Break Journey to NZ - Too expensive?

richardw

FunTime wrote: »

....I used your exact suggestion for the dates over the school holidays and Easter. .

I have not posted dates. The post was about outbound flight timings for NS 2017.
Inbound flight timings were not mentioned. I have not posted any fare details.

Blue264

RHemmings wrote: »

FunTime (or anybody who recognises it): Which site are you using to find those journeys and ticket prices?

I did drop into a travel agent today. They did a quick search and said that they'd be able to do £840 per person.

As other people have said, for the particular type of trip that you want, you really need to speak directly to the airline.

There are up to 32 chapters of fare rules on every ticket, and the ability to break a trip is a byline in one of those chapters. In my 10yrs booking flights on a full time basis, the scenario you are looking for (a ticket that allows a break) is one of the most common reasons for an agent to need to speak directly to the airline seeking clarification. The reason for this is, dependant on the route and airline, a ticket could allow for one or two breaks of 48 or 72hrs, etc... The combinations are endless, and you will rarely, if ever, find the exact combination you need purely by looking at online sites that tend to quote the cheapest, most restrictive fare, the cheapest semi-flexible fare (non-refundable but can be changed for a fee) and the cheapest fully flexible fare (can be changed or cancelled for a fee).

I'd call Air New Zealand and Emirates first of all.

I've flown to Fiji with Air New Zealand and had breaks in LA and Honolulu outbound, but flew back in one go with changes of no more than 3hrs at both HNL and LAX. Never again! Worst jet lag I've ever had. When you're studying the map of your local shopping centre like a tourist because you're completely lost...that's bad!

I've also flown to Hong Kong with Emirates, breaking the trip in Dubai on the rtn, and of the two airlines, I'd go Air NZ every time. It is purely a matter of personal preference.

So...stop wasting time. The fares are only increasing as you ponder. Call Air NZ and Emirates, tell them what you want, and let them both give you a quote. It's the only way you'll have a genuine bench mark to work from.

FunTime

richardw wrote: »

I have not posted dates. The post was about outbound flight timings for NS 2017.
Inbound flight timings were not mentioned. I have not posted any fare details.

Oh please......:rotfl:

OUTBOUND - Fri, 31 Mar 2017
LHRAKL
1 stop
Thai Airways
TG911
12:30 LHR London Heathrow 11h 15
05:45 (+1) BKK Bangkok Suvarnabhumi

Connect in airport
Long wait 13h
Thai Airways
TG491
18:45 BKK Bangkok Suvarnabhumi 11h
10:45 (+1) AKL Auckland International

If you stay on UK time you could a good nights sleep at http://www.miracletransithotel.com during the 13 hour stop over time.

What's the point of mentioning a specific airline and date if it was just about "outbound flight timings for 2017"? :rotfl: Especially when that specific airline charges £1541 per person for the date that you've posted and also the OP's dates.

So please, stop with the ridiculousness. :money:

richardw

FunTime wrote: »

ridiculousness...

There's no ridiculousness. No inbound flight details. No fares.

The OP was interested in 'Break Journey to NZ'.

The flight timings show that if you stay on London time and break the journey to NZ at Bangkok with a 13 hour break, you can check into an airside transit hotel, have a good nights sleep, then go and get the next flight to AKL. That's all the post is about.

It's not a recommendation of airline, not a suggestion about a bargain fare. You can do similar things at Hong Kong and Singapore.

FunTime

richardw wrote: »

There's no ridiculousness. No inbound flight details. No fares.

The OP was interested in 'Break Journey to NZ'.

The flight timings show that if you stay on London time and break the journey to NZ at Bangkok with a 13 hour break, you can check into an airside transit hotel, have a good nights sleep, then go and get the next flight to AKL. That's all the post is about.

It's not a recommendation of airline, not a suggestion about a bargain fare. You can do similar things at Hong Kong and Singapore.

From the very first post:

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

So your suggestion was Bangkok at a cost of £1541 per person. Wow.

I came up with Shanghai and Beijing. Both within the original remit.

richardw

FunTime wrote: »

...So your suggestion was Bangkok at a cost of £1541 per person...

I have not suggested an inbound flight and no fare.

FunTime

richardw wrote: »

I have not suggested an inbound flight and no fare.

So of no use whatsoever....

richardw

FunTime wrote: »

So of no use whatsoever....

Nope. It is what it is, information.

FunTime

Blue264 wrote: »

As other people have said, for the particular type of trip that you want, you really need to speak directly to the airline.

There are up to 32 chapters of fare rules on every ticket, and the ability to break a trip is a byline in one of those chapters. In my 10yrs booking flights on a full time basis, the scenario you are looking for (a ticket that allows a break) is one of the most common reasons for an agent to need to speak directly to the airline seeking clarification. The reason for this is, dependant on the route and airline, a ticket could allow for one or two breaks of 48 or 72hrs, etc... The combinations are endless, and you will rarely, if ever, find the exact combination you need purely by looking at online sites that tend to quote the cheapest, most restrictive fare, the cheapest semi-flexible fare (non-refundable but can be changed for a fee) and the cheapest fully flexible fare (can be changed or cancelled for a fee).

I'd call Air New Zealand and Emirates first of all.

I've flown to Fiji with Air New Zealand and had breaks in LA and Honolulu outbound, but flew back in one go with changes of no more than 3hrs at both HNL and LAX. Never again! Worst jet lag I've ever had. When you're studying the map of your local shopping centre like a tourist because you're completely lost...that's bad!

I've also flown to Hong Kong with Emirates, breaking the trip in Dubai on the rtn, and of the two airlines, I'd go Air NZ every time. It is purely a matter of personal preference.

So...stop wasting time. The fares are only increasing as you ponder. Call Air NZ and Emirates, tell them what you want, and let them both give you a quote. It's the only way you'll have a genuine bench mark to work from.

The problem here is the very specific dates. Of course RHemmings hasn't actually posted them. But I have surmised Outbound 01/04/2017 Inbound 16/04/2017.

This is where the issue lies. Outside those dates, one can put together some good value packages. Within those dates, they'll get quite the shock when ringing the airlines.
Premium airlines are not going to be cheap. Expect £900 with normal stopover timing and perhaps £1200 with a few day break.

Blue264

FunTime wrote: »

This is where the issue lies. Outside those dates, one can put together some good value packages. Within those dates, they'll get quite the shock when ringing the airlines.
Premium airlines are not going to be cheap. Expect £900 with normal stopover timing and perhaps £1200 with a few day break.

Have you called the airlines to make the enquiry?
Are you a travel consultant?
Are you an airline ticketing expert?

Honest questions and I hope you can give an honest answer please. I just want to clarify if you have genuine information that you can share with the OP.