Flying from Sydney to Moscow for the first time - any suggestions for best carrier?

[sibbu]

In August I need to travel to Moscow (a first for me) and don't know which carrier to choose. I would prefer have a night or two stopover half way in each direction to avoid more than 12-14 hours in the air. I have a QF frequent flyer membership, but am not fixed to them if a better flight option is available. Also, does anyone have a recommendation for a hotel in Moscow around the $300 mark, preferably in a location central to the sights.
Thank you!

 

[jetlagger]

Re: Flying from Sydney to Moscow for the first time - any suggestions for best carrie

In August I need to travel to Moscow (a first for me) and don't know which carrier to choose. I would prefer have a night or two stopover half way in each direction to avoid more than 12-14 hours in the air. I have a QF frequent flyer membership, but am not fixed to them if a better flight option is available. Also, does anyone have a recommendation for a hotel in Moscow around the $300 mark, preferably in a location central to the sights.
Thank you!

As for the flight;
Are you talking J or Y?
Your Budget?
Preferred stopover points?

 

[smit0847]

Re: Flying from Sydney to Moscow for the first time - any suggestions for best carrie

I believe TG is one stop (BKK).

I've never been but Moscow is considered a difficult and very expensive place to visit.

 

[sibbu]

Re: Flying from Sydney to Moscow for the first time - any suggestions for best carrie

Flying y class. I am not sure where to stopover, my preference would be Europe but of course that is too close. Air budget about 3000 return or less. I am not sure about Dubai as I've never been there, but it doesn't look like an interesting stop to me - too modern and expensive for the most part.I suppose it will have to be somewhere in Asia, but that means the final leg to Moscow will be much longer.

 

[limlib]

Re: Flying from Sydney to Moscow for the first time - any suggestions for best carrie

SQ fly direct to Moscow from Singapore. Great airline and place for a stopover.

 

[jetlagger]

Re: Flying from Sydney to Moscow for the first time - any suggestions for best carrie

My first preference would be SQ, around the $2367. For August departures. Return in Y.
You could stopover in SIN on both directions, with a varieties of flight options & timings.
Just my 5c worth.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Re: Flying from Sydney to Moscow for the first time - any suggestions for best carrie

Chinese carriers seem to be pricing ~1400-1500 return if stopping somewhere in China tickles your fancy. (visa application may be required depending on length of stay)

Alternatively Finnair prices at ~2000-2100 and you can have a stopover in Helsinki (and SIN, HKG or BKK depending which way you go)

 

[serfty]

Try S7, ISTR some pretty good fares at times, and much on QF.

 

[markis10]

Re: Flying from Sydney to Moscow for the first time - any suggestions for best carrie

China Southern have today added Moscow options, the other option is to look at S7 for $2K return

Outbound:
Economy

S7 4606

Sydney
Departure 13 Aug 2013, 21:50


Abu Dhabi
Arrival 14 Aug 2013, 06:40 (+1)



Flight duration
14h 50min

Operated by Etihad Airways

S7 4402

Abu Dhabi
Departure 14 Aug 2013, 08:45 (+1)


Moscow, Domodedovo
Arrival 14 Aug 2013, 14:10 (+1)



Flight duration
5h 25min

Operated by Etihad Airways




Inbound:
Economy

S7 4401

Moscow, Domodedovo
Departure 20 Aug 2013, 15:10


Abu Dhabi
Arrival 20 Aug 2013, 20:25



Flight duration
5h 15min

Operated by Etihad Airways

S7 4605

Abu Dhabi
Departure 20 Aug 2013, 22:00


Sydney
Arrival 21 Aug 2013, 18:10 (+1)



Flight duration
14h 10min

Operated by Etihad Airways

 

[markis10]

Re: Flying from Sydney to Moscow for the first time - any suggestions for best carrie

Try S7, ISTR some pretty good fares at times, and much on QF.

S7 Codeshares no longer an option I am afraid with the move from SIN.

 

[jetlagger]

Re: Flying from Sydney to Moscow for the first time - any suggestions for best carrie

China Southern have today added Moscow options, the other option is to look at S7 for $2K return

Outbound:
Economy

S7 4606

Sydney
Departure 13 Aug 2013, 21:50


Abu Dhabi
Arrival 14 Aug 2013, 06:40 (+1)



Flight duration
14h 50min

Operated by Etihad Airways

S7 4402

Abu Dhabi
Departure 14 Aug 2013, 08:45 (+1)


Moscow, Domodedovo
Arrival 14 Aug 2013, 14:10 (+1)



Flight duration
5h 25min

Operated by Etihad Airways




Inbound:
Economy

S7 4401

Moscow, Domodedovo
Departure 20 Aug 2013, 15:10


Abu Dhabi
Arrival 20 Aug 2013, 20:25



Flight duration
5h 15min

Operated by Etihad Airways

S7 4605

Abu Dhabi
Departure 20 Aug 2013, 22:00


Sydney
Arrival 21 Aug 2013, 18:10 (+1)



Flight duration
14h 10min

Operated by Etihad Airways

EY is not so much on a desirable listing referencing my last two flights, will post my qualms later on the other threads.
The China carriers are also doing some attractive fares for the OP's desired sectors.

