Qantas vs. Air NZ in F from North America
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: RIC
Programs: US CP, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Plat, *wood Gold, Amex Plat
Posts: 1,600
Qantas vs. Air NZ in F from North America
I have been dreaming of a four week trip to Australia & New Zealand for eons and after months of fruitless attempts, have finally booked 2 F tix on QF/US from the states to SYD next March-April. The QF/US deal allows me to have a stopover and open jaw, so I'll do one more hop on QF w/in Australia and probably fly back out of Auckland. I'm really happy to finally score these seats and hope that nobody goes bankrupt or otherwise disrupts my fine plans.
However, with US joining the Star Alliance in a few days, that opens up the chance on flying Air NZ as well. Since none of my USAir buddies have any experience with Air NZ, I thought I'd turn to y'all. My reading back and forth is inconclusive. I think the majority view would be that seats are better on QF, food slightly better (steak sandwich noted!) and service somewhat worse. Although opinions do seem to be quite varied. I also suspect that I will get people who disagree with all of the above.
The other factor appears to be that the rules on the QF ticket are very liberal, which could save me some real money on the other flying I will need to get around your surprisingly (to me) large country. I'm not completely sure about that, but will probably spend two weeks in each country and am thinking at the moment of Sydney, the reef (Port Douglas or Cairns, I guess) and Uluru. If I book my QF through to Uluru (or Alice Springs) and depart from NZ, I'd need to book one way tix from Uluru>Cairns and Cairns>NZ. Maybe I'd wind up doing better with RTs, I need to get smarter about that.
Anyhow, I'd appreciate any feedback you'd have to offer.
...mike
However, with US joining the Star Alliance in a few days, that opens up the chance on flying Air NZ as well. Since none of my USAir buddies have any experience with Air NZ, I thought I'd turn to y'all. My reading back and forth is inconclusive. I think the majority view would be that seats are better on QF, food slightly better (steak sandwich noted!) and service somewhat worse. Although opinions do seem to be quite varied. I also suspect that I will get people who disagree with all of the above.
The other factor appears to be that the rules on the QF ticket are very liberal, which could save me some real money on the other flying I will need to get around your surprisingly (to me) large country. I'm not completely sure about that, but will probably spend two weeks in each country and am thinking at the moment of Sydney, the reef (Port Douglas or Cairns, I guess) and Uluru. If I book my QF through to Uluru (or Alice Springs) and depart from NZ, I'd need to book one way tix from Uluru>Cairns and Cairns>NZ. Maybe I'd wind up doing better with RTs, I need to get smarter about that.
Anyhow, I'd appreciate any feedback you'd have to offer.
...mike
#2
Join Date: May 2003
Programs: QF WP; VA Gold
Posts: 1,007
Originally Posted by MikeLaw
I have been dreaming of a four week trip to Australia & New Zealand for eons and after months of fruitless attempts, have finally booked 2 F tix on QF/US from the states to SYD next March-April. The QF/US deal allows me to have a stopover and open jaw, so I'll do one more hop on QF w/in Australia and probably fly back out of Auckland. I'm really happy to finally score these seats and hope that nobody goes bankrupt or otherwise disrupts my fine plans.
Presumably NZ doesn't fly First accross the Tasman.
#3
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Nashvegas
Posts: 867
MIkeLaw congratulations on your extremely wise decision to go to Australia and NZ. Before you get too deep into planning, you might want to consider Circle Pacific Fares (check out the OW board for details) which will give you the ability to travel internally and between Australia and NZ for pretty much the same price as the F return ticket unless you got a really great deal on the return tix. The basic rules for circle pacific fares are that you cross the North Pacific (NRT and HKG as gateways to/from the west coast) one way and cross the South Pacific (SYD, MEL, AKL, BNE as gateways from/to the west coast, although as noted QF only run F to/from MEL and SYD) the other way, using only OW airlines. Pricing is based on total mileage in increments of >22K, >26K, >29K.
So for instance you might expect to be able to do Home-LAX-SYD-CNS-DRW-ASP-ADL-MEL-AKL-SYD-HKG-LAX-Home for somewhat similar pricing to Home-LAX-SYD-AKL-LAX-Home. I see you've booked tickets but you may be able to get a refund and/or apply the credit to the Circle Fares. I think The Other Alliance has a similar product if you prefer to stick with them for some unknown reason . Enjoy the planning!
So for instance you might expect to be able to do Home-LAX-SYD-CNS-DRW-ASP-ADL-MEL-AKL-SYD-HKG-LAX-Home for somewhat similar pricing to Home-LAX-SYD-AKL-LAX-Home. I see you've booked tickets but you may be able to get a refund and/or apply the credit to the Circle Fares. I think The Other Alliance has a similar product if you prefer to stick with them for some unknown reason . Enjoy the planning!
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: RIC
Programs: US CP, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Plat, *wood Gold, Amex Plat
Posts: 1,600
Originally Posted by eamus
MIkeLaw congratulations on your extremely wise decision to go to Australia and NZ. Before you get too deep into planning, you might want to consider Circle Pacific Fares
Also, I hadn't considered the issue of only offering J from AKL. I wonder if they will let me route back through SYD and pick up F there or if they will make me do the long flight in J? I better check that out. I don't have any problem with J domestic -- I couldn't agree more with you about the terrible product that passes for F in the states.
