Help Needed with Flights to SYD & NZ
 

Here's the deal ... I'm going to be flying from Nashville to present three workshops. I'll be teaching on the South Island May 24-25 (location TBD); Aukland May 31 & June 1; and Ettalong (near Sydney) June 6 - 9.

I'm having the hardest time figuring out how to book my flights -- and I'm hitting dead-ends at all the websites I've visited so far.

Since neither Qantas nor Air New Zealand fly from Nashville, I'm wondering if I'll have to book separate flights to L.A. or SF; and then, flights from there.

And also ... separate flights within NZ; and NZ to SYD ...

I'm trying to figure the most cost effective way to do this. Aren't there airlines or websites that offer all-inclusive "passes" for this kind of travel?

I plan to arrive about a week before the first workshop to adjust and sightsee. Also, will stay a bit in Sydney after the final workshop. I'm sure that when I get the flights sorted out, I'll have lots of other questions :-)

I thought I was pretty good at this stuff ... until I started trying to plan this trip :-(

I'm not sure if this is much help but have you tried booking a round the world ticket? That's what I usually use flying from Australia, if I have multiple stops in different countries.

Going to the States I use Qantas, then internals are with AA or Continental, they are all on the same ticket.

Hi Songdoc -

I plugged your itinerary into the United website and pulled up several options. Looks like you can fly a combination of United Airlines and Air New Zealand. They're both part of Star Alliance, so you can have your miles credited to one account and you can book all your flights on the same ticket.

If you're not yet a member of a frequent flyer program, suggest you join one to take advantage of the miles you'll be earning.

An around the world ticket isn't a very good option IMO, as you'll be required to travel in a circle instead of backtracking. Therefore you'd have to return via Asia/Europe, and that's taking the scenic route to say the least.

You might want to look into the Circle Pacific fares too, although I think they might require a stop in Asia as well as OZ and NZ.

This might be one of those times when an airline rep earns his/her keep.

When I tried to price this itinerary through the United Airlines website, they routed me through Los Angeles ... to go from Auckland to Sydney!!! :-) They didn't provide any other option.

I'm still trying to figure this out!

PS. The first time I tried, this didn't post -- so I apologize if it shows up twice.

You can fly direct from LAX to Auckland via Qantas. Air New Zealand for NZ domestic flights. Air New Zealand and Qantas fly from Christchurch direct to Sydney.

probably not the response you are looking for. But you can play with different options on www.kayak.com.

If anything you can find a cheap option for your west coast leg.
Also check out southwestern, ata, and jet blue to west coast.

What about flying out of JFK? ...or is that a back track?

If you are having that much trouble then you ought to contact a travel agent.

Buy your intra-New Zealand tickets separately.

You have a couple of options for your other travel:

1) get a roundtrip with a stopover Nashville to Auckland to Sydney returning to Nashville. Auckland will be the stopover.

2) get an open-jaw ticket Nashville to Auckland and returning from Sydney to Nashville. With this you would buy a separate ticket for Auckland to Sydney.

I definitely would not get a separate ticket for getting to/from the west coast gateway.

Unless the fares are drastically cheaper using United, I would suggest you fly either Qantas or Air New Zealand. I have flown both United and Qantas within the last few years (and Air New Zealand several years ago) and United was the worst! The seats seemed more cramped; the food was worse; and the service was terrible. Also, we had individual screens for each seat in Qantas with an assortment of movies, TV and games while our flight on United had the typical movie screen with no choice of what there was to watch. (I don't think United has updated their planes with individual screens since we flew with them.) Believe me, having that individual screen made the flight seem to go so much faster!

Have you looked at cheapair.com, I have used them when in the States and got some good deals? Suggest you talk to a good travel agent for LA to NZ as there are a few options, Air Tahiti for instance out of LA to Auckland often has good prices. Best to book the domestic flights in NZ on the Air NZ or Qantas websites for the best prices. You certainly don't need a round the world ticket.

Hi Songdoc --

take mrwunrful's advice and visit (or call) a travel agent -- for the time, effort & stress you're going through, an agent could book this for you in about 15 minutes!

outbound: Nashville/SFO/AKL

return: SYD/AKL/SFO/Nashville

(much better departure/Customs out of SFO than LAX). On the return, because you'll be on Air NZ, you will end up routed through AKL, which is annoying, but you can't get around it!

Also listen to Longhorn's very good advice about the difference between UA and Air NZ or Qantas...very true.

Hope this is helpful!

Melodie
Certified Kiwi & Aussie Specialist