Sydney, Auckland, Bora Bora
Dec 14, 2015, 6:59 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2003
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Starwood Lifetime Platinum, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Diamond, Delta Platinum
Posts: 2,188
Sydney, Auckland, Bora Bora
I'm trying to get a 20-year anniversary trip booked and Bora Bora bit is getting a little outside of my comfort zone and level of expertise so hope that folks here will help me out.
We are looking to depart the U.S. on September 2 returning September 20th. Arriving in Sydney via Delta Airlines on September 4 for 4 nights, traveling on to Auckland for 5 nights, and then on to Bora Bora for 5 nights. We've been to Sydney before so not wanting to spend as much time there. Never been to New Zealand, and OTW bungalow in Bora Bora is a bucket list item.
Paying for hotels with points, coach class tickets but GUC for portions of the Delta flights.
Getting to and back from Bora Bora appears to be the challenge. What do most people do when arriving in PPT in the middle of the night and have what appears to be 8-9 hours stuck in the airport until your flight leaves the next morning?
Any other suggestions/thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Jim
We are looking to depart the U.S. on September 2 returning September 20th. Arriving in Sydney via Delta Airlines on September 4 for 4 nights, traveling on to Auckland for 5 nights, and then on to Bora Bora for 5 nights. We've been to Sydney before so not wanting to spend as much time there. Never been to New Zealand, and OTW bungalow in Bora Bora is a bucket list item.
Paying for hotels with points, coach class tickets but GUC for portions of the Delta flights.
Getting to and back from Bora Bora appears to be the challenge. What do most people do when arriving in PPT in the middle of the night and have what appears to be 8-9 hours stuck in the airport until your flight leaves the next morning?
Any other suggestions/thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Jim
Dec 14, 2015, 9:07 am
#2
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Boise, ID
Programs: Virtuoso
Posts: 617
I haven't had anyone get into PPT super late at night, but they are usually coming from the US, not AKL, so maybe that is where it is causing an issue. You could get a cheap room near the airport for the long layover, or at least that is what I would do.
I wouldn't do 5 nights in Auckland. I love, love New Zealand, but Auckland is not a true representation of the country. If you want to do a couple nights there, you can stay in Auckland itself or my recommendation is Waiheke Island. From there, depending on your interests, you could go to Wellington, Nelson, or the ever so popular (and deserving so) Queenstown.
I wouldn't do 5 nights in Auckland. I love, love New Zealand, but Auckland is not a true representation of the country. If you want to do a couple nights there, you can stay in Auckland itself or my recommendation is Waiheke Island. From there, depending on your interests, you could go to Wellington, Nelson, or the ever so popular (and deserving so) Queenstown.
Dec 14, 2015, 9:32 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2003
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Starwood Lifetime Platinum, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Diamond, Delta Platinum
Posts: 2,188
Thanks Travel K,
Any suggestions on getting to/from any of the places that you mentioned in New Zealand? We will only have five nights from the time we arrive in Auckland - so we'd like to make the most of it. Bora Bora is where we will decompress from the rest of the trip before heading back home.
Everything that I've found between Auckland and Bora Bora (via PPT) has an 8+ hour layover in PPT and apparently you cross the international date line and that adds more craziness to the mix.
Any suggestions on getting to/from any of the places that you mentioned in New Zealand? We will only have five nights from the time we arrive in Auckland - so we'd like to make the most of it. Bora Bora is where we will decompress from the rest of the trip before heading back home.
Everything that I've found between Auckland and Bora Bora (via PPT) has an 8+ hour layover in PPT and apparently you cross the international date line and that adds more craziness to the mix.
Dec 14, 2015, 9:17 pm
#4
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Boise, ID
Programs: Virtuoso
Posts: 617
To get to Waiheke, there is a ferry, I think it is a 30 minute ride. For Queenstown, flying is the best option, waaaaayy too far to drive. Flights within NZ I find to be pretty cheap and are not the insane hassle we have to go through.
In all honesty, I wouldn't hesitate to tell you to spend all 5 nights in Queenstown. More than enough to do in the area.
In all honesty, I wouldn't hesitate to tell you to spend all 5 nights in Queenstown. More than enough to do in the area.
Thanks Travel K,
Any suggestions on getting to/from any of the places that you mentioned in New Zealand? We will only have five nights from the time we arrive in Auckland - so we'd like to make the most of it. Bora Bora is where we will decompress from the rest of the trip before heading back home.
