Looking for best deal from LAX to BNE - any suggestions?

[aussiecruisers]

My husband and I will be flying one way from Los Angelas to Brisbane in May 2008 after a cruise (of 31 days from sydney ).

I am trying to find a cheap flight from LAX to BNE and so far have found:
Qantas $1352 :shock:
NZ $880 (via Auckland)
Air Pacific $800 (via Fiji stopover 7 hours)

Does anyone have any suggestions. Eg, wait for a little while longer and see if prices drop; should I book the New Zealand flight now? Are there any other airlines I should try?

Thanking you in advance

Vicki

 

[NYCguy]

What's a few-hundred bucks when two of you have just taken a 31-day cruise? That cost more than a 5-day sail around the Isle of Pines, I bet!

Fly QF. For my money, a non-stop service is worth a surcharge, although you may disagree. Bestflights.com.au spat out a LAX-HNL-TPE-BNE routing, just in case you're feeling masochistic.

 

[NM]

The NZ fares look pretty attractive to me. Nothing wrong with NZ service, but will need a stop in AKL.

 

[BlacKnox]

The NZ fares look pretty attractive to me. Nothing wrong with NZ service, but will need a stop in AKL.

As NYCguy and NM point out - depends on what you want. Fly direct on QF and save time; fly NZ and save money. If NZ allows a stop-over in Auckland, you could enjoy a couple of nights stay in a reasonable hotel for roughly the same cost as the QF fare.

 

[simongr]

The other option would be to fly QF and take a punt on having points to upgrade to J - you never know your luck

 

[serfty]

The ITA: Trip Planner is showing LAX-BNE one way in may from USD680.70 all up. (~AUD770)

(Use the "month Long Search" function with the one-way tab)

This is on Air Pacific via NAN.

 

[littl_flier]

If you or your husband work for an academic insitution, you should have access to Academic rates. Cheap Tickets for College Students and Faculty: Airfare, Rail and Hostel Deals has some excellent one way rates flying all the major airlines, including fares from USD$500 on Qantas from LAX-BNE.