UPDATE: Re MUM with declining health - got a ripper fare for $1,100 [Removed] -> ROME return and paying to upgrade mum for the last half of the journey.
Thanks for taking the time to reply to this topic guys - honestly, was really nice to have such kindness from strangers
thanks for the reply! Yes she's always wanted to do it, I want to give her this before she departs this world.
Great point! Fingers crossed thanks :)
For a good deal consider flying from Adelaide on Qatar… https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/243091
ADL to FCO return is coming up as $1042 http://iwantthatflight.com.au/flight.ashx?po=all&oc=ADL&dc=F…
Arr DOH 04:50?, computer says nooooo.
@holdenmg: All flights from ADL/MEL on gulf carriers arrive late at night or early in the morning. 4:30 am in Qatar is 11:30 AM Melbourne time.
@holdenmg: Guess you won't be flying any Gulf carriers from Adelaide any time soon. I think it's harder to get up at 4:30 for a 7 am flight than to fly overnight and arrive at 4:30, which is actually 11:00 am in the city you departed from.
@holdenmg: As inherentchoice points out, your body will be awake by then and anyway the airport is all artificial light and you won't be venturing out. But I hated AUH for the shortage of seating in the transit area.
Living in Adelaide I could do ADL-SIN-FCO-CAT.
Plenty of flights on SIA outta here.
MEL-SIN is an easily doable leg.
Thanks so much for taking the time to help, have chosen to divide it in half and go to Bangkok and stay there for a day. Thanks again
(she'll fly part of the way business)
Hi,
There are a few airports in Sicily.
Catania, Palermo, Trapani or Comiso. Any preference?
Assuming MEL-DXB you can then fly via Malta to Catania or
DXB-IST-CTA.
Another way is MEL-CGK-IST-CTA or MEL-AUH-IST-CTA or MEL-KUL-IST-CTA
Flights via Dubai (or Abu Dhabi) put the long component of your flight "up front" while flights via Jakarta or KL break up the trip better IMHO.
Depends on whether you want to go for the long haul and just get there or feel breaking it up is more manageable.
Other options via Rome are Melbourne-Singapore-Rome-Catania
Catania would be the preference :)
Thanks for the reply - have thought about the long haul to get it over and done with - I'm just considering the toll it will take. (although going on and off planes isnt the most enjoyable either!) weighing it up at the moment
I can let you know the distance segments if that assists?
certainly! would be awesome thanks you!
MEL-DXB-FCO-CTA is 11654km, then 4347, then 547
MEL-AUH-FCO-CAT is 11660km, then 4343, then 547
MEL-DOH-FCO-CAT is 11969km, then 4039, then 547
MEL-SIN-FCO-CAT is 6043km, then 10054, then 547*
I'd go via Singapore myself :+)
Another possibility is MEL-KUL, stopover in transit hotel, KUL-FCO, stopover, FCO-Sicily. Given that 1 AUD = 3 MYR at the moment, the stopover will be affordable.
thanks - fantastic point Re: $$ - will investigate that!
There isn't any airline that flies direct from KUL to FCO. It will need another stop at a hub in between.
Another way KUL could work is if you went on Turkish Airlines from KUL to IST and then get their flight from IST direct to CTA in Sicily, so you could skip Rome altogether.
Or stopover in a European city and fly direct to Sicily.
@inherentchoice: IST is half in Europe. The airport is in the European part. :) Cyprus is in Europe last I heard. Malta is also a possibility, just a hop to Sicily.
@greenpossum: MEL-KUL-AMS-CTA leaves Rome out of the picture.
Distances are 6320km, then 10244, and 1844.
Depends on Flights, Connections, if a stay in Rome is on the cards and cost of course.
Anything is possible but I'd stay with the larger carrier for reliability and connections and less hassle.
@holdenmg: I'll take AMS over FCO any day if Rome is not required. FCO looked run-down and they mangled my luggage after it arrived later. Mind you this was 2007 so maybe facilities have improved, but I doubt it.
Flying with one of the gulf carriers (Etihad, Emirates, Qatar) from Melbourne to Italy will mean the shortest distance and therefore the least amount of total time in the air. But that may not be your main concern and it wouldn't be much longer if you stopped at an Asian hub instead.
