London to Perth non-stop

[NowWatchThisDrive]

Has anyone done it?

I'm in the early stages of formulating a plan to fly 6 of us over around Xmas next year to see family, and weighing up options now there's the Qantas non-stop.

Personally I wouldn't mind having to stop, for the brief change of scenery and leg stretch. But two of the party will be late 70s and I'm mindful of the potential toll on them as they're in alright but not outstanding health (and the furthest they've flown is Cyprus). So for ease and everyone's comfort I'm leaning towards the non-stop in Business and wondering if anyone has anything good/bad to say about it vs. stopping options in the ME or SE Asia?

[Mr Pointy]

Personally I would always go for a stop. It doesn't have to be long but it gets you moving about & breaks up a very long journey.

[Vasco]

You'll need a break, particularly for the elderly.

The body doesn't take kindly to no or little movement.

[MYOB]

Having been to Australia a fair few times, no way would I want to do the journey without a quick stop.

[Seventyseven7]

Just to give an opinion opposite of the first 2 replies.

I’ll be doing the same this year. I would fly direct, it’s done in just over 16 hours, yesterdays flight was 16.11.

I just returned from Bali yesterday, with a stop in Singapore. Unless you do a stop of over a day, it’s not worth it, even having a shower in Singapore, stretching legs etc, it just feels like a much longer commute.

If you were to break it up, I would stop in Singapore over anywhere else because Changi is great place to spend a day, but then that’s 13 hours in itself.

Also, a big factor will be what cabin you’re in.

[cliffords]

Especially with elderly people. Very important to move about when flying.

[Prisoner 24601]

Seventyseven7 said:

Just to give an opinion opposite of the first 2 replies.

I’ll be doing the same this year. I would fly direct, it’s done in just over 16 hours, yesterdays flight was 16.11.

I just returned from Bali yesterday, with a stop in Singapore. Unless you do a stop of over a day, it’s not worth it, even having a shower in Singapore, stretching legs etc, it just feels like a much longer commute.

If you were to break it up, I would stop in Singapore over anywhere else because Changi is great place to spend a day, but then that’s 13 hours in itself.

Also, a big factor will be what cabin you’re in.

Were you in Business Class

[NowWatchThisDrive]

Thanks for the replies so far. Business class would be a definite if we go for the non-stop, and a strong likelihood if we do a stop, depending on where it is. They're not hugely experienced flyers and find the whole airport/boarding/deboarding process a bit stressful so what I'm trying to gauge is whether just being able to put them in a nice cabin with plenty of space, creature comforts, ability to get up and walk around etc then fall out the other end will be enough to mitigate the lack of stop (the benefits of which I absolutely recognise and agree with personally).

In an ideal world we would do a proper 2 day stop each way to break it up but we only have 3 weeks to play with due to school holidays.

[David A]

Do it in one. I did London to Perth many times in mid 2000s. If the plane got to Singapore on time we would often make haste to the next gate to be able to get on the earlier flight down to Perth. Otherwise it was kill time and get bored in the airport.

Changis a great airport but the more you can minimise getting off and on and queuing and faffing about in airports the better.

Earlier this year I even fly crappy Thai business to Bkk than doing one world with stops in Qatar.

Flying is a glorified bus even when you’re sat right at the front. Get on the plane, get there quick and get on with your holiday.

[Vasco]

NowWatchThisDrive said:

Thanks for the replies so far. Business class would be a definite if we go for the non-stop, and a strong likelihood if we do a stop, depending on where it is. They're not hugely experienced flyers and find the whole airport/boarding/deboarding process a bit stressful so what I'm trying to gauge is whether just being able to put them in a nice cabin with plenty of space, creature comforts, ability to get up and walk around etc then fall out the other end will be enough to mitigate the lack of stop (the benefits of which I absolutely recognise and agree with personally).

In an ideal world we would do a proper 2 day stop each way to break it up but we only have 3 weeks to play with due to school holidays.

Elderly and infrequent flyers shouts out to me even more the need for a break.

[captain_cynic]

Seventyseven7 said:

Also, a big factor will be what cabin you’re in.

And what airline you're flying, what airport you're going to and ultimately, your final destination.

I'm originally Australian, lived in Perth for quite a few years. I still have family there and wouldn't touch this flight with a 16 hour long barge pole.

Firstly its QANTAS (QF), an airline that makes BA look good. There's no way I'd want to be stuck in a QANTAS narrow seat even if it were cheaper than better options (Namely, Singapore).

Secondly, at the end of the 16 hour flight you're still in Perth.

Thirdly, if Perth is not your final destination (QF flies that same plane from PER to MEL or SYD so it can be considered a direct flight from London to the east coast) so you're doing a stopover anyway and Perth is not a decent airport (although it really is one of the best parts of Perth... because it means you're leaving Perth).

