[Leccy-Lee]

Wierd one this, but hoped someone may know? :yes
My plans:

Fly out to NZ with brother on Holiday First week November 2006, hopefully find work etc and stay on in NZ (wont go into that, this topic about flights!) With brother returning home to Uk after 3 weeks.
Now we are looking to get the flights etc booked in next week or two, but with one a standard holiday 3week return, and mine a longer stay how can i book the flights all together (so we sit together same plane etc way out) and yet book diff flights back?

AND... With me planning to stay on in NZ and hoping to get a work visa etc, i know i need to have a flight out, question is.. What date does one get a return flight booked for? I mean if a works visa was for example 2years, can you book a ticket now for that far away? And if i only book a return ticket for say 3months and i stay on working for 6mths? is that legal, or would i HAVE to leave on that flight?

All a bit confusing, we want to get our flights sorted, but not really sure where to start with the non standard bookings.
Finally is it anywhere possible to book flights with only a deposit still? Really wasnt planning to pay all up front right now, but 99% sites i seen ask for payment there and then.

Thanks all... :nice1

[dawn]

If you book with Air NZ, they have an online seat chooser, so you could book separately, but choose seats next to each other.

A normal holiday VISA is for 6 months so that would probbably be your best bet, but you could always change your flights.

Can't answer the last one, but if you find out, please let us know.

[Rocketman]

Since you are most likely booking Scheduled flights, you can normally change the return flights. The first time we went to NZ we were enjoying it so much we decided to stay longer. We phoned the airline (Malaysian) and just change or return flights, no probs.

This maybe worth considering if you are not sure about return dates.

[wilson182]

We flew with Singapore airlines, and had normal return flights. Hubby got a job and never went home, so I contacted them to let them know that he would not want his return flight. They were happy to hold the reservation for a year, so if at any time in that year he wanted to fly home, we just had to call them and make new flight arrangements.

[Babette & Andy]

Hi Lee

We've booked our tickets online with Singapore Airlines, like with Air NZ you can chose your seats. As far as I know you'd need to make 2 bkgs though. You would be required to pay all up front though. Maybe give them a call? Or else try an Australasian specialist like www.trailfinders.co.uk they are very good and prices are only marginally higher than bkg direct, they may allow you to just book deposit.

Booking direct with Singapore Airlines they will now charge you to change flights, as long as within the same 'season'.

Good luck
Babette

[Leccy-Lee]

Sadly its does seem all airlines/flights want all cost up front! I have visited 2 flight centers and 2 travel agents and they cant get tickets without full either. Just for info.

Hey ho, have to book them about a month before we, which probably means will cost far more /sob