[Lupin]

We have to go back for a wedding next year, which is going to cost us numerous Oz & NZ holidays plus all our annual leave and I don't even like weddings :wah

I want to fly Auckland -Manchester as I can't bear Heathrow and we have relatives in Manchester and none anywhere near London, so makes pick up and drop off easier. I don't want to fly to Heathrow and change planes so it looks like Singapore Air. Has anyone that has flown back to the UK for a holiday found a flight booker cheaper than 'The House of Travel' as I'm getting an 8.5K quote or thereabouts*.

Also, anyone recommend a stop over hotel- is the airport one any good? We just want somewhere to sleep, eat, shower and break up the flight
as in my experience it makes recovery at the other end faster and so doesn't lose you any holiday time, iyswim.

ETA: 8.5K for 2 adults & 2 kids under 11.

[Oregonkiwi]

We have to go back for a wedding next year, which is going to cost us numerous Oz & NZ holidays plus all our annual leave and I don't even like weddings :wah

You know, living on the other side of the planet is a pretty good excuse for getting out of stuff that you don't want to do. ;)

(Sorry, no, I don't have any useful advice about flights.)

[Tia Maria]

Lupin 77 I started this thread on the Leaving NZ board a while back, it should be all 'NZ flights to somewhere else' prices but isn't always! :)

www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=9422

I nearly always find booking direct with the airline is cheapest. Go to Singapore Air's website and put in your requirements and make sure you click the box that says 'flexible with dates', this will allow you to see prices for 5 days before and after and can often save yourself a few hundred.

For instance, I just booked a flight on a Thursday as it was $150 cheaper per adult ticket than if I had gone with my original choice of Friday.

If you are not already a member of their loyalty programme join up before you book and make sure you are logged on when you finalise the details as it will automatically give you your airmiles. Their website also allows you to choose standard seats and meal options. :nice1

Hope this helps.

Cheers

Tia

[Tia Maria]

PS I meant to say I found the transit hotel at Changi Airport perfect for shower/sleep etc and there are plenty of places to eat and shop in the airport. Its nothing fancy but is very cheap and very easy to book online:

www.airport-hotel.com.sg

There is one at each terminal and one has a swimming pool, but we found we ran out of time really quickly and never had the chance to use the pool. They will also give you that all important wake up call, although I thought it came a little late.

One of the rooms I stayed in was nicer than the other - I have no idea why, perhaps they are upgrading?

Cheers

Tia

[zardell]

Have a look on here...

www.houseoftravel.co.nz

Keeping your dates flexible is a good tip - you can save a lot of money that way.

Julie

xx

[junej]

Heres' another website I look at often to compare prices www.kayak.co.uk

[Moorf]

You know, living on the other side of the planet is a pretty good excuse for getting out of stuff that you don't want to do. ;)

(Sorry, no, I don't have any useful advice about flights.)

:nice1

[sizzlingbadger]

If it's not an immediate family member I would also reconsider flying back.

Like you say you use all your leave in one go and miss out on family vacations to Oz, Fiji and around NZ.

My best friend got married last Nov and it was only me that flew back, we decided that it was far too expensive for all of us to fly back. Had the in laws come over early to babysit the kids for the week :D The OH had a bit of time off work but he decided to save his leave as well.

[Lupin]

Thanks all :)

It's my brother in law getting married and my kids are bridesmaids. In-laws have offered us a couple of thousand GBP toward the flights; we really *have* to go and I'm sure by next year it'll be wonderful to go back and see family that haven't made it out here, so I should just bite the bullet and book really. Will check out links- cheers :)

[kanatakiwi]

I know you said Manchester but that really limited your options. Air NZ has a "northern lights" special to London from AKL, christchurch or Wellington for $2436 return, prices good until Nov. 30/08. That would be about $7.3, quite a bit less than the $8.5 . something to consider. We just flew London to AKL and despite the fears and many posts about Heathrow, it was fine. Busy but no problems, no lost luggage etc.

[jubjub]

Thinking a bit laterally here.... how about Emirates to Birmingham? 2 hr drive at most back to Manchester, and if it saves a few $$$$.... you go via Dubai I believe (thats what we will be doing anyway if/when we go back NEVER want to see Heathrow again after last time)

or this is new www.expedia.co.nz... we used them loads from UK and it always found us the cheapest deal.

[Questor]

Give STA Travel ( www.statravel.co.nz ) a ring - we got flights about $500 cheaper from them - OK it means going with Lufthansa via Frankfurt, adding about 2 and a half hours on to the travel, b ut in the grand scheme of things it's not too bad - we got free stopovers in Hong Kong on the way there, and Vancouver on the way back as well :D
Looking forward to those more than the time back in the UK :)
Jon