Budget Travel - Should I wait for better fares to NZ?

Can I expect airfare deals to come out later this year for high-season (early-mid January) flights to New Zealand from the USA? Right now I have something on hold, but it's REALLY expensive (r/t from east coast about $2200).

I'm willing to wait as I can't imagine it getting more expensive than this, but what is the likelyhood of those South Pacific airlines announcing January travel deals to New Zealand later this summer or into the fall?

Any expertise (or experience) would be appreciated, and if you have an idea of what I may expect to pay, that would be great. Thanks.

$2200 does sound a little pricey, but it's hard to say for sure without knowing exactly where you are departing from, and what airline/stopover preferences you have.

A quick search shows Air Pacific from LA to AKL for $US1224 (all in) for some random dates I put in for next January. And I'd imagine you'd be able to get a ticket from a big East Coast city to LA for $250-$300, giving a total in the $US1500 range.

This plan does have the disadvantage that you are buying two tickets, and could be in for some difficulties if you have a flight delay, but if you are looking for the cheapest option I'd say you can do better than $US2200.

Hope that helps.

Yeah, I've seen that Air Pacific has the best going rate right now, and I've even seen moderately priced additions to the Air Pacific leg for only a few hundred more. The thing is, the Air Pacific flights are poorly timed with long layovers, and as you mention, a missed flight would be a travel headache and a half.

I'm shooting for something on either Qantas or Air New Zealand, via LAX. I've got a feeling I'll see better than $2200 for that flight plan. I'm just looking to poll the audience on their experiences of seeing "deals" for the high season come out later this year.

Thanks, schmare.

No problem. ...

Looked a little bit more, and here's two more suggestions:

1. Look at UA - they codeshare with NZ, and seem to have fares in the $1800 range for January. This would get you all on one ticket rather than splitting it up in LA.

2. If you are leaving from the NYC area, look into Emirates. They are showing a fare of $1817 all in. Emirates allows a free stop in Dubai - definitely a city worth visiting. EK will take longer than going via the Pacific, but personally I'd prefer a longer flight on EK to a shorter flight on UA/NZ any day.

Wow, since Emirates would take me eastbound thorugh DXB to AKL, I wouldn't make any of the connecting flights to get me there in a timely manner. Similarly, on the way back, it would take 2 days to get home.

I'm actually leaving from DC. I keep looking day by day for some sort of "deal," but I think I'll need to wait for some sort of announced deal by the big airlines. My main concern, however, is that given that it'll be high season down there, will they ever announce a deal?

Thanks.

Air New Zealand always has specials, even for high season, that are much less than this. However, they don't put them out until about 2 months beforehand. If you are interested in these: (1) get yourself on their e-mail mailing list, which will get the new annoucements to you immediately (sometimes before the faresa are loaded!), and (2) check their web specials on the ANZ site--they don't always come up in other searches.

Right now they don't show any specials for January, but starting Feb 1 you can get $926 LAX-AKL ($1135 with taxes and stuff) and the availability is still excellent.

In the past ANZ has always had something for $1000 or less if you wait, but this year could be very different, so it depends on your level of risk-taking. (I only travel for vacations, so I just go somewhere else if I don't like the fare that's available.)

AusTravel is a travel agency that has had Air Pacific fares in the past that weren't on a web site, only available through them.

Just adding to my own previous post--when I said they don't come out until about 2 months beforehand, I meant the ones for high season at the lowest cost. Right now, they have decent deals on almost everything **except** what you want.

I've been following their monthly web specials for a number of years, and they almost always have something at least moderately decent as you get closer to the date. Do you have to go in January? Slightly off-high season is a bit nicer and less crowded.

Yeah, I need to do during this time. It's my honeymoon, and this is the only time my fiancee has two weeks off from school (other than during our summer/NZ winter, which is no good).

Maybe. Early January is the busiest couple of travel weeks though.

Things to check out. What about going to Australia (SYD or MEL) and separate ticket to NZ (which is NZ$500 return or less about US$300)? Also check out going via europe (probably more expensive but never know). Airlines that fly to NZ from europe include Thai, Singapore, Royal Brunei, Austrian (to Australia with codeshare to NZ), Cathay Pacific, Emirates.

Also check out round the world fares (see the alliance forum of your choice).