Why is it cheaper to travel from NZ?

[flycop]

I'm looking at travelling from Sydney to USA for christmas with family.

Right now the airfares to USA are way overpriced for Dec/Jan. I realise its a peak period but I find it ridiculous that so called competition has economy fares around the $2300 mark.

So out of curiosity I tried booking premium from NZ to LAX with QF and V. Turns out its much cheaper to travel from NZ to USA via Australia then it is to travel direct from Australia!

What is the reasoning for this? Or are we just getting a bad deal in Aus again.....

 

[markis10]

Horses for courses, have you looked at flying with Air Pacific one way and buying a ticket ex USA for the return?

 

[Aussie_flyer]

I'm looking at travelling from Sydney to USA for christmas with family.

Right now the airfares to USA are way overpriced for Dec/Jan. I realise its a peak period but I find it ridiculous that so called competition has economy fares around the $2300 mark.

So out of curiosity I tried booking premium from NZ to LAX with QF and V. Turns out its much cheaper to travel from NZ to USA via Australia then it is to travel direct from Australia!

What is the reasoning for this? Or are we just getting a bad deal in Aus again.....

I dont consider $2300 unreasonable at christmas. The airlines cant be making much, if any, money on $900 return flights to LA

 

[dajop]

So out of curiosity I tried booking premium from NZ to LAX with QF and V. Turns out its much cheaper to travel from NZ to USA via Australia then it is to travel direct from Australia!

What is the reasoning for this? Or are we just getting a bad deal in Aus again.....

People pay a premium for convenience, and conversely airlines discount the more inconvenient routes to attract passengers. Auckland-Australia-USA requires at least another 6 hours travelling than just going direct from Auckland to USA.

Happens all the time in the US, where the airlines have hubs. It is usually cheaper to go from A to B to C than going just from A to B.