Australia.

Air fares have gone up considerably recently.

If you want comparisons then go on sites such as Skyscanner

If you want a recommendation then Singapore Airlines 🙂

We used Premium Economy to fly to New Zealand. Much cheaper than business and yet much more comfortable than economy.
We need to conserve our money to pay the legal costs to try to get our daughter and her children home because she’s left an abusive marriage and he continues to abuse by refusing to allow her to bring her children home to England, amongst other abuses.

Saw this on Facebook and thought it might give some idea of the vast size of Australia compared with many the European countries

Emirates is a good choice, fly from several UK airports change at Dubai, fly to several Australian airports. Cost £2000+ each
Several alternatives cheaper but stopovers awkward so beware.

Visited in Jan/Feb no hitches just lovely.

We flew Qatar to Australia just before the pandemic and had a good experience with them.

I’d recommend speaking to a travel agent Calendargirl. We’re visiting our son in the US soon. Because of where he lives it’s a bit of an awkward journey and I was struggling to get anything satisfactory at a reasonable cost. The agent came up with some great flights at a price cheaper than anything I could find online and inclusive of baggage allowance, so we’re very happy!

Friends went Heathrow to Melbourne in February this year, Singapore Airlines business class, it was over £5,000 each.

My parents flew out a lot and always broke the journey midway. Singapore was a the favourite even the airport seemed worth seeing. I went once direct via Abu Dhabi. Best bit was having a decent hotel on arrival in Sydney and swimming in their rooftop swimming pool .... in the rain and at night! yes it was dark, it was open to 10 pm and I had to myself. Perfect antidote to being on a journey of 36 hrs by that stage.

Thank you for suggestions so far.

We have been several times, but not at all since Covid, so realise prices have escalated.

Have used BA, Singapore, Emirates in the past.

Went premium economy last time, but think now we are in our 70’s, will go business and hang the cost. You can’t take it with you.

Definitely will go to a travel agents and let them do some of the searching.

As others have said I think it’s about £10,000 for two of you.
I always look enviously at the business class passengers as I walk on by.
Then I get off at the other end and think of how much money we have saved😂
Last time we went with Malaysia airlines. They don’t do premium economy but do have extra legroom seats that are pretty good. Last time I took a blow up leg rest which made a huge difference. Not all airlines allow them but Malaysia does.

My daughter and husband are frequent long haul flyers.
They always use dial a flight, you can call them and speak to a real person.
They will ask you a lot of questions on flexibility etc then come back to you with a range of options.
They have always had good deals and amazing service.

nanna8

Saw this on Facebook and thought it might give some idea of the vast size of Australia compared with many the European countries

Wow! Would love to see it but too far to travel and too expensive. 😔

Another Dial a Flight fan here

Just got this email

I will just add that when we got stuck in Australia when Covid struck Trailfinders were amazing.
They kept in touch and managed to get us a flight out of Perth at a fraction of the price that we could get on line

Recommend Singapore Airlines- would never use another now though like some others I can't afford anything but economy.

I've used Emirates before but never again. Dubai airport is the worst.

Sago

My daughter and husband are frequent long haul flyers.
They always use dial a flight, you can call them and speak to a real person.
They will ask you a lot of questions on flexibility etc then come back to you with a range of options.
They have always had good deals and amazing service.

Oh yes, I've used them before now.

PamelaJ1

As others have said I think it’s about £10,000 for two of you.
I always look enviously at the business class passengers as I walk on by.
Then I get off at the other end and think of how much money we have saved😂
Last time we went with Malaysia airlines. They don’t do premium economy but do have extra legroom seats that are pretty good. Last time I took a blow up leg rest which made a huge difference. Not all airlines allow them but Malaysia does.

Yes, the extra £8,000 or so goes a long way towards a good visit there!

As others have said I think it’s about £10,000 for two of you.

Prices really must have escalated! When we visited in June last year it cost £2222.80 for two of us. This was from Manchester and we had one change at Doha. We did book approx 9 months in advance - I believe the prices go up the nearer you get to the date of travel.

We flew to Australia last year and flew home from Singapore, with Emirates, Business Class. It would have cost £5k -£6k pre pandemic but now cost us £9k, two people, both journeys. Emirates were much cheaper than Singapore Airlines if booking from the UK.

Malaysia is a great place for a stopover. Much,much cheaper than Singapore and Kuala Lumpur is lovely.

Emirates business is brilliant to Oz I can highly recommend them although air fares have tripled since Covid ☹️! Another advocate for Trailfinders travel company always helpful and reliable and will always sort things out in times of crisis. DH and I wouldn’t go with anyone else.

I am flying Air Mauritius in October to Perth business there and back with two nights in Mauritius £4k
Last Feb/March I went premier economy to Singapore, Perth, Sydney Auckland , Sydney, Singapore £6k with hotels! I was quoted almost £2k economy with Etihad for Manchester to Perth! Prices are crazy !!

I have just returned Perth to Heathrow direct, non stop with Qantas but I do not rate Qantas and only use them as they are the only ones to fly non stop, which I do recommend if, like me, you are elderly and can’t do the route March round the airports to your boarding gate every time! Cost was about £1800 return economy but i booked last year and flew out in February. it is cheaper to fly with a stopover. Before Covid and before fares went through the roof, I flew business class with Thai airways and it was superb, but so very expensive now it’s way out of my budget!

I would not recommend Quantas economy. Like Bluesmum, we did the nonstop route to Perth last February. Saved time and a stopover, but very uncomfortable and no leg room, even for me and I'm a shorty! Any other airline would be preferable, and pay to upgrade if you can stretch to that.