Air New Zealand Air Points - Mileage Run anyone? Bargain fares Australia to Hawaii

Just seen this amazing deal (http://www.bestflights.com.au/cgi-bin/202/flights?maindetails=2090) in the bestflights newsletter...

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Air New Zealand Unbelievable Prices to Hawaii!!

From $639 return plus taxes

Description:
There is definately no better time than now to visit Hawaii, there's a superb exchange rate and these prices are the best we've seen for years!!!

Featured prices are for flights with Air New Zealand to Honolulu.
Stopovers are allowed in Auckland in each direction.

This is a land fare which means that to be valid for the featured fares, you also have to spend a minimum of $150 per person towards some kind of land arrangement, car hire, or accommodation is normally the most popular choice.

For some ideas on land arrangements please click here.

Maximum stay if 1 month and minimum stay is 4 nights.
The great thing about these land fares is that it would be impossible NOT TO spend a minimum of $150 per person when you get there any way, so, doing it before you leave our shores is cheaper and more relaxing.

Taxes are inlcuded in these prices.


Important Notes
The featured prices do not include government taxes, levies or charges.

The average additional taxes for a North American trip are approx $185 per person depending on your chosen routing.

Visit our exclusive tax guide here TAX VIEWER for up to date information regarding taxes, which change daily.

The taxes vary and are determined by your final routing.

Departures on or between 22 May-19 Jun 20 Jun-30 Jun 21 Jul-14 Sep
Sydney 639 829 639
Melbourne 639 829 639
Brisbane 639 829 639
Cairns 829 999 829
Perth 999 1199 999

North America Online !!! </font>

That wouldn't be too bad a price for a fare to NZ, let alone a fare to Hawaii via NZ! Note that the schedules are such that the first SYD-AKL flight of the day doesn't arrive in time to connect with the AKL-HNL flight, so you have no choice but to overnight in AKL. Coming back works much better.

Those loads to HNL must be worse than ever!

Yeh, i thought about that one, 11,480 miles round trip, very very nice. If I hadn't requalified for *G in Apr, I would have definitely done it. Pretty low cost per mile. Min $150 ground spend. However, it has a min 4 day requirement which isn't that handy when doing a run plus adding in AKL.

Hrmmm though, in saying that, are you thinking of doing it Mad_atta? perhaps we could go off one w/end and make a FT w/end of it!! thoughts?? i'm flexible but would prefer a thurs or fri, return asap but a tues... for the min 4 days...

This is an amazing deal I reckon.

Any itinary (sp) ideas for the 4 day mimimum
and cheap accommodation in HNL???????

Brent

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by MrSydney:
This is an amazing deal I reckon.

Any itinary (sp) ideas for the 4 day mimimum
and cheap accommodation in HNL???????

Brent</font>


MrSydney, if you have a look at mad_atta's link above, and click on the link at the bottom of the landing page, it has accomodation for your A$150... you'll see in there they have tours from A$89-180 or so, and they also have accomodation for A$59 per night!!! I think this is per room, so that's easy working where to put the $150... i don't know if its the best hotel, but it's great for a low cost mileage run, the other alternative is booking a good rate on priceline, redeeming HH or SPG points for a free stay, and then using the min A$150 you have to spend towards a tour.....

Anyone else interested??? We could do September... that will be in the new qualification year for retaining *G again for me... The cost of a companion award is a little bit dear at 56,000 NZ airpoints, considering you can buy a fare for $639... better use for airpoints than that :-)


[This message has been edited by kawoh (edited 05-24-2003).]

To answer your question, kawoh, no I'm not really contemplating taking advantage of the offer, since I have a RTW coming up in August which will use up most of my $$$ and annual leave allowance, and will also get me to *G. Plus, we're stopping in HNL on that trip!

However, I do have to be in NZ for a wedding for the weekend of July 5th/6th, which will cost me $650 (incl tax) so I did contemplate adding on a side trip to HNL for the extra miles, however my timing is all wrong as the deal doesn't seem to be on for those dates.

I wonder if the minimum stay requirement is 4 nights in Hawaii, or is it just 4 nights away from Australia e.g. 4 nights in NZ and then just fly to HNL, turn around and come straight back? That was going to be my plan, and I was going to put the $150 towards acommodation for when we pass through HNL on our RTW. Alas, it is not to be, but I'm curious about the 4 night rule nonetheless...

Absolutely amazing: A mileage run on the NZ board.

At that price I would be mad to pass it up - especially considering that I haven't stepped foot on an aircraft since Feb 4th (yes I have taken to drinking to try and hide the shakes - mind my friends seem to think that this remedy is somewhat counter productive.)

Just as a little aside...
It seems as if we have a group of semi-regular posters from Sydney; would it perhaps be worthwhile to go for a drink one night somewhere? I might be so bold as to suggest that if we ask Kawoh very nicely he *may* take us to the home of the $7 T-bone in the city. We can all then produce our Westpac visa cards to earn the extra 7 NZ miles!

Best Regards

Bradley

Luftaom! long time no speak. I've since found a number of other excellent establishments with great value:

Veda - $5 steaks lunch and dinner
The Hunter - $7.99 steaks and a range of other dishes lunch only
Arizonas - $5 steaks, and a range of other dishes, lunch only
Arizonas - $5 cocktails 5pm-8pm every weeknight, INCLUDING friday!

But there's nothing beating the $7 steak at the metro. Now, if only the metro was an altitude bonus partner....

So who else would like to catch up ??



[This message has been edited by kawoh (edited 05-25-2003).]

