Air Fares

[KD17]

We are considering visiting NZ before our move, which comes as a surprise really as we were just planning on upping & going.

Where can you get the best air fares from and is it best to book in advance, say 4 months or so, or last minute?

We may try renting a camper for a couple of weeks and having a treck about to see where we want to be.

Having our interview at 10.00 today - just thought I'd slip that one in quietly

Thanks

Keith & Debby

[jubjub]

We found ebookers to be the cheapest, along with Expedia, just watch out as one of them includes tax in the price and the other one does not!

http://www.ebookers.com/uk?SOURCE=go...YWORD=ebookers

http://www.expedia.co.uk/default.aspx

[sarahw]

We found Travelbag (with Air New Zealand flights) to be the cheapest by booking on line (they're owned by e-bookers so you might well find the same or very similar prices on both) - have booked 3 trips to NZ with them (e-bookers seem to be pretty cheap on the carhire though).

[veronica]

We've gone thru dialaflight the last few times but not on line. the phone no. is on the web though. A lot depends on what agent you get when you dial in. We used to deal witha girl called Charlie and she was really good, would think of every possible way to get a good deal for you but she has left to have a littlun. If you get a good agent who takes the time then it can work out much cheaper whoever you go with.

[Babette & Andy]

Hey you guys, you did slip that in quietly - how did your interview go today??? Well I hope Can't wait to hear how you got on.

With regards to airfares - we tend to shop around but always end up using the same Australasia specialist - Trailfinders (Manchester office most local location for you guys, or on-line). This time though (for our one-way ticket) I've been looking at Singapore Airlines on-line, which I know many other people have done too. So maybe that's worth exploring too. Give me a call or PM me if you want a further chat.

Let us know what you decide.

Babette

[Biddy]

I've used 2 companies for my 2 trips!
Trailfinders put us a great package together for a 2 week stopover in Orlando and then on to NZ.
I'm using http://www.airline-network.co.uk
for my trip in Aug - checked out all the main websites and they offered the cheapest and quickest (via Singapore)
Mike

[acisman]

I would agree with Singapore Airlines. Booking online with them was the cheapest option on both our last two flights to NZ. Austravel and Travelbag weren't far behind.


Dave

[baboonworld]

I have always found Singapore to be really expensive.

I have used Travelmood lots of times and they are cheap and really efficient. www.travelmood.co.uk and I spoke to Amber at Leeds - she is really helpful.

Also used dialaflight to go to NY - they seem to stuff it up a lot - with tickets etc - and two of my friends have had the same experience!

[debnjohn]

Air New Zealand have an offer on at the moment, got this email from them:

Dear Traveller,

With the freedom to stopover in the paradise islands of Fiji or Tahiti on your way, Air New Zealand's daily flights from London to Auckland or Christchurch are on sale until 15 June 05 from as little as £681* return - for travel between 01 Nov - 30 Nov 05. Or you can take a more luxurious choice and experience Air New Zealand's Business Class, on sale until 30 June 05 from only £2,290* return - for travel between 16 Aug - 30 Nov 05.

If you fancy boutique shopping for spring fashions, sight-seeing or even star-spotting in Hollywood, an Air New Zealand stopover in Los Angeles is not to be missed - especially when you can include it as a stopover on our flights to the idyllic South Pacific islands and, by booking by 15 June 05, take advantage of some of our best ever fares from just £711* return, available for travel between 01 Nov - 30 Nov 05.

Just remember, these fares are only available until the dates shown and availability is limited. So BOOK TODAY and fly south for the spring in New Zealand with Air New Zealand.

Being there is everything.

John

[KD17]

Thank you for all that info - I will be checking them out soon...

We would like to go sometime between August & November so hope we can get one of the deals. We then plan on hiring a camper, I know there's quite a bit on here about those so will do a search nearer the time.

Will post separately re our interview ...

Keith & Debby