Horus From Egypt, joined Feb 2004, 5230 posts, RR: 62 Posted (7 years 5 months 2 weeks 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 1323 times:
I'm planning another trip to New Zealand next year and I'm not sure which routing to take. Last summer I flew LHR-LAX-AKL with NZ but this time I'm either going with 1. BA/QF or 2. CX.
The BA/QF option is LHR-SIN (BA B744) - SIN-SYD (BA B744) - SYD-AKL (QF B763).
Julesmusician From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 3, posted (7 years 5 months 2 weeks 4 days 15 hours ago) and read 1297 times:
Personally I like the west way. When in LA you can meet some stars, have lunch with them. Then if you can stop off at Fiji or Tahiti and enjoy some of their hospitality - believe me dancing polynesian girls at 4am is always welcome as you sip a beer....
AirCop From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 5, posted (7 years 5 months 2 weeks 4 days 8 hours ago) and read 1274 times:
If you not going to make any stopovers, then I would go NZ just to save time. That got to be at least twenty-two hours in the air. When you're talking about that much time, going a longer route just doesn't make sense or does your body good.
ZKSUJ From New Zealand, joined exactly 9 years ago today! , 6930 posts, RR: 10 Reply 7, posted (7 years 5 months 2 weeks 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 1262 times:
I'd go NZ and try out their new product. I guess going through LAX would be a pain but it would beat BA/QF as NZ only has one stop as opposed to two with BA/QF.
BMIFlyer/Julesmusician/AirCop I already tried NZ last summer, and even though it was a really good experience I just want to try something different (I aim to try as many different airlines/aircraft/routings).
Quoting B742 (Reply 1): Are you planning to stop in SIN, SYD or HKG on the way?
No I'm not planning a stop in SIN or HKG...yet. I will be visiting SYD though after a finish my trip in NZ.
Quoting MarshalN (Reply 6): CX with one (wonderful) stop in HKG! How are the timings?
Well the timings are fine. There are 4 LHR-HKG and 2 (depending on the day) HKG-LHR flights. How is the Y product on CX A343s?
Having flown the two, I'd personally rather fly on BA/QF then CX, but the one benefit of CX is that you only have to make one stop.
It's a tough call. I've flown on all three and wasn't really impressed with CX, at least in economy.
I suppose if I had to choose - I'd like go with CX only because of the 1 stop. If you're up for a little more adventure, so with BA/QF.
Let us know what you choose!
Airxliban, to be honest I'm leaning more towards BA/QF simply because I think BA's Y/Y+ product is better than CX's but also because you get to fly more...more 'adventurous' as you said.
Also for a little extra, I could fly NZ instead of QF on the SYD-AKL sector and get to ride on one of their brand new B777s...
ZKSUJ, as a Kiwi I can do with some advice about NZ if you don't mind. Even though I was in your great country a few months back I do have a question or two.
ZKSUJ From New Zealand, joined exactly 9 years ago today! , 6930 posts, RR: 10 Reply 11, posted (7 years 5 months 2 weeks 3 days 1 hour ago) and read 1218 times:
Cxsjr From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 12, posted (7 years 5 months 2 weeks 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 1213 times:
Why not fly CX from LHR-HKG on the A343 service, stopover in HKG for a bit, from HKG-SYD on the A346 service, then return from MEL-HKG on the A333 and back to the UK on the A343 again?
I'm off to Oz at the end of Feb and this is exactly the routing/flights I'm taking. We paid £649 incl taxes each.
All you need to buy then is a Boomerang ticket from SYD-AKL-MEL, which when I did it the other way around a couple of years back was cheap as chips!
Ozvirginuk From Australia, joined Jan 2005, 396 posts, RR: 6 Reply 13, posted (7 years 5 months 2 weeks 2 days 18 hours ago) and read 1207 times:
Hi Horus,
Why don't you try VS LHR-HKG-SYD and then use DJ (Pacific Blue) over to AKL, or even NZ. The timings are good, and you have the option or Y or W Class (prem econ) or J if you can afford it. Have just come back from home (BNE) via SYD on VS and VS upper class suite is the ONLY way to fly.
If you are a oneworld FF, and that's what is going to decide it, the go with CX, they are way better than QF and BA.
Quoting Cxsjr (Reply 12): Why not fly CX from LHR-HKG on the A343 service, stopover in HKG for a bit, from HKG-SYD on the A346 service, then return from MEL-HKG on the A333 and back to the UK on the A343 again?
Well CX is by far the cheapest and quickest option if i go LHR-AKL. If I can fly with them LHR-HKG (B744), HKG-SYD (A346-never flown before), MEL-HKG (A333-never flown before) and HKG-LHR (A343) then I would be really (really) tempted to go CX.
I'll check out the price for that this week and keep you posted...hmmm interesting
Quoting Ozvirginuk (Reply 13): If you are a oneworld FF, and that's what is going to decide it, the go with CX, they are way better than QF and BA.
Funnily I never considered VS. I just assumed they'd be more expensive.
I would have to disagree with you about VS being better than BA (having flown both airlines).
Quoting Soups (Reply 14): If you like the unsual way you could fly with Royal Bruniei!! Smile
Ozvirginuk From Australia, joined Jan 2005, 396 posts, RR: 6 Reply 16, posted (7 years 5 months 2 weeks 14 hours ago) and read 1159 times:
Quoting Horus (Reply 15): Funnily I never considered VS. I just assumed they'd be more expensive.
I would have to disagree with you about VS being better than BA (having flown both airlines).
