NYC / Tahiti / New Zealand - Feb 2019
Apr 29, 2018, 3:03 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2018
Programs: UA
Posts: 1
NYC / Tahiti / New Zealand - Feb 2019
Hi all - a long time lurker, and a first time poster!
I am in the process of trying to plan my honeymoon and want to make sure I am making the most of my points in the process. I have been saving these UR points for forever and wanted to maximize for my wife and I to have a once in a lifetime experience.
The Points
350k Chase Ultimate Rewards (which I plan to transfer to United at 1:1)
50k United
No status on United
Am OK spending some out of pocket if needed
The Logistics
Would like use United Points to book 2 business class RT flights from NYC to New Zealand via Tahiti (stopping in Tahiti on the way to New Zealand)
I know the SFO - PPT flight exists now and would be fine getting creative with the routing if it makes sense to do so
Flexible on dates - would like to leave closer to the beginning of Feb if possible
Any suggestions on how you would book this itinerary via *A and ideally at the Saver Level? Tahiti would hopefully be a free stopover!
Let me know what you think and I apologize in advance if this is posted in the wrong section - feel free to shift. Thank you again!!!
I am in the process of trying to plan my honeymoon and want to make sure I am making the most of my points in the process. I have been saving these UR points for forever and wanted to maximize for my wife and I to have a once in a lifetime experience.
The Points
350k Chase Ultimate Rewards (which I plan to transfer to United at 1:1)
50k United
No status on United
Am OK spending some out of pocket if needed
The Logistics
Would like use United Points to book 2 business class RT flights from NYC to New Zealand via Tahiti (stopping in Tahiti on the way to New Zealand)
I know the SFO - PPT flight exists now and would be fine getting creative with the routing if it makes sense to do so
Flexible on dates - would like to leave closer to the beginning of Feb if possible
Any suggestions on how you would book this itinerary via *A and ideally at the Saver Level? Tahiti would hopefully be a free stopover!
Let me know what you think and I apologize in advance if this is posted in the wrong section - feel free to shift. Thank you again!!!
Apr 29, 2018, 3:15 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,693
Premium cabin award space to Tahiti is likely to be extremely tight, as is space to NZ in general.
Free stopovers on award tickets were eliminated last year.
Free stopovers on award tickets were eliminated last year.
Last edited by mduell; Apr 29, 2018 at 3:36 pm
Apr 29, 2018, 3:36 pm
#3
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,858
Some threads to review
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...7-forward.html -- to get an idea on present awards rules
The older Award travel to Fiji or Tahiti using MileagePlus Miles? which discusses the difficulty of getting from Tahiti to NZ
The newer UA to fly SFO-PPT 787-8 starting October 30 2018. which is likely to be a popular destination initially
Best to avoid popular travel periods and be flexible on travel days -- fixed date itins will be problematic.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...7-forward.html -- to get an idea on present awards rules
The older Award travel to Fiji or Tahiti using MileagePlus Miles? which discusses the difficulty of getting from Tahiti to NZ
The newer UA to fly SFO-PPT 787-8 starting October 30 2018. which is likely to be a popular destination initially
Best to avoid popular travel periods and be flexible on travel days -- fixed date itins will be problematic.
Apr 29, 2018, 3:52 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,030
honeymoonhelp Welcome to FT & congratulations on the upcoming marriage
Another thread today on getting USA PPT, albeit with Oneworld BA avios:- Avios redemption LAX-PPT
There are other threads on getting awards to PPT
Air NZ is know for not releasing award space. But at occasional times some appears a few weeks before a flight.
Getting 2 business class awards on the same flight is 3 times as hard as a single award.
PPT is one of the most difficult places to get to an a ffp award.
Chase UR thread Ultimate Rewards - Airline and Hotel Transfer Partners, Rules, Timeline, etc (2017)
Airlines that fly USA/Canada to/from New Zealand are (not from all airports to all airports)
Another thread today on getting USA PPT, albeit with Oneworld BA avios:- Avios redemption LAX-PPT
There are other threads on getting awards to PPT
Air NZ is know for not releasing award space. But at occasional times some appears a few weeks before a flight.
Getting 2 business class awards on the same flight is 3 times as hard as a single award.
PPT is one of the most difficult places to get to an a ffp award.
Chase UR thread Ultimate Rewards - Airline and Hotel Transfer Partners, Rules, Timeline, etc (2017)
Airlines that fly USA/Canada to/from New Zealand are (not from all airports to all airports)
- American Airlines AA (LAX - AKL) [OneWorld Alliance] (AS partner). No flights 5 August 2017 and 5 October 2017
- Air New Zealand NZ (LAX SFO IAH YVR - AKL)(ORD AKL from 18 Nov 2018)[Star Alliance]
- Air Tahiti Nui TN (LAX - AKL via Tahiti) (AA & DL partner)
- Fiji Airways FJ (LAX SFO HNL - AKL WLG CHC via Fiji) (QF AA & AS partner)
- Hawaiian HA (HNL-AKL)(AA & VA partner)
- Qantas QF (via SYD BNE & MEL) [OneWorld Alliance] (AS partner)
- United UA (SFO - AKL)
- Virgin Australia VA (via BNE, MEL & SYD) (DL partner)
Last edited by Mwenenzi; Apr 29, 2018 at 4:05 pm