Request suggestion/advice for our NZ/Aus trip

[jokes128]

Even if I have only been a member of AFF for few months, I have been following this website daily for more than a decade, and benefitted from a lot of advice from fellow AFFers(even though I did not contribute myself, as I am not that knowledgeable). I am grateful to everyone who helped especially with special promotions etc. I hope to ask for suggestions/advice from fellow AFFers about our upcoming dream trip, as I would like to make it memorable to wife/kids as we may not have a chance to do this kind of trip again in my lifetime!

We are a family of 4 and self-funded travellers. I am an Aussie expat working in Hong Kong. Mrs jokes128 and young Messer jokes128 have never been on J class before, but my daughter and I have been on J once(short haul only). Before the recent change to UA's mileage redemption devaluation, I have decided to blow my UA miles on the following relatively complex itinerary:

29/7/2018 TG601 Hong Kong-Bangkok 2 J class + 2 Y class
29/7/2018 TG491 Bangkok-Auckland 2 J class + 2 Y class
30/7/2018 NZ623 Auckland-Queenstown 4 Y class

9/8/2018 NZ5386 Christchurch-Wellington 4 Y class, arriving after 21:00
10/8/2018 SQ292 Wellington-Canberra 2 J class + 2 Y class departing after 20:00

28/8/2018 TG478 Brisbane-Bangkok 4 J class
29/8/2018 TG600 Bangkok-Hong Kong 2 J class for Mrs jokes128 and young Messer jokes128
TG628 Bankgkok-Hong Kong 2 J class for daughter jokes128 and I

All this for 60000 United miles each for daughter jokes128 and I, and 47500 United miles each for Mrs jokes128 and young Messer jokes128(so total of 215000 UA miles for all 4 of us). Reason for the economy outbound flights for them was there were only 2 award J seats for the Bangkok-Auckland leg, so Mrs jokes128 and young Messer jokes128 unfortunately will need to stay at the coach section, and I consider myself lucky to find 4 J seats for the Brisbane-Bangkok leg.

In between, we are planning to travel from Canberra to Sydney perhaps by train, and then to fly from SYD-BNE with award QF flight using BA Avios to redeem. And we are yet to decide how to get from Queenstown to Christchurch, coach vs flight.

I would appreciate any feedback on my trip, including what to do at each destination, where to stay(I am SPG gold/Accor Silver), or even where to eat. However, apart from these I do have some specific questions about our flights.

1. As we cannot find 4 J award seats for the outbound leg, and I feel (somewhat) guilty about leaving my wife and youngest boy in Y for the long trip. I am wondering if fellow AFFers have experience/advice in swapping seats mid-flight for the Bangkok-Auckland leg: ie. first part of the flight in J then swap to Y with wife and kid for the second part of the flight. Is it reasonable to do so? Or should I notify/ask for permission from the chief stewardess? Failing that, I am wondering whether I can just let Mrs jokes128/young boy to take our J seats(and we stay in their Y seats) for the entire flight HKG-BKK, even though the names on the boarding passes show my daughter and I should be the J passengers and they are the Y passengers?

2. With the Christchurch-Wellington flight, we deliberately made it a (near) 24 hours stay in Wellington so that we can briefly visit Wellington during daytime before heading to airport again. Can some Kiwis shed some light on whether I should be OK with my plan(ie. able to leave airport to Wellington downtown and come back to check in for SQ flight the next day, rather than forced to wait in the airport airside for close to 24 hours to board the SQ flight?). It would be a major concern for us if we are forced to stay inside the airport for the entire 24 hours. I tried to ring Air NZ in Hong Kong, but their answer was ambiguous and only said that domestic and international part of Wellington airport is the same building, the "immigration process" is done in Christchurch, and that my ticket is "transit only", but can't answer my query as to how they are going to prevent me from going to Wellington downtown and come back to board the SQ flight the next day, given that the CHC-WLG leg is a domestic flight. I hope someone can tell me about the likely scenario(whether I can leave the airport and come back).

