Trip to Palmerston North at Easter (maybe)

[tuapekastar]

Have made a (relatively) last minute decision to travel to Palmerston North :shock: at Easter, but don't absolutely have to go, if we cannot make a reasonably priced trip.

4 people. Travel over (from MEL) on 19/3, return around 26/3.

Seems all the 'good' fares have gone. A quick trawl around airline sites reveals the following:

NZ

MEL-WLG rtn 19/3 - 25/3 = AUD794 per person

QF

MEL-WLG rtn 19/3 - 25/3 = AUD784 per person

MEL-AKL on NZ and QF is more.

EK

MEL-AKL rtn 19/3 - 26/3 = AUD627 per person

...and in J is 1242 per person. I'd think about paying it, but don't think travelling companions would.

As we will need to hire a car no matter what we do I figured going to AKL on EK would be the best bet and drive from/to there (make little difference to the rental except petrol).

I did look at flying from AKL to Palmerston North but that puts the fare back up over QF and NZ.

Anything obvious I've missed, or any 'left-field' suggestions jump out from anyone? I'm not the most creative person when it comes to these things. The odd QF award seat is available but for 4 people at this short a notice, even taking different flights will be messy to say the least (I haven't had time to look closely at this yet).

Cheers

 

[Mal]

Investigate one way tickets to NZ, then one way tickets back from NZ. You may save some $.

Keep an eye out on the Grab-a-seat sale on NZ on at the moment, but It is unlikely they'll release flights over Easter.

Have you looked at Jetstar and/or Pacific Blue? It's only a shortish trip and both should be ok for that length of time.

 

[Mwenenzi]

Air NZ fly into Palmerston North from WLG, AKL & CHC. New Zealand Routes: Route Maps: Travel Info: Air New Zealand - NZ Site Unless you are driving to Palmerston North it not matter too much where you fly into Kiwiland
From MEL
* for CHC have options of Virgin, Jetrats & Air NZ
* for AKL have options of QF, Air NZ & EK

As above buying as one ways is often cheaper. Also you could fly into CHC and out of AKL with different airlines

Some of the flights from NZ leave at very unsociable times of the day (early morning).

 

[Mwenenzi]

Air NZ low cost subsidary Freedom Air :: Cheap Flights - Low cost Air Travel - New Zealand - Australia - Travel Insurance - Gold Coast Theme Park Tickets and Theme Park Passes flys into Palmerston North from Sydney

[FONT=Verdana,Arial,Helvetica]Wed, 19 Mar 08
Flight SJ 736 AUD$399
[/FONT][FONT=Verdana,Arial,Helvetica]10:05 AM [/FONT][FONT=Verdana,Arial,Helvetica]Depart [/FONT][FONT=Verdana,Arial,Helvetica]Sydney[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana,Arial,Helvetica]3:30 PM [/FONT][FONT=Verdana,Arial,Helvetica]Arrive [/FONT][FONT=Verdana,Arial,Helvetica]Palmerston North[/FONT]


Wed, 26 Mar 08
Flight SJ 735 AUD$336 NZD$374
4:20 PM Depart Palmerston North
5:55 PM Arrive Sydney

Could be OK for the return

 

[tuapekastar]

Thx for the suggestions guys, I've had a look, but not booked yet (I thought Freedom Air was absorbed by and run under NZ umbrella). EK went up to ~760 overnight :evil: - it'd be real nice if we got some notice when these things happen.

Been too pre-occupied with other things to suss out fellow travellers and make bookings. Will check things out upon return from FT AGM on sunday night.

Cheers

 

[Leumas]

IMHO, QF J class to/from WLG isn't worth paying money for...

 

[futaris]

MEL-PMR is on grabaseat today. Dates/Prices aren't listed yet, but you might get lucky.

 

[serfty]

MEL-PMR is on grabaseat today. Dates/Prices aren't listed yet, but you might get lucky.

18th-31st August $148 one way (AUD$267 return) - 20 seats remain.

 

[tuapekastar]

Thx all for the suggestions. The last-minute 'go' has become a 'lastest' minute 'no-go', friends have decided it's not worth the mucking around and prices so the trip is (unfortunately) off.