Australia.

Just recently two different friends have used Singapore Airlines and have had nightmare journeys. One of them was on the holiday of a lifetime and had paid for top class flights but when she got to the airport to come home found they were all downgraded to economy. She was really upset and was told that if she made a fuss, she wouldn’t be able to fly at all.

If you have health problems, particularly mobility issues, I highly recommend airport assistance. It is free and they convey you, by wheelchair, to where you need to be. You go to the head of security queues and a lot of the anxiety is taken out of travelling. You will board first and be met off the plane. I travel to Australia often and since developing an autoimmune disease, I am enabled to see my whole family without difficulty. Korean Air was good but is expensive since the Pandemic. Etihad, Singapore and Emirates, are good, Cathay Pacific were very good recently.

The only one we or family have not really had a problem with is Singapore Airlines.
DD did have a slight problem travelling with them once but it was sorted out very quickly.

I have been visiting my family in Sydney for about 16 years and have used various carriers. IMO Emirates and Qatar are the best. I always travel business class and the fares have rocketed. I think that I paid almost £6000 when I travelled in January this year!

My son and his family live in Canberra and we have visited four times, the last time just before the pandemic. I have been looking at prices to go again and they don't seem to have gone up all that much since then. We always use Singapore airlines and book in to the hotel at Changi for the layover where you can have a room for just a few hours. It's the most peaceful place I know. It's lovely to be able to have a shower and lay on a bed for a while.

Horses for courses 🙂

Wholly endorse Singapore Airlines! I flew with them to Brisbane Business Class. Outstanding 5*. Cannot afford that again so looking at £1800/2k economy/premier economy from Heathrow to Brisbane.

We're booked to go to Sydney via a 3 night stop in Singapore, flying with Singapore Airlines and a 2 night stop on the way back. The holiday also includes a 13 night cruise around New Zealand. All booked through Trailfinders. You don't get an itemized bill but we looked at the cost of Premium Economy and then Business. I think the additional cost for the 4 B class flights for the two of us was about 9K. We won't be doing another long haul so we bit the proverbial bullet and went for it. This will include the use of the B class lounges in all airports. To be honest I don't think we'd be going if we couldn't have afforded the upgrade. The flight to Singapore is 13 hours then 9 hours to Sydney. At least you can stretch out on the flatbed and the use of the lounges will make a real difference. We were once upgraded to business for a flight home from Calgary. I think I could easily get a taste for travelling this way.

Omg there are some expensive flights here .
Personal choice of course .
I have been to Australia & NZ many times over the last 20plus years & never had an issue flying with Singapore Airlines . Also flown with Malaysia & Qantas . Though not since pre Covid now unfortunately.
Fares are rising & again the closer to the date you fly the more expensive they will be .
Adding to that expense is the need to have a stop over enroute , breaking the journey gives a great chance to see other places that you wouldn’t otherwise of visited . Which has got to be a bonus despite the expense .
This year I was organising a trip to NZ for myself & 3 of my siblings. I kept saying we needed to book early . When getting prices even using Skyscanner they were far too expensive in my mind especially as one of my siblings is on a low income , though she had of the ££s saved for the flight , it was all the additional costs involved. Accommodation, car hire etc .needless to say after a few pow wows we had to put it on the back burner until 2025 .
One of the reasons for this was due to one sibling having to sort out his visa application that may be denied due to indiscretions some 30years ago leading to a criminal conviction 🥲
Though he had been twice before once with myself in 2003 so I’m not sure why it’s an issue now (?)
Hopefully, we’ll get there as planned another year older but still fit & able 🙏
Premium economy is fine .

If doing an internet search for flights be sure to clear your cookies after each search session. Don't let the airlines know you're interested!!

Aveline

If doing an internet search for flights be sure to clear your cookies after each search session. Don't let the airlines know you're interested!!

Some search companies do do this, or offer cheap prices for obscure stop overs, whilst ignoring the best route at a good price because their commission is less.

They are not in business for you, they are in business for their own profit.

For OP, you could try asking Simon Calder, does a weekly newsletter (via Independent), also a podcast (daily), and he's on Twitter/X, and Instagram. If you don't know the name, he's just about everyone's go-to travel expert, with masses of up-to-date info and ideas.

I used Trailfinders to be sure I had the best timings and lowest fares.
Always cattle class and they are all good these days.
I flew Qatar in January to NZ .

Emirates last time and Singapore before that. DS goes with NZ and Qantas . Its a long way!!!

We have flown backwards and forwards to the UK many times and the only airline we have had trouble with is, unfortunately, Qantas. Not much of a service ethic, cramped seats and not very good food. They are also very rude at times- not to us,personally, but we have overheard them telling passengers to ‘rack off’ when they ask for help ! Sufficient that even when we are flying within Australia we specifically ask not to fly with them.

cabowich Business class?
You must have got the deal of the century!

That's a shame about Qantas nanna8
I was very impressed with the cabin staff on Qatar. So patient. I asked one had she done the job long? Yes she replied, 8 months!!

If I were to quibble it was that Emirates have a better range of entertainment. The movies on Qatar weren't wonderful. The food is aircraft food, as a vegetarian I literally get a raw deal.

Try JAL airlines If you choose the right flights you can get free stopover in airport hotel Then back on plane next morning for second leg to Australia I’ve done that many times So good to get a free sleep halfway.
China airlines does same but hotel is miles from airport & not ideal I think 2 stars Only did it once !

I flew Singapore airlines dec 23 came back Feb 24.... £1400 ( 4 day stopover in Singapore on the way out) ....we booked 8 months in advance

Well, what has just happened with Flight SQ 321 sounds terrifying! One poor passenger suffered a heart attack and died, a British man, and others injured as the plane hit turbulence and suddenly dropped.
This is the night flight we would normally book.
I do tend to keep my seatbelt on unless walking around.

LOUISA1523

I flew Singapore airlines dec 23 came back Feb 24.... £1400 ( 4 day stopover in Singapore on the way out) ....we booked 8 months in advance

I assume that was Economy?