Australia to London - Advice for a newbie

[Entity]

Hi Folks,

I need to make a UK trip in the next few weeks to visit a sick relative and was hoping to tap into the wealth of knowledge on this site. I haven't done a long haul for 30+ years, so really starting from zero on knowledge.
I've been researching flight options and based on budget, it looks like a choice between Premium Economy (PE) vs Economy (E). Brisbane is my most convenient airport, which appears that Cathay Pacific is my only realistic option for PE.
Before I book I wanted to ask the group if PE is worth the extra money. I'm 6'2" (188), 110kgs, and late 50s, so figured the extra room might be important. Also ask if there are other viable options (e.g., internal to Sydney and then international). I can be flexible on day and time of flights, but must maximise the time in the UK.
Thanks for any insights you might have. I also appreciate I may have answered my own questions, and just need reassurance

Edit: Dates: looking at Mon 10 March for Aus to London, returning Wed 19 March. I could fly out earlier but I've tried to avoid weekends which seem to have a considerable costs increase. I really don't want to over (or much over) $5k.

Edit: Decision: Thanks everyone for you insights and suggestions. Due to the nature of the trip, I'm going direct flight BNE to Stansted on Emirates economy with legroom seat upgrades. However, if the next trip is for pleasure, I'm keen to try the economy to Asia (e.g., Singapore) and then business to UK.

 

[Dmac59]

Regarding your primary question - Premium Economy or Business would be my preferred option for a long haul flight.
And a warm welcome to AFF @Entity

 

[I love to travel]

Honestly I think if business is out of the question, then economy with the priviso that you can buy exit row seats. If you want premium economy then Sydney has more options eg Singapore Airlines. If you give us your maximum budget and rough dates, we can help you more.

 

[bam71]

For max comfort and probably not too much more $$ I’d do a day flight to Asia, say Singapore in economy return from Brisbane, then a separate ticket Singapore to London in business. It does mean it would be a 2 stop journey however, but much more comfortable overall.

 

[Forg]

I very much find the extra space of Premium Economy to be far less painful an experience in terms of knee pain, and I’m an inch shorter. Any other stuff thrown in is a bonus IMHO.

If you can find Business with flatbed seats on a 2nd-tier airline I think I’d prefer that to Premium Economy (eg. we fluked a sale with China Airlines in 2018, which is first-world despite the name as it’s Taiwanese, where business was 80% the cost of Premium Economy on Qantas or Cathay). Lounge access halfway & having a shower makes a big difference to comfort, as does the room to lie flat even if sleep is patchy. But I’ve not noticed sales as big as that post-COVID, I think the airlines have become better at supply:demand to keep prices up.

bam71’s suggestion is definitely worth a look, more so if you have the time/interest to spend a day or two in (for example) Singapore to break-up the trip (and if you can do daytime flights to/from Asia that’s a big bonus in terms of jet lag & comfort IMHO).

 

[n7of9]

If you give us your maximum budget and rough dates, we can help you more.

This for sure. I think new members underestimate how much we love to look up flights and routes and costs.

PE on Cathay BNE-LHR-BNE on random dates in March is $4740

You can also fly China Eastern SIN-LHR-SIN via Shanghai in business for $3815, and use the extra $900 to get yourself to Singapore cheaply

 

[Entity]

Regarding your primary question - Premium Economy or Business would be my preferred option for a long haul flight.
And a warm welcome to AFF @Entity

Thank you for the advice, and also for the welcome

Post automatically merged: Mar 1, 2025

Honestly I think if business is out of the question, then economy with the priviso that you can buy exit row seats. If you want premium economy then Sydney has more options eg Singapore Airlines. If you give us your maximum budget and rough dates, we can help you more.

Thank you. I've added dates and budget to my original post. Thanks for the advice re: exit row.

 

[Entity]

This for sure. I think new members underestimate how much we love to look up flights and routes and costs.

PE on Cathay BNE-LHR-BNE on random dates in March is $4740

You can also fly China Eastern SIN-LHR-SIN via Shanghai in business for $3815, and use the extra $900 to get yourself to Singapore cheaply

Thank you. I've added date and budget information to my original post. PE on Cathay is looking like my preferred option at this stage.

 

[p--and--t]

On a personal note after purchasing PE on three different airlines, would never do it again.

While extra leg room, I cant stand the immovable high dividers that hold the tray or screen and dig into your side. Impossible to get comfortable especially overnight. Also if you get a deep recliner in front if you, hard to get out of seat to go to the loo and I feel claustrophobic. The price demanded for this level if discomfort is definitely not worth it IMHO.

I save money and get a more comfortable ride by buying economy and paying for an exit row seat and if available the seat alongside.

