Flight to NZ

flutterbyuk25

Hey all

I am planning on going to NZ Christmas time to stay with a friend. I know this is a more expensive time of year to go than normal but I'm ok with that. I have been looking at different flights and airlines and would like the lovely MSEr's to give me some help/advice. I've been looking at websites like kayak and expedia so far.

I'm slightly flexible with dates of travel. I want to go for around 16-18 days. Departing earlist date 16th Dec and returning latest date Jan 6th. I will be a lone female traveller, aged 27.

Cheapest flight I've found is with Royal Brunei Air for around £1150 but the return leg has a 10 hour daytime stopover at Bandar Seri Begawan. Next cheapest is £1270 with Emirates, 27hr flight out 30hrs return, change planes at Dubai, short 2 hour-ish wait.

After these to options the flight prices jump up to £1570 with Quantas for 28-30hr flights with short 2hr wait to change flights at Sydney/Singapore.

Or even a non stop flight with AirNZ for £1590.

I'm so confused by the options! I know that the cheapest isn't neccessarily the best option. I'm staying with a friend there so only need to pay for the flight. I like flying so would have no probs with a non stop option. However the longest I've ever done on a plane before is 8hours. I am an experienced-ish traveller, travelled around US on my own last summer.

So my questions are:

- Can any MSEr's find me a better flight option?
- Should I consider a proper 2/3 day stopover on one leg? I don't really want to pay extra for flight to incorporate this but if one was found with this included then that could be good.
- Has anyone got any advise/comments on the non stop option? Would it be better for health/sanity to have stops?
- Which flight seems to be the best option?
- Any airlines to avoid?

I'm very grateful for any help

Thanks

x

richardw

Avoid Royal Brunei, check https://www.airlinequality.com for reviews.
Consider a stopover with a flight+Hotel deal from https://www.trailfinders.com or https://www.travelmood.com
If you can change your trip and leave in the evening on the 24th Dec or 25th Dec you will save ££s.
Good places for stopovers are Singapore, Bangkok or Hong Kong and consider Singapore Airlines, Thai airways and Cathay Pacific.

Jasper27_2

I've been to New Zealand a couple of times and personally would not fly non-stop. Before I went I'd been on plenty of 10 to 12 hour flights, enough to know I couldn't spend 26 hours on a plane! If you are going to have a longish stop-over at an airport see what the facilities are like, could you kill time and freshen up? Changi in Singapore has a free cinema and swimming pool, shower facilities and is quite unlike other airports I've been to, very calm and organised. Otherwise I second richardw and suggest a stopover package on at least on one leg of your journey. I've flown with both Singapore Airlines and Air New Zealand and would recommend both. Air NZ has the longest leg room but both have good entertainment and in-flight service.

Both times I booked my flights with Trailfinders and was happy with the price, they do not book online, you'll have to call them. They can also do stop-over deals too. Singapore Airlines do not charge you to break your journey in Singapore and also offer stop-over hotel deals. I've been there twice and would recommend it as a good stop-over for a lone woman. I was with my husband but would have felt fine alone, it's a very safe, clean city and easy to get around on public transport.

Enjoy your trip, New Zealand is a beautiful country.

Gosia

Hi

If you book via netflights.com you can get the flights with Royal Brunei flying from Heathrow to Auckland for 1,017 pounds return. That's flying out on 16th December and returning on 5 or 6th January 2010. This would involve the 10 hour stop over either on the way out or return journey however.

ofstedchildminder

I have just booked our NZ Christmas flights via Will Race at Travelbag.
On Qantas website our quote was £5200 (3 adults, 1 child) which was the cheapest I could find (other than Cathay Pacific...).
However, Will managed, for the same price, to get us Heathrow to Singapore (2 day stop), Singapore to Sydney (4 day stop), Sydney to Wellington (20 day stop) then Wellington to Hong Kong (2 day stop) for the same price!!

This is the first time we've flown in 20 years and never booked online before. I can honestly say that Will has been excellent and very patient and we'd certainly recommend Travelbag!!
hth

Blue264

As has been said above, I also wouldn't recommend flying to NZ non-stop. It's not fun and the return leg will give you the worst bout of jet lag you can imagine. You need ground time to stretch your legs and breathe real air.

I'm a big fan of Air New Zealand so would recommend that you call them to see what they can offer you and measure that against what you have seen online.
When it comes to long haul and busy times of the year, nothing really beats talking to the airlines' agents because they can see what the cheapest options would be for you in a way that you can't really judge online.

Bare in mind that airlines, as a rule, don't offer commission to agents so all a third party agent can do is compare the fares with different airlines. You already have that basic information so now it's the time to call the airlines direct because they can tell you in depth which combination of flights would offer you the best deal.

Air New Zealand are members of Star Alliance so they shouldn't just restrict you to their fleet.

Alternatively, you could find the cheapest deal possible to L.A. or San Fran and combine this with a cheap Hawaiian Airlines ticket to Honolulu, and a connection to N.Z. Just looking at flights for next month I can see return tickets from LAX to Honolulu for around $239.

http://www.hawaiianair.com/Pages/Index.aspx

richardw

Gosia wrote: »

Hi

If you book via netflights.com you can get the flights with Royal Brunei flying from Heathrow to Auckland for 1,017 pounds return.

Have a good read before booking with this airline http://www.airlinequality.com/Forum/rba.htm

flutterbyuk25

Thanks all. I'm going to spend the next few days ringing round to get the best deal.

Sadly Singapore airlines are coming up a bit too expensive at over £1600.

Couple more questions if I may:

- Does anyone have any good/bad experiences with Emirates? - My friend in NZ recommends them but she has only flown max 8hours with them.
- Would I have any problems as a lone young female traveller having a wait in a Muslim country (please excuse my ignorance)?
- Does it make any difference price/jet lag/length of journey wise which way around the I fly? e.g. London-LA-NZ or London-Dubai-NZ

Thanks again

x

richardw

Some emirates aircraft have slightly narrower seats about an inch smaller than other standard seats.

Dubai direct to Sydney or Melbourne can be long at nearly 15 Hours

http://www.emirates.com/uk/english/destinations_offers/route_maps/route_map.aspx

jamesnc

I've flown to NZ via Royal Brunei. I had no problems with it but wouldn't recommend flying non stop at all. The flight goes stops at dubai, brunei & sometimes brisbane before arriving in Auckland! Its a real pain if you haven't got the time to stop over but great if you want to visit alot of places on the way and got the time which I don't think you do.

I would recommend Emirates as your best option if it is the 2nd cheapest. Normal their inflight entertainment & food are excellent, which you'll want for a 24+ flight and it is usually the large aircraft to NZ. Leg room not bad on emirates. They are starting to fly the Airbus A380 to NZ soon!

I think Air NZ has the best leg room but often most expensive.

I would recommend a site called kiwimoneysavers.com for any planning you may want to make about your trip. They have a visitors to new zealand section. I have used them on my last trip and found them quite helpful for cheaper flights, car rental etc.

Hope it helps :-)

jamesnc

Doesn't matter which way you fly around but apparently better to fly west ie london to LA, LA to Auckland to reduce jetlag, but either way you're going to get it and don't think it makes that much difference

No problems for women at Dubai airport very modern and impressive.

Enjoy your holiday!