[Tia Maria]

I have booked a return journey back to the UK in Feb, (yes I am loopy!), and I have no idea if I got a good price or not as I just had to book there and then.

Thought it would be useful to collect together some flight prices so we can work out the best deals home, wherever that may be! Thought it might be useful to any Kiwis considering emigrating also.

So:

Auckland to Heathrow (Singapore Airlines - transit stop in Changi)
Feb 2007 - Adult Return: $2100

I booked online through the Singapore Airlines website in about November.

Is this similar to what others have paid?

Cheers

Tia

[jubjub]

Ours were around the same, Air NZ via HK, then via LAX on way back! Think it was $2200 per adult from memory. Booked via Flight Centre, cheapest option at the time

Have a good flight, hope the kiddies behave!

[Carol]

I'm going in April Tia with ANZ and paid a similar amount....

*excited*

[StevieD]

How come the price varies so much coming up instead of heading down? Anybody explain that one.....

[Jenny & Mark]

The planes heading down are all filling with migrants!?! :D

Mark.

[spudulike]

Probably not much help with return flights but we've booked one way from Melbourne to UK via Hong Kong (extra taxes as 3 night stopover) with Virgin. It has cost us 1800 pounds (no pound sign on keyboard :D ) It cost about another 200 from NZ to Oz. This is for 2 Adults, 1 child and 1 infant. I didn't think that was bad as we're having two holidays en route :D

We found the best deals were online with the website Jetabroad as they compare airlines. It is an Australian site but also has flights from NZ - we couldn't beat their quotes anywhere else!

L

[Smiler]

How come the price varies so much coming up instead of heading down? Anybody explain that one.....

Travel agency is run by Dick Turpin. :D

[Tia Maria]

Spudulike - I've added Jetabroad ( www.jetabroad.co.nz ), to my faves, I'll check it out later

Jub Jub - Its just me and the baby doing the obligatory trip home to see all the relatives who couldn't make it over when he was born.

Before we came here we always said, its so easy to pop back when you want to. But when you work out the cost of the flights compared to your monthly salary, (rather than converting to £s), its is very expensive.

Plus the OH would have to take extra time of work, which isn't the best thing to do when you start a job unless you advise them of it before starting.

Cheers

Tia

[jubjub]

Jub Jub - Its just me and the baby doing the obligatory trip home to see all the relatives who couldn't make it over when he was born.


:eek: :exit Best of Luck! I assume you have got the bassinet booked/confirmed??

[Tia Maria]

Jub Jub wrote:

Best of Luck! I assume you have got the bassinet booked/confirmed??

I'm going to sort out everything next week, hopefully, so yes expect a post about it all soon!

Cheers

Tia

[Mr TW]

Auckland to Heathrow (Singapore Airlines - transit stop in Changi)
Feb 2007 - Adult Return: $2100


I would have said that was cheap, = 785 GBP return.

For information of others reading the forum, because its travelling in the opposite direction, Air New Zealand has a new year sale on with some flights

Destination: Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch
Sales Period: to 04 Feb 07
Travel Period: commencing 18 Feb - 15 Jun 07 and 01 Sep - 30 Nov 07


http://www.airnewzealand.co.uk/airfares_offers/web_specials/specials/london_to_new_zealand_pacific_economy_special_with _hong_kong_and_los_angeles_stopover_options.htm

Prices from 619 GBP

[Paul]

I would have said that was cheap, = 785 GBP return.

For information of others reading the forum, because its travelling in the opposite direction, Air New Zealand has a new year sale on with some flights

Destination: Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch
Sales Period: to 04 Feb 07
Travel Period: commencing 18 Feb - 15 Jun 07 and 01 Sep - 30 Nov 07


http://www.airnewzealand.co.uk/airfares_offers/web_specials/specials/london_to_new_zealand_pacific_economy_special_with _hong_kong_and_los_angeles_stopover_options.htm

Prices from 619 GBP

Hi welcome to forum

The point Tia Maria was making is that the cost of the flights as a percentage of NZ income is quite high. Remember when comparing costs like for like you have to compare to what you are earning at the time. Converting to pounds is useful for us when buying houses in NZ with ££ but living costs are paid out of your NZ$$, which for most people is a resonable bit lower than the comparative income in the UK (not for all I appreciate)

Regards

[StevieD]

Thanks for the info guys, thought it may have been something to do with the aircraft having to fly upwards or something :laugh

[stu70]

Do not forget folks, the earth is sloped southwards so any flights that leave NZ to go up are bound to be going uphill, hence the higher fares...hope this all makes sense now :D :cheers

[veronica]

I've just booked it the other way, uk-nz(2/2007)-uk(2/2008) and its cost 798 pounds emirates. and for Pete uk-nz(4/2007)-uk(4/2008) Singapore airlines. booked another one for one of our family still in the UK 998 pounds UK-NZ-UK 7 +8 /2007.

we go back every year as we have daughters and elderly parents still there and have to book via London as thats where the original return ticket was
from.

