Hello, looking for some advice on how best to use points with virgin Atlantic flying club to fly from UK to New Zealand. I currently have two reward vouchers worth up to 75k points each, plus 185k points, so 335k points in total. My partner and I are looking to spend 3 weeks in New Zealand over December 2026 / January 2027, roughly 17th Dec to 8th Jan. Has anyone done a similar trip using virgin and their partner airlines that could give some advice on the best route/points redemption options?

I�ve read LHR �> US west coast �> Auckland might be the best bet using VA and Air NZ but heard transiting through US isn�t great, but also wondering how best to book given seats will open for booking 331 days in advance. Should I try to book two one way trips? Otherwise I�d need to wait 3 weeks from the outbound seats being open for booking before I can book as a return trip?

Any help greatly appreciated!

Welcome to Flyertalk.

Not wishing to appear pessimistic from the outset but Air New Zealand availability with VS points has always been almost impossible - I would guess that around Christmas / New Year it is going to be even harder.

If you look back on threads in this forum - partner reward flights are not always easy!

We did the trip a couple of years ago (not around Christmas) we got VS Upper rewards LHR to LAX then flew to Honolulu with Hawaiian Air - then to Auckland with Air New Zealand ( revenue seats) - we came back via Honolulu then to SFO and used VS points to get back to LHR.

Another option is to fly VS to Seoul - assuming the route starts as planned - and then get one of the Asian airlines down to NZ. Air Asia for example offer good Premium Flex deals via Kuala Lumpur.

I wish you the best of luck in your quest, but can't offer any easy option.


Nick

I give it 0.001% chance for most dates and even less for your dates. Those dates will be near impossible for any partner awards to Asia/LAX, etc. Start doing some research on 2025 paid/award flights and I suggest being flexible (if without school aged kids) and looking at travel days away from weekends or pick something less desirable (e.g. xmas). E.g. right after the end of school holidays options tend to be much better.

Andrew10 Welcome to FT & NZ
Thursday 17 Dec 2026 will be in the peak peak time for flights to NZ & AU. Are 1000's of NZers and Aussie's in UK who go back home for Christmas - New Years. And back on Friday 8 Jan 2027 so to go to work on Monday. At that time of year all airlines to/from NZ AU are expecting to sell all seats for very good money. Reality.

Air NZ are notorious for not releasing awards seats to ff partners.
Some Asian Slyteam airlines fly to NZ (and AU)

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SkyTeam
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auckland_Airport
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christchurch_Airport

Could try for AU with a cash ticket AU<--->NZ. Do not need to fly the same route out and back. Suggest book as one ways.
AKL is not the only airport in NZ. Also try for CHC
USA does not have the concept of transit: full entry required.