Savviest way to buy flights UK to New Zealand?

MrsBananarama

Apologies if I've missed a thread giving tips on this already!

I am planning a trip to New Zealand in November (first long haul journey, and actually the first time I've ever booked travel abroad for myself, strangely enough), and am trying to figure out the best spending method to use for the flights. I currently have a cashback credit card that's well past its introductory offers so no 0% interest and only 0.5% cashback now I think. I have been saving up for the last 6 months or so and have enough to pay for flights outright but I know that paying on a credit card gives more protection, plus I am thinking it will be better to use the money I've saved on food, accommodation + domestic travel (I'm going to see my sister and we're going on a bit of a road trip, so I expect we'll split the costs between us), and repay the flights on a credit card over as many months as possible once I return. 

I'm a relatively low income + no debt kinda person (this will probably be the biggest single purchase I've made to date) but I get pre-approval for most credit cards & balance transfer cards using the Credit Club tool. I'm thinking the most savvy approach would be to apply for a new credit card with a long 0% interest timeframe - or maybe pay with my current card and then do a balance transfer? I've never done a balance transfer before so don't know how quick they normally are and whether I'd be running the risk of it not having gone through within the month? 

Is there anything I've not considered here? Any tips or things to avoid? Thanks for any suggestions. It's exciting but a wee bit daunting. 

Also I read somewhere that the best time to book flights to New Zealand is around 47 days before you travel, and book on a Tuesday. Anyone got an opinion on whether that sounds about right?! 

comeandgo

I go to New Zealand every second year and always book flights as soon as they are up, they never get any cheaper.  I have found Singapore Air very reasonable but whoever you use book direct with the airline, not through any third party. I usually just pay with my normal credit card and pay it off.  Take out holiday insurance as soon as you book the flights to cover you for whatever you are insured for.  

If you are booking flights in New Zealand then use the airlines New Zealand web pages as prices usually cheaper than uk.  

When using credit cards in New Zealand many hotels and restaurants will add a small percentage, usually 2% to the bill total.  

Whatever plans you have, always have a plan B as New Zealand are same as here, trouble getting staff so sometimes hotels not serving food or busses cancelled or things just slow.

Westin

MrsBananarama said:

Apologies if I've missed a thread giving tips on this already!

I am planning a trip to New Zealand in November (first long haul journey, and actually the first time I've ever booked travel abroad for myself, strangely enough), and am trying to figure out the best spending method to use for the flights. I currently have a cashback credit card that's well past its introductory offers so no 0% interest and only 0.5% cashback now I think. I have been saving up for the last 6 months or so and have enough to pay for flights outright but I know that paying on a credit card gives more protection, plus I am thinking it will be better to use the money I've saved on food, accommodation + domestic travel (I'm going to see my sister and we're going on a bit of a road trip, so I expect we'll split the costs between us), and repay the flights on a credit card over as many months as possible once I return. 

I'm a relatively low income + no debt kinda person (this will probably be the biggest single purchase I've made to date) but I get pre-approval for most credit cards & balance transfer cards using the Credit Club tool. I'm thinking the most savvy approach would be to apply for a new credit card with a long 0% interest timeframe - or maybe pay with my current card and then do a balance transfer? I've never done a balance transfer before so don't know how quick they normally are and whether I'd be running the risk of it not having gone through within the month? 

Is there anything I've not considered here? Any tips or things to avoid? Thanks for any suggestions. It's exciting but a wee bit daunting. 

Also I read somewhere that the best time to book flights to New Zealand is around 47 days before you travel, and book on a Tuesday. Anyone got an opinion on whether that sounds about right?! 

I’d take that with a large pitch of salt.

I would research now at fares for your dates and probably be thinking of booking sooner than later. For November travel it is the start of their summer so prices only likely to increase.

Book direct with the airline or use a reputable UK based travel agent. Don’t be tempted to use one of these cheap online ticket sellers, many of whom are based overseas.

angela110660

We went to NZ last December and flew with Singapore Airlines booked through their own site. We booked tickets in the April and we upgraded to Premium Economy which was so worth it for the extra bit of leg room. We also as already suggested above took out travel insurance immediately.

