Air New Zealand Air Points - Fares/availability to NZ at Easter '09

We are attending a family wedding in ChCh next Easter. LAX-AKL is already showing limited availability, and what seem to me to be pretty high fares (approx $9K for 4 adults, 1 child, dep 3/28, ret 4/12). Is this likely to change, or should I get locked in now to avoid non-availability later on?

Grateful for any advice....

Easter is a busy travel period as it often coincides with school holidays in NZ.

How flexible are your dates? Routing? (Check out SFO-AKL-CHC or even YVR-AKL-CHC, or LAX-HNL-AKL-CHC)

It might be cheaper going via Australia LAX-SYD-CHC or LAX-MEL-CHC, but then you'll have UA for the long transpacific flights.

What about LAX-SYD on DJ if they have cheap fares going, then SYD-CHC on QF, NZ, JQ or DJ?

Does DJ fly out of LAX?

Yes. Starting from December 08.

Lol, United Airlines might even have a BYO seat class by then.