Air New Zealand Air Points - Where should I make a stop in the Pacific when returning to the U.S.?

I'm setting up a LAX-SYD--MEL-AKL-(pacific island)-LAX for August/September (returning AKL-(pacific island)-LAX Sep. 11 to Sep.15)

I'm trying to decide which Pacific island I should make a three-day stop on.
I've tried to figure out which flights are non-stop from AKL to which pacific island, and what flights are flown from the pacific island non-stop/direct to LAX, but the NZ web site is not cooperating right now.

So where should I go, Nadi, Papeete, Rarotonga, Apia or Tongatapu? Whis island is the nicest?

RAR-LAX arrives on Sept 16th (is that too late for you?)
APW-LAX & TBU-LAX are on Sept 11th (is that too early for you?)
NAN-LAX is on Sept 14th
PPT-LAX discontinued from April.

Most of the islands have several flights a week to AKL, but only 1 or 2 to LAX.

Non-Stop Flights from:

NAN to LAX NZ18 Mon, Wed, Fri.
PPT to LAX NZ4092(TN002) Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun
RAR to LAX NZ14 Wed, Sat
APW to LAX NZ26 Tue

TBU is via APW


Interesting question on which island to visit. Depends on what your expectations are from a Pacific Island. Type of accommodation, activities, shopping etc.

Site's working fine for me ... flight schedule (http://airnewzealand.innosked.com/default.aspx?countrycode=US&language=EN).

Daily flights are not available to/from most of these islands as others have pointed out, so if your schedule is fixed then that will eliminate some.

As far as which is the "nicest" ? Take a look around David Stanley's (http://www.southpacific.org/) site. His books are great BTW.

I've been to the Cook Islands and Fiji and like both, but prefer the Cooks. They're more self catered and less crowded, though the Survivor effect may change this temporarily. I'll make a determination, in person, in about 3 weeks :)

I'm setting up a LAX-SYD--MEL-AKL-(pacific island)-LAX for August/September (returning AKL-(pacific island)-LAX Sep. 11 to Sep.15)

I'm trying to decide which Pacific island I should make a three-day stop on.
I've tried to figure out which flights are non-stop from AKL to which pacific island, and what flights are flown from the pacific island non-stop/direct to LAX, but the NZ web site is not cooperating right now.

So where should I go, Nadi, Papeete, Rarotonga, Apia or Tongatapu? Whis island is the nicest?

I like Rarotonga, however you should note that AIr NZ dont fly the same planes to the islands as they do AKL-LAX, if you are carrying on it will most likely be the 767, this has no PTV's, no flat beds in C, no Premium economy and you will most likely have to stop in Tahiti for an hour or so as well.

All that said, its a great place.

tht

I like Rarotonga, however you should note that AIr NZ dont fly the same planes to the islands as they do AKL-LAX, if you are carrying on it will most likely be the 767, this has no PTV's, no flat beds in C, no Premium economy and you will most likely have to stop in Tahiti for an hour or so as well.

All that said, its a great place.

tht

Not any more. There is no PPT-LAX. Also RAR-LAX becomes nonstop. It is however on 767 (old longhaul product).