We applied for and got Barclaycard Reward and Halifax Clarity before we went to get no extra charges on purchases including hotel fees and they worked great to keep tabs on spends as we travelled around. 

Have a wonderful trip - it is a fab country.

Voyager2002

On the airline choice... I recently flew long-haul with Etihad and liked them. In particular, if you book flights with an overnight stopover in Abud Dhabi they pay for your hotel, and the opportunity to get a good night's sleep in the course of the journey makes so much difference.

On paying for the flights: if you pay with a debit card you also get some protection (less than with a credit card but probably all that you will need). There are two sorts of benefit that you could get from making a significant purchase with a credit card: a long period of interest-free credit, or some kind of cashback or reward points. Probably the most generous reward scheme is that operated by American Express, so consider this. Bear in mind that if you get and then use an AmEx card you get more points if you find someone to recommend you rather than just opening an account for yourself.

You should also get cards that do not add an extra charge for foreign currency transactions, and that do not have a fee for cash withdrawals.

MrsBananarama

Westin said:

MrsBananarama said:

Also I read somewhere that the best time to book flights to New Zealand is around 47 days before you travel, and book on a Tuesday. Anyone got an opinion on whether that sounds about right?! 

I’d take that with a large pitch of salt.

I would research now at fares for your dates and probably be thinking of booking sooner than later. For November travel it is the start of their summer so prices only likely to increase.

Book direct with the airline or use a reputable UK based travel agent. Don’t be tempted to use one of these cheap online ticket sellers, many of whom are based overseas.

Yes, my sister has advised against that, having had a cancelled flight situation that didn't get refunded for nearly 6 months and was vast hassle. 

MrsBananarama

Voyager2002 said:

On paying for the flights: if you pay with a debit card you also get some protection (less than with a credit card but probably all that you will need). There are two sorts of benefit that you could get from making a significant purchase with a credit card: a long period of interest-free credit, or some kind of cashback or reward points. Probably the most generous reward scheme is that operated by American Express, so consider this. Bear in mind that if you get and then use an AmEx card you get more points if you find someone to recommend you rather than just opening an account for yourself.

You should also get cards that do not add an extra charge for foreign currency transactions, and that do not have a fee for cash withdrawals.

Thanks ... I have an AmEx already so I suspect I'll not be eligible for the best rewards but I'll have a look. I've got a Chase debit card, so between that and my sister having a NZ bank, I should be covered for spending once I'm there. 

(the sleep issue is a whooooole other thing, I'm generally rubbish at sleeping anywhere that isn't my own bed, and even sometimes sleeping IN my own bed is difficult. So having a long layover is definitely something I'm open to, though currently the cheapest flights I'm seeing are in the 26 hr region, which might work out ok if I can wrangle an upgrade for some of the way, or get a credit card with a long enough 0% that I can take the risk of paying to upgrade & still be able to pay it off. I've read ALL the tips about best ways to get an upgrade that I can find!  )

Westin

MrsBananarama said:

Voyager2002 said:

On paying for the flights: if you pay with a debit card you also get some protection (less than with a credit card but probably all that you will need). There are two sorts of benefit that you could get from making a significant purchase with a credit card: a long period of interest-free credit, or some kind of cashback or reward points. Probably the most generous reward scheme is that operated by American Express, so consider this. Bear in mind that if you get and then use an AmEx card you get more points if you find someone to recommend you rather than just opening an account for yourself.

You should also get cards that do not add an extra charge for foreign currency transactions, and that do not have a fee for cash withdrawals.

Thanks ... I have an AmEx already so I suspect I'll not be eligible for the best rewards but I'll have a look. I've got a Chase debit card, so between that and my sister having a NZ bank, I should be covered for spending once I'm there. 

(the sleep issue is a whooooole other thing, I'm generally rubbish at sleeping anywhere that isn't my own bed, and even sometimes sleeping IN my own bed is difficult. So having a long layover is definitely something I'm open to, though currently the cheapest flights I'm seeing are in the 26 hr region, which might work out ok if I can wrangle an upgrade for some of the way, or get a credit card with a long enough 0% that I can take the risk of paying to upgrade & still be able to pay it off. I've read ALL the tips about best ways to get an upgrade that I can find!  )

That's two large pitches of salt. Similar to the tip and recommendation to book 47 days out from travel on a Tuesday.  Don't believe what people post on Tic-Toc.  Airport check-in staff don't care a jot that it is your birthday or honeymoon.

