We are now witnessing a comeback of nonstop flights from the United States to Auckland as the tourism industry in New Zealand makes a significant recovery after the government closed its doors to foreign visitors for years during the pandemic.
Travelers had the option to board some fantastic economy fares to the must-see location last month.
Again, there are now some reasonably priced economy fares to New Zealand that are less than $900 round-trip from what appears to be the majority of U.S. locations served by American Airlines.
But you ought to give the premium economy option some thought.
There's a strong possibility you can find a round-trip price to Auckland for between $1,800 and $1,900 if you live in a city served by American Airlines for late October, early November.
It might be wise to spend a little more money on comfort given that premium seats on American Airlines' Boeing 787 Dreamliners frequently cost well over $3,000 round trip and that a flight to Auckland will take about 15 hours each day (excluding your positioning flight for the long-haul portion of the trip).
After years when visiting New Zealand was not feasible, tourists once more have the chance to do what is often a once-in-a-lifetime journey.
It could be possible to make it comfortable along the way with a bargain like this.
Basics of Deals
Airline: American
Routes from New York, Washington, Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles, and many more U.S. markets to Auckland
Travel dates: Late October to early December, with some Thanksgiving availability
Direct contact with the airline is how to make a reservation.
You would be visiting in the later half of fall, similar to the August cheap bargains to New Zealand.
In late October, there isn't a lot of availability at this price point, however you might find some if you dig hard enough.
The availability in November appears to be rather open, and the discounts last into the first few days of December.
The incredible thing about this offer is not just the premium economy round-trip rate, which may save you hundreds of dollars compared to what you would otherwise pay, but also how widespread and reliable the availability and fares are.
I discovered round-trip premium economy fares of $1,840 from huge American Carriers hubs to other airlines' major hubs and the smallest U.S. airports I searched.
The route that will take you through Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), where you'll board a Boeing 787 Dreamliner for the 15-hour journey from DFW to Auckland, is another aspect of the itinerary that is quite consistent.
On the way back to the United States, the flight is shorter—13 hours and 45 minutes.
Here is an illustration of what is available from the New York region.
Taking an American Boeing 737 from Newark/Liberty International Airport (EWR) on a Tuesday evening in early November, you'll arrive shortly before 9:30 p.m.
DFW time is central time.
You will take departure at 10:44 p.m. after a brief 77-minute layover.
A 15-hour flight to Auckland on the Dreamliner ends at 8:45 a.m. central time.
last Thursday.
On the way back, you'll depart Auckland in the afternoon and travel overnight to DFW, arriving in Texas in the morning.
The stopover time for this trip is just under two hours, followed by a considerably shorter, three-plus-hour flight back to Newark.
Travelers from Los Angeles can take a mid-afternoon flight to DFW and have about two hours on the ground to get ready for the lengthy flight to New Zealand before landing back in the United States and having little over an hour and a half at DFW in the morning.
However, keep in mind that this is an example of a vacation that spans the Thanksgiving holiday, allowing you the opportunity to optimize days off from work. In the meantime, here is an itinerary departing from O'Hare International Airport (ORD) in Chicago with comparable timing choices.
Enhance your purchase
When using The Platinum Card® from American Express to pay for up to $500,000 worth of these purchases per year, you can earn 5 points for every dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or through American Express Travel.
To earn 5 miles for every $1 spent on flights booked through Capital One Travel, think about using the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.
If you frequently fly with American Airlines, you may want to consider getting the Citi®/AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®, which offers a number of perks including 2 miles per $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases.
In conclusion
Good discounts don't come around very often, especially ones that let you fly in a different class than coach, for New Zealand.
Even less likely is the possibility of those specials being accessible to travelers over such a large portion of the United States.
It could be a terrific opportunity to visit this amazing location in some comfort for a fraction of the cost if you can find an opening on the calendar to go in the latter part of this fall.
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