Study abroad in Australia - AKL to CBR flight question

[slym]

We're from the US, and my daughter is doing a study abroad semester in Canberra. Her college booked tickets flying in to Auckland, because she wants to visit there a few days. The college failed to book a ticket to get her from Auckland to Canberra. So now we're trying to do that ourselves.

We're looking at flights on Virgin Australia. I'm looking at places like orbitz.com and coming up with lower prices than booking through the Virgin Australia website. I've never booked International travel before, so am a bit nervous about this process.

My questions:

1. Is it better to book through the airline itself, even if we're paying a bit more? Or is booking through a flight search engine like orbitz safe?

2. The VA website shows prices in NZD, so if I use a credit card, will the currency conversion be done automatically (and correctly)?

Thanks in advance for any information you can give - from a newbie International traveler's Mom.

 

[eric2011]

We're from the US, and my daughter is doing a study abroad semester in Canberra. Her college booked tickets flying in to Auckland, because she wants to visit there a few days. The college failed to book a ticket to get her from Auckland to Canberra. So now we're trying to do that ourselves.

We're looking at flights on Virgin Australia. I'm looking at places like orbitz.com and coming up with lower prices than booking through the Virgin Australia website. I've never booked International travel before, so am a bit nervous about this process.

My questions:

1. Is it better to book through the airline itself, even if we're paying a bit more? Or is booking through a flight search engine like orbitz safe?

2. The VA website shows prices in NZD, so if I use a credit card, will the currency conversion be done automatically (and correctly)?

Thanks in advance for any information you can give - from a newbie International traveler's Mom.

My preference is to book direct, whether it be airline, hotel, car rental etc. I may pay a bit more but I just prefer it. If you need to make changes, cancellations etc you can deal direct with the vendor and not through a 3rd party. If you are booking on a NZ website, which, if the price is shown as NZD, you most probably are, then the conversion will be charged to your card in the currency of your credit card provider.
I think this is how it works but I'm sure someone else will be better equipped to answer the credit card question

 

[slym]

My preference is to book direct, whether it be airline, hotel, car rental etc. I may pay a bit more but I just prefer it. If you need to make changes, cancellations etc you can deal direct with the vendor and not through a 3rd party. If you are booking on a NZ website, which, if the price is shown as NZD, you most probably are, then the conversion will be charged to your card in the currency of your credit card provider.
I think this is how it works but I'm sure someone else will be better equipped to answer the credit card question

That's what I was thinking. I noticed a fare on orbitz that was lower, then looked on the VA site and found (after using a currency converter) that the corresponding fare was for the saver-lite fare, which wouldn't allow her to have a checked bag without paying an arm and a leg at the airport. Orbitz didn't identify the fare level at all.

I've looked at Quantas and VA. Any other airlines a good option to look at?

And another question - when she lands in Sydney, does she have to go through customs there? Or does that wait until she gets to Canberra?

She is so thrilled about this trip!

 

[hdfb]

1. As eric2011 said, booking through the airline might be preferential if you need to change or alter your booking for whatever reason. If the difference is less then $20 then I'd rather just book via the airline's website.

2. This question more pertains to your credit card, but usually they will do the currency conversion automatically and use the exchange rate on that day of the purchase to convert it to the currency of your credit card, whether it be AUD or USD.

Good luck

 

[Shelf]

I also prefer to book direct.

What is the price difference between VA and Orbitz?

 

[hdfb]

That's what I was thinking. I noticed a fare on orbitz that was lower, then looked on the VA site and found (after using a currency converter) that the corresponding fare was for the saver-lite fare, which wouldn't allow her to have a checked bag without paying an arm and a leg at the airport. Orbitz didn't identify the fare level at all.

I've looked at Quantas and VA. Any other airlines a good option to look at?

And another question - when she lands in Sydney, does she have to go through customs there? Or does that wait until she gets to Canberra?

She is so thrilled about this trip!

Good pickup about Virgin Australia and the saver lite shenanigan, some 3rd party websites are terrible at letting you know!

