Flights to New Zealand

Skuxx

Hi guys,

Just looking for some information about flights to Christchurch, NZ, heading next March for 3 or 4 weeks!
I've been pricing flights and Emirates are coming in at €1050 return, which I think is a great price, but for within an extra €300 my options also include Ethiad, Singapore and Qantas!

Just wondering has anyone any experience with these airlines, I've only flown BA before going long haul.... I wouldn't mind paying the extra bit on such a long flight if it was going to make a difference.

The Emirates flight is Dublin-Dubai-Bangkok-Christchurch (via Sydney)...seems like an awful long way around!!

Any advice would be awesome!!

BuffyBot

Emirates have good prices, food entertainment etc but seating is pretty attrocious especially on the longer flights. 10 seats across on their 777's (versus 9 on BA), which makes it quite narrow. If you're a small sort, that may be ok for you however. Singapore/Qantas and Etihad are all good choices as well.

Skuxx

Thanks for the reply. I've heard that before about Emirates actually but had forgotten. I don't think I'd be too keen on the 10 across. I flew "premium economy" on the BA 777 and that was only 8 across, had to imagine another 2 seats!
Singapore Airlines is Heathrow-Singapore-Christchurch, seems a bit more direct and includes an A380 leg which I'd like to include if possible!


Has anyone used budgetair.ie? They seem to be giving me the best deals at the moment!

Stinicker

Emirates Boeing 777's are very cramped and you'd be on that from Dublin to Dubai anyway. I got stuck on it from Dubai to Kuala Lumpur this year and the journey was not pleasant.

You might have the A380 from Dubai to Bangkok but you'd need to check that on the Emirates website because Emirates fly 777's to Bangkok also.

Dubai airport is also quite stressful and if you fly Emirates most likely you will be stuck on a cramped 777 for most of the flights and while it is an awful long journey it will only be made worse by having to travel through 5 airports in 30+ hrs.

If it were me I'd choose Singapore Airlines for the A380 to Singapore and stop-over for a night or two to break and the journey and continue on with Singapore direct to Christchurch on the 9 abreast Boeing 777's which are much more roomy than Emirates 10 abreast seating config.

Have you considered Air New Zealand from Christchurch to Christchurch via Los Angeles and Auckland?

Emirates do give a 30KG baggage allowance and their A380 service is excellent, their only failings are their 777's and Dubai airport being far too busy. Maybe consider using the €300 you'd save by Flying Emirates to break the journey in Bangkok and maybe fly Emirates from Heathrow so you'd have the A380 from Heathrow to Bangkok at least.

I've never used BudgetAir but they have a bad rep if you look them up, consider booking directly with the airline or else with someone reputable like ebookers, or Expedia etc.

Skuxx

Stinicker wrote: »

Emirates Boeing 777's are very cramped and you'd be on that from Dublin to Dubai anyway. I got stuck on it from Dubai to Kuala Lumpur this year and the journey was not pleasant.

You might have the A380 from Dubai to Bangkok but you'd need to check that on the Emirates website because Emirates fly 777's to Bangkok also.

Dubai airport is also quite stressful and if you fly Emirates most likely you will be stuck on a cramped 777 for most of the flights and while it is an awful long journey it will only be made worse by having to travel through 5 airports in 30+ hrs.

If it were me I'd choose Singapore Airlines for the A380 to Singapore and stop-over for a night or two to break and the journey and continue on with Singapore direct to Christchurch on the 9 abreast Boeing 777's which are much more roomy than Emirates 10 abreast seating config.

Have you considered Air New Zealand from Christchurch to Christchurch via Los Angeles and Auckland?

Emirates do give a 30KG baggage allowance and their A380 service is excellent, their only failings are their 777's and Dubai airport being far too busy. Maybe consider using the €300 you'd save by Flying Emirates to break the journey in Bangkok and maybe fly Emirates from Heathrow so you'd have the A380 from Heathrow to Bangkok at least.

I've never used BudgetAir but they have a bad rep if you look them up, consider booking directly with the airline or else with someone reputable like ebookers, or Expedia etc.

Cool, so all in all stay away from Emirates is the advice both for the 777 and Dubai Airport!! That's good to know though thank you!!

Herself is just after heading out there last week and flew Singapore and said it was great, they are slightly more then Emirates and about the same price as Ethiad, but they have A380s (I'm an a/c engineer so what plane it is is almost as important to me as getting there, I'm dying for a flight on one )

BA and Qantas via Singapore and Sydney are also in the same price range as the above, using A380 and 747, although connection times between arrival in Sydney and onward to Christchurch going over and Singapore coming back is only 1 hr 20 minutes, so I may need to juggle that around a bit!

Air NZ via LA is another option for me to look into....I'm hoping to get flights booked by the end of the month, so still another few weeks to have a look around!

Thanks for the tip about BudgetAir, I've never used them either!! I went to the states last month with BA and booked through www.e-travel.ie and had no problems at all so I might use them again if they are reasonable!!

Stinicker

alan1990 wrote: »

Cool, so all in all stay away from Emirates is the advice both for the 777 and Dubai Airport!! That's good to know though thank you!!

Herself is just after heading out there last week and flew Singapore and said it was great, they are slightly more then Emirates and about the same price as Ethiad, but they have A380s (I'm an a/c engineer so what plane it is is almost as important to me as getting there, I'm dying for a flight on one )

BA and Qantas via Singapore and Sydney are also in the same price range as the above, using A380 and 747, although connection times between arrival in Sydney and onward to Christchurch going over and Singapore coming back is only 1 hr 20 minutes, so I may need to juggle that around a bit!

Air NZ via LA is another option for me to look into....I'm hoping to get flights booked by the end of the month, so still another few weeks to have a look around!

Thanks for the tip about BudgetAir, I've never used them either!! I went to the states last month with BA and booked through www.e-travel.ie and had no problems at all so I might use them again if they are reasonable!!

Emirates are not a bad airline it is just their Boeing 777 service is cramped and Dubai airport is very busy at peak times from 11pm to 3am, which was when I was there. I found Etihad far more civilized to fly with as Abu Dhabi airport was not as busy. Emirates A380 is great and very roomy, so no probs there.

Qantas and BA are ending their partnership and Qantas is forging a new alliance with Emirates instead. see
http://www.qantasandemirates.com/index.html

If you are flying in March then Qantas may have moved operations from Singapore to Dubai as they will be using Dubai as their transit point for European flights instead of Singapore in future as part of the tie up with Emirates.

I have flown the A380 on both Qantas and Emirates and it is a far superior machine to fly on, much quieter and more roomy, with great in-flight vod etc. I flew Sydney to LAX with Qantas in 2010 and Bangkok to Dubai with Emirates last April and both flights were very good. The A380 is a big improvement over the Boeing 777 used by Emirates for sure.