[Tia Maria]

Paul wrote:

The point Tia Maria was making is that the cost of the flights as a percentage of NZ income is quite high.

Yep that's it Paul!

To give some examples:

My OH took about a 40% pay cut coming to work in NZ. So in theory a flight that cost £800 in the UK, should cost £480, if we are to keep the same standard of living.

And with an exchange rate of 2.81, the flight would cost $1349.

However, it costs, $2200 and therefore it takes X more days to earn that flight home.

Or

If you were to earn $80,000 in NZ, your monthly take home pay would be roughly $4800.

So a flight home is about '2 weeks' salary.

You can then compare it to your UK salary and UK flight prices and see how many 'weeks' pay it would cost in the UK.

And this doesn't just apply to flights. Its strange, I knew the whole cost of living thing in an 'academic sense' before I left. But it was only once I moved here that I really understood its full impact.

Obviously it will vary depending on what kind of paycut you take and what the exchange rate is like, but don't be fooled into thinking that its only those with a consumeristic lifestyle, who will have to rethink their spending habits.

Cheers

Tia

[CjChris]

Tia, you say, "If you were to earn $80,000 in NZ, your monthly take home pay would be roughly $4000."

Are you serious? :uhoh People are taxed, etc., that much?? That means take home pay roughly equals 48000 of the 80000 a person makes. I guess I just hadn't REALLY thought of take home pay versus salary. Egads!!


Christine

[Tia Maria]

Sorry I should probably say $80,000, the monthly take home pay is nearer $4,800 (I'll see if I can still edit).

If you know your tax code and how often you get paid try this:

www.ird.govt.nz/calculators/keyword/paye/calculator-paye-2007.html

If you don't know your tax code then I suspect it will probably work out worst case scenario.

Sorry to scare you!

Cheers

Tia

PS Nothing to do with flights but I just had a thought of another price comparison, got to this site:

www.foodtown.co.nz

and do a typical weekly shop, then apply the same prinicipal (assuming you have an idea what you'll be earning in NZ), to see how your standard of living may be affected.

[spudulike]

And this doesn't just apply to flights. Its strange, I knew the whole cost of living thing in an 'academic sense' before I left. But it was only once I moved here that I really understood its full impact.

Obviously it will vary depending on what kind of paycut you take and what the exchange rate is like, but don't be fooled into thinking that its only those with a consumeristic lifestyle, who will have to rethink their spending habits.

Cheers

Tia

Tia, you are spot on!

We too knew all the academic side of moving and had tried to do the comparisons but once we arrived we had a huge shock! We had planned to go back to the UK for a holiday after a year or two - then realised with the cost of flights and day to day living being three times more expensive when we got to the UK (after coverting $NZ to GBP) that just wouldn't be an option. It's a huge reality check when you realise you will not be able to visit your native country for a long time - if ever!

I also agree with the fact you do not need to be materialistic to make huge adjustments to your lifestyle!!

Louise :D

[stu70]

Thanks guys, it is great to see your feedback (sobering reality check) which is so good for folks like me just in the initial phases. You do hear about high housing costs, high cost of living and low low wages but it only hits you when you see things in numbers coming from experienced people. This thread has become more than cost of overseas flight. But it is very informative. Cheers

[spudulike]

This thread has become more than cost of overseas flight. But it is very informative. Cheers

Oops, we always have problems with sticking to the point of the post on here :o

Glad it's useful though :D

L

[Tia Maria]

I've just checked the flight I booked 4 months in advance:

Auckland to Heathrow (Singapore Airlines - transit stop in Changi)
Feb 2007 - Adult Return: $2100

It is now $600 more! (I leave in 3 weeks).

It shows it pays to be prepared even though its probably not the most popular time to fly to the UK. There was plenty of availability. If I remember I'll check it the day before, to see if they do last minute deals or not.

