[Chaz]

Following a recent job offer (still waiting for it on letterhead to submit and speedup my EOI) - I need to start looking at tickets.

I need to start work in August and am looking at flying somewhere between the 17th to the end of July. The more time we have in NZ, the better to allow us to settle.

I *should* have my EOI through at that stage, perhaps Work Permit if the EOI doesnt go through - not sure. Either way - we need to fly then, nearly irrespective.

Worst comes to worst and if we are still on holiday visa - we would need return tickets?

Really struggling to find tickets for the 4 of us for under €5K return. I did have some a few weeks ago, but wasnt ready to order. Any suggestions?

[Chaz]

Singapore Airlines are quoting this at the moment - for return flights. Some mention that the return tickets can be refunded. How do I know if this is possible - is there some term for it? The same for dates - flexible dates and option without paying in much more?

TOTAL PRICE EUR 6,565.56
Fare for 2 Adults: EUR 3,060.00
Fare for 2 Children: EUR 2,296.00
Taxes & Surcharges: EUR 1,209.56
Total Fare: EUR 6,565.56

Thanks

[Chaz]

Just thinking - perhaps I can buy separate there and back tickets - then just cancel the return ones? I see cancellation fee of €300 on some tickets - not sure if im reading the small print correctly. Thoughts?

[slider]

Not booked my tickets yet, although a number of folk on here have recommended Air New Zealand as the best option if you wish to amend your ticket by cancelling the return journey (albeit the ticket appears to cost a little more in the first place). This is 1 recent thread with some relevant info. http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=16319&highlight=flight+refund
With ANZ you also get the benefit of the higher luggage allowance, but have to endure the stopover that is Los Angeles, but Singapore Airlines is said to provide the best flight experience.
You pays your money and takes your choice. Good luck.

[dusk]

also you could ring the UK helpline (i've found ANZ to be very helpful on the phone, I imagine SA would be the same!)

[mike&stef]

Chaz, you need to check this one very carefully,

we wanted to book flights to NZ for August and because we would be maybe flying out on visitors visas then had to look into returns.
I emailed Air NZ, explained the situation and was advised that we could book returns and then cash in the return portion of the ticket with proof of PR when in NZ, so we booked them.
A week later we rang to arrange seats and when I said what we were doing, I was told that if you used the outward part of the ticket then the return part became non-refundable!! Horror! [the ticket said refundable on its description] I was then told there was a cancellation fee of several hundred pounds if we wanted to change them to singles!
After 4 hours of return calls, emails and being passed on to the manager, we were able to secure a free cancellation of our returns and have now booked singles to NZ and then singles to return to the UK in Feb, we can cancel the return flights with no cancellation fee.
Air NZ were helpful but were trying to stick to their guns until we read through the small print with them and could find no reference to the original return portion being non-refundable, they then changed their minds and gave in.
We were also told that our 'return' single had to be to our country of residence rather than say Australia, new rule change they said. I have checked immigration and it does not mention this, only says an "onward flight to a country which you can gain entry to" so don't know what that was all about.
Just make sure you triple check with the airline stating exactly what you intend, get it in writing and file it!
Regards Mike

[Chaz]

Chaz, you need to check this one very carefully,

we wanted to book flights to NZ for August and because we would be maybe flying out on visitors visas then had to look into returns.
I emailed Air NZ, explained the situation and was advised that we could book returns and then cash in the return portion of the ticket with proof of PR when in NZ, so we booked them.
A week later we rang to arrange seats and when I said what we were doing, I was told that if you used the outward part of the ticket then the return part became non-refundable!! Horror! [the ticket said refundable on its description] I was then told there was a cancellation fee of several hundred pounds if we wanted to change them to singles!
After 4 hours of return calls, emails and being passed on to the manager, we were able to secure a free cancellation of our returns and have now booked singles to NZ and then singles to return to the UK in Feb, we can cancel the return flights with no cancellation fee.
Air NZ were helpful but were trying to stick to their guns until we read through the small print with them and could find no reference to the original return portion being non-refundable, they then changed their minds and gave in.
We were also told that our 'return' single had to be to our country of residence rather than say Australia, new rule change they said. I have checked immigration and it does not mention this, only says an "onward flight to a country which you can gain entry to" so don't know what that was all about.
Just make sure you triple check with the airline stating exactly what you intend, get it in writing and file it!
Regards Mike

Thanks, noted. I will be calling them this morning and asking.