Everything that I've found between Auckland and Bora Bora (via PPT) has an 8+ hour layover in PPT and apparently you cross the international date line and that adds more craziness to the mix.
Any suggestions on getting to/from any of the places that you mentioned in New Zealand? We will only have five nights from the time we arrive in Auckland - so we'd like to make the most of it. Bora Bora is where we will decompress from the rest of the trip before heading back home.
Everything that I've found between Auckland and Bora Bora (via PPT) has an 8+ hour layover in PPT and apparently you cross the international date line and that adds more craziness to the mix.
Dec 15, 2015, 10:15 pm
#5
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA EXP >3 Million miles,HH Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 2,887
I'm trying to get a 20-year anniversary trip booked and Bora Bora bit is getting a little outside of my comfort zone and level of expertise so hope that folks here will help me out.
We are looking to depart the U.S. on September 2 returning September 20th. Arriving in Sydney via Delta Airlines on September 4 for 4 nights, traveling on to Auckland for 5 nights, and then on to Bora Bora for 5 nights. We've been to Sydney before so not wanting to spend as much time there. Never been to New Zealand, and OTW bungalow in Bora Bora is a bucket list item.
Paying for hotels with points, coach class tickets but GUC for portions of the Delta flights.
Getting to and back from Bora Bora appears to be the challenge. What do most people do when arriving in PPT in the middle of the night and have what appears to be 8-9 hours stuck in the airport until your flight leaves the next morning?
Any other suggestions/thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Jim
We are looking to depart the U.S. on September 2 returning September 20th. Arriving in Sydney via Delta Airlines on September 4 for 4 nights, traveling on to Auckland for 5 nights, and then on to Bora Bora for 5 nights. We've been to Sydney before so not wanting to spend as much time there. Never been to New Zealand, and OTW bungalow in Bora Bora is a bucket list item.
Paying for hotels with points, coach class tickets but GUC for portions of the Delta flights.
Getting to and back from Bora Bora appears to be the challenge. What do most people do when arriving in PPT in the middle of the night and have what appears to be 8-9 hours stuck in the airport until your flight leaves the next morning?
Any other suggestions/thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Jim
What do you like to/want to do in NZ. If you are on North Island, you can do Waitomo and Rotorua. There is a lot to do around Queenstown, but it's very touristy and expensive. Stay out of the cities in NZ and you will enjoy yourself much more and see the real beauty. You won't find that spending your time in airport transfers. Driving NZ is a great way to see it
Dec 16, 2015, 6:08 am
#6
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: SE Asia
Posts: 1,274
I have the same issue as you but we are arriving into PPT so we will just stay the night at a hotel on PPT since we will leave next afternoon to Bora Bora.
Indeed coming from AKL to PPT flight arrivals are at bad times.
Guess you can't just skip PPT on the way back and go direct to US?
Indeed coming from AKL to PPT flight arrivals are at bad times.
Guess you can't just skip PPT on the way back and go direct to US?
Dec 16, 2015, 8:15 am
#7
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: London
Posts: 203
I'm trying to get a 20-year anniversary trip booked and Bora Bora bit is getting a little outside of my comfort zone and level of expertise so hope that folks here will help me out.
We are looking to depart the U.S. on September 2 returning September 20th. Arriving in Sydney via Delta Airlines on September 4 for 4 nights, traveling on to Auckland for 5 nights, and then on to Bora Bora for 5 nights. We've been to Sydney before so not wanting to spend as much time there. Never been to New Zealand, and OTW bungalow in Bora Bora is a bucket list item.
Getting to and back from Bora Bora appears to be the challenge. What do most people do when arriving in PPT in the middle of the night and have what appears to be 8-9 hours stuck in the airport until your flight leaves the next morning?
We are looking to depart the U.S. on September 2 returning September 20th. Arriving in Sydney via Delta Airlines on September 4 for 4 nights, traveling on to Auckland for 5 nights, and then on to Bora Bora for 5 nights. We've been to Sydney before so not wanting to spend as much time there. Never been to New Zealand, and OTW bungalow in Bora Bora is a bucket list item.
Getting to and back from Bora Bora appears to be the challenge. What do most people do when arriving in PPT in the middle of the night and have what appears to be 8-9 hours stuck in the airport until your flight leaves the next morning?
