I really want to return to New Zealand this January for 3 weeks. I haven't been there for 10 years now and miss it dearly. There doesn't seem to be any inexpensive air tcikets/deals that I can find.
Any recommendations or ideas ?

Welcome to the boards Mokiwi!

It might be a silly question but from where are you planning on going to NZ from? Presumably it's from the States. If you could give some hints as far as departure cities and your preference for airlines goes then certainly something can be worked out. At the moment a $700-900 deal from NYC pops into mind with plenty of miles to be earned and more places to see.

I don't know about the writer of the initial post, but I too want to vivit NZ in January. ORD is my origin--United is first choice (have a SWU to burn), but I could be talked out of it. The fares I've seen are about double what one would pay from ORD to BKK, a roughly comparable distance. Any ideas?

Look in the Sunday LA newspaper travel section. Sometimes you can find a really good deal. Also check into consolidator tickets. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/smile.gif

I'll try it--I'll be in LA on Sept. 16. Anyone have experience with consolidators? Is it possible to customize a trip--stopovers, for example? Can the tickets be upgraded? Thanks.

Some airlines used to have an around the world ticket that permitted stops. You can't go to the same place twice except to change planes.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by lf tom:
I don't know about the writer of the initial post, but I too want to vivit NZ in January. ORD is my origin--United is first choice (have a SWU to burn), but I could be talked out of it. The fares I've seen are about double what one would pay from ORD to BKK, a roughly comparable distance. Any ideas?</font>
The fares to NZ and Australia are always high, especially during the southern summer. However, if you have UA MP 1P or 1K status, a couple or three runs to SIN from ORD will net you the miles for a C class capacity controlled ticket (90,000) or an unrestricted Y (100,000) for much less than the normal cost. If you want to pay, check the Air NZ web site (airnewzealand.com) for specials (almost never matched by UA) In June they had LAX-AKL for $US899 return, but the number of seats is limited.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Kiwiboy2000:
The fares to NZ and Australia are always high, especially during the southern summer. However, if you have UA MP 1P or 1K status, a couple or three runs to SIN from ORD will net you the miles for a C class capacity controlled ticket (90,000) or an unrestricted Y (100,000) for much less than the normal cost. If you want to pay, check the Air NZ web site (airnewzealand.com) for specials (almost never matched by UA) In June they had LAX-AKL for $US899 return, but the number of seats is limited.[/B]</font>

I just got back from NZ and I was able to do something with airfare and hotel for five nights in Queenstown for around $1,800. I looked to see what the prices were on Orbitz for a potential trip in the summer or fall and said, forget it. Not going to happen, since it's like $1,800 for the airfare alone!

So, I'll save my miles up and go there next year for free. It'll take 90,000 for business class on United so we'll go with that.

Kiwiboy, first of all, I can tell you're from down there since you referred to it as a return flight, instead of a round trip flight. But what I'm thinking of doing is using a Kiwi travel agency to book the travel since it appears that the prices are about the same in US$ and NZ$, and the US$ is very strong.

Have you tried this? I gotta see if I can pull this off, because then, a $NZ 2,000 flight is less than $US 1,000 and that will make a nice trip out there a hell of a lot more affordable!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by mdtony:


Kiwiboy, first of all, I can tell you're from down there since you referred to it as a return flight, instead of a round trip flight. But what I'm thinking of doing is using a Kiwi travel agency to book the travel since it appears that the prices are about the same in US$ and NZ$, and the US$ is very strong.

Have you tried this? I gotta see if I can pull this off, because then, a $NZ 2,000 flight is less than $US 1,000 and that will make a nice trip out there a hell of a lot more affordable!</font>

As the name may imply, I am ex-Kiwi (now Yankiwi for 20 years) The fares are very different depending on where they are sold. From NZ to US is much cheaper in $US than from the US, but if you look at the fine print, the NZ fares are only available for delivery to NZ addresses, and must originate there.

Check out the United Airlines or Air NZ NZ websites

http://www.unitedairlines.co.nz/
http://www.airnz.co.nz

This past summer I began to realize just how much more we in the US are paying for the same items. A well optioned V6 Toyota Camry in NZ runs about $US15,0000, and I am sure they are not taking a loss on the sale.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Kiwiboy2000:
NZ fares are only available for delivery to NZ addresses, and must originate there.
</font>

I am not too sure about that. So far I have always had my tickets delivered by the travel agent to Qantas desk at AKL departures lounge. And if you purchase a biz or 1st ticket then they are willing to do almost anything for you (after all, such tickets cost a lot of money as far as Kiwis are concerned).

From memory AKL-LAX-AKL is US$800 in coach and biz is US$2500 all the way to Europe via US. Who can beat this?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Kiwiboy2000:
A well optioned V6 Toyota Camry in NZ runs about $US15,0000, and I am sure they are not taking a loss on the sale. </font>


The problem is that it has right hand steering i.e. the wheel is on the wrong side as far as the States are concerned. Conversion cost will wipe out any possible savings, unless you manage to convince the dealer to sell you a left hand drive car...

BTW KiwiBoy2000, I have a couple of NZ motor vehicle related questions for you (providing that you are familiar with such issues) but since you don't display your e-mail then I can't ask them in a private e-mail.

If you have any knowledge on the matter then could you kindly send me a mail?

My best recommendation is to fly singapore all the way and use the Singapore stopove, you can get a pretty doecent deal but make sure you book through an Asian travel agent as they have Q class fares that sometimes are not published on the web.

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AA GOLD

[This message has been edited by Kiwi Flyer (edited Nov 25, 2003).]