Cheers

Tia

[katandbob]

It cost me $1995 for a one way flight Invercargill/Chch/Auk/LA/Heathrow.
A heck of a pricetag but it was to match his sisters existing flight so I had to grit my teeth and pay it, I am not looking forward to looking at flights back home for the 3 of us - I can see a lot of OT needed to even think about it - its a very depressing thought especially when the month that Rachel just spent here went so quick!

Kat.. PS they landed at 12.34pm our time so hopefully they will give me a ring soon and I can go to bed.

[Howie]

Auckland - Bangkok - Koh Samui $1555NZ return Thai Airways. 12 hour flight to Bangkok.
This is my first international trip since arriving in NZ almost a year ago. It reminded me that we are out in the middle of nowhere and flights anywhere are really expensive. I am always surprised at how well travelled the average Kiwi is given the huge cost.

[Tia Maria]

Tia Maria wrote:

I've just checked the flight I booked 4 months in advance:

Auckland to Heathrow (Singapore Airlines - transit stop in Changi)
Feb 2007 - Adult Return: $2100

It is now $600 more! (I leave in 3 weeks).

Quoting myself now!

Anyway, when I last checked the flights were $2,700, but with just over a week to go they are: $2,380

So not as cheap as 4 months in advance, but cheaper than 3 weeks in advance. So there is obviously something to be said for booking last minute, if your nerves can stand it!

My flights are still available, but I can see others are now booked up, so there would obviously be less choice and availability.

Cheers

Tia

[Tia Maria]

Anyone booked any flights from NZ recently and can share the cost?

Also has anyone booked for Christmas time yet - how is availability and prices looking?

Cheers

Tia

[KerryS]

Anyone booked any flights from NZ recently and can share the cost?

Also has anyone booked for Christmas time yet - how is availability and prices looking?

Cheers

Tia


Me, me, me, me, me! I go back in December for 8 weeks! I was meant to go back in September for the rugby, but work has meant I can't do this. It also means I miss summer here, but stopping in Thailand on the way back for a couple of weeks as well. My flight was $2500 with Singapore Air, and then $150 for a return flight from Singapore to Phuket on Tiger Air. I can't wait!

[Caroline and Dave]

It seems very unfair to me how Air New Zealand work their prices out considering the wages are a lot lower in New Zealand than the UK. I have got quotes for Auckland to Heathrow from the NZ Air New Zealand website and I also got the same trip but on the UK Air New Zealand website but from Heathrow to Auckland both via LA.

Auckland to heathrow $ 2,732.46 £1,033.57

Heathrow to Auckland $2,418.45 £ 914.80


This was on the same date in October.

You would think it should be the other way around or at least the same price.


Kind regards

Dave and Caroline

[andrewandjane]

we are looking to go back to the uk for a visit some time in 2008 andys sister is getting married but no definate date yet, i have found it very hard to find any deals that make it affordable for us so far as there are 4 of us its going to be over $2000 each. with wages not great it looks as though we will have to miss going back or ask family for a contribution. it did not seem as much of a struggle to get cheap flights for the way out here. would it be possible for family in the uk to book and pay for flights and get them cheaper for us? has anyone found a way to get flights cheaper?

[immortal167]

in mid Dec, paying $1754 with Lufthausa/AirNZ from dunedin. Not a bad price. Partner going in 4 weeks and paying $1800 with Qantas.

[diforsyth]

Supply & demand plus captive market - it's the same the world over. You just have to accept it, I'm afraid.:(

David.

[Bromley86]

in mid Dec, paying $1754 with Lufthausa/AirNZ from dunedin. Not a bad price. Partner going in 4 weeks and paying $1800 with Qantas.

Would you mind me asking how you got those prices? We're budgeting for a possible move and $2,100 seems a good price, so your ones are excellent.

[Familyofmonkeys]

I think we must have done quite well for tickets when we flew over here. It cost a bit over £1500 for 2 adults, 2 children and one infant with Singapore Airlines via changi. How does this compare with anyone else?

[Bromley86]

We've booked LHR-AKL with Cathay 18 Feb, returning 13 March at £690 per adult.

[Tia Maria]

Bump for Lee.

A little while back, but it does say how the prices went up and down over a period of time.

Hope it helps!

Cheers

Tia

[Leccy-Lee]

Thanks Tia :)