Don't ever assume!!!!! VS pricing tends to mirror what BA are doing and fares to OZ/NZ are very competitive. I have flown VS and BA on the LHR-BNE run (LHR-SYD many more) so many times I've lost count, and for overall comfort and service, VS win hands down.
On VS on the LHR-HKG and HKG-SYD routes, you get alot of Hong Kong crew, and their service skills are top notch....
ZKEOJ From New Zealand, joined Feb 2005, 923 posts, RR: 7 Reply 17, posted (7 years 5 months 2 weeks 2 hours ago) and read 1146 times:
I did the NZ and the CX trip, and I have been on BA and QF longhaul on other routings. Since you did NZ via LAX, I would go for CX - the best economy experience I ever did - much better than SQ in my opinion (although there is certainly nothing wrong with SQ). I love BA in longhaul as well, but was not impressed by QF. So it is indeed a close call, but due to the only one stop I think CX is the better bet...
As someone said before: Why not try something different? I wasn't impressed with TG, but I loved the SQ trip. I just did the NZ/LH via HKG as well, and it was a great experience despite the lack of PTVs...
ZKSUJ From New Zealand, joined exactly 9 years ago today! , 6930 posts, RR: 10 Reply 18, posted (7 years 5 months 2 weeks 2 hours ago) and read 1144 times:
Horus From Egypt, joined Feb 2004, 5230 posts, RR: 62 Reply 20, posted (7 years 5 months 1 week 6 days 14 hours ago) and read 1133 times:
Quoting Ozvirginuk (Reply 16): Don't ever assume!!!!! VS pricing tends to mirror what BA are doing and fares to OZ/NZ are very competitive. I have flown VS and BA on the LHR-BNE run (LHR-SYD many more) so many times I've lost count, and for overall comfort and service, VS win hands down.
On VS on the LHR-HKG and HKG-SYD routes, you get alot of Hong Kong crew, and their service skills are top notch....
I would still check it out if I were you......
Well I guess my instincts were correct and indeed VS are more expensive. Also their limited service (daily) makes it less favourable. Would have been nice to fly them again (flown them twice to the US).
As for BA vs VS. I have always found BA's product to be more superior and consistant (in WT and WT+). Even though seat pitch is the same, BA's seats are more comfortable and the staff more professional. Having said that VS are still a very good airline, but BA are just one step ahead. Period
Quoting ZKEOJ (Reply 17): I did the NZ and the CX trip, and I have been on BA and QF longhaul on other routings. Since you did NZ via LAX, I would go for CX - the best economy experience I ever did -........So it is indeed a close call, but due to the only one stop I think CX is the better bet..
Well CX is the cheaper and quickest option and I've never flown them before. Even though it is a one-stop service I really have no problem (in fact I prefer) more stops as it means more flying. Cxsjr's suggestions of flying CX on this routing: LHR-HKG (B744), HKG-SYD (A346-never flown before), MEL-HKG (A333-never flown before) and HKG-LHR (A343) is extremely tempting. I could then fly NZ SYD-AKL on a B777 and AKL-MEL on a QF B743...mmmmmmm
Quoting ZKSUJ (Reply 18): Cool, post on here when you sent the email.
Check your email
Quoting Lordanmol (Reply 19): I would personally go with Thai as their economy calss product is very good, and also you get IFE.
I've decided to give TG a miss on this trip. Nothing against them but I had to limit my choices.
ZKEOJ From New Zealand, joined Feb 2005, 923 posts, RR: 7 Reply 21, posted (7 years 5 months 1 week 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 1130 times:
Quoting Horus (Reply 20): could then fly NZ SYD-AKL on a B777
You gotta hurry for that one! NZ is only using the 777 on TransTasman flights for a couple of months. They are then going on the AKL-SFO routing. In fact, I think the first 777 is already doing that. My colleague is on the 777 to SFO next week (on the 12th)... Usually, NZ uses A320 and B763 on the TransTasman routes, and occasionally the B733...
Have a great trip - I am sure you will be happy with CX!
Buckieboy From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 23, posted (7 years 5 months 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 1050 times:
All,
Slightly off topic, however I flew SQ in 1995 from MAN to CHC in the days that the plane stopped in BOM. It was the cheapest of all to CHC and my most enjoyable experience in long-haul economy ever. It was relatively important for me to get to CHC at the time and I ended up flying AKL to CHC twice in B744s, which was pretty cool for a relatively short flight. I have a preference for Asian carriers, so I'd go either SQ, CX, TG or MH.
Door5Right From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2005, 707 posts, RR: 18 Reply 24, posted (7 years 5 months 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 1045 times:
Are you mad! Fly SIA and transit/break the journey at Changi. This way you can also check out some of the amazing LCC's like Jetstar Asia or Tiger if you want a side trip out of Singapore (or nip across border to take advantage of Air Asia's INCREDIBLY cheap flights round Malaysia. SIA allow breaks at Changi and u can get a bargain budget room AIRSIDE for only £27 for a 12 hour block - Chagis is heaven, heaven, heaven!
My soul is in the sky...
25 RCS763AV: Can i suggest a couple of crazy routings??? LGW-MAD-EZE-AKL on Air Plus and AR LHR-MIA-SCL-AKL on AA/BA and LA LHR-MAD-SCL-AKL on IB/BA and LA LHR-ICN
27 Planemanofnz: You could fly BA to LAX and QF to AKL? Personally I would take LAN via MAD and SCL however my 2nd choice would be EI from LHR to LAX and NZ to AKL.
28 Zkojh: you could always go LGW-HKG-AKL with NZ when it comes online in Oct 06
29 ZKSUJ: What about TN? fly to GDC and go to AKL via LAX and PPT. Would be a great experience!!!
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