 

[Katie]

Re: Flying from Sydney to Moscow for the first time - any suggestions for best carrie

In Sept/Oct 2011, I flew CX BNE-(CNS)-HKG-DME-HKG-BNE. My other option, given the booking was made three days before departure, was Emirates, and I want to try to use oneworld perks, so went CX in Y. Thanks to traffic, I almost missed checking in for the flight home. Allow at least 2hrs for *travel* time to DME from downtown Moscow. I would have been fine if the car my office arranged had picked me up.

I stayed at the Metropol, can't remember the rates, but I remember being horrified (I'm used to the US where for work I'll stay in hotels around the USD100 mark). Very close to Red Square, and across the road from the Bolshoi theatre.

 

[sibbu]

Re: Flying from Sydney to Moscow for the first time - any suggestions for best carrie

yes, I had noticed the hotels are very expensive, I'll just have to put up with that and try to find a compromise close to the main attractions. It appears that Dubai offers the quickest trips, just didn't want to stopover there. I'll look closer at Singapore airlines and CX. I wish there were more choices via European stopovers, as I wouldn't mind stopping over there, but I guess I'll have to give up on that.

 

[Edge]

Re: Flying from Sydney to Moscow for the first time - any suggestions for best carrie

didn't fly to moscow directly 2 years ago so can't comment on flights. it was one of the legs in our trip that went melbourne-london-kiev-odessa-MOSCOW-stpetersburg-berlin-malta-nice-london-melbourne.

we stayed at the hilton moscow leningradskaya. great hotel for the price in moscow. not the absolute most central, but moscow is a pretty big place so to be walking distance from everything would be impossible. short walk to the train station which then provided easy access* everywhere. brekky there includes champagne & caviar!

*Easy Access courtesy of the fact my wife is fluent in russian and can read the language - makes navigating the train network a bit easier than it would otherwise.

 

[markis10]

Re: Flying from Sydney to Moscow for the first time - any suggestions for best carrie

Finnair is an option for around $2100, flying into SVO, they codeshare with BA ex Syd.

 

[scaredeycat]

Re: Flying from Sydney to Moscow for the first time - any suggestions for best carrie

JL charge about $2500 at that time of year and you can stopover in Tokyo. I'm not sure if the price includes one night in a hotel in Narita but in the past it has been.

 

[sibbu]

Re: Flying from Sydney to Moscow for the first time - any suggestions for best carrie

Wow! lots of interesting ideas to investigate. Thanks everyone for your help, it is greatly appreciated.

 

[get me outta here]

Re: Flying from Sydney to Moscow for the first time - any suggestions for best carrie

Alternatively Finnair prices at ~2000-2100 and you can have a stopover in Helsinki (and SIN, HKG or BKK depending which way you go) [/QUOTE]

I had a stop over for 2 days in HEL and loved it in summer. Had a great reasonably priced htl and they gave me a bike for the day - the best place for a little ride in summer.

And, if you like 10 different types of real bread with loads of other stuff for breakfast i can recommend Radisson SAS Plaza Hotel. If you are on a budget, it's easy to get from HEL a/port to the hotel on a local bus that gives a free tour of a few local spots.

 

[Wezza]

Re: Flying from Sydney to Moscow for the first time - any suggestions for best carrie

I'm in Russia now, It's my second trip here. First time I used CA (SYD-PEK-SVO) and this time I flew on SQ (BNE-SIN-DME). With CA, there are long layovers in PEK both directions. But on SQ the layovers are relatively short, especially when departing from SYD. Plus Changi is a nicer airport to be hanging around for a couple of hours.


Just a little tip, if you or anyone traveling with you can't speak Russian, try to learn the Russian alphabet. It's quite easy and will help you getting around a bit. A lot of signs are in both English and Russian but also a lot are just in Russian.

 

[Isochronous]

Re: Flying from Sydney to Moscow for the first time - any suggestions for best carrie

S7 used to offer good fares using QF MEL/SYD-SIN-FRA-DME, but with the imminent demise of FRA services does anyone know if S7 will be offering any alternatives with QF/oneworld?

I put a friend on AY via HEL and they loved it. Try booking Australia-SIN/BKK/HKG separately and then AY from the Asian port to save a bit of money.