Least Worst Comfort/Cost to New Zealand

wdw2003

I'll soon need to buy flights from Edinburgh to NZ for Christmas and am looking at the options. Most connections seem to take 29-35 hours, with 2 stops except for the new Qatar flight with one stop in Doha. We don't intend any layovers, just airport connections, as we have limited time and it's to see family only.


Most fares seem to be around £1,300-£1,600 each return, with a myriad of airline combinations, but the choice is overwhelming.


For those who've done similar trips, are there any tempting relatively low cost airline/airport combinations I should absolutely avoid, and equally any that might be worth spending an extra £100 or £200, all based in Economy.

scumsthorne

Glasgow to Dubai, Dubai to Auckland. Emirates. Second leg is just over 16 hours non-stop.

If you're going to Christchurch, Glasgow , Dubai, Sydney, Christchurch. Emirates,

Ok, it's not Edinburgh, but it's an option.

eDicky

As you've noticed, the cheaper offerings involve more 'legs' and longer overall journey time. Keep an eye on the time to be spent in transit. Departures from Glasgow, Manchester, would give more options.

wdw2003

Thanks folks. I'm keen to stick to Edinburgh, though, as it's just a very short taxi from home, whereas Glasgow would mean 18 days parking and a drive back after the flight.


I've flown Emirates before and they were excellent, so I'm hoping Qatar might be similar if I choose them, even though I can get cheaper.


I've noticed that the connections on Skyscanner using ANZ, SA and decent ones like that don't come up on the airlines' own sites. I don't intend to use possibly dodgy web agents as I hear too many negative things about them.


Would anyone recommend using Trailfinders or similar as adding value to just doing countless internet searches?

Gloomendoom

wdw2003 wrote: »

Would anyone recommend using Trailfinders or similar as adding value to just doing countless internet searches?

Why not try them and see. You don't have to commit yourself.

PeacefulWaters

Adding to your costs, but business class flying from Scandinavia to New Zealand isn't a whole lot more expensive than your economy thinking. It would be a big treat (and an opportunity to earn a shedload of airmiles) if you can afford it. Sweden currently looks cheapest but I would expect lower fares to materialise in the next three months. Sub £2,000 fares are not unheard of.

I'd suggest not rushing to book just yet. Being as flexible as possible with routing. Tracking threads on the BA section of Flyertalk (the J sale thread is not exclusive to BA) and tracking the Headforpoints blog daily.

You do have to get yourselves to a new starting point (and that has an additional cost), ideally the night before, but that's just part of the experience.

Google Flights is also your friend.

richardw

The connection in Doha is long and the flight from Doha to Auckland is one of the worlds longest, what's there to like?

I'd go EDI-AMS-SIN-AKL leaving at 05.50

fifeken

richardw wrote: »

The connection in Doha is long and the flight from Doha to Auckland is one of the worlds longest, what's there to like?

I'd go EDI-AMS-SIN-AKL leaving at 05.50

The connection at Doha can be as short as 1 hour 40 minutes if the OP choses a day when Qatar have two flights from EDI-DOH.

richardw

fifeken wrote: »

The connection at Doha can be as short as 1 hour 40 minutes ....

Too short for me, if the aircraft is late you'd miss the connection.

fifeken

richardw wrote: »

Too short for me, if the aircraft is late you'd miss the connection.

I wasn't recommending it, I was pointing out that your previous post was incorrect.

It's a tight choice for me at that time as I like to take it easy, however Doha airport can be transitted in under an hour if you're pushed. It depends on the OP's attitude to this.

richardw

fifeken wrote: »

I wasn't recommending it, I was pointing out that your previous post was incorrect....

Where's the incorrectness?