'Cheap' NZ flights?

rev_henry

Toying with the idea of going to NZ at Easter. I have tried skyscanner, kayak etc and lowest I've found is around £900.

I'm wanting to go during my uni easter holidays, but am flexible as to when I go and come back within that period as long as I'm there for at least 2 weeks ish.

Trouble with kayak etc is there is no option to go from anywhere in the UK to anywhere in NZ. Ideally I'd want Manchester to Christchurch, but I noticed internal flights between Christchurch and Auckland are only about £50 return (probably similar MAN - LHR etc) so I don't mind doing that if its cheaper. Could even go from Paris or Amsterdam and get on easyjet or whatever there.

Any suggestions please?

jpsartre

£900 sounds like a decent price to me. I would not expect to find a price significantly below that. I also would not want to split up my itinerary into separate tickets as you'll have no protection against missed connection in cases of delays or cancellations.

Voyager2002

Check out ItaSoftware. It allows you to search for fares from Manchester or any airport within a specified distance, so you can get a vast number of results.

rev_henry

jpsartre wrote: »

£900 sounds like a decent price to me. I would not expect to find a price significantly below that. I also would not want to split up my itinerary into separate tickets as you'll have no protection against missed connection in cases of delays or cancellations.

Hadn't thought of that!

Voyager2002 wrote: »

Check out ItaSoftware. It allows you to search for fares from Manchester or any airport within a specified distance, so you can get a vast number of results.

This looks great, thanks!

richardw

It's a flamin' long way to go, so anything less than £1000 return is good value.

blindman

rev_henry wrote: »

Lowest I've found is around £900.

I'm wanting to go during my uni easter holidays, but am flexible as to when I go and come back within that period as long as I'm there for at least 2 weeks ish.

Any suggestions please?

Study during the Easter hols-Get a good degree :cool:-

Then take a GAP year and spend more than 2 weeks in NZ:cool:

To spend £900 for a two week stint in a country that needs at least 4 weeks minimum is crazy IMHO.

rev_henry

blindman wrote: »

Study during the Easter hols-Get a good degree :cool:-

Then take a GAP year and spend more than 2 weeks in NZ:cool:

To spend £900 for a two week stint in a country that needs at least 4 weeks minimum is crazy IMHO.

You're right, but I don't have much more than that to spare. My degree is such that I'll start work immediately after graduating, and I'll spend most of this summer working in order to get said job then getting married. Though I could go next summer between graduating and starting work, and take the OH...hmmm.

I actually intend to get some work experience sorted out whilst there to see if I like it, I want to emigrate there. If I get work experience I'll either get paid or will be able to get funding from somewhere to do it. If I can't do either of the above I can't really justify the expense.

blindman

rev_henry wrote: »

Though I could go next summer between graduating and starting work, and take the OH...hmmm.

Cheaper flights during our Summer (their winter).
More time to save\plan and more time to spend there.
If you're emigrating you BOTH need to like it!

I actually intend to get some work experience sorted out whilst there
to see if I like it,

How on earth can you do that in two weeks :eek:

I want to emigrate there. If I get work experience I'll either get paid or will be able to get funding from somewhere to do it. If I can't do either of the above I can't really justify the expense.

Easter is March 29th a mere 11 weeks away.....

IMHO you need more time and more planning :cool:

Departing from anywhere NOT UK can lead to lower flight prices due to less taxes.
Belfast can be a good starting point if you go via LAS

Voyager2002

blindman wrote: »

Departing from anywhere NOT UK can lead to lower flight prices due to less taxes.
Belfast can be a good starting point if you go via LAS

Does that mean the taxes are different there?

Without getting into the question of which country it is in, which government controls and taxes the airports there?

rev_henry

Well my first plan was to go myself at easter, see if I like it from the brief period, then both of us go for longer in a couple of years and see what we both think, then look to move there say 6 years from now... No I wouldn't dream of just moving there blindly after 2 weeks. Although having said that my friend who I'll be staying with basically has done, but he was single and had poor job prospects back here...

I'll look into Belfast etc, it's all still very much up in the air. Thanks very much for your help.

zagfles

Voyager2002 wrote: »

Does that mean the taxes are different there?

Without getting into the question of which country it is in, which government controls and taxes the airports there?

Yes. As I remember some airline threatened to pull direct flight from Belfast if APD was increased.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-20227294