Malaysia has direct flight to London too. Just that that there is a difference in ticket price. Direct may cost nearly triple.
@Anne.323 yes thatās correct. My flight via Shanghai I paid $580 one way from Australia. That same flight, I just looked it up, was $1,800 for just one leg from Shanghai to London. My first leg is no longer available but the following day is $1700 for that first leg. So instead of $580 for the whole flight, it is currently $3,400 Australian Dollars - one way 
Itās like traveling business class now. And I donāt have that much money to begin with 
Yes Anne, hence I had to reluctantly cancel my trip as I only had a one way ticket and the return flight is getting higher every day. Thereās always a tomorrow - hopefully 
I wonder if the āanti American sentimentā mentioned in this article survey is imagined or based on real experiences though. Thereās a lot of misinformation in the American media, for example about London. Iām on a London travel forum, and many Americans ask about safety, being under the impression that London is very dangerous which itās certainly not.
Iāve not noticed any anti American sentiment towards individuals, theyāre more likely to be met with āsympathyā tbh.
Thereās a lot of mis and disinformation, that unfortunately is often not fact checked. London murder rates (per 100,00) are lower than many other European capitals and certainly American cities.
The website Nationmaster is a good start point for many different categories for comparison e.g. violent crime, that can then be verified,
The rules of this forum prohibit me from making any mention of anything relating to anti-American sentiment, that may or may not be on the increase.
Itās an interesting question. Iāve read some other articles recently projecting that anti-American sentiment is growing, and that people are less forgiving of Americans abroad even when we apologize, these days. Iāve also seen some rather virulent posts on social media lately, but who knows whoās doing the posting? Thereās a lot of trolls and foreign agents out there.
Iām in Ireland now, and Iāve been treated with nothing but kindness & empathy, as was the case last Fall. But I also donāt think I come across as the stereotypical āugly American,ā and I tend to wear my thoughts on my sleeveā¦ 
In any case, I was really posting it re: the point that travel was getting cancelled. Probably should have cropped the graphic tighter.
I do wonder though if the American demographic that travels abroad has a more enlightened/knowledgeable perspective on global cultures/diversity/politicsā¦.. the American tourists Iām meeting with these days seem to be Europhiles. We get 11 million tourists in my City and I still have friends who are Tour Guides. (After I retired I became a volunteer City Tour Guide).
āTravel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all oneās lifetime.ā
ā Mark Twain, 1869, The Innocents Abroad / Roughing It
The more we travel the more we comment on the fact that most people worldwide want the same thing, a good safe life for themselves and their family. It really shouldnāt be so hard to have that.
Yes and launching Artemis II doesnāt help
When I first thought of pet sitting internationally, coming from what many would call a third-world country, I carried quiet worries about how I might be seen.
But after 43 sits, being welcomed into homes and trusted to care for beloved furry family members, I discovered something simple and beautifulāa community of people with generous and compassionate hearts. Along the way, many have become friends.
Just as I am not a reflection of my country as a whole, the people I met were not always what my imagination had painted either.
Open heart, open mindāand let kindness do the rest.
Beautifully said Anne, well done 
Just lovely.
It does sadden me that the the US is now so closed off from the international community of sitters. It was what we liked about THS in the first place - the exchange. Not just of home care / travel - but the cultural exchange of travelers from far flung places.
We are having a great time with our current sitters and they will enjoy their time with our pets when we leave. After this sit thoughā¦we have one more this year for a week in September that weāll try to post, but the prospects arenāt great (we arenāt oceanfront, or in Hawaii LOL), at least thatās how it feels.
Maybe our last year here. That September sit is what Iām calling a bellweather posting. Hope it works out, but if notā¦maybe weāll be back in a couple of years.
(Edited to meet Forum posting Guidelines)
This wonāt help for April travel plans and thereās still some risk of disruption depending on status of the conflict, but just read this:
https://travellingforbusiness.co.uk/news/etihad-airways-50-percent-fare-sale-middle-east-conflict/
Excerpt from press release posted on multiple sites, as link preview doesnāt seem to be formatting correctly:
Etihad Airways cuts fares by 50% as war hits demand for travel
The state-owned carrier is slashing prices for May and June ā as low as Ā£688 from London to Sydney ā in the hope that the Middle East conflict will ease
Thanks @MerryPuppins but as I already have a one way flight paid for, Bne to LGW, I would only be looking at a one way flight around August. These advertised flights are return. First time ever I wish I had bought a return ticket as that ticket cost couldnāt be increased. Itās all so very confusing - go, not go, go, not go. Itās the one way cost that has gone up so much and who knows what a crazy lunatic might do next to cause more problems.
I hear you. Funny that I was just thinking I wish Iād booked r/t this time, too.
As an aside, posted this as general info for others as wellā¦just couldnāt decide the best post to attach it to. 
I looked for Etihad flights from the UK to Australia in May and June and found none of the low fares. every trip was priced. at Ā£1000 plus each way. This was after reading a similar article in The Sunday Times.