Call me a party pooper (or just a boring b@st@rd!) but I'm not really into the whole meet up in person thing.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by kawoh:
But there's nothing beating the $7 steak at the metro. Now, if only the metro was an altitude bonus partner....</font>

However, if you guys do decide to organise a get-together, might I suggest that the $5 steaks at Forresters (http://www.forresters.com.au) in Surry Hills are none-too-shabby though, and it's a much nicer place than the Metro (where the patterned carpets are enough to induce epilepsy!). However, I don't think it's an Altitude bonus partner either... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

[edited for UBB, spelling and general ineptitude]

[This message has been edited by mad_atta (edited 05-25-2003).]

C'mon mad_atta, let's have a catch up!! we can go out and party in darlinghurst after forresters if you want! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

i'm sure we can find some westpac bonus partner nearby (hoyts, sydney airport parking.... there must be others closer.....!)

You guys are far more crazy than I thought http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif ... but I was about to suggest the place in Surry Hills as well. Good thing about it is that after a huge dinner you can just roll down the hill to Central station.

Anyway, I would be in (the steak not the Hawaii MR).

Hey sydfly, did you get the thank you package i sent through to you?? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

kawoh, YGM already... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

By Gosh! An inept anti-social kiwi living in New Zealand's second biggest city... well I never!

If you really want to go the whole hog (I much prefer beef by the way) we could go to Metropolis in North Sydney... They have 2 dollar drinks from 5 till 9 Mon-Thurs from memory. The only downside is that you risk contracting some exotic disease suitable for use in germ warfare rounds if you touch anything!

Whatever we do decide to go for might I suggest a Thursday night - the fine establishments which have been mentioned wont be as busy on a Thursday night and it isn't as if Australians are renowned for working super hard on Fridays anyway (yes I know you are exempt from that Hatta - but we will afford you quasi-citizenship if you do make an appearance).

If not then Kawoh is onto a winner! - maybe we could see if SACL and Hoyts could do a joint venture and utilise the long term carpark at night - drive in movies... double double points on our altitude cards!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by luftaom:
By Gosh! An inept anti-social kiwi living in New Zealand's second biggest city... well I never!
</font>

Antisocial I can handle, but inept? inept!?!? Why you little...

&lt;mad_atta ponders engaging in the NZ forum's first ever flame war...&gt; http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by luftaom:
...we will afford you quasi-citizenship if you do make an appearance...</font>

And is that supposed to be an incentive?!? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/eek.gif

Just getting this thread momentarily back on topic (gasp!) to point out that for anyone who credits their AKL-HNL-AKL flights to Aeroplan, they'll also receive double miles up until May 31. Not bad!

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

[edited for UBB, spelling and general ineptitude]

[This message has been edited by mad_atta (edited 05-25-2003).]</font>

Cant handle the truth hey mate?

Is someone going to suggest a date or is it going to be left to me - which if it is the case is slightly worrying... as I would have trouble organising a drinking session in a pub.

Aaaah, but who said it was my own ineptitude that I was referring to... I could, for example, have been referring to someone sufficiently inept as to "have trouble organising a drinking session in a pub"... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Anyway, what's with the polite terminology? I'd hate to try to teach you Aussies your own vernacular, but aren't you really talking about a pissup in a brewery? (FT's profanity blocking is too American-orientated to pick up on these sort of things, you see...)

But but but ... I was just following the new standing orders of the New Zealand parliament...

The speaker of your parliament has in recent weeks given repremands to members who have used such words as "bugger" and "pissup", subsequently orderering that they be withdrawn and not entered into Hansard. It is for this reason that I refrained from the use of such words on this forum - it is quite obvious to me that Kiwis are an overly sensitive group of people and I would hate to use distasteful and unspeakable words which may offend the overly sensitive New Zealand population on this of all forums. That's what is with the polite terminology :-)

As you can nodoubt see I really should get a life and then (and possibly only then) I may have better things to do than catch up on new standing orders to the NZ parliament. So will somebody please suggest a date, time and venue?

is mad_atta coming along http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by kawoh:
is mad_atta coming along http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif</font>

No, but he is particularly enjoying all the grandstanding! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by luftaom:
But but but ... I was just following the new standing orders of the New Zealand parliament...

The speaker of your parliament has in recent weeks given repremands to members who have used such words as "bugger" and "pissup", subsequently orderering that they be withdrawn and not entered into Hansard. It is for this reason that I refrained from the use of such words on this forum - it is quite obvious to me that Kiwis are an overly sensitive group of people and I would hate to use distasteful and unspeakable words which may offend the overly sensitive New Zealand population on this of all forums. That's what is with the polite terminology :-)

As you can nodoubt see I really should get a life and then (and possibly only then) I may have better things to do than catch up on new standing orders to the NZ parliament. So will somebody please suggest a date, time and venue?</font>

As for luftaom's newfound sensitivity - might I advise that using parlimentarians as role models is a slippery slope indeed!

If mad_atta doesn't come i'm not coming!!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by kawoh:
If mad_atta doesn't come i'm not coming!!</font>

I'm flattered, kawoh sweetie, really I am, but we've been through this. You're a big boy now - you're allowed to go down to the end of the town without consulting me!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by mad_atta:
Just getting this thread momentarily back on topic (gasp!) to point out that for anyone who credits their AKL-HNL-AKL flights to Aeroplan, they'll also receive double miles up until May 31. Not bad!</font>

Uncharacteristically returning once again to the topic, if anyone buys this deal through Flight Centre (assuming it is available through Flight Centre as well as Best Flights) they'll also earn at least 7 points per dollar spent on their Altitude card. (If you believe the Altitude mailout it's 11 points per dollar, but the website says 7...)

7 points?? I thought for every $3 you spend, you get 4 altitude points.... so slight better than 1 points per $1....