Finding one-way US-to-NZ tickets for less than round-trip prices
September 11, 2009 2:14 PM Subscribe
How can I find an inexpensive one-way ticket from the US to New Zealand? Most one-way tickets seem to cost nearly as much, if not more, than round trip!
Next month, I'm moving to New Zealand (yay!). I'll be flying from LAX to AKL. Since I'm moving permanently, I just need a one-way ticket to get there; I don't need a return flight back to the US.
I want to get the best deal on my ticket. Unfortunately, I'm finding that a one-way ticket is very expensive, relative to a round-trip. In some cases, a one-way ticket actually costs more than a round-trip! This is counterintuitive to me, especially since I'm used to flying domestically on United airlines (with their one-way deals that I use my frequent flier miles for).
Where can I find a one-way ticket from Los Angeles to Auckland, New Zealand that will be inexpensive (meaning, roughly half of the average round-trip price)? Bonus points if you also have suggestions for a way to use my United miles on it.
Next month, I'm moving to New Zealand (yay!). I'll be flying from LAX to AKL. Since I'm moving permanently, I just need a one-way ticket to get there; I don't need a return flight back to the US.
I want to get the best deal on my ticket. Unfortunately, I'm finding that a one-way ticket is very expensive, relative to a round-trip. In some cases, a one-way ticket actually costs more than a round-trip! This is counterintuitive to me, especially since I'm used to flying domestically on United airlines (with their one-way deals that I use my frequent flier miles for).
Where can I find a one-way ticket from Los Angeles to Auckland, New Zealand that will be inexpensive (meaning, roughly half of the average round-trip price)? Bonus points if you also have suggestions for a way to use my United miles on it.
By a round-trip ticket! It might feel like you're throwing money away, but if it's the cheapest way to go, there it is.
You can also try to get the return ticket for far in advance; six or eight or twelve months to use when you're ready to come back for a visit.
posted by motsque at 2:22 PM on September 11, 2009
You can also try to get the return ticket for far in advance; six or eight or twelve months to use when you're ready to come back for a visit.
posted by motsque at 2:22 PM on September 11, 2009
Where can I find a one-way ticket from Los Angeles to Auckland, New Zealand that will be inexpensive (meaning, roughly half of the average round-trip price)?
Nowhere. One-way tickets do not cost half of what round-trip tickets cost, because airlines would lose money that way--the infrastructure demands for a round-trip ticket are not twice those of a one-way ticket; the only thing the airline saves money on is the cost of fuel per one passenger per one trip, which is negligible.
posted by Sidhedevil at 2:25 PM on September 11, 2009
Nowhere. One-way tickets do not cost half of what round-trip tickets cost, because airlines would lose money that way--the infrastructure demands for a round-trip ticket are not twice those of a one-way ticket; the only thing the airline saves money on is the cost of fuel per one passenger per one trip, which is negligible.
posted by Sidhedevil at 2:25 PM on September 11, 2009
One other thing to look at is a USA to Sydney (or somewhere else in Australia) ticket. Often Auckland is just a stopoff point and buying the ticket all the way is cheaper too. Not, always, but it was when I moved from NZ to the USA - I bought the ticket on to London, got off and never got back on.
posted by gaspode at 2:42 PM on September 11, 2009
posted by gaspode at 2:42 PM on September 11, 2009
I think Gaspode's suggestion may be illegal these days. In the post 9/11 world the airport authorities are sensitive about accounting for every person that should be on a plane.
posted by COD at 2:55 PM on September 11, 2009
posted by COD at 2:55 PM on September 11, 2009
Have you tried Air Pacific? When i went to NZ their round-trip tickets from the US were literally half the price of everyone else's. Of course, they connect in Fiji, and the political situation is still a bit dicey there I think.
posted by drjimmy11 at 3:20 PM on September 11, 2009
posted by drjimmy11 at 3:20 PM on September 11, 2009
Air New Zealand has one way fares that go down to $620 US one way if you are flexible enough with dates.
