V-Flyer

Best option for trying to snag G style seats:

1. G's to LAX then onwards with V Oz?
2. G's to HKG (yeah right!) then onwards
3. other options..SFO?

will be trying to snag flights with better availability (after multiple seats), so assume the HGK route is damn near impossible...

How far in advance you booking?

Only reason I asked the previous question is the HKG route G fares do appear if you book far enough in advance.

Otherwise I would say go via LAX with VS then onto NZ via Oz with VA or there is always LHR-SFO-LAX-SYD-AKL.. Should allow you to burn a few miles

I have also been trying to do the same, for travel end of Jan beg Feb for about 3 weeks or so, trying to buy one full price and possibly one with miles.As we can go anytime, was trying to do a combination, do you have to do the two or three legs separately, as no availability comes up,but individualy can get to Sydney on one reward ticket.

Have also tried doing Sfo and Lax but the prices from there to AKL were astronomical on Nz airlines.

Priced it up with Malaysian and it wasn't too bad, and shorter route, has anyone any experience of them they look ok on the website and the Business seat looks acceptable. Many thanks Linda y)

Can't you use VS miles on Air New Zealand? Other than the lounge the ANZ experience IMHO is superior to VS

oldboy

northernhenry wrote:Best option for trying to snag G style seats:

1. G's to LAX then onwards with V Oz?
2. G's to HKG (yeah right!) then onwards
3. other options..SFO?

will be trying to snag flights with better availability (after multiple seats), so assume the HGK route is damn near impossible...

Mike , just be aware that the redemption rates in VA using FC miles are not good ( 94,000 mies each way for LAX- MEL) even if you can find availability ( which premier have never been able to find for me). I've had similar experiences trying to use FC miles on NZ ( if memory serves me right there was a post a while ago that had a few of us here bemoaning the fact that availability with NZ is like finding the holy grail ... ! ).
How many seats are you looking for? How about staggering the flights to HKG eg a couple one day and a couple the next ? In my experience the seats on the HKG - SYD leg are much easier to come by .
Gs do turn up and planning ( with some flexibility) is the secret .
The other option is Malaysia??
Good luck.
DL

I am pretty sure you will find much more availability on the LHR - NRT - AKL route using VS and NZ.

JCBR wrote:I am pretty sure you will find much more availability on the LHR - NRT - AKL route using VS and NZ.

Mmm that's one option not thought about...
Looking for dec... For 3 seats which makes life harder...

Fly to Shanghai [always Gs available]- spend a couple of days on the Bund, down to HK with Dragonair, HK to Sydney, same on return spending a few days in HK.

International Hitman wrote:Fly to Shanghai [always Gs available]- spend a couple of days on the Bund, down to HK with Dragonair, HK to Sydney, same on return spending a few days in HK.

Shanghai to Auckland....?

Shanghai to Auckland....?

80k miles on AirNZ.

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/fr ... bmit1.x=26

Though note its likely to be the 767 version of the Business Class seat, which isn't much better than PE.

http://www.airnewzealand.co.uk/767-inflight-experience

International Hitman wrote:Fly to Shanghai [always Gs available]- spend a couple of days on the Bund, down to HK with Dragonair, HK to Sydney, same on return spending a few days in HK.

NZ is still a fair distance from Sydney though. That would make at least 4 plane changes each way.

I've done LAX to AKL and SFO to AKL, about 3 times on Air NZ Business using VS miles. Wonderful.

And just $35 in taxes and fees. Hallelujah.

But you've got to get yourself to LAX first.