Travelling to NZ

[nicky286]

Hi,

I'm a platinum status with American Airline that about to travel to NZ.

I will be travelling with a family of 6.

I will be travelling from 1 July - 10 July

QF 141 SYD - AKL 1 July - 08.35 - 13.40

QF 8765 CHC - SYD 10 July - 15.55 - 17.55

I will be buying a connecting flight from AKL - ZQN, from Queenstown I will be driving to Christchurch

Question?

1. Is this a good idea?

2. Thinking to buy AKL - ZQN, Air NZ or Jetstar, still not sure when to depart from Auckland ????

3. Lounge?

Thank you in advance

 

[tuapekastar]

Hi,

I'm a platinum status with American Airline that about to travel to NZ.

I will be travelling with a family of 6.

I will be travelling from 1 July - 10 July

QF 141 SYD - AKL 1 July - 08.35 - 13.40

QF 8765 CHC - SYD 10 July - 15.55 - 17.55

I will be buying a connecting flight from AKL - ZQN, from Queenstown I will be driving to Christchurch

Question?

1. Is this a good idea?

2. Thinking to buy AKL - ZQN, Air NZ or Jetstar, still not sure when to depart from Auckland ????

3. Lounge?

Thank you in advance

The drive between Christchurch and Queenstown (or vice-versa I guess) is spectacular and in the Autumn (only time I have done it - twice) very pretty with the leaves changing colour and all. So yes it is worth doing (I think it is 6 or 7 hours from memory). Stops along the way should include Lake Tekapo (historic church) and Lake Pukaki (great view of Mt Cook at the other end), and also a possible detour to Mt Cook if time and inclination allow (think it is about a 90 minute round trip from the main road, plus of course time spent there). Being in July the only query I would have is re snow and stuff, but I suspect that is unlikely to be an issue, but worth checking before committing to it.

I would only allow a couple of days max in Auckland, no more is required. The drive Queenstown to Christchurch is one day, but you could break it up with an overnight somewhere like Twizel if you wanted. How you split your time between Queenstown and Christchurch is up to you, but I would allow more time in Queenstown than in AKL or CHC.

Not sure how you will go with 6 in the lounge. I know QF has a 'family friendly' lounge policy, but not sure how generous it is, and unsure if they extend it to AA elites. there is a 3rd party lounge at CHC that QF uses, unsure how you would go thee with 6 people. Hopefully someone else can answer that for you. You won't get lounge access at AKL, there is no OW domestic lounge there (I don't think there is a paid or 3rd party option either but not sure).

 

[craven morehead]

Fly AKL-DUD and drive across

 

[nicky286]

Fly AKL-DUD and drive across

Why not Queenstown?

 

[GarrettM]

I reckon CHC to QZN is the better direction. There's not a lot to Christchurch these days. It's nice enough. Try Pedro's House of Lamb for a start. But I'd be looking to finish in Queenstown. It's spectacular, there's plenty to do - especially for kids - and in autumn it will be quite nice I am sure. I suspect it would provide a more pleasant leaving memory is all.

Lake Tekapo and Wanaka are good places to stop for a day or so. Wanaka has some good kids stuff as well, and some nice places to eat. If you can get out to a glacier even better.
If you (or the family) are Lord of the Rings fans take a trip to Hobbiton. Couple hours from Auckland and easy enough in a car.

 

[clazman]

FYI, Jetstar flight between AKL and ZQN are early morning flights, while ANZ are every couple of hours through the day, no J class seats

 

[coco50]

Good idea. I like your avatar!

 

[craven morehead]

Why not Queenstown?

I am sure you would love the drive across from Dunedin to say Te anau spend a night at the gateway to Milford Sound and then on to Queenstown. Beautiful countryside and then when you come in to Queenstown you drive right around Lake Wakatipu oin the way in. Just a thought.

 

[straitman]

Wanaka has some good kids stuff as well, and some nice places to eat. If you can get out to a glacier even better.

A great Aviation Museum at Wanaka as they have one of the world's bet Warbirds airshows there every two years.

 

[Deleted member]

I would drive CHC - ZQN. Even though there isn't much at Tekapo, it's a good stopping point imho. Flying out of ZQN is in my opinion a more reliable option than flying in. CHC still has stuff to see and do, if you're there on a weekend, some of the markets are great. AKL for 2 days will give you the highlights, and at that time of the year that should be sufficient.

 

[elan]

I've never had any issues entering a QF lounge with a my family of 5. I was however asked to be considerate of space many years ago flying out of HNL, we left the lounge a little early as it filled up. All that I would suggest it that you ask politely and hope that the lounge isn't over crowded.