[jasonelsa56]

Hi all

Just need to rent the house, confirm shippers, cash in endowments (not the best time to do it) etc......

One other thing we are now looking at more closely is the flights, any one got any tips, places to find cheap flights? Any good deals / offers out there at the moment.

J

[clairelouise]

Oooooh how exciting for you all - its getting so close now! We seemed to have mirrored each other through the various stages!

Can't help too much with the flights, sorry. We are going with Air New Zealand, via LA but only because we got a discount through OH work if we booked at the time.

Good luck!
Claire

[Kerry and David]

We flew with Singapore Airlines as they offered us double luggage allowance as we had a Residence Visa. They were also the best priced airline at the time.

www.singaporeair.com

[Ellie&Ris]

Hi

I was looking at flights the other day too. Quantas seemed to be the cheapest...


We are in Ireland and there is a company called 'Club Travel' based in Dublin who are experts in OZ and NZ travel. I used to work in the Travel industry and know they get special rates from Airlines- i know you are in the UK but i'm sure they can organise flights from anywhere!..they gave me the best quote a few weeks ago-i checked the individual flights they quoted me for online, the same day, and their quote was still several hundred euro cheaper!

Best of Luck!

[DizzyF]

Well I was a Travel Agent before I became a Mum and I worked for some big longhaul agencies so here are my tips for travelling to NZ from UK....

If you are flying economy then it is better to fly via USA as you get 2x23kg per person, via Asia is just 20kg per person.

When I was working a few carriers would give extra luggage allowance if you are travelling with a residency visa....no help to returning Kiwi's though!...you would have to check this with the airline before you book.

For price it is generally better to book early as not all seats are the same price, and cheaper seats tend to go first....airline does have right to alter their fares but generally earlier you book the better...up to 10 months in advance.

Shop around...check both with the big travel agencies (ie...Flight Center, Lastminute, Ebookers, Travelbag) and direct with airline websites (ie. Air NZ, Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Qantas).

Try to prebook seats and if you have kids make sure you prebook kids meals as this may be the only way they get the airline goody bag. If you are travelling with a young baby try to prebook a bassinet so you don't have to fly with them on your lap....you only get a seat for an under 2 if you pay extra for it!

We go in three weeks and we booked on Air NZ website....because of price, routing and stopover options. This could vary depending on seat availability.

If you are having a stopover then shop around for your stopover hotel. We booked on US site Hotwire.com and it was about a third of the usual price for a room.

Hope this helps!

[Leo]

Have you searched Jetabroad?

http://www.jetabroad.co.nz

Can anyone who has used Jetabroad provide a review? :)

[hosebergine]

try Kayak.co.uk

sometimes they show you which days are cheaper to fly on - we came home on a Thursday and saved about £50 each!

[yossarian]

Have you searched Jetabroad?

http://www.jetabroad.co.nz

Can anyone who has used Jetabroad provide a review? :)

tried checking the fares online, and they seem to have cheap one-way fare! thanks for this link.

[drew]

Hi all,

I have a few American friends planning to visit me here in NZ for a two week holiday sometime in January/ February (2009,) but our eyes seem to have a way of dislodging from their sockets every time we look at prices. Any other/more up-to-date suggestions for the transport of human cargo to and from the states? Thanks!

Drew

[Twig]

We booked our flights two days ago, and we booked direct with Air NZ via LA (29hr flight . You can cancel flights upto 24 hours before flight (minus 150 per person), we used a credit card for extra insurance and prebooked seats.

[doowrehsij]

Air New Zealand too... Big travel allowance, plus they allow an extra two bags if you are travelling with an infant... so we got 6x bags around 23kg each!

They were also the cheapest... - So good luck!

Oooo, also, one thing I would recommended is to sign up for freqent flyer miles too...

[Twig]

Air New Zealand too... Big travel allowance, plus they allow an extra two bags if you are travelling with an infant... so we got 6x bags around 23kg each!

Ooh that's good to know, thanks :nice1

[YouMeAndThree]

We booked our flights two days ago, and we booked direct with Air NZ via LA (29hr flight . You can cancel flights upto 24 hours before flight (minus 150 per person), we used a credit card for extra insurance and prebooked seats.

29 hour flight - Does this mean you are flying NZ1 to LA and then NZ5 (I think) to NZ? If you are changing from one plane to another you will, as I understand it, have to collect your luggage and move it over to the conveyor belt to the next flight. If you are flying on the same number all the way through then please ignore me as you'll only have to take your hand luggage off the flight :cheers

Lx

[YouMeAndThree]

Why have I got :cheers at the end? Was sure I clicked on :), must have fatter fingers than I thought :o

Lx

[Ellie&Ris]

Just booked our flights yesterday.. collected our tickets today.. leaving next Wednesday!!!!:bluebanana

We are in Ireland so we fly from Cork to Hethrow.. from Hethow to LA.. stopover for one night... LA to Auckland big long wait and finally from Auckland to Christchurch!..phew.. big trip it will be fun keeping Ris's cigggy cravings at bay!!!!

Whole thing cost 3,000 euros and was the cheapest we could get.. now these flights are return as Ris's brother is getting married next summer and we have to come home for that!.. so was that a reasonable rate?.. it was def the cheapest i could find!:exit

[Twig]

29 hour flight - Does this mean you are flying NZ1 to LA and then NZ5 (I think) to NZ? If you are changing from one plane to another you will, as I understand it, have to collect your luggage and move it over to the conveyor belt to the next flight. If you are flying on the same number all the way through then please ignore me as you'll only have to take your hand luggage off the flight :cheers

Lx

Have absolutely no idea!! Just going by what it said on the e-ticket, my mind is elsewhere worrying about the prospect of having to hold my 1 yr old for that long! :wah

[Pebbles]

Sounds like a completely reasonable price for a return, Ellie.
Especially at such short notice.
Good luck with the rest of your preparations!

[YouMeAndThree]

Have absolutely no idea!! Just going by what it said on the e-ticket, my mind is elsewhere worrying about the prospect of having to hold my 1 yr old for that long! :wah

A 1yr old, pah - I did it on my own with an almost 2yr old on my lap and a 4 and 5 year old in tow (OH as already in NZ). :D - Seriously though, it wasn't too bad. Have you booked a bassinet? My DD was too old for one, but it would have been a great help getting her off to sleep. We did get offered different seating once everyone had boarded, so that we could all have a seat.

Lx

[Twig]

A 1yr old, pah - I did it on my own with an almost 2yr old on my lap and a 4 and 5 year old in tow (OH as already in NZ). :D - Seriously though, it wasn't too bad. Have you booked a bassinet? My DD was too old for one, but it would have been a great help getting her off to sleep. We did get offered different seating once everyone had boarded, so that we could all have a seat.

Lx

I did ask for a bassinet but somebody else has already booked it, although she did they have four (I think the cut off age is 8 months so might get kicked out anyway!). I hope I have your luck (& strength!) ;)

[taylord]

We flew with Singapore and when we arrived at the airport in MCR, our baggage was overweight, so I was expecting to have to pay extra. We were told that we could take up to 28kg each, but they didn't advertise this. Also we did not have full Residence just Work Visa, so still get 28kg allowance.
Emirates appear to be the best priced flights at the moment, but changes on a daily basis.
BTW been in Manly Auckland for 14 weeks and absolutely it. Miss nothing of the UK and will never go back.

Good Luck and enjoy!!! Not as scary as we thought it was going to be.