So if your final destination is on the east coast, you'll be doing a stop0ver anyway and it's better to do it at an airport that is set up for handling, especially if you're changing planes which is more likely flying QANTAS. Even though my final destination is likely to be Perth, I'd still fly Singapore as it's about the same cost, the service is way better, the seats are far superior (even in Economy) and you get to take a break at Singapore Changi where you can eat some good food, relax in a decent area, stretch your legs and take a st in a toilet that'll make most executive loos look shabby.

Also QF is dodgy AF, as an Australian I find it very hard to forgive them for stranding 10's of thousands of customers overseas just to screw over their own staff (the industrial dispute of 2011) and more recently have been caught selling tickets for flights they'd already cancelled. I'd fly Malaysian over QANTAS and I think Malaysian are pretty crap, but at least it's a few hundred quid cheaper.

[Seventyseven7]

As someone who is moving to Perth next year, your post made me cry

[M4cruiser]

My flight to Sydney did a 3-hour stop in Singapore, and I de-boarded as encouraged, but it was a big faff; almost immediately I had to start queuing to get back through security to get back on the same aircraft. Singapore airport is much like any other.

So on the return I stayed on the aircraft, just walked up and down the empty aisles, dodging the cleaners. Much more fun.

If you're doing a stopover then take 3 days and do it properly. Or not at all.

[captain_cynic]

NowWatchThisDrive said:

Has anyone done it?

I'm in the early stages of formulating a plan to fly 6 of us over around Xmas next year to see family, and weighing up options now there's the Qantas non-stop.

If you're going to Perth (and believe me, I feel for you), Xmas is not such a good idea as it'll be stupidly hot.

If you're in the south of England, the weather we have right now would be considered unseasonably cold for Perth in Dec/Jan. It's not unusual to get rows of days with highs in the mid 40's and lows that don't go below 30.

Also Xmas are when the main school holidays are (last 2 weeks of Dec to the end of Jan) so flights are going to be stupidly expensive anyway.

IMHO, the best time to go are in the autumn or spring, that is about 1 month each between the windy, chilly season and the oppressively hot summer season. Or winter, winters are mild over there, it's just a bit blowy, it doesn't even rain that much. If you've school aged kids going, it will probably be easier going in the UK school break.

NowWatchThisDrive said:

Personally I wouldn't mind having to stop, for the brief change of scenery and leg stretch. But two of the party will be late 70s and I'm mindful of the potential toll on them as they're in alright but not outstanding health (and the furthest they've flown is Cyprus). So for ease and everyone's comfort I'm leaning towards the non-stop in Business and wondering if anyone has anything good/bad to say about it vs. stopping options in the ME or SE Asia?

If you want to visit Asia, having Perth as your base is daft. Perth is 5+ hours from Singapore, longer to anywhere else except Bali. Singapore, Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur) and Bangkok are good for short flights to other parts of SE Asia, Singapore and Bangkok are good destinations in their own right (Kuala Lumpur, not so much). Flights into Australia since they re-opened have been stupidly expensive no matter who you're flying with.

If you want to fly business, Singapore is the gold standard if you've got the cash. You can definitely do better than QANTAS.

[Jader1973]

If you’re going to Perth, and not anywhere else, it is probably worth it. It is only a couple of hours longer than Dubai to Melbourne for example.

If you’re going somewhere civilised like Melbourne then you may as well go via Dubai or Singapore. It takes as long to go London - Perth - Melbourne as it does London - Dubai - Melbourne.

Just remember, it is a very long way and the flights will be horrible, even in Business.

Oh, and don’t fly Qantas.

[Patio]

captain_cynic said:

Seventyseven7 said:

Also, a big factor will be what cabin you’re in.

And what airline you're flying, what airport you're going to and ultimately, your final destination.

I'm originally Australian, lived in Perth for quite a few years. I still have family there and wouldn't touch this flight with a 16 hour long barge pole.

Firstly its QANTAS (QF), an airline that makes BA look good. There's no way I'd want to be stuck in a QANTAS narrow seat even if it were cheaper than better options (Namely, Singapore).

Secondly, at the end of the 16 hour flight you're still in Perth.

Thirdly, if Perth is not your final destination (QF flies that same plane from PER to MEL or SYD so it can be considered a direct flight from London to the east coast) so you're doing a stopover anyway and Perth is not a decent airport (although it really is one of the best parts of Perth... because it means you're leaving Perth).

So if your final destination is on the east coast, you'll be doing a stop0ver anyway and it's better to do it at an airport that is set up for handling, especially if you're changing planes which is more likely flying QANTAS. Even though my final destination is likely to be Perth, I'd still fly Singapore as it's about the same cost, the service is way better, the seats are far superior (even in Economy) and you get to take a break at Singapore Changi where you can eat some good food, relax in a decent area, stretch your legs and take a st in a toilet that'll make most executive loos look shabby.

