Business tickets to New Zealand
 

I'm thinking of traveling to NewZealand next year and want to fly business class with my wife. I'm retired and for many years I was platinum but now I'm a only a silver elite, so no chance of upgrading. I checked on United's web site and the cost for two Business Class tickets was 20K. I went to a ticket broker and the cost was only $7,500 for two Business seats (coach was $4,400 for two tickets). Is there any risk of using a ticket broker and will you still earn one pass miles if I use a ticket consolidator?

This question might be better asked on Flyertalk.

<i>Is there any risk of using a ticket broker and will you still earn one pass miles if I use a ticket consolidator?</i>

Yes and maybe. Where are you flying from and when are you flying?

One question to ask of the consolidator is whether the tickets have been purchased with other people's frequent flier miles. Because this is against the "terms of use" the airline can confiscate your ticket and require you to purchase a full-priced ticket in order to fly.

It used to be that there were a number of credit cards that had a "buy one get one free" deal for Biz class tickets. American Express had such a card.

United doesn't fly to New Zealand. That 20K fare is a full unrestricted fare. Has to be. I took a look at Air New Zealand webpage and they have a special fare (restricted) for $5900 per person roundtrip nonstop from LAX or SFO.

Business class is different on different airlines. What exactly are you getting for your $7500.

itasoftware shows a business class fare of $3625 per person roundtrip connecting both ways in Hawaii.

On another search I found Air Fiji business class for about $3600.

Another search on different dates and the best fare was $4300 on China Southern via Guangzhou, China.

Qantas is introducing a major business class upgrade. http://tinyurl.com/nwfcdpw

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Vic's travels: http://my.flightmemory.com/vogilvie

I currently pay about $6000 to $7000 Aussie dollars for business class tickets from Australia to LAX or JFK which is a great deal. They used to be more like $8000. I am amazed that it is 10K per ticket from the US to Australia. I've always found tickets originating from Australia dearer. Surely it must be less.

I'd be careful of those discounted fares you describe. Many are purchased with other people's frequent flyer points and if you miss a flight it is money gone down the drain.