V-Flyer

Just looking at another trip to oz for next year, thought it would be interesting to fly on the A380 without a stop over, so it looks like I have two options:

SQ317 then SQ217, which leaves LHR @ 11:55 & arrives MEL 20:20 + 1 day (second leg on a B777)
or
SQ321 then SQ227, which leaves LHR @ 22:05 & arrives MEL 07:15 + 2 days (A380 both legs)

Im tempted to take the earlier filght since I only 'loose' one day but was wondering if anyone had any advice - since its my money I have to travel in Y so would consider the later flight if it was likely to be less busy for example.

Or are there other options I've missed ?

Having done the trip straight through 4 times, admittedly 3 times in J and once in PE, I had the worst case of jetlag ever returning from the UK last year. Took me 5days to get over it. That was leaving the LHR at lunchtime and arriving in MEL at 2030 ish flew TG. All other flights were ex LHR at night. Personally I prefer the two night flights.

FYI there are a large number, for MEL, of international arrivals in MEL around 2000 hours. That last trip it took over an hour to clear Oz customs. Not what you need after a 24 hour trip. Hope that is of some use.

I would personally go for option 1 as I like to have a good nights sleep as soon as I arrive in OZ to combat jet lag - I find it really difficult to survive the day if I arrive in the morning!

Having done the kangaroo route most of my life, I would go for the date flight to MEL, when you get to Australia you can just fall into bed, the flight that arrives early in the morning is a killer to try and stay awake all day.

Hope this helps,

Dominic

Thanks everyone - looks like its the early flight & be prepared to wait in customs ; having said that customs in Sydney consisted of 'Do you have anything to eat in that bag ? No ? then off you go' last time I was there..

Luck of the draw...

When we came back from LA last month the queues for customs were almost back to the steps down from immigration (a long way if you don;t know MEL)...however lady luck was on side and roaming agent asked what was being declared - US chocolate - had declaration stamped and sent straight out. Other times nothing to declare and still have to go through scans.

Personally find the long day after the night flight helps with sleeping that night arriving at bedtime, by the time have reached final destination, doesn't work for me.