3. Initially when I book the inbound flight BNE-BKK-HKG, we were booked on the last available flight BKK-HKG so that we can get about 8-10 hours for a brief visit in Bangkok. The UA reservation agent told us it is fine for us to leave the airport as long as we make it back in time for the evening flight BKK-HKG. However, I rang TG Hong Kong office and was told by two separate persons(yes, I rang twice to confirm) that our tickets are "transit only" and we are not eligible to leave BKK airport, and have to wait airside in the airport for the entire 12 hours connection. Both CSO warned me that if I leave the airport, I may risk unable to board the BKK-HKG flight home, as I don't have the boarding pass of BKK-HKG to pass through immigration. They said I have to get the boarding pass from the "transit counter" airside in BKK airport before I can leave the airport, but that the boarding pass may not be issued to us until 3 hours before departure time of the BKK-HKG, by which time we would have waited 9 hours airside in BKK airport. I don't know if I really can't leave the airport so I just proceeded to ring UA again to amend our tickets(it was within 24 hours so free to change flight). After my daughter and I booked on the TG628(a 777-300), we were told that there are no more J seats with TG628 and so my wife and youngest boy had no choice but to take the earlier TG600(and coughpy 747). The UA CSO who made the amendment didn't tell us that there were 4 J seats on TG600 though, which we would have happily taken as that means all 4 of us can travel together even with the coughpy old 747, and I only found this out after the 24 hours had elapsed. My question is, was it true that we cannot leave Bangkok airport during transit as we don't have the BKK-HKG boarding passes? Perhaps John K would have experience in this a lot.

4. As we are arriving late in the evening at Wellington and Canberra, I would appreciate suggestion on hotel choice(airport vs city hotels)/transport to city late in the evening.

5. With the SQ J class, I have heard about the "book the chef" thing. Can someone who had been on this SQ flight J class advise on how to do it/what is best choice?

6. As on point 3 above, since we have separate BKK-HKG flights, I am wondering what are my chances of asking the check-in agent at BNE airport to amend two passengers of our flights BKK-HKG so that all 4 of us can be put on the same flight BKK-HKG(ie. either move us to the earlier 747 flight or move my wife and youngest boy to our 777-300 flight)?

7. I was told by the TG CSO in Hong Kong that the flight configuration for TG 491(Bangkok-Auckland) is 1-2-1 in J, whereas the TG478(BNE-BKK) flight configuration is 2-2-2 in J, and these two flights are both 787. Can anyone (a) confirm that both flights have lie-flat beds rather than the angled beds? and (ii) the Bangkok-Auckland flight is indeed 1-2-1 in J? I suspect that it is 2-2-2 instead, and we have booked our seats for 12A and 14A(there is no row 13), on the basis of 1-2-1 confirguration. Obviously if it is 2-2-2 confirguration I would much rather be sitting next to my daughter instead of having a stranger sitting beside her(she is only 10 years old). Can anyone with experience help with this regard?

8. Finally, if 2 more J award seats on the outbound flights turns up(HKG-AKL), or if we are really unable to leave the Wellington airport and need to stay airside for 23 hours, I am prepared to bite the bullet and pay for penalty change fee plus additional miles so that my wife and youngest boy can join us in J for our outbound flight. Does anyone know my chances of successfully waiting for 2 additional J award seats to be released?

Apology for the long thread, and indeed lots of questions, but I would really appreciate any comment/recommendation/advice for our trip. Thank you so much in advance.

 

[jomar]

There is no airside when arriving domestically at Wellington -- baggage reclaim is accessible from the street -- so you will have no difficulty in leaving the airport. More knowledgable AFFers than I would have to comment on whether there are any considerations about making sure your luggage isn't checked through past WLG on this sort of itinerary.

Except at rush hour, it takes possibly as much as 15 minutes to get to downtown Wellington from the airport. (For four people, don't worry about options, just grab a taxi on arrival.) So I'd be looking at city hotels.

Have you considered renting a car to travel from Queenstown to Christchurch? You should have no difficulty arranging this without a one-way drop off fee, and it's a nice drive with things to see along the way. You would have a choice of doing it in one day or two or so if you wished.

 

[RB]

My thought would be that if you are not going to fly between Canberra & Sydney I would be looking at an express coach rather than a train

 

[jokes128]

Thank you for your suggestions/advice/comment jomar and RB.

jomar: We don't actually need our luggage for the 24 hours in Wellington, we can do with just hand carry. So it would be great if Air NZ can check our luggage through to the SQ flight 23 hours later from Christchurch. As for car rental, I haven't been driving for the last 10 years in Hong Kong, and my wife doesn't drive at all(not even learned driving), so we are not confident to drive all the way to Christchurch, even allowing a stopover at Mt Cook for the evening, and I suppose the road may be slippery due to the winter snows? Visiting Mt Cook is good for us, but the kids are more "action preferred" so I think they would prefer the Skyline with Luge ride in Queenstown and the skiing rather than the magnificent views of Mt Cook. And I shall take your advice in catching a taxi to Wellington downtown and hopefully find a hotel nearby.

