Pastor Flaps

Hi everyone

We are coming out to NZ on a fact finding trip for 5 weeks, on 3/4 Aug and are looking at flying upto Brisbane for a week whilst we are over.

Could you give me an idea of how much the flights would be, whether I should book in the uk before arriving, or book in NZ.
also I have been told that it is school hols in NZ at that time and that availability will be very tight, is this true.

Hopefully flying Singapore airlines. Will hopefully be booking in next few days.

Paul

Akaubear

Hello!

School holidays in NZ are.... now - until 21st July, and then from 19th September until 6th October.

Hope that helps. Have a great trip!

Nicola.

Pastor Flaps

Thanks for that Nicola

I have just got off the phone with travel bag and it looks like we can do Brisbane on the way over which would save on flying time.

Paul

Flyboy

Hi Paul,

Yep you will avoid the school hols here and as far as fights go expect to pay between £650 - £1000 per person depending on airline and number and length of stops.

Singapore are a good airline to fly with but also check out Thai as they have some cheap deals on at the moment. Also check out flight centre as they will beat any other price that you can get hold of.

Personally I prefer AirNZ for the leg room and the direct flight through LA, however they are not always the cheapest and you don't get your own IFE (unless your are in buisness class!!)

Pastor Flaps

Hi Flyboy

I have just been offered a good deal with Malaysian. Flying UK to Kuala Lumper, then Brisbane, staying for 4 day, then Auckalnd and then flying back via KL.
Price £714 plus tax's.
I went into Flight centre this morning and they couldnt find anything.
I am trying to screw a deal out of Travelbag, as they let me down on the free child places they were doing last month.

What is a IFE, is it Independent Flight entertainment.
Does anyone have any feedback on Malaysia. I will have two children with me aged 6 and 2.

I am now getting excited that we are starting to make things happen.

Paul

Flyboy

Sorry, I thought I was at work!! IFE = In Flight Entertainment

Malaysian - another good airline and that sounds like a good deal. Dunno about KL though as I have not been there yet - it's on the list of places to visit though!

icklepickle

Singapore were doing a flight with free child places a few weeks ago, they do not advertise it so it is worth asking specifically about. We booked through travelbag and have flights to Auckland for the family (2 adults, 2 children) for just under £2000. I think that Quantas were doing something similar as well.

Also take a look at www.wotif.co.nz for accomodation, really good value hotels but you can only book 12 days in advance.

Regards,

Jolyn

Singapore is a much better stopover than KL with kids. Tropical zoos etc and all nearby. Also they do a great stopover deal with tickets to everything, 50% off food at your hotel coffee shop etc. Check the Singapore Airlines website for details. The top price hotels in the deal look very impressive - see the Shangri-La for instance (has it's own website).

Take a car seat for your 2 year old to strap onto their airline seat - if you've got the reclining kind (Maxi cosi, Britax) they can get at least a bit of sleep without lying on you and making your legs go numb! The usual plane seatbelts are useless at restraining toddlers during turbulence etc but they seem to be OK in their familiar and comfy car seats.

Pastor Flaps

Hi Jolyn and icklepickle

We were going to go with Singapore on the free child places but due to a cock up with Travel bag not telling us the flights had to be booked by 30 June, we missed out big time..
The flight we have now booked with Malaysia will stop in KL for three hours then onto Brisbane for 4 days. My wife has always wanted to goto Australia Zoo. We will then be arriving in Auckland for 3 weeks.
The stop over on the way back is KL again for 10 hours, so we will stay in a hotel as it is during the night. Would have stayed longer, but been to KL before without the kids. Nice but nothing special.

As for the Car seat Jolyn, it sounds like a great idea, espcially as we could use it in the Motor home, however as he is under 2 he will not get a seat, so looks like we are in for a fun flight.

Thanks

Paul

tinaj

Have you tried global vilage flights? They specialise in multi stop flights and have quoted me a really cheap flight to Sydney via 2 stops in the States ( United Airlines)


Ring them on 0870 4427770 they have a website, but it is easier to ring.

www.globalvillageflights.com or www.roundtheworldflights.com


good luck

Tina

Pastor Flaps

thanks for the tip. The flights are only provisional held at the moment so I will call global village flights first thing in the morning.
The cock up by Travel bag really did mess things up as we wanted to fly with singapore.

Paul

TIZUS

Hi Paul

Can't rate travel bag highly enough, really helpfull with our flights to Nz week after next!
Tori

Pastor Flaps

Tori

Is your visit for good or for a fact finding trip. How long are you going to be over there and what are your plans?
You must be very excited.

Paul

The Simpsons

If your child is under two you might be able to use a sky cot. I took our daughter to Sydney (Singapore Airlines) when she was 18mths old and she fitted into one. Means she gets to sleep and you get the bulkhead legroom! Ask the airline what the weight restriction is and pre-book a sky cot if you can. Even if you don't use it, you'll benefit from the extra space!
Best wishes,
Karen

jscott

Hi

Flew with Malaysian last year with 2 kids aged 2 and 4. No probs and will be flying with them again in March. Can't comment much on KL as we didn't stay just waited the 2 hours for connecting flight. It is the only flight I have been allowed to take my pushchair as hand luggage - they were worried I would need it in KL so it was with us all the time. Coming back they couldn't fit it as hand luggage but brought it straight to us when we landed - didn't have to wait in the baggage bit.

Make sure you ring Malaysian Airlines before travelling to book children's meals as they only provide for those that book them (might have changed now but that was the system last year). Also you can book your seats - not actual seat numbers but you can say if you want window seats, middle seats etc and if you need a sky cot you may be able to reserve that. When we went the travel agent couldn't book all this it had to be done myself but was worth it.

Yes there is the seat back IFE system.

If you think of something else that I haven't covered let me know..

Have a good time....

Jaqui