When she lands in Sydney, as she is coming off an international flight, she will have to go through customs.

She will then have to transfer to the domestic terminal in Sydney for her flight to Canberra, which costs $5AUD by train. (Crazy, I know)

If she flies Qantas, Qantas provides a free shuttle bus connection between international and domestic terminals.

Regarding airlines, flying into Sydney from Auckland and going on to Canberra, you can fly Virgin AUstralia, Qantas and Air New Zealand. Emirates also fly this route and that should show up when you search on the Qantas website due to their alliance. JetStar fly from Auckland to Sydney but do not fly to Canberra and you would need to book a separate domestic fare.

If you are trying to keep costs at a minimal, a lot of Canberrans do this when travelling internationally, they take a bus from Canberra to Sydney airport, which is 3 hours, and usually $25-$35 and fly into and out of Sydney as the cost of flying to Canberra can be excessive.

Hope this helps.

 

[slym]

I also prefer to book direct.

What is the price difference between VA and Orbitz?

There was one that was about $30 less on orbitz, but that was the one that I'm concerned is the saver-lite fare with no luggage allowance. It was $273.90 USD. Another flight is listed for $302.90 USD on orbitz, and is $366.48 NZD on the VA website for the saver (not lite) fare. So it seems the actual fare isn't that much different, if I'm doing the conversions correctly.

But orbitz doesn't add any credit card fees.

I'm trying to get a handle on the fees at the VA site. They mention the credit card fee of $10 per person, which isn't a big deal either. I'm just leery when I don't know the final price - it won't tell me that until after all the passenger data is entered. Are there any other fees that may get tacked on?

Thanks again!

 

[slym]

Good pickup about Virgin Australia and the saver lite shenanigan, some 3rd party websites are terrible at letting you know!

When she lands in Sydney, as she is coming off an international flight, she will have to go through customs.

She will then have to transfer to the domestic terminal in Sydney for her flight to Canberra, which costs $5AUD by train. (Crazy, I know)

If she flies Qantas, Qantas provides a free shuttle bus connection between international and domestic terminals.

Regarding airlines, flying into Sydney from Auckland and going on to Canberra, you can fly Virgin AUstralia, Qantas and Air New Zealand. Emirates also fly this route and that should show up when you search on the Qantas website due to their alliance. JetStar fly from Auckland to Sydney but do not fly to Canberra and you would need to book a separate domestic fare.

If you are trying to keep costs at a minimal, a lot of Canberrans do this when travelling internationally, they take a bus from Canberra to Sydney airport, which is 3 hours, and usually $25-$35 and fly into and out of Sydney as the cost of flying to Canberra can be excessive.

Hope this helps.

Helps a lot - thanks!

How much transit time would she need in Sydney to get all that accomplished (customs and going to the domestic terminal)? The flights were looking at have 1 hr 55 min layover. Should I go with a longer layover?

 

[hdfb]

1hr 55min is sufficient. I would recommend allowing at least 90 minutes. Last time I did it two months ago I got it all done under an hour. The train trip is only less than five minutes and the trains come quite regularly. The Qantas bus (that actually runs along the tarmac! might be fun if your daughter is interested in that) takes a bit under 10 minutes and they come every 10 minutes or so.

Regarding your extra fees on VA, there will be a credit card surcharge as you noted. There are surcharges for baggage allowance as you have found out, and the booking website may try to coax you into not leaving behind your carbon footprint, just unselect that box. It may also try to get you to buy their travel insurance, again, uncheck that box. Ditto for hotels and cars, just click no if they ask. Otherwise there aren't any 'hidden' fees per se. The regulatory body in Australia made airlines make all the extra fees a bit more clearer a few years ago from memory.

 

[slym]

1hr 55min is sufficient. I would recommend allowing at least 90 minutes. Last time I did it two months ago I got it all done under an hour. The train trip is only less than five minutes and the trains come quite regularly. The Qantas bus (that actually runs along the tarmac! might be fun if your daughter is interested in that) takes a bit under 10 minutes and they come every 10 minutes or so.