Is the trip via LAX forced to avail of this 'can be cancelled' status or should this be able to be done with Air NZ on any flights to NZ?

[Chaz]

Not booked my tickets yet, although a number of folk on here have recommended Air New Zealand as the best option if you wish to amend your ticket by cancelling the return journey (albeit the ticket appears to cost a little more in the first place). This is 1 recent thread with some relevant info. http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=16319&highlight=flight+refund
With ANZ you also get the benefit of the higher luggage allowance, but have to endure the stopover that is Los Angeles, but Singapore Airlines is said to provide the best flight experience.
You pays your money and takes your choice. Good luck.

Slider, you mentioned the 'forced' route via LAX to avail of this flexible rate - is this still like this considering what has been mentioned etc?

I will call them later today and feedback on what Ive been told.

Thanks

[Chaz]

Just spoke to AirNZ via the UK number (but landed with a lady in NZ).

Quoted £5301.20 for return tickets, flying the 28th of July.
Quoted £3479 one way.

She said that if we took the return flights and we wanted to move it to a one way, in effect, the entire ticket is cancelled and incurs a €225 charge. According to her, all economy type flights do not have flexibility in them and will incur fees once cancelled.

At least if we book them as return and then fly with them single, the flights booked should be the same for going there as they are already 'in our name' and allocated. I did not ask about the route :-(

.EDIT. She had also said that once the first leg of a journey had been taken, the 2nd bit could not be refunded.

[slider]

Chaz - "forced route"?
AFAIAA this is the only ANZ route from the UK - so I guess they force you to go that way :D
Just seen your latest post which certainly seems to support buying a return ticket and paying the amendment/cancellation fee as being much cheaper than separate one-way tickets :nice1

[Chaz]

Chaz - "forced route"?
AFAIAA this is the only ANZ route from the UK - so I guess they force you to go that way :D
Just seen your latest post which certainly seems to support buying a return ticket and paying the amendment/cancellation fee as being much cheaper than separate one-way tickets :nice1

Busy trying to 'book' the ones she quoted on to see.

We carry South African passports - anything needed for LAX in terms of visas etc or just remain in the same area? Wikipedia seems to indicate that we will need to go from one terminal to another - anyone know if we need anything before we go? What is the minimum time required to safely get from plane to plane in LAX?

[Chaz]

This is interesting. Getting cheaper than quoted. £4710 versus £5300. Also - there is a route via Hong Kong, so seems not all via LAX.

17:35 Mon 28th
Dublin
21:05 Mon 28th
London Heathrow

18:55 Mon 28th
London Heathrow
8:45 Wed 30th
Auckland
via Hong Kong

[Chaz]

Hope no one thinks im spamming / trying to get a post count up, but have more info that might help someone else.

Singapore Air do not allow changes at all. You either book a return or book a single flight - end of the story. These cant be changed or modified at all.

One way works out around €1050 per adult and €850 per child. Return costs around €1900 per adult and €1500 per child.

[Jo Jo]

Have you seen this post? (http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showpost.php?p=184337&postcount=9)

Sorry, you probably have, but thought it was worth posting it on the off chance you hadn't.

[Chaz]

Have you seen this post? (http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showpost.php?p=184337&postcount=9)

Sorry, you probably have, but thought it was worth posting it on the off chance you hadn't.

I have, thanks. That info seems outdated now. I might call them back and double check, along with the route info.

