COMMENT, Australia — You said: I’d come to Australia, but…
A land far far away, Australia…
For all the people I have spoken to since starting the Global Innovation Conversation in April, a lot of you have expressed interest in visiting Australia.
It’s a long flight, but I’m hoping to make it easier for all you eager visitors from USA & Canada so you can do it in comfort. The easy way…
Flying times disable Innovation
Many bright and clever people have expressed to me they’d love to fly to Australia, but it is simply too long a flight.
This has been said to me so often, it is a genuine concern, and thus is a barrier to intellectual exchange and global innovation.
So here’s something to help you find the easiest way…
A Neat summary of Australia
First up, a summary of where most people go….
Sydney is the biggest city, it’s sun, surf and buzzing. It’s a finance capital now. Despite popular opinion it’s cold in winter, but food is cheap by big-city standards. Beautiful harbour, yachting and watersports. If you like outdoors, and socialising….
Melbourne is the next biggest city, a culture & lifestyle capital. It is museums, art, shopping, culture, wine and food. It also has the best golf courses, which is are easier to get into than Sydney courses. Melbourne is only 1.5 hours flying from Sydney, and flights are cheap-ish if you book in Australia. If you like cultural attractions and great (cheapest for the quality) restaurant & bistro food & wine…
Adelaide is of most interest as a base for visiting wineries and gourmet food in driving distance to McLaren Vale, Clare Valley, Barossa, Adelaide Hills and regions. Some beautiful nature, especially heading into Southern ‘Tuscany’.
Canberra is the centre of Australia’s government and has many museums. Cold!! Great if you’d like to know Australia’s history or are a history/war buff.
Queensland is a large hot state of beaches, sun all year round, watersports and is emerging as having good food in the bigger areas. Brisbane and Gold Coast are popular, but I like Port Douglas. Watch the weather, as the further north you go you could end up in rain season or real heat. Mainly if you like resorts and wall-to-wall beaches.
Tasmania & Hobart is a small beautiful state of very green nature, and good food, good wine. Very small – great for driving holidays. Quite cold all year round. But very cosy, lots of English-style B&Bs so if you like driving / bushwalking holidays…
West Australia is a a long way away – 3-4 hours, but has nice beaches, and can for some Euro countries make for easier direct flight connections.
Major overseas business is done in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth mainly, depending on industry.
There are obviously a lot of other places, and many younger people love to back-pack all over. The following notes are for your family or couple tourists, or business travellers who like comfort (like me).
Flying times to Australia from US/Canada
The key point is to minimise stops and plane-changing. I find it is better to do a land segment to go to and from a major airport than fly from a local airport often.
The simple rule, is 1 flight over 3 hours per 24 hours.
East Coast (NYC/Boston) USA/Canada:
On most services this takes 2 stops.
This means about 21 hours (across US) ex NYC or Boston, then ex-LA or ex-San Fran.
There is an option for the in-a-hurry.
OPTION 1: NYC Direct If however you are flying New York to Sydney, this is the best option as it is direct with no stops. So if you can get to New York via ground transport, leave from there. This is great for business travellers.
Qantas offer limited seats on these flights. Others may do too.
If for example I was leaving Washington DC, I would use the Acela train to New York. then fly New york Direct to Sydney.
OPTION 2: Stopover in San Fran: My favourite option is a stopover. San Fran is less hassle than LA. I’d stay in Westin Airport San Francisco. Flying without a stopover overnight is probably more tiring from East Coast.
My Favourite airport to leave is Boston Logan, which is easier than NYC JFK. Also if you can try to get into the BA lounges and eat a meal before you fly with Qantas/BA.
If you are coming from East-Coast Canada, go direct across to San Fran if you can. Then stopover 1 night in San Fran, before flying onwards.
My recommended choice is daytime flight to San Fran. Overnight stopover at SFO airport hotel (like Westin Airport) or city hotel (50 USD each way) then next day flight to Australia.
Easy… 1 stops. About 14 hours ex-LA or ex-San Fran.
Basically if in San Fran you try to go to bed at 3am, and wake up for your flight at 11am, your body-clock will be ready to go in Sydney/Melbourne.
OPTIONS FOR BROADER USA: Anywhere else, it’s probably going to be hub and spoke. A flight form the Carolinas many years ago took me 38 hours from boarding the first plane to the last.
Always try to do no flight longer than 15 hours or so in a single segment.
Try to get to San Fran or LA with the least possible hassle. If you do hub & spoke first, you will be exhausted after 14 hours to Australia.
Where to fly into from the US:
Sydney has the most frequent and direct flights. Melbourne is less hassle, but Sydney has more flights. Take a stop-over in Sydney to sleep off jet lag even if you are flying elsewhere.
Even if your destination is Adelaide, the network is setup so it is easiest to fly to Sydney first.
It’s only 1-3 hours to anywhere outside Sydney, except Perth which is a little longer.
OPTION 1: Go direct to Sydney. Or direct to Melbourne. Stop. Then go on.
OPTION 2: Fly to Sydney and get a same-day connecting flight to Melbourne, Adelaide, Tasmania, Canberra or Queensland.
Great if you can refresh in the Qantas Lounge. To do this you’ll need to be a OneWorld Emerald or Sapphire, which is rated with BA or AA typically (top 2 tiers). They have showers, and a moderately good buffet.
I would stopover before flying onward to Perth, Darwin or NT.
The Easiest Way is to remember a simple rule. One long-haul flight per 24 hours. And stopover for one night between long-hauls.
Anyway, hope that helps you come over to Australia.
Take care,
Christopher
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