MrsBananarama

Westin said:

MrsBananarama said:

Voyager2002 said:

On paying for the flights: if you pay with a debit card you also get some protection (less than with a credit card but probably all that you will need). There are two sorts of benefit that you could get from making a significant purchase with a credit card: a long period of interest-free credit, or some kind of cashback or reward points. Probably the most generous reward scheme is that operated by American Express, so consider this. Bear in mind that if you get and then use an AmEx card you get more points if you find someone to recommend you rather than just opening an account for yourself.

You should also get cards that do not add an extra charge for foreign currency transactions, and that do not have a fee for cash withdrawals.

Thanks ... I have an AmEx already so I suspect I'll not be eligible for the best rewards but I'll have a look. I've got a Chase debit card, so between that and my sister having a NZ bank, I should be covered for spending once I'm there. 

(the sleep issue is a whooooole other thing, I'm generally rubbish at sleeping anywhere that isn't my own bed, and even sometimes sleeping IN my own bed is difficult. So having a long layover is definitely something I'm open to, though currently the cheapest flights I'm seeing are in the 26 hr region, which might work out ok if I can wrangle an upgrade for some of the way, or get a credit card with a long enough 0% that I can take the risk of paying to upgrade & still be able to pay it off. I've read ALL the tips about best ways to get an upgrade that I can find!  )

That's two large pitches of salt. Similar to the tip and recommendation to book 47 days out from travel on a Tuesday.  Don't believe what people post on Tic-Toc.  Airport check-in staff don't care a jot that it is your birthday or honeymoon.

I don't use Tiktok - it's things I've read on traveller's blogs, not stuff like birthday/honeymoon (easily dismissed with lack of proof), but more the fact I'll be travelling alone which works in my favour, being polite & friendly, arriving early, dressing a bit more smartly than I would maybe normally do, being a member of the relevant airline's club if they have one (even though I won't have previous flights built up). None of which will do me any harm if I don't get an upgrade. Ultimately it comes down to what I can afford - if that's a flight with a long enough layover that I can sleep on land, then great, if not, I'll cross my fingers but otherwise need to grin and bear it if I don't. 

zagfles

MrsBananarama said:

Voyager2002 said:

On paying for the flights: if you pay with a debit card you also get some protection (less than with a credit card but probably all that you will need). There are two sorts of benefit that you could get from making a significant purchase with a credit card: a long period of interest-free credit, or some kind of cashback or reward points. Probably the most generous reward scheme is that operated by American Express, so consider this. Bear in mind that if you get and then use an AmEx card you get more points if you find someone to recommend you rather than just opening an account for yourself.

You should also get cards that do not add an extra charge for foreign currency transactions, and that do not have a fee for cash withdrawals.

Thanks ... I have an AmEx already so I suspect I'll not be eligible for the best rewards but I'll have a look. I've got a Chase debit card, so between that and my sister having a NZ bank, I should be covered for spending once I'm there. 

(the sleep issue is a whooooole other thing, I'm generally rubbish at sleeping anywhere that isn't my own bed, and even sometimes sleeping IN my own bed is difficult. So having a long layover is definitely something I'm open to, though currently the cheapest flights I'm seeing are in the 26 hr region, which might work out ok if I can wrangle an upgrade for some of the way, or get a credit card with a long enough 0% that I can take the risk of paying to upgrade & still be able to pay it off. I've read ALL the tips about best ways to get an upgrade that I can find!  )

The transit hotel in Singapore is brilliant if you book with a long layover, better than travelling business class as you get a private ensuite room instead of trying to sleep in what is effectively a dormitory with people moving about/snoring around you. And it's far far cheaper than upgrading to BC. I've written about it here loads of times, see https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5761354/london-to-new-zealand-via-singapore-flight-advice-lounges-etc/p1

On the best time to book, skyscanner used to have a tool which showed in general business destinations were cheaper booking early and leisure destinations cheaper booking late, not sure what NZ counts as, but see this, not sure how helpful it is:

https://www.skyscanner.net/news/best-time-to-book-savings-generator

but probably more useful than anecdotal evidence