Regarding your extra fees on VA, there will be a credit card surcharge as you noted. There are surcharges for baggage allowance as you have found out, and the booking website may try to coax you into not leaving behind your carbon footprint, just unselect that box. It may also try to get you to buy their travel insurance, again, uncheck that box. Ditto for hotels and cars, just click no if they ask. Otherwise there aren't any 'hidden' fees per se. The regulatory body in Australia made airlines make all the extra fees a bit more clearer a few years ago from memory.

Very helpful again. I'm thinking about Quantas and the shuttle, even though they seem to be a few dollars more. Those few dollars would be the price for the train anyway, and it just might make things easier for her if a free shuttle is available. She'll be with another gal that is doing the program, but I'd just like things to go smoothly.

So now I'm trying to find out the extra fees on Quantas. So it should only be the credit card fee?

 

[markis10]

When will the travel occur, there are often sales on for travel across the ditch and don't forget EK or LAN.

 

[Mwenenzi]

With Qantas you check in bags in the international terminal for your domestic flight before taking the QF bus across to domestic. I do not know if with Virgin if you can check in domestic bagagge in the international terminal

As this is freq flyer site she must sign up to get miles

There is no "u" in Qantas.

 

[slym]

Quantas lists Sale and Saver prices. Anyone know if the luggage allowance is the same for both? I'm having a hard time trying to find fare details on their website.

 

[slym]

With Qantas you check in bags in the international terminal for your domestic flight before taking the QF bus across to domestic
I do not know if with Virgin if you can check in domestic bagaggge in the international terminal

As this is freq flyer site she must sign uo to get miles

There is no "u" in Qantas

Ok, you lost me with that. Does that mean she has to retrieve her bags from the International terminal, then check them back in?
Also confused about what you mean by "u"?

 

[Shelf]

All Qantas flights include baggage.

 

[markis10]

Quantas lists Sale and Saver prices. Anyone know if the luggage allowance is the same for both? I'm having a hard time trying to find fare details on their website.

No difference in allowances, economy is the same regardless of fare.

 

[hdfb]

Yes, Qantas include meals and baggage as part of the fare as they market themselves as a full service airline. There should only be a credit card fee for Qantas. As per usual, check/uncheck boxes for travel insurance, hotels and car rentals etc

 

[Mwenenzi]

Ok, you lost me with that. Does that mean she has to retrieve her bags from the International terminal, then check them back in?

Yes. You must collect your bags at the first point of entry into Australia for customs/immirgration/quarantine. Then re check these on your domestic flights. USA has the same procedure

Also be very aware that carry on limits/weight/size with Aust & NZ airlines is a lot less than with USA airlines. I guess she is on Air NZ to Auckland

 

[AusTraveller]

Very helpful again. I'm thinking about Quantas and the shuttle, even though they seem to be a few dollars more. Those few dollars would be the price for the train anyway, and it just might make things easier for her if a free shuttle is available. She'll be with another gal that is doing the program, but I'd just like things to go smoothly.

So now I'm trying to find out the extra fees on Quantas. So it should only be the credit card fee?

Just a few notes:

The last time I flew Virgin with a domestic connection I was transferred (free of charge) via a shuttle bus at Sydney airport.

Qantas credit card fees can be avoided by purchasing a gift voucher would mean 2 transactions on your credit card - one for the voucher (let's say $200) and the other for the remainder. This avoids the credit card fee of $7 for trans-Tasman bookings.

The bus is definitely a viable option. You can book a pick up from the international terminal and get dropped off in the city centre in Canberra. I'm not sure where they are staying but more than likely this will be more convenient than an airport pick up in Canberra.

Hope that helps.

 

[Mwenenzi]

JThe bus is definitely a viable option. You can book a pick up from the international terminal and get dropped off in the city centre in Canberra. I'm not sure where they are staying but more than likely this will be more convenient than an airport pick up in Canberra.

This is referring to a bus from SYD international terminal direct by road to Canberra city.
Different from the terminal shuttle bus discussed above.