I'm planning a honeymoon for Early October 2009 and would like to use Aeroplan points to redeem a star alliance award. I would be departing from YYZ. If anyone has suggestions on an island destination in the South Pacific and 2 stop over locations that would be great.
Fiji also has Star Alliance-operated flights (NZ).
Not from North America. The LAX-NAN NZ-branded flights are operated by Air Pacific, so they're not available for awards.
Of course the OP can first fly to Auckland and then fly to Fiji, but doing that would use up more time.
First flying to Auckland would give more south pacific destination options, but the fuel surcharges tend to go up sharply compared to the non-stop LAX-RAR/TBU/APW flights.
Your options are very limited, as only Rarotonga, Samoa and Tonga have Star Alliance-operated flights.
My strong advice would be Rarotonga, with a side-trip to Aitutaki.
And all of these islands are served with 767, and hence no premium economy? Guess only the non-stop AKL-USA/Canada flights is operated with 777/747? Trying to do the same as OP, but from Europe...
And all of these islands are served with 767, and hence no premium economy? Guess only the non-stop AKL-USA/Canada flights is operated with 777/747? Trying to do the same as OP, but from Europe...
LAX/SFO/YVR-AKL nonstop are on 777 or 747.
HNL-AKL is on 767.
To/from LAX all LAX-islands-AKL routes are on 767.
To/from AKL and not continuing to LAX, most routes are on 767, some on A320 and some on 777 (at least RAR did last year I haven't checked since Air NZ rejigged their a/c usage).
If you have *G status, the 767 and A320 have space+ seats at the front of economy with extra legroom for no additional charge.
LAX/SFO/YVR-AKL nonstop are on 777 or 747.
HNL-AKL is on 767.
To/from LAX all LAX-islands-AKL routes are on 767.
To/from AKL and not continuing to LAX, most routes are on 767, some on A320 and some on 777 (at least RAR did last year I haven't checked since Air NZ rejigged their a/c usage).
If you have *G status, the 767 and A320 have space+ seats at the front of economy with extra legroom for no additional charge.
How's the quality of the seats and service upfront? I would like to burn up 200,000 in miles on a star alliance award in exec for 2.
