Using an Australian TA to book an ex-NZ fare from ITA Matrix

[DTM1]

Quick question for those who may have done this before.

I am looking at travelling to SCL early next year. J fare ex-MEL or SYD is around $8,300.

Using ITA Matrix software, I found a fare ex-AKL which priced in at around $AU5,200. I gave the ITA generated booking code to a local travel agent, who told me that it could not be done (and that even if it could, it was illegal).

I am assuming that the TA simply has never had a (relatively) sophisticated customer before who has asked for this, and she cannot be right.

It clearly can't be illegal, as I have bought ex-AKL and ex-NRT fares previously, but those were either QF or OW products, so could be online or via AA.

Obvious solution is to contact a NZ TA and ask them to book the same fare, but before I do, I just wanted to see whether people had dealt with this issue before. If I can, I would like to go back to the same TA, as they are a family friend.

Thoughts?

cheers

 

[SQ421]

There might be restrictions on *where* the ticket can be issued from. Any tickets issued by your TA will obviously be issued in Australia, as the TA's indentifier with various GDS' will identify him as such.

When you are buying ex-<insert foreign country here> fares via the web, the "TA" is nominally the entity in that country which is running the website that issues the tickets.

Contact an NZ TA, that's your best bet.