RB: The reason I proposed to travel by train was purely down to price(The limited research I have done and I think it is under $100 for the 4 of us on trains and around $200 for 4 of us on coach). At this stage we are thinking of staying at Novotel Sydney on Darling Harbour or Pullman Sydney Hyde Park, and we have a fair bit of luggage given that it is a 1 month trip, therefore where the train/coach stops may sway us towards one type of transport or another. May I ask the reason for you recommending coach rather than train?

 

[Mattg]

My thought would be that if you are not going to fly between Canberra & Sydney I would be looking at an express coach rather than a train

I travel between CBR and SYD every fortnight or so, and when I'm not flying I much prefer to take the train over the bus. I find it a lot more pleasant - there's more room to spread out, you can have a decent meal on board and the views are better. It does take a bit longer than the bus though.

 

[jokes128]

I travel between CBR and SYD every fortnight or so, and when I'm not flying I much prefer to take the train over the bus. I find it a lot more pleasant - there's more room to spread out, you can have a decent meal on board and the views are better. It does take a bit longer than the bus though.

Thanks Mattg for your opinion, may I ask which company do you use for trains and buses? And do you know how far trains/buses stations are from Novotel Sydney on Darling Harbour or Pullman Sydney Hyde Park?

 

[Mattg]

Thanks Mattg for your opinion, may I ask which company do you use for trains and buses? And do you know how far trains/buses stations are from Novotel Sydney on Darling Harbour or Pullman Sydney Hyde Park?

There's only one train operator, NSW Trainlink. With the bus you have a choice of Murray's or Greyhound - I prefer Greyhound.

All buses and trains arrive at Central station, quite close to those hotels.

 

[jokes128]

There's only one train operator, NSW Trainlink. With the bus you have a choice of Murray's or Greyhound - I prefer Greyhound.

All buses and trains arrive at Central station, quite close to those hotels.

Thanks Mattg again. I know Greyhound from my old days in Australia but I'll have a look at these websites for train and buses.

 

[UP4014]

My thought would be that if you are not going to fly between Canberra & Sydney I would be looking at an express coach rather than a train

Yep, I love those narrow seats and no leg room.

Go the train, far more relaxing, more space, and food available on board. Both hotels are about 5 blocks roughly from Sydney Terminal (Central) railway.

 

[Altair]

In regards to WLG.
I doubt they will check your bag CHC-WLG-CBR as WLG do not have overnight luggage storage, plus I doubt they can check you in for the next night's flight anyway.
You will have no problem leaving WLG, the terminal closes 02:00-4:00 for cleaning anyway.
At that time of night there is very little traffic in WLG so it will be a very short trip to the city, 15 minutes for downtown.
For WLG during the day I suggest the hop on/off as driving in WLG, with many one way streets and narrow streets, terrible parking, can be a little daunting.
For one day in WLG, I suggest Te Papa museum, cable car to top of Botanic Gardens for view over city to the mountains across the harbour, Weta Cave and Tours (depending on age of children) Mt Victoria look out if it is not too windy, you may even glimpse the South Island if there is no wind.
For the SQ flight check in, security and immigration is not busy as that is the only flight leaving at that time but note food options at the airport after 6 becomes very limited.

 

[RB]

Yep, I love those narrow seats and no leg room.

Go the train, far more relaxing, more space, and food available on board. Both hotels are about 5 blocks roughly from Sydney Terminal (Central) railway.

My thoughts were more based on having to have the youngsters occupied for less time. I am a big fan of trains elsewhere but not in Aust. To me the bus having chargers & free wifi were pluses compared to the train. I think the OP could end up at Central on the bus also?

 

[jokes128]

Thank you Altair. The information will be helpful for planning. I'll try to push for Air NZ to check the bags through the SQ flight to Canberra for the next day(as the Air NZ lady on the phone said the "immigration process will be done in Christchurch"), but if they can't, I have no problem picking up my bags, with the only concern being the fact that the taxi might not fit the 4 of us and also our large luggages. I think we shall definitely go to the Botanic Garden and possibly try to go to Te Papa museum if time allows but time may not allow us to visit your other recommendation. we are not planning to eat at the airport, but as my elder daughter and I are travelling J and wife and young son in Y, we'll try to talk the SQ lounge into giving access to wife and son instead of us, and we'll enjoy the SQ J class food on the flight instead.

And thank you to both BAM1748 and RB for your respective opinions. You both have your points. I think both trains and buses terminate at the same station/nearby. For price wise, train is unbeatable at $80 vs $142 for bus, perhaps due to the two lots of $1 child fare, but the shorter time and the wifi would be helpful too(from what RB said, I presume the train does not offer free wifi as opposed to bus). So I'll leave it for my wife to decide!