Also QF is dodgy AF, as an Australian I find it very hard to forgive them for stranding 10's of thousands of customers overseas just to screw over their own staff (the industrial dispute of 2011) and more recently have been caught selling tickets for flights they'd already cancelled. I'd fly Malaysian over QANTAS and I think Malaysian are pretty crap, but at least it's a few hundred quid cheaper.

Got family in Oz and was thinking about getting over in next couple of years

Your post is one the funniest things I've read on here a while in a good way....the best bit of Perth being the airport lol

Is Perth really that bad?

[ruggedscotty]

Patio said:

captain_cynic said:

Seventyseven7 said:

Also, a big factor will be what cabin you’re in.

And what airline you're flying, what airport you're going to and ultimately, your final destination.

I'm originally Australian, lived in Perth for quite a few years. I still have family there and wouldn't touch this flight with a 16 hour long barge pole.

Firstly its QANTAS (QF), an airline that makes BA look good. There's no way I'd want to be stuck in a QANTAS narrow seat even if it were cheaper than better options (Namely, Singapore).

Secondly, at the end of the 16 hour flight you're still in Perth.

Thirdly, if Perth is not your final destination (QF flies that same plane from PER to MEL or SYD so it can be considered a direct flight from London to the east coast) so you're doing a stopover anyway and Perth is not a decent airport (although it really is one of the best parts of Perth... because it means you're leaving Perth).

So if your final destination is on the east coast, you'll be doing a stop0ver anyway and it's better to do it at an airport that is set up for handling, especially if you're changing planes which is more likely flying QANTAS. Even though my final destination is likely to be Perth, I'd still fly Singapore as it's about the same cost, the service is way better, the seats are far superior (even in Economy) and you get to take a break at Singapore Changi where you can eat some good food, relax in a decent area, stretch your legs and take a st in a toilet that'll make most executive loos look shabby.

Also QF is dodgy AF, as an Australian I find it very hard to forgive them for stranding 10's of thousands of customers overseas just to screw over their own staff (the industrial dispute of 2011) and more recently have been caught selling tickets for flights they'd already cancelled. I'd fly Malaysian over QANTAS and I think Malaysian are pretty crap, but at least it's a few hundred quid cheaper.

Got family in Oz and was thinking about getting over in next couple of years

Your post is one the funniest things I've read on here a while in a good way....the best bit of Perth being the airport lol

Is Perth really that bad?

Nah its not that bad..... its worse...

[NowWatchThisDrive]

Hmm, some curiously extreme views on Qantas. Is it really likely to be that bad even in Business, on a reasonably new 787?

Perth/vicinity is base and final destination - we'll be visiting emigrant family there there for the duration and won't be going on to the East coast, Asia or anywhere else. As for Perth itself, family have been there a while and seem to enjoy it but yes wider views do seem rather polarised...I guess I'll get to make my own mind up First time to Oz for me so if nothing else that will be a novelty.

Perhaps I'll add Singapore Airlines to my research. Never flown with them and had thought that if we did stop off it would probably be in the Middle East but I may have a look.

[Seventyseven7]

M4cruiser said:

My flight to Sydney did a 3-hour stop in Singapore, and I de-boarded as encouraged, but it was a big faff; almost immediately I had to start queuing to get back through security to get back on the same aircraft. Singapore airport is much like any other.

So on the return I stayed on the aircraft, just walked up and down the empty aisles, dodging the cleaners. Much more fun.

If you're doing a stopover then take 3 days and do it properly. Or not at all.

Odd experience. Singapore airport is like no other, clearly up there as the best in the world. Did you go and see Changi?

I did a 50 minute change in Singapore yesterday and had time to go get a coffee, use the rest room and walk to the new gate. No stress.

[djc206]

NowWatchThisDrive said:

Hmm, some curiously extreme views on Qantas. Is it really likely to be that bad even in Business, on a reasonably new 787?

Perth/vicinity is base and final destination - we'll be visiting emigrant family there there for the duration and won't be going on to the East coast, Asia or anywhere else. As for Perth itself, family have been there a while and seem to enjoy it but yes wider views do seem rather polarised...I guess I'll get to make my own mind up First time to Oz for me so if nothing else that will be a novelty.

Perhaps I'll add Singapore Airlines to my research. Never flown with them and had thought that if we did stop off it would probably be in the Middle East but I may have a look.

Singapore are excellent but a stop in Singapore is utterly pointless. If they can handle the 13 hour flight there a 16 hour flight isn’t going to be an issue. Stopping in the Middle East would be the most sensible option if you want a stop.

The Qantas direct flight to me makes most sense, herding old people through a big international airport an extra time so they can stretch their legs which they can do on board seems silly to me. Qantas business is fine and the lounge at Heathrow is very good.

As others have said fares are sky high at the moment. Gone are the days of getting to Oz for a couple of grand in business.