Break Journey to NZ - Too expensive?

RHemmings

I'd like to travel to New Zealand April next year. Last time I did this trip I was seriously affected by jetlag and I would like to break the journey for a few days on the outward journey. However, I can't find anywhere between the UK and NZ where I can break the trip, without one of the legs being more expensive than the entire trip from UK to NZ.

Is there somewhere where I could break the journey without paying a huge margin on top to do so?

I'm using skyscanner.net to search for flights. It's not wonderful as it was completely unable to find flydubai flights returning from Shiraz to Dubai without going on a huge ten our + detour.

What should I do?

richardw

Kayak is better for multi stop flights.

April is Easter school holidays, try avoiding peak travel days.

Where in the UK are you?

RHemmings

Unfortunately I'm going to have to be travelling in peak time, as my son is doing A-Levels. I work in education too.

I'm in Leicester.

I'll check out Kayak.

EDIT: Same with Kayak. I can get a cheap flight London -> Auckland which stops in Dubai. If I try and split the journey and take some days in Dubai, then the Dubai -> Auckland return ticket costs more than Lon -> Auckland through Dubai.

Other tickets are LON -> AUCK through Los Angeles (LAX). If I try to break the journey there, the LAX -> AUCK ticket costs me more than LON -> AUCK through LAX.

There's something I'm doing wrong, but I don't know what.

FreeBear

Try London->Japan->NZ with Japan Airlines & Air New Zealand - You may need to go through a travel agent to get the short break on the way out.

Certainly doable, but there will always be an additional cost.

Flew LHR->ITM->AKL a few years back and had an overnight stop at Osaka on the return leg. Not sure I'd want to go via LAX with the current immigration hassles that comes with flying to the USA (you'd still need an ESTA even if just passing through).

FunTime

Shame that you missed the THAI Airways glitch. Then you may have been able to pick up a return flight for around £400 with a stopover in Thailand.
We did.

FunTime

One person put this together for £420.

London to Chiang Mai




Flight 1
Thursday, February 16, 2017
confirmed
Departure:
21:35
London, United Kingdom - Heathrow, terminal 2
Arrival:
16:00+1 day(s)
Bangkok, Thailand - Suvarnabhumi International




Airline
Thai Airways International TG 917
Aircraft:
Boeing 777-300






Fare type:
Economy Restricted




Change of plane required. Time between flights : 2:40.





Flight 2
Friday, February 17, 2017
confirmed
Departure:
18:40
Bangkok, Thailand - Suvarnabhumi International
Arrival:
20:00
Chiang Mai, Thailand - Chiang Mai International




Airline
Thai Airways International TG 120
Aircraft:
Airbus Industrie A330-300






Fare type:
Economy Restricted





Chiang Mai to Sydney




Flight 1
Sunday, February 19, 2017
confirmed
Departure:
20:50
Chiang Mai, Thailand - Chiang Mai International
Arrival:
22:10
Bangkok, Thailand - Suvarnabhumi International




Airline
Thai Airways International TG 121
Aircraft:
Airbus Industrie A330-300






Fare type:
Economy Restricted




Change of plane required. Time between flights : 19:40.





Flight 2
Monday, February 20, 2017
confirmed
Departure:
17:50
Bangkok, Thailand - Suvarnabhumi International
Arrival:
07:10+1 day(s)
Sydney, Australia - Kingsford Smith, terminal 1




Airline
Thai Airways International TG 475
Aircraft:
Boeing 747 All Series Passenger






Fare type:
Economy Restricted





Auckland to Krabi




Flight 1
Tuesday, February 28, 2017
confirmed
Departure:
14:50
Auckland, New Zealand - Auckland International, terminal I
Arrival:
20:50
Bangkok, Thailand - Suvarnabhumi International




Airline
Thai Airways International TG 492
Aircraft:
Boeing 777-200/300






Fare type:
Economy Restricted




Change of plane required. Time between flights : 11:10.





Flight 2
Wednesday, March 01, 2017
confirmed
Departure:
08:00
Bangkok, Thailand - Suvarnabhumi International
Arrival:
09:20
Krabi, Thailand - Krabi




Airline
Thai Airways International TG 241
Aircraft:
Airbus Industrie A330-300






Fare type:
Economy Restricted





Krabi to Bangkok




Flight 1
Saturday, March 04, 2017
confirmed
Departure:
19:25
Krabi, Thailand - Krabi
Arrival:
20:45
Bangkok, Thailand - Suvarnabhumi International




Airline
Thai Airways International TG 250
Aircraft:
Airbus Industrie A330






Fare type:
Economy Restricted





Bangkok to London




Flight 1
Monday, March 06, 2017
confirmed
Departure:
00:15
Bangkok, Thailand - Suvarnabhumi International
Arrival:
06:20
London, United Kingdom - Heathrow, terminal 2




Airline
Thai Airways International TG 91travel:
Airbus Industrie A380






Fare type:
Economy Restricted







Flight payment and ticket
419.75 GBP

FunTime

RHemmings wrote: »

Unfortunately I'm going to have to be travelling in peak time, as my son is doing A-Levels. I work in education too.

I'm in Leicester.

I'll check out Kayak.

EDIT: Same with Kayak. I can get a cheap flight London -> Auckland which stops in Dubai. If I try and split the journey and take some days in Dubai, then the Dubai -> Auckland return ticket costs more than Lon -> Auckland through Dubai.

Other tickets are LON -> AUCK through Los Angeles (LAX). If I try to break the journey there, the LAX -> AUCK ticket costs me more than LON -> AUCK through LAX.

There's something I'm doing wrong, but I don't know what.

Adding a stopover usually adds to the price.

Seeking out a good combination is a skill.

Post your exact dates(and indicate flexibility) in case someone has time to help. A post without dates is useless.

ERICS_MUM

What about stopping over in Aus for a couple of days ? First city would be Perth on the west coast. It's then a 10 (or 12, can't remember) flight to NZ.

Nick_C

Can I suggest using an airline that involves a change of planes in the far east. When I flew to Sydney, we had about 4 hours between flights in KL, and booked an airport lounge. We left London Thursday night, arriving KL Friday evening. We had 4 hours in the lounge where we had showers and a light meal. Then another overnight flight to Sydney, getting there Saturday morning. Between the two overnight flights, I got about 8 hours sleep. I stayed up all day on the Saturday, and when I woke up Sunday morning I was on local time.

It was actually a much more manageable journey than flying home from the US.

Also, when you are pricing up stopovers, make sure you are doing this as one itinerary using the multi city option; one ticket, not two.

Ballard

I had a couple of days stopover in Singapore on my way to NZ (and HK on the return) last year and it didn't really help with my jet lag to be honest. Everyone is different so it could be a massive help to you but don't absolutely expect it to.

Conversely, a friend flew direct from London to meet me in Sydney and was simply tired in his first day then tickety boo from day two.

comeandgo

We flew with Singapore Air and had stopover in Singapore at no extra cost.