Jan 23, 2016, 1:41 pm
#8
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 85
My fiance and I are trying to do NZ and Bora Bora for our honeymoon in early Nov. 2017. The LAX-PPT-AKL-LAX flight you mentioned above is exactly what we are looking for. We will be starting our flights out of NY.
Flying this route on Air France, does PPT count as a free stopover? I am obviously attempting to only use points for the flights and business class is preferred.
Flying this route on Air France, does PPT count as a free stopover? I am obviously attempting to only use points for the flights and business class is preferred.
Jan 23, 2016, 2:15 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,024
My fiance and I are trying to do NZ and Bora Bora for our honeymoon in early Nov. 2017. The LAX-PPT-AKL-LAX flight you mentioned above is exactly what we are looking for. We will be starting our flights out of NY.
Flying this route on Air France, does PPT count as a free stopover? I am obviously attempting to only use points for the flights and business class is preferred.
Flying this route on Air France, does PPT count as a free stopover? I am obviously attempting to only use points for the flights and business class is preferred.
Effectively Air NZ does not offer award flights to others in Star Alliance, other than 1 or 2 routes (not these)
Jan 23, 2016, 6:44 pm
#10
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: SE Asia
Posts: 1,274
Indeed tried to use united miles to book on Air NZ but you can't. I ended up buying my tickets for air NZ using my SPG points.
Feb 12, 2016, 9:24 am
#11
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 102
We did a similar trip last Christmas in reverse...we did BOS-PPT then to Cook Islands to AKL. We went to Bora Bora on previous trip so getting to PPT was just a short stay to catch their flight to Cook Islands. Anyways, PPT international terminal is semi open air so suggest you to book a room either across the street at the Airport Motel or if you have IHG points stay there 
5 nights in Auckland is too much, we stayed 2 just because we were visiting a friend then we drove down to Rotorua, it has plenty to see and more interesting in that area! I m working on posting the NZ pics to my blog so PM me if interested!
5 nights in Auckland is too much, we stayed 2 just because we were visiting a friend then we drove down to Rotorua, it has plenty to see and more interesting in that area! I m working on posting the NZ pics to my blog so PM me if interested!
Feb 18, 2016, 11:35 am
#12
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 85
We did a similar trip last Christmas in reverse...we did BOS-PPT then to Cook Islands to AKL. We went to Bora Bora on previous trip so getting to PPT was just a short stay to catch their flight to Cook Islands. Anyways, PPT international terminal is semi open air so suggest you to book a room either across the street at the Airport Motel or if you have IHG points stay there
5 nights in Auckland is too much, we stayed 2 just because we were visiting a friend then we drove down to Rotorua, it has plenty to see and more interesting in that area! I m working on posting the NZ pics to my blog so PM me if interested!
5 nights in Auckland is too much, we stayed 2 just because we were visiting a friend then we drove down to Rotorua, it has plenty to see and more interesting in that area! I m working on posting the NZ pics to my blog so PM me if interested!
Feb 20, 2016, 12:25 am
#13
Join Date: May 2006
Location: GA
Programs: VA-PLT, QF-GLD, DL-GM, UA-ex1K, AA-exPLT, HH-DM, IHG-PLT, MR-GLD
Posts: 8,242
I don't know where Mwenenzi got the info that Air NZ does not offer award flights to Star Alliance members, I have found lots of availability using United miles in the past. Now, that doesn't mean every flight has availability...
If you can't find Air NZ availability with United miles, you can use Delta or AA miles to book AKL-PPT on Air Tahiti Nui. I'd recommend just grabbing a hotel the night you arrive and head to Bora Bora in the AM.
Feb 20, 2016, 1:22 am
#14
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: SE Asia
Posts: 1,274
I booked on Air New Zealand PPT-AKL using United miles just last month. I had no trouble at all, even found 2 seats.
I don't know where Mwenenzi got the info that Air NZ does not offer award flights to Star Alliance members, I have found lots of availability using United miles in the past. Now, that doesn't mean every flight has availability...
I don't know where Mwenenzi got the info that Air NZ does not offer award flights to Star Alliance members, I have found lots of availability using United miles in the past. Now, that doesn't mean every flight has availability...
Mav- when did you book as this must be a recent change.
It appears they may only be available starting in Aug?