 

[Altair]

I can guarantee that immigration will not be done in CHC as you are not going through the international terminal, there is a SQ flight that leaves from CHC so that may cause some confusion. Good luck with the bags overnighting in WLG but be prepared to take them with you.
Botanic Gardens are not that large, a very good playground but not enough to keep everyone occupied for the day. The Cable Car Museum will keep you occupied for 30 minutes, the Carter Observatory/Space Centre is not really worth it as it is small and more for education for the locals.
Te Papa will keep you occupied for most of the day, I suggest Weta Cave as that is uniquely Wellington and the Backstage Tour or Thunderbird Tour is good for those who have seen any of the Weta productions eg, LOTR, The Hobbit, District 9, Wot Wots, Thunderbirds etc.

 

[JohnK]

With regards to your transit in BKK before returning to HKG this has actually been ticketed as a transit as it is part of the same itinerary and if your transit is less than 12 hours you would not have been charged the 800 baht BKK departure tax.

If you leave BKK airport during your transit then you need to go to check in when you return to airport and pay 800 baht departure per person. Immigration may ask for proof that departure has been paid. Generally quite strict but some may have got away withoug paying departure tax.

 

[jokes128]

Thanks JohnK, your information is what I have been waiting for and many thanks. I would like to ask, if I leave the airport on transit ticket and come back to the airport for the BKK-HKG leg, without the boarding pass(I suppose TG would not issue us boarding passes in BNE for a flight some 18 hours later), how can I still pass through immigration even if I have paid the THB 800 departure tax(they would check boarding pass at the entrance of "restricted area" just before the "passport control"? Or do I go to the TG check-in counter desk landside to pick up the boarding passes and pay the departure tax there?

And thank you to Altair again for your suggestion. I had major doubt about the Air NZ phone agent telling me about "immigration will be done at CHC" myself, from what everyone said, I think the agent means the "check-through process" will be done in CHC, that is for issuing the SQ boarding pass for the WLG-CBR flight the next day.

 

[UP4014]

My thoughts were more based on having to have the youngsters occupied for less time. I am a big fan of trains elsewhere but not in Aust. To me the bus having chargers & free wifi were pluses compared to the train. I think the OP could end up at Central on the bus also?

What happened to enjoying the view, a book or conversation

No wifi on the train but if you you do get phone reception so if you must use a device you could.

 

[GlobalT]

Thanks JohnK, your information is what I have been waiting for and many thanks. I would like to ask, if I leave the airport on transit ticket and come back to the airport for the BKK-HKG leg, without the boarding pass(I suppose TG would not issue us boarding passes in BNE for a flight some 18 hours later)

SQ issued me with a boarding pass in PER a few weeks ago for a domestic flight that was departing 28 hours later in India so worth asking the question in BNE.

 

[Lord_Lenny]

I think the OP could end up at Central on the bus also?

Yeh the Canberra buses leave from Central as well so that's where OP is heading no matter which one they choose.

Novotel may actually be a more convenient choice transport wise - Lightrail will take you straight to central from pretty much underneath the hotel, and you won't need to worry about a cab detouring around the roadworks in the CBD. But that said the Pullman would only be a short cab to central

 

[jokes128]

SQ issued me with a boarding pass in PER a few weeks ago for a domestic flight that was departing 28 hours later in India so worth asking the question in BNE.

Thanks GlobalT for your share of your experience. Something for me to look forward to, but I would hope that TG in Hong Kong will issue me the boarding pass for the Auckland-Queenstown leg so that I don't have to pick up the luggage in Auckland international and then walk to domestic to check in again.........

Yeh the Canberra buses leave from Central as well so that's where OP is heading no matter which one they choose.

Novotel may actually be a more convenient choice transport wise - Lightrail will take you straight to central from pretty much underneath the hotel, and you won't need to worry about a cab detouring around the roadworks in the CBD. But that said the Pullman would only be a short cab to central

Thanks Lord_Lenny for your information re transport in Sydney. From my research so far, I think the Novotel is closer and more convenient over Pullman, but the Pullman may be more spacious and comfortable than Novotel and of a higher category as well. So it is difficult for me to choose, perhaps I'll have to try both!

 

[Lord_Lenny]

If it helps you're likely to get a better view of the city skyline from the Novotel if that's your thing, or a view out west towards the Mountains. Pullman is a bit too close to the main CBD to get a good skyline view, but if you get something on the non city side you'll get the view out towards the coast.

Or y'know...you could always try both like you said It's a terrible problem to have haha!!