Amazing deal AKL-SYD in J for $468

[luxury-lizard]

We're planning a tip to NZ Dec 1-17, 2022. Looking at fares I found a funny anomaly - AKL-SYD in J (on 787) for $468 when searching via Google Flights. Going straight to the NZ website - same flight is $700+. On GF when selecting the flight - it shows various sites with which to book the fight so I choose Air NZ and this lower fare "sticks".

 

[mad_atta]

I was curious about this so went to the trouble of reproducing it. What you're seeing is not a glitch, just that the .co.nz version of AirNZ's site has the sale J fares (NZ$498) whereas the .com.au version (which must have been where you looked) is showing AU$792.

A lot of the time airnz.com.au and airnz.co.nz display pretty much the exact same fares, adjusted only for currency exchange, but sometimes when there's a fare sale in one market and not the other there can be quite a discrepancy, so it always pays to look on both. (You can buy on either - eg no problem to buy a domestic NZ ticket or a one way ticket departing NZ on the .au site, even if you only have an Australian credit card / billing address.)

 

[Mattg]

I have occasionally seen similar pricing anomalies with other airlines. For example, I was once trying to book a TAP flight which was showing as €80 or so on Google Flights. On TAP's website, the flight was pricing at over €200. But when I clicked through from Google Flights directly to the TAP website, the lower price displayed and I was able to book it.

(What was perhaps even more strange about this was that I was actually at the airport already when trying to buy the ticket, and the TAP ticket/sales desk could not see the lower price at all.)

 

[justinbrett]

Perhaps the airline websites are using geolocation to differentiate pricing? And google flights bypass this?

It's been widely reported that some do that, and that using a VPN can be a good way to get cheaper flights. Certainly not on all airlines, but some.

How to Get Cheap Flights With a VPN: Budget Travel in 2025

Learn how to find flight deals with a VPN. Use student discounts, last-minute flights, and more to make travel savings with secure booking methods.

www.vpnmentor.com

Also not sure it's that amazing of a deal - the QF sale last week was about the same price.

 

[luxury-lizard]

Also not sure it's that amazing of a deal - the QF sale last week was about the same price.

Not sure about QF sale - for my date the QF fare is $1126 and it's a 737 - NZ is a 787 (flat beds) but fingers crossed that they don't substitute a different aircraft.
I have never used a VPN for searching fares and my first search is usually Google Flights - might give it a try but generally I prefer to book with airline directly (not sure if a VPN would offer up better fares on an airline directly - be interested in others experience).

 

[justinbrett]

Not sure about QF sale - for my date the QF fare is $1126 and it's a 737 - NZ is a 787 (flat beds) but fingers crossed that they don't substitute a different aircraft.
I have never used a VPN for searching fares and my first search is usually Google Flights - might give it a try but generally I prefer to book with airline directly (not sure if a VPN would offer up better fares on an airline directly - be interested in others experience).

Last week - the sale is over now. I booked BNE-WLG return for a touch over 1K, the return flight was less than $500. Same prices from AKL.

Post automatically merged: Apr 5, 2022

If using a VPN you're still booking with the airline directly, you're just fooling it to appear to be in a different country.

 

[aaa99]

Just had a check this morning and seeing some other bizarre pricing for next month. Jumped on the PE fare as it is no brainer when it is just $4 more than seat and includes 2 bags, seat selection and meals and more status points.

 

[Mattg]

That's a good deal for PE, especially given the Y fares!