posted by scodger at 3:21 PM on September 11, 2009
posted by scodger at 3:21 PM on September 11, 2009
Buy the round trip and toss away the return. I do this on a regular basis as I need to fly long distance one way. It's legal and cheaper.
posted by wile e at 3:37 PM on September 11, 2009
posted by wile e at 3:37 PM on September 11, 2009
As has been said, buy round-trip and then don't check in for the return. If you're feeling super-sneaky, you could call up once you've got to New Zealand, see if you can cancel the return bit and get airline credit (which you can put towards other trips - although make sure you know when this credit would expire if you do manage to get it).
posted by djgh at 3:50 PM on September 11, 2009
posted by djgh at 3:50 PM on September 11, 2009
Really, COD? This was after 9/11. Oh well, disregard my advice.
posted by gaspode at 4:24 PM on September 11, 2009
posted by gaspode at 4:24 PM on September 11, 2009
When I moved from the UK to the USA I bought a return ticket, and set the return date really far out, as motsque suggested. I justified it to myself as an escape hatch if the move somehow was terrible. Of course it wasn't, and so I never used it, but it didn't matter. Don't bother with one-way tickets, they're more expensive and also you get flagged by security for more attention.
posted by Joh at 10:47 PM on September 11, 2009
posted by Joh at 10:47 PM on September 11, 2009
V Australia has introduced affordable one-way fares to Australia - from reports I've heard, down to $400 or so from LAX to Sydney. It might be worth it to go through them and then buy a separate ticket from Sydney to Auckland. This doesn't afford you the ability to use your United miles, unfortunately (unless there's some partnership between the two airlines that I'm unaware of), but my guess is it'd be far cheaper than United fares anyway.
The reason one-way fares are so much is that a one-way fare is usually calculated at a rate of one half the FULL economy fare. Not the nice sales fares you always see advertised, and that most people actually pay. Thus, they tend to be even more than a return flight.
I checked the V Australia site - they're currently advertising one way LAX to Sydney for $521, but if you book through to Auckland, it's $1300 or so. I'd investigate other airlines for the SYD->AKL leg of the trip, as it's likely you'll find a better deal. You may have to buy a round trip and toss the return, but at least it'll only be that part of the journey. Good luck!
posted by po at 5:28 AM on September 12, 2009
The reason one-way fares are so much is that a one-way fare is usually calculated at a rate of one half the FULL economy fare. Not the nice sales fares you always see advertised, and that most people actually pay. Thus, they tend to be even more than a return flight.
I checked the V Australia site - they're currently advertising one way LAX to Sydney for $521, but if you book through to Auckland, it's $1300 or so. I'd investigate other airlines for the SYD->AKL leg of the trip, as it's likely you'll find a better deal. You may have to buy a round trip and toss the return, but at least it'll only be that part of the journey. Good luck!
posted by po at 5:28 AM on September 12, 2009
I think Gaspode's suggestion may be illegal these days. In the post 9/11 world the airport authorities are sensitive about accounting for every person that should be on a plane.
*citation needed
posted by GPF at 5:48 AM on September 12, 2009
*citation needed
posted by GPF at 5:48 AM on September 12, 2009
Buy round trip. Nothing illegal about "missing" your return flight.
posted by sandmanwv at 9:58 AM on September 12, 2009
posted by sandmanwv at 9:58 AM on September 12, 2009
Response by poster: Thanks for the tips, everyone. I'll try some of them and hopefully they will help. I'm still hoping to find a great rate.
Gaspode, thanks for the suggestion. It seems like a great idea. I think that checked luggage would complicate that plan, however, not being accessible to me on a layover.
posted by oceanmorning at 6:43 PM on September 12, 2009
Gaspode, thanks for the suggestion. It seems like a great idea. I think that checked luggage would complicate that plan, however, not being accessible to me on a layover.
posted by oceanmorning at 6:43 PM on September 12, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
So they price tickets accordingly.
posted by dfriedman at 2:18 PM on September 11, 2009