[dusk]

Air NZ have two routes from the UK - via LA and via HK
the LA route affords you a greater luggage allowance,
the HK route affords you the 'not stopping at LA and having to go through visa security and being forced to stay is a 'hospitality' room... so boils down to how valuable the baggage allowance is to you.

[mike&stef]

LO Chaz,

the single fares to "return" us to the UK were booked on the phone with AirNZ, they are via Hong Kong. I don't know why there is no cancellation fee for these. They cannot be booked from the UK via the web as require an NZ credit card.

We've shelled out £4800 for 2 adults and 2 kids singles out to NZ via LA [for the luggage] and singles back to the UK via HK for \February, we have no intention of using the "returns" so should get £2400 back with no cancellation fee!!

It all just keeps adding up, think we will be living in a tent by the time we get there! [hoping I can afford a tent!]

Regards Mike

[wiki]

You could buy a one-way to NZ and then a seperate one-way to Australia (reasonably cheap if you can get a JetAir flight) Then when you have permission to stay in NZ, just cancel the Australian leg.

You don't have to have a return ticket - you just have to have a ticket out of NZ.

[Potato]

I always thought that you need either a return (or onward) ticket OR sufficient funds to purchase one.
If you carry with you proof that you have the money to have your "holiday" and buy a ticket then surely this is fine? If it were queried you could just say that you aren't sure if you're going straight home or via Australia and you were waiting to see if any good deals for Australian flights turn up whilst your in NZ.

[IanW99]

You could buy a one-way to NZ and then a seperate one-way to Australia (reasonably cheap if you can get a JetAir flight) Then when you have permission to stay in NZ, just cancel the Australian leg.

You don't have to have a return ticket - you just have to have a ticket out of NZ.

This used to be the case that as long as you could prove you had a ticket to leave the country that it would be OK, but now due to advanced passenger screening you won't even be allowed onto the flight unless you can prove that you can leave NZ to another country that you are valid to enter and also meet their rules. So unless you are entitled to enter Oz and stay there then this option is no longer any good.

Air NewZealand have some good info on Entering NZ (http://www.airnz.co.nz/before-you-fly/international-travel/entering-nz.htm)

Although as usual, not totally accurate.

The general rule is that if your visa states "outward passage waived" then you only need a single ticket, this doesn't need to be a PR visa.

Ian

[IanW99]

I always thought that you need either a return (or onward) ticket OR sufficient funds to purchase one.
If you carry with you proof that you have the money to have your "holiday" and buy a ticket then surely this is fine? If it were queried you could just say that you aren't sure if you're going straight home or via Australia and you were waiting to see if any good deals for Australian flights turn up whilst your in NZ.

As with my previous post, this also is no good any more.

You can only have a single ticket if you have an RRV, or if your visa states that "outward passage waived". If your visa means that you are not entitled to stay in NZ permanently then you required to have sufficient funds to be able to leave NZ at the end of your visa.

Ian

[Chaz]

Would a Work Permit of more than 12 months allow for a one way flight in? I dont know yet if we will get PR or come in via WTR route.

[IanW99]

Would a Work Permit of more than 12 months allow for a one way flight in? I dont know yet if we will get PR or come in via WTR route.

The answer to this should be yes, but you still need to check that the visa shows "outward passage waived" to confirm.

Return tickets are only for dates less than 1 year apart, so if you have a twelve month visa you couldn't really get a return ticket for the full 12 months, so NZIS allow you to just have funds available instead.

From other postings on the forum e.g. for students, visas for 9 months or more have also been allowed to just buy single tickets.

Ian

[Chaz]

The answer to this should be yes, but you still need to check that the visa shows "outward passage waived" to confirm.

Return tickets are only for dates less than 1 year apart, so if you have a twelve month visa you couldn't really get a return ticket for the full 12 months, so NZIS allow you to just have funds available instead.

From other postings on the forum e.g. for students, visas for 9 months or more have also been allowed to just buy single tickets.

Ian

Thanks - hopefully thats the case. Just need to try and time when the visa might be granted and when we can leave the flight booking until.