#5
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: BNE / LHR
Programs: QF Gold
Posts: 1,595
i would go with qantas,
But i cant realy comment as i havent ever been out of Y cabin
But those qantas sleeper suites look gooooooooooooood
new zealand has like a 20 year old first product, (that they are planing to scrap or change soon )
But i cant realy comment as i havent ever been out of Y cabin
But those qantas sleeper suites look gooooooooooooood
new zealand has like a 20 year old first product, (that they are planing to scrap or change soon )
#6
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: In Exile
Programs: QFF WP :-0, AC, FlyBuys, Porter's Liquor Store, Mother's Helper
Posts: 2,496
Originally Posted by davem4
i would go with qantas,
But i cant realy comment as i havent ever been out of Y cabin
But those qantas sleeper suites look gooooooooooooood
new zealand has like a 20 year old first product, (that they are planing to scrap or change soon )
But i cant realy comment as i havent ever been out of Y cabin
But those qantas sleeper suites look gooooooooooooood
new zealand has like a 20 year old first product, (that they are planing to scrap or change soon )
....and rather a few more years on that to cover the F/A's.
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: RIC
Programs: US CP, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Plat, *wood Gold, Amex Plat
Posts: 1,600
Originally Posted by GoldFlyer
....and rather a few more years on that to cover the F/A's.
#8
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Sydney,NSW,Australia
Programs: QF LT Gold, AA LT Plat and SQ bottom feeder..
Posts: 635
I would take the F route into Syd and PAY for the ticket into NZ. US300- 350 in economy
Air NZ doesn't have the F set up that QF does, so for the 13 hours I would make sure i was travelling flat for at least part of it .
Air NZ doesn't have the F set up that QF does, so for the 13 hours I would make sure i was travelling flat for at least part of it .
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: SYD
Programs: QF WP/LTG | UA P
Posts: 13,515
Originally Posted by MikeLaw
Thanks. I am very excited about the trip. I have looked at the Circle Pacific fare and it is attractive, although the fare I am paying is $0, so a bit more attractive to me! I am cashing in many, many of my hard earned miles.
.
.
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: RIC
Programs: US CP, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Plat, *wood Gold, Amex Plat
Posts: 1,600
Originally Posted by og
Do also note that award seats are very limited on the trans Pacific sectors.
Originally Posted by AshleyF
I would take the F route into Syd and PAY for the ticket into NZ. US300- 350 in economy
#11
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Sydney, AU.
Programs: QF. UA. Avis. AMEX.
Posts: 1,558
I personally would fly in and out of Sydney with QF in First. You can pick up return flights to and from NZ for around $400 AUD and flights within NZ for around $75 NZD (USD 46.98750) one way in economy. If you take QF economy trans tasman this will put any US domestic flight to shame regardless of cabin.
For example, I managed to pick up SYD-Wellington-Auckland-Sydney off the QF website for a little over $400 AUD per person (USD 288.716). With that I will get a choice between two hot meals, plus free booze and a movie on the SYD-NZ-SYD sectors (around 3 hours each way) and a refreshment on the 1 hour WLG-AKL flight.
For crazy domestic fares in Australia, have a look at: http://www.qantas.com.au/regions/dyn/au/rededeals/SYD
For NZ have a look at:
http://www.qantas.com.au/regions/dyn/nz/rededeals/AKL
The QF First product really is something else and is the best way to spend those hard earned miles.
For example, I managed to pick up SYD-Wellington-Auckland-Sydney off the QF website for a little over $400 AUD per person (USD 288.716). With that I will get a choice between two hot meals, plus free booze and a movie on the SYD-NZ-SYD sectors (around 3 hours each way) and a refreshment on the 1 hour WLG-AKL flight.
For crazy domestic fares in Australia, have a look at: http://www.qantas.com.au/regions/dyn/au/rededeals/SYD
For NZ have a look at:
http://www.qantas.com.au/regions/dyn/nz/rededeals/AKL
The QF First product really is something else and is the best way to spend those hard earned miles.
#12
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: SJC, SFO, NYC
Programs: 1K, Hertz Five Star
Posts: 1,030
Originally Posted by MikeLaw
I have been dreaming of a four week trip to Australia & New Zealand for eons and after months of fruitless attempts, have finally booked 2 F tix on QF/US from the states to SYD next March-April.
If you're traveling alone, this might not be an issue but there is another difference between the two:
You need only 135K dividend miles to book that F fare on Qantas
You need 150K miles for a F fare in Air NZ
So, lesser miles and, IMO, a far better product makes Qantas the hands-down winner
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: RIC
Programs: US CP, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Plat, *wood Gold, Amex Plat
Posts: 1,600
I'm sold! Now I have to figure out how to spend my time.
Thanks for the input. I read in other threads that row 3 is the preferred set of seats in the center for a couple, so I've asked for them. It seems a bit silly to worry about the best seats in the pointy end, but getting there from the East Coast of the USA is a very long process and I want to make it as pleasant as I can.
Thanks for the input. I read in other threads that row 3 is the preferred set of seats in the center for a couple, so I've asked for them. It seems a bit silly to worry about the best seats in the pointy end, but getting there from the East Coast of the USA is a very long process and I want to make it as pleasant as I can.