00am

I went for the direct flight as think that's what I would do. I also prefer flying Air NZ and have done that route and it felt much shorter than having a change in Hong Kong.

**Hello Kitty** · 06-05-2006, 09:05am

I have gone for the split the flight with overnight accommodation option as my parents have done this both times they have been to NZ. They said it was a relief to get off the plane and have a break. A colleague at work has just come back from NZ and Oz and she said the same thing. I suppose they weren't travelling with kids though.

**MissDem** · 06-05-2006, 09:32am

I went to Oz with just a re-fuelling stop in BKK and it was fine going out (well fine...) because you're so excited... but coming back was hellish and I could've quite happily got of the plane in Bangkok and not bothered getting back on - I'd have LOVED a stopover!

**bisy backson** · 06-05-2006, 02:28pm

seeing as you're going one way......

i would pick either direct flight, or overnight stay, possibly depending on what time of day you'd be arriving.

Def not 8 hour stop with 2 kids - are you insane??

the non stop flight is a toughie, but if you have a night flight to arrive in the day time it might be worth doing.

Otherwise, if you can get a stopover that arrives midway in the evening, gets you a night's sleep, then a morning start Iwould pick that.

How exciting! when will you know for sure?

bbxx

**Jelly** · 06-05-2006, 08:27pm

We went to Oz in Feb and DS was 3.5. We got a flight that left Heathrow at about 6:30pm and stayed overnight in Singapore. Our flight got in there about 4pm so by the time we got to the hotel and had dinner, it was nearly bed time for Max. He slept about 7 hours on the plane. The next flight left about 10am and because we only stayed over one night we could check all our luggage straight through and checked through at Heathrow so didn't have to do it again the following day.

I can't recommend Singapore Airlines enough. They were fantastic at every stage. When I flew with Qantas/BA, I could take my buggy to the plane but couldnt' collect it until I got to the luggage. Singapore had it waiting when we disembarked. Their kids meals were pretty good and there was a lot of food so if DS didn't like the main meal there were crackers or yoghurt. The flight attendants were lovely and made sure we were settled and checked on us often. Singapore airport is sooo efficient and quick. The Singapore stopover promotion is also great. We've always gone through Singapore on our way to and from Australia anyway, but it was such a relief this time with DS.

Stopping over helped us to get our body clocks settled and none of us had jet lag when we arrived. I think we got to mum's about 11pm but the next day we were all fine. It's definitely preferable to flying straight through. We had a stop over of about 16 hours in total, but it made the world of difference to get off, shower and have a proper dinner and sleep in a proper bed.

I have not flown to NZ via LA, but have heard that LA aiport is horrendous. You might save in flight time, but have to queue for immigration and travel to hotel. Singapore airport is about 30 mins max from the city centre. Their stopover package gives a great range of hotels in varying price brackets and the coaches to take you to the hotel and pick you up are included.

OMG - I've just gone on so much. We were expecting the worst and prepared for it, but our trip was so smooth, practically enjoyable. Singapore Airlines also have lots of channels and you can watch movies on demand, rather than have to wait for the cycle to finish. Good kids channels for shows, movies and games as well.

I also recommend taking portable DVD player with some favourite DVDs and Phenergan to help with sleeping. Also ask when you check in how full each flight is to see if you have space to spread out a bit.

In short - I voted for the stop overnight

**Cherrypie** · 08-05-2006, 03:36pm

Thanks everyone for your replies, experiences and advice.
TBH I think so far we're still favouring a direct flight - but will hold the over night stop in reserve. We'll avoid the 8 hour break option at all costs!

shining star · 08-05-2006, 11:14pm

hi cherrypie,

we just got back last week from Australia and NZ (travelling with 16 month old) My tips are:

(1) If at all possible, fly with Singapore Airlines. I have never seen such amazing service on a flight in economy class, ESPECIALLY travelling with children. If you can, request the bulk head seats when you book - we had them on the way over and back and the difference was amazing. The air hostesses were so genuinely friendly and helpful, they really couldn't do enough for you. Also, Jelly mentioned, you can bring the buggy right up to the plane and get it back at each stop.

(2) Fly direct with a relatively short stop over - our longest stop was 3 hours, which was just a nice length of time to get a break from the plane, but not toooo long so that it was hard to fill the time

(3) If you did stay overnight somewhere along the way, you're really just doing it to kill time IMHO, so I didn't see the point in doing this. I'd prefer to just GET there!! Also, I think it might interefere more with the kids body clocks??.......Dylan didn't get any jetlag and settled in to his normal routine after the first night.

(4) The flight over to Aus was a million times easier than the flight home from NZ - because you're excited and its all a new experience, the time passes pretty quickly.

(5) Like Jelly, I've heard that the LA stop over is awful (DH has done it a few times) so I would avoid there at all costs. I'd recommend Singapore too, there's loads to do in the airport.

Overall, we did also expect the worst, but it was much easier than we expected. We can't wait to go again next year!!

ss
xx

**Teresa** · 09-05-2006, 09:14am

I would probably do a direct flight to get it over with but I don't have children to consider.

We are also just about to start to process to apply to emmigrate to Oz so will have this to consider.

We went to Oz on holiday a couple of years ago and went direct. We flew via Bangkok on the way out and via Singapore on the way back. We had a couple of hours in each airport for refuelling. Singapore is so much better. There is absoluletly nothing to do at Bangkok airport and there was only a small shop and cafe. There was a lot to do in Singapore and you can have showers. There is a big choice of shops and food places and also I think there was a childrens area.

It was harder coming home as its the end of the holiday and the flight seemed so much longer. I would have liked a stopever on the way home.