Day time flights and flights less than 7 hours (deliberately breakup the journey if i have days to spare) are better again.

YMMV

Of course when I have the points or budget, business is def the way to go.

 

[Daver6]

I'd suggest playing around with Google Flights You can find PE in CX under your budget. The date grids can be useful too for saving money if you have a little flexibility.

 

[n7of9]

Edit: Dates: looking at Mon 10 March for Aus to London, returning Wed 19 March. I could fly out earlier but I've tried to avoid weekends which seem to have a considerable costs increase. I really don't want to over (or much over) $5k.

Etihad Business class Singapore-Abu Dhabi-London return $4091

Syd-Sin return in economy (plus exit row) on Qantas $750

Less connections but less comfort - Cathay Premium from Brisbane

Edit... Premium Economy is at best 25% better than economy. Business class is 250% better than economy

 

[rbjhan]

Turkish sells mixed cabin fares.
Last time (a few months ago) I checked it was around 5K London return, Y to Asia (KL I think?), then J in TK to London. Since it's on the same ticket you have protection.

 

[Entity]

Etihad Business class Singapore-Abu Dhabi-London return $4091

Syd-Sin return in economy (plus exit row) on Qantas $750

Less connections but less comfort - Cathay Premium from Brisbane

Edit... Premium Economy is at best 25% better than economy. Business class is 250% better than economy

That's amazing!! Thank you.
Based on all the feedback, I'm think I'm going with economy and the extra leg room seat. Premium Economy doesn't seem worth it. No connections works well for this trip, as I need to maximise my time in the UK, and would be concerned about missed connections. But your suggestion would be perfect if my wife and I go on a pleasure trip to Europe.

 

[I love to travel]

That's amazing!! Thank you.
Based on all the feedback, I'm think I'm going with economy and the extra leg room seat. Premium Economy doesn't seem worth it. No connections works well for this trip, as I need to maximise my time in the UK, and would be concerned about missed connections. But your suggestion would be perfect if my wife and I go on a pleasure trip to Europe.

Best of luck with everything

 

[Doddler]

Best of luck and looks like you've made a decent choice.

Just adding here in case of use to any future readers:
You are tall but also consider how broad you are, especially across the shoulders. I am not as tall but am quite broad. For me, that makes long haul on a 787 with 3-3-3 seating in economy impossible. I've tried it and it is agony. It is similar in a 3-4-3 configured 777 (some rows in the rear of such 777s aircraft are 2-4-2, which is far better).

The Airbus A380 and A350 have decent width seats and are very comfortable.

As a result, I will fly long-haul A380 and A350 in economy, but not 787 or 777 on most airlines.

Many people don't have any problem with the narrow seats on 787 and 777, but they are likely not broad across the shoulders.

 

[Melburnian1]

On a personal note after purchasing PE on three different airlines, would never do it again.

While extra leg room, I cant stand the immovable high dividers that hold the tray or screen and dig into your side. Impossible to get comfortable especially overnight. Also if you get a deep recliner in front if you, hard to get out of seat to go to the loo and I feel claustrophobic. The price demanded for this level if discomfort is definitely not worth it IMHO.

A further disadvantage of Premium Economy is given the fixed dividers, if the seat next to you is vacant, you can't stretch out across it.

So I only ever book J, or occasionally Y. PE is not worth the extra: it's a no-man's land.

 

[Doddler]

I paid for an upgrade from Y to PE on a 787 flight from Perth to London and glad I did. As mentioned above, 787 in Y is impossible for anyone with broad shoulders. I found PE to be very comfortable and would definitely fly it again if upgrade to J not available and no A350 or A380 option.

 

[Forg]

I find PE very hard to justify outside the context of being on the ‘plane … it’s normally 3/4 the price of J, it’s normally close to 3x the price of Y, and “all” you get of any real value over Y is a few cm’s of width and a few more cm’s of leg-room. How can that little bit extra be worth so much more money, when only an extra 25%-ish gets you a lie-flat and showers along the way?

But in the heat of battle with those Y seats, the seat-frame in front is grinding holes in your knees, and you’re buggered from the effort of avoiding manspreading, and mid-flight you’ve been awake for 32hrs ‘cos who can sleep in those conditions … well when you’re in the middle of all of that, that’s when PE looks like good value!

 

[Tiki]

With J class redemptions becoming harder to get I have a new strategy for long haul with the new VA/QR flights. If I can't get J from BNE I can still go in Y and arrive at DOH around 23:30ish. Then I can book a separate J DOH-IST/SAW in J which is much easier to come by and have access to the lounge overnight and fly in the morning to Turkiye. It's the overnight in Y that kills me.