Sydney/Melbourne to Queenstown Flights - Advice?

[devpods]

So we're planning a trip to Queenstown, NZ from Sydney/Melbourne on the 3rd of December. Jetstar was selling tickets for about $149 about two days ago. Then, when we finally decided on the dates and went to book yesterday, the fares were now up to $260! Both going and returning fares had almost doubled.Just wondering, should we take this price and book it, or do you guys think that fares will still fluctuate up and down in the weeks to come? Unsure whether now the fares will only go higher and higher as it gets to the holiday season, or whether there is still room for the fares to decrease, especially for places like NZ.Plus the date is for early December, not quite sure if that qualifies in the "peak pre-Christmas period" which would mean its only up and up from here.Thoughts?​

 

[samh004]

It was most likely a sale, but I'm not sure on the frequency of JQ sales and how readily flights to ZQN would be taken up. There are other options though, depending on if you need a QF-group airline or not.

Air NZ is quite often cheap, same for Virgin Australia.

Also don't forget that booking a oneway from NZ will often be cheaper than a return from Australia (by that I mean the return flight will be cheaper if booked out of NZ and not part of an Australian return.

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[UP4014]

Around $250 each way is at the cheap end.

You can save about $10 or $20 per seat by booking through the NZ airline sites.

Matt

 

[samh004]

Around $250 each way is at the cheap end.

That is true.


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[richie9x]

I have been keeping an eye on the QF flights and they never seem to go on special. Even when other transtasman QF flights go on special the Queenstown ones stay the same.

 

[burmans]

Because my family are in Welling and my wife's near Queenstown I keep a fairly close eye on flights from Sydney to both locations. Sales come fairly regularly, your best bets for cheap flights are Air NZ or Virgin. Their specials are frequently not at the same time.

Suggest you get on the Air NZ and Virgin email lists (and Jetstar probably). 3 Dec is (just) outside peak time so very likely specials will still come up but you do need to move fast. The Air NZ grabaseat site is also worth subscribing to for the occasional ultra cheapy!

 

[Andyzx]

If you can get a cheap flight to AKL, WLG (yuk) or CHC and there are a few around at the moment. Jetstar often have Friday frenzy sales like these from today $9 from CHC and WLG $39 from AKL limied seats. NB they are for bookings 4-8pm NZ Time. You can add $15 and get FF points too
[TABLE="width: 560"]
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[TD]Fares have limited availability as indicated in the table above, and may only be available on certain days at certain times.

Domestic Travel Dates
Wellington - Queenstown: 30 Oct - 5 Dec 2012
Christchurch - Queenstown: 30 Oct - 5 Dec 2012
Auckland - Queenstown: 30 Oct - 5 Dec 2012
[/TD]
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[/TABLE]

 

[Deewhy]

I have been keeping an eye on the QF flights and they never seem to go on special. Even when other transtasman QF flights go on special the Queenstown ones stay the same.

QF had a sale Syd to ZQn in feb for about $550 return. Virgin also at the same time. That was for june 2012. So it does go on sale. JQ was the same price.

 

[UP4014]

I have been keeping an eye on the QF flights and they never seem to go on special. Even when other transtasman QF flights go on special the Queenstown ones stay the same.

They do to Auckland anyway, about 2 weeks ago had $219 one way. Considering whats involved, capital cost, operatings costs, how cheap do people want it. :shock:

 

[richie9x]

They do to Auckland anyway, about 2 weeks ago had $219 one way. Considering whats involved, capital cost, operatings costs, how cheap do people want it. :shock:

For a date I picked at random on Qantas SYD-ZQN-SYD is $758. While SYD-AKL-SYD is $369. I am not complaining just pointing out that the price seems a bit on the high side. I'm all for free market, airlines set the fares - people are free to choose the fares and destinations that suit them.

 

[mjroberts]

Flights to Queenstown are ALWAYS quite abit more expensive than anywhere else in New Zealand.
If you've got the time the drive down from CHC (around 6-7 hours) is spectacular. Emirates fly to CHC daily and aren't very expensive for excellent service.
If you don't have the time one idea is to get cheap flights to CHC and then buy a domestic ticket. This could be annoying having to pick up your bag but CHC airport is so small it's really not that big of an issue. If you fly Air NZ the whole way they may check it in the whole way.

Air NZ have a $150 off return flights at the moment - so that's worth looking into, except in my experience the prices just go up!

 

[pythonisman]

Yeah the current $150 off trip makes it $396 return (+ bags if required) 28/7 -> 12/12 which is pretty good!

 

[smit0847]

Yeah the current $150 off trip makes it $396 return (+ bags if required) 28/7 -> 12/12 which is pretty good!

That's excellent value. I'm a BIG fan of Air NZ's trans-tasman product - I think they have got it right for trips of that length.

 

[Princess Fiona]

That's excellent value. I'm a BIG fan of Air NZ's trans-tasman product - I think they have got it right for trips of that length.

+1 to this. In ZQN now and our flight over was excellent. I ended up booking all my flights separately on NZ website as it was significantly cheaper than direct SYD-ZQN rtn or using the multi city booking on the NZ website.
We flew SYD-CHC, overnighted and then CHC-ZQN. Flight back is direct ZQN-SYD.
I would definitely recommend NZ.

 

[k3nnis]

Is queenstown worth visiting in Summer??? Sorry haven't been to NZ before. Have the plat reserve free flight to use up...which has SYD-Queenstown.

 

[straitman]

Is queenstown worth visiting in Summer??? Sorry haven't been to NZ before. Have the plat reserve free flight to use up...which has SYD-Queenstown.

Short answer is yes.

 

[k3nnis]

Thanks. Now looking for the accomodation Probably Hilton Queenstown...

 

[scaredeycat]

Have a look at Millbrook (just up the road in Arrowtown). Much nicer than the Hilton.

 

[k3nnis]

Thanks will check it out. Only reason I wanted the Hilton is because I am HH Gold...

Have a look at Millbrook (just up the road in Arrowtown). Much nicer than the Hilton.

 

[samh004]

Is queenstown worth visiting in Summer??? Sorry haven't been to NZ before. Have the plat reserve free flight to use up...which has SYD-Queenstown.

Most don't realise but ZQN is actually busier in the summer than the winter. The lake is still cold, but there are more activities you can do on and around it when it's warmer, plus they do mountain biking up the mountains like in North America, instead of the skiing.

Would definitely recommend a jet boat/kayak adventure around Glenorchy if you decide to go in the summer. There's a particular operator but it's been so long I forget their name. Lots of fun, a good adventure, amazing scenery.

Summer is a very nice time to visit.

Thanks. Now looking for the accomodation Probably Hilton Queenstown...

I wouldn't stay at the Hilton ZQN unless you want to be near the airport and as far away from the town and it's nightlife as possible (other than Millbrook, Jacks Point etc).

It's built in a bad spot to catch much sun, the access is convoluted by road, and involves driving past the airport and over a one lane bridge, and the water taxis stop running before it gets too late in the evening, resulting in expensive cab rides home (which shouldn't be a problem if you can afford the Hilton I suppose).

Best bet is an apartment in town, forgoing hotel loyalty points.

And if you want to be out of town, something like Millbrook, Jacks Point or even further afield is an ideal choice.


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