Air New Zealand Air Points - Consolidators/Advice for US-AKL-NAN trip

Hi all,

My fiancee and I are looking to go to New Zealand and Fiji for our honeymoon in November/December of this year. We'd like to travel in Business class, and of course also experience NZ's new seats (772 or 744 instead of 767); we're looking at revenue tickets to earn the miles, but would consider interesting combinations of revenue/award as necessary.

Our current tenative routing is as follows; we're getting married in New York, but live in Seattle, hence the differing start/end points:

JFK - LAX - AKL (stopover) NAN (stopover) AKL - LAX/SFO/? - SEA

The JFK-LAX and LAX-SEA legs would be on UA. I'd rather route NAN-AKL-LAX to get the new Business class instead of the 767 NAN-LAX.

I was looking for advice on the following items:
1. Are there any good sources for discounted business class fares on NZ for this routing? I've been looking at some of the 2-for-1 programs (e.g. American Express Platinum), but they're fairly restrictive and the full-fare is about $9500US.
2. Would you split up the US-AKL and AKL-NAN segments for cost reasons, or book it as a large circle trip? Would it make sense to use miles for one set of those flights?
3. I've looked at *A Circle Pacific fares a little through UA. I'm not sure we qualify since we only have 2 stopovers...we could potentially add a third, but I'm also not sure whether the return routing through AKL would be allowed. Any other tips for trying to do a Circle Pacific fare?
4. Can I book Economy and use my UA miles to upgrade? (I believe answer is no.) What instruments can be used to upgrade on NZ, and what is the likelihood of those being available?

Thanks for all your help!

Hi all,

3. I've looked at *A Circle Pacific fares a little through UA. I'm not sure we qualify since we only have 2 stopovers...we could potentially add a third, but I'm also not sure whether the return routing through AKL would be allowed. Any other tips for trying to do a Circle Pacific fare?



With Circle Pacific, a) you will have to start at either LAX, SFO or SEA - which means a separate ticket from JFK to LAX, SFO or SEA and b) you will have to have a North Pacific crossing.

Congratulations seadan

You cannot upgrade on Air NZ using United miles. You can however, subject to availability and sufficient points, book an award in business class on NZ using United miles.

While regular round trip fares from US to NZ often allow a stopover in the islands they will not allow backtracking through AKL. Probably the most cost-effective simple fare would be from LAX to NZ return and get separate tickets for the start and end. If you do this be sure to allow several hours connection time (or next day preferably) to minimise the misconnection risk you will bear by having separate tickets.

On circle and round the world products you can backtrack from Fiji through Auckland, subject to having sufficient mileage. A circle pacific fare might look something like US-NRT-AKL-NAN-AKL-US where US means LAX/SFO/SEA. You'll need another stopover but this might be possible be within US (eg route back via LAX and stopover there for final destination SEA). Note I don't have a copy of the rules handy so haven't confirmed this is in fact possible.

Circle pacific and round the world fares are quite high ex-USA. If you can get to asia or NZ or some of the pacific islands cheaply (or on points) to start from there that will save money, and allow a second trip on the same ticket. However you may find that is more hassle than you want at what is already a busy/stressful time.

The star alliance forum is a good place to find more information and advice.

Thanks KiwiFlyer! That's helpful information.

I did a bit more poking around and unfortunately there's absolutely no C award availability on any routings US-AKL for the week we want to go outbound. I did manage to pick up some AKL-NAN award seats, though. So now I'm looking into the possibility of finding a good discount business class or consolidator fare US-AKL. Current prices are up over US$7k; while the Circle Pacific ex-US might be expensive, I was quoted US$4785k + taxes (through UA), which certainly seems like the fare to beat if we go revenue.

I've also tried looking at some 2-for-1 deals; American Express required a full-fare ticket at US$9.5k, Ameniti doesn't book on NZ, and I'm not sure what else is out there.

Can anyone recommend any places to get NZ discounted business fares?

Is that fare from UA on NZ metal - USD4785 seems much better than usual NZ Business fares ex US?

Is that fare from UA on NZ metal - USD4785 seems much better than usual NZ Business fares ex US?

That was the UA Circle Pacific C fare quoted to me.

Frankly, I'd take the 2-for-1 on Amex Plat in this situation; $9500 for two tix ($4750 each) and fly on NZ metal vs. paying $4785 to fly on UA. The lost miles on the 2nd ticket just aren't really worth it, but that's just me.

Frankly, I'd take the 2-for-1 on Amex Plat in this situation; $9500 for two tix ($4750 each) and fly on NZ metal vs. paying $4785 to fly on UA. The lost miles on the 2nd ticket just aren't really worth it, but that's just me.

It still be on NZ metal, I believe, although perhaps some legs would have to be on UA due to circle routing.

It still be on NZ metal, I believe, although perhaps some legs would have to be on UA due to circle routing.

Not entirely true. As it is a circle routing on *A, you will be able to route with NZ to AKL and NAN then use SQ onto SIN and NRT (you could even stop in BKK or another SE Asian destination) then on to NRT and use NH for the transpac. It may even be possible to use SQ16 SIN-ICN-SFO and get SQ new J for the transpac.

That would be my choice as you would be able to slot in another destination in Asia and you would get a few more miles all while flying on great carriers anyway for a similar cost.

For the OP's reference, here is a list of LAX, SEA and SFO *A north-crossing transpacs off the top of my head:

UA
LAX-NRT
SFO-NRT
SFO-TPE
SFO-NGO
SFO-KIX
SFO-ICN
SFO-PVG
SFO-PEK
SFO-HKG
SEA-NRT
LAX-SYD/MEL
SFO-SYD

SQ
LAX-NRT
SFO-ICN (new J and F)
SFO-HKG
LAX-TPE (new J and F on select dates)
LAX-SIN

OZ
LAX-ICN
SFO-ICN (new J)
SEA-ICN (new J)

NH
LAX-NRT (new J and F)
SFO-NRT (new J and new F when there's F)

I believe YVR is also a valid point for the Circle Pacs. If it is, then you can also add SQ YVR-ICN, and AC YVR-NRT/KIX/PVG/HKG/PEK/ICN. New J on YVR-NRT in July and YVR-HKG later in the year.

Thanks KiwiFlyer! That's helpful information.

I did a bit more poking around and unfortunately there's absolutely no C award availability on any routings US-AKL for the week we want to go outbound.

Did you check SEA-NRT on UA and NRT-AKL on NZ? A bit roundabout, but via Narita worked for me.