However Melbourne to Dubai or Abu Dhabi is over 14 hours. Whereas if you went on Thai Airways it would be 9.5 hours to Bangkok and then 11.5 hours to Rome.
Another alternative would be to have 2 stops on the way from Melbourne to Italy, but I'm not sure what would be easier for your Mother.
thanks very much for taking the time to comment - it really is appreciated
I'll have a look once i get home this evening and weigh it up
I also noticed Thai Airways has a "Viva Italia" sale - from $1,219 for return flights to Italy from Melbourne for travel until November. You can even book with them all the way to Catania for $1,476 return.
http://www.thaiairways.com/en_AU/plan_my_trip/Special_fare/O…?
Thanks so much for taking the time to help, have chosen to divide it in half and go to Bangkok and stay there for a day. Thanks again
(she'll fly part of the way business)
No worries, safe travels. :+)
I'm going to advise against Melbourne to Abu Dhabi UNLESS you can go business to Abu Dhabi. That flight is seriously brutal because it is 13 hours.
Does your mum/the family have any money saved up or a collection of frequent flyer points so she could go business? Maybe if everyone pitched in?
I'd seriously suggest that for at the very least the first part of the trip MEL - FCO
Rome to Sicily probably isn't more than an hour so that flight should be the least of your worries.
I agree with Knick007 about trying your best to see if you can scrounge enough points (or cash) from all the rellies to see if you can get her a business class ticket or mixed-class ticket where your short legs are economy and the long haul is business. Yes they're expensive, but the experience is worlds apart - particularly the seat comfort for long haul for an elderly lady. You'll also get lounge access for her which makes the long journey more tolerable. Whether one or both of you and your partner can go in the lounges too depends on a couple of factors.
If you can't manage Business Class for her, once you choose your airline come back and let us know. We might be able to help you figure out an affordable way for you to at least organise lounge access. Depending on the cost, airports visited and stopover durations, lounge access can make a trip much more pleasant with quiet and comfortable places to wait for your next flight, free food and drink, nice toilet and shower facilities and easier access to special assistance. The best options will depend on your airline and routing.
Thanks so much for taking the time to help, have chosen to divide it in half and go to Bangkok and stay there for a day. Thanks again
(she'll fly part of the way business)
Emirates has a service via Malta that would allow an 18 hour stopover in Dubai. You could spend most of that in one of the airport hotels as a sleepover. Departs Melbourne at 2 in the morning, boarding procedures around midnight, sleep through most of the 16 hour flight to Dubai.
The Emirates flight to Malta makes a stop in Tunisia. Probably don't have to get off the plane but it might be a bit of commotion with lots of other passengers getting off and a whole new group getting on.
Thanks so much for taking the time to help, have chosen to divide it in half and go to Bangkok and stay there for a day. Thanks again
Do you and your partner have a return date yet?
For your mum you can do a one way Melb to Singapore on ScootBiz (better than any major airlines economy seat IMO) and then take Etihad from there. it breaks the journey so your flights are around 8-7-7 hours plus your domestic Rome to Sicily.
From Singapore, Etihad is a lot cheaper. Im getting $4000 business class SG-ABU DHABI - Rome or $1000 in economy, It shouldnt be much more expensive if you do a multi SG-Rome-Rome-Melbourne Getting $1180 SGD on that one looking at next week. She can sit on business and yous can sit in economy? You will save on your ticket so what you are saving can be used for her ticket)
Thanks so much for taking the time to help, have chosen to divide it in half and go to Bangkok and stay there for a day. Thanks again
As a frequent business traveller, if there is any way your family can chip in to be able to afford business class tickets, the difference in comfort is significant on a long journey like that, especially with back problems. Not to mention the much better food and service. But not sure how comfortable your Mum may be to sit apart from you if only one ticket could be afforded.
Thanks so much for taking the time to help, have chosen to divide it in half and go to Bangkok and stay there for a day. Thanks again
Is she enthusiastic about going there? If so, she will get into the spirit of things and overcome her issues. Spending more money will achieve nothing. Nobody is guaranteed sleep on a journey. I hope you all enjoy the entire experience.