Advice on NZ/CHC trip
 

I will be going to Christchurch in April, 2009, with Mr. S. We would also like very much to visit Peru and possibly Chile sometime. After reading through the main bodies of the stickies and looking at aa.com and oneworld, I am starting to get an idea of how to do this all in one trip.

My theory is that we would redeem Circle Pacific awards in business class. I think I can have enough miles to do this.

Will I need to book this 330 days out to be assured of Business class seats throughout? Is there a routing that would make it easier to get this? Is it better to book an F Circle Pacific award, or would that be a waste-are most of the flights involved 2 class?

Is this doable on a Circle Pacific award? I will keep reading the stickies and learning, I promise! I just want to make sure I start accumulating mileage in a way that will be useful to do this, and if I need to book 330 days out I need to know that.

I have about 210k AA miles right now, and Mr S has about 110k. I could easily have 500k miles in my account a year from now, if I start planning for it now.

Finally, if anyone has any suggestions about a good routing I would greatly appreciate the help. I have no objection to additional stops, and would have about 3 weeks (flexible) to make the trip. I will need to be in CHC for about 5 days. We would like to spend 5 days or so in Peru. Anywhere else would be gravy.

Thanks, drinks on me at the AC!

May I suggest a OW130C award?

STL-CHC-LIM-STL is only 130,000 miles. And, for the same award, you could do something like STL-AKL-CHC-WLG-ZQN-SCL-LIM-SJO-STL.

The possibilities are endless with this award.

Will I need to book at 330 days out to get Business class?

Thanks for your help!

For April (non-Easter) travel, I think you'll be okay even at 180 days. You just need to be persistent and flexible. And, with a OW award, you have routing flexibility, so you could do something like STL-LAX-HKG-NZ or STL-ORD-YYZ-LHR-SYD-NZ.

The 330 window may not do you any good for the most-direct routing options TPAC. That's partly because those QF rascals will have a 25-day head-start on access to inventory. :eek:

Another question, if you don't mind. Am I better off booking this through the EXP desk, the AC or the phone number on the aa.com website?

EXP desk.

Get yourself a QFF account and do some basic availability checking on the OW carriers for the long-haul routings that are acceptable to you.

Will do, thanks.

Book as early as you can. QF awards in business class between US and OZ/NZ are hard to get.

I'm not sure why LRD thinks April will be easy - that is school holidays in NZ and will still be busy with business travellers.

Purchased first or business class between SCL & AKL/SYD are hard to get.
Award first or business class between SCL & AKL/SYD are very hard to get.
Purchased business class between US and OZ/NZ are hard to get.
Award business class between US and OZ/NZ are very hard to get.
You need to be very flexible with your dates and be prepared to travel on different days from Mr S

hard=once in a blue moon
very hard=once in a blue moon in a leap year

I completely agree that award, premium class, direct routing between the US-NZ or NZ-SCL are very hard to get. But, the OP will be fine - as I previously stated - if they are flexible in their routiing and are persistent.

Even indirect award can be almost impossible. For US-NZ the only indirect routings are via Australia on QF, or via NAN on FJ or PPT on TN. These are all routes where premium awards also very hard. As for NZ-SCL there is no indirect routing other than through USA, which again hardly easy to get premium awards on.

Au contraire! For oneworld awards, you can route via LHR, NRT, HKG, HEL, etc.

I had no problem routing US-LHR-SYD // MEL-LHR-US for an F award this coming Xmas/NY holidays.

still not the easiest, since for NZ you need to go via HKG and/or Australia

for most people SCL-LAX-JFK-HKG-AKL-CHC or SCL-LAX-LHR-SIN-SYD-AKL would not be considered a reasonable routing

You are, of course, correct. I was just trying to illustrate to the OP that there are options if they cannot find direct routing.