I am trying to get to Auckland New Zealand next month/January 2013 to meet up with my daughter who will be down for work. I ran into a wall trying to cash in my air miles down there on AA so have looked around on many websites to try and find a cheap fare. A pop up for a travel agency in Seattle that specializes in the South Pacific has gotten me cheaper fares than the actual airline websites.
My question is: would you pay an extra $400USD to fly Air New Zealand nonstop from LAX to Auckland or would you save the money and go on Air Pacific by way of Fiji with a plane change to Auckland?
Thoughts on flying either airline?
Preference for a trip to New Zealand- Air Pacific vs Air New Zealand?
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I have flown Air New Zealand twice, once from LAX to AKL and once from LAX to LHR, and have had a wonderful (as wonderful as a long-haul flight can be) experience each time.
You'll have extra leg room, pretty good food, NZ wines, and a really nice selection of entertainment options.
Lee Ann
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Air New Zealand, it is a LONG flight and they provide great service and good meals. Have just come back from a trip to the US and flew them both ways. They are ranked very high amongst airlines.
I've not flown Air Pacific, but have flown Air NZ many times and would definitely do so again.
I'd spend the extra money and fly Air NZ.
Could you share the name of the travel agency in Seattle? I am looking for flights between US and NZ with stopover on an island in between, for next year.
Changemaven, if you sign up for Air New Zealand's email newsletter, they often have specials on the kind of trip you're looking at. www.airnewzealand.com
Lee Ann
It's called Travel Team in Seattle. I actually bought my ticket to NZ for two hundred dollars less than Air New Zealand's website and she got me all aisle seats!
I have used Cathy and a woman named Tracy. Cathy@travelteam.com or tracy@travelteam.com