Best way to travel to South Pacific from USA - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**indierock05** · 01-07-2006, 11:15 AM

So here is my problem, I am trying to get to New Zealand (preferably) in July/August but the flights are ridiculous.

I am going to be visiting the boyfriend for a month so any country around that is fine, Australia, Thailand, Malaysia, whatever, I am not picky but I have been searching for flights all day and I can't find crap

Internet flighsearch :greenguy:

If any of y'all could help I would be so greatful, I figured coming to you guys was my best option, HELP!

**omisan** · 01-07-2006, 12:36 PM

Yes, getting to the South Pacific from the US is almost always expensive... At times, though, you can find flights to Australia/New Zealand for $800-900, and those prices generally don't come up on the flight search engines. You'll have to hit up the web sites for Qantas and Air New Zealand and see if they are offering any "Web Specials" and sign up for their email list as well...

I went on Air NZ during peak season for $900 doing it that way. Another thing you can do if you want to hit some of the islands is do it via another operator (i.e. Air Tahiti or Air France) and use a free stopover option if they offer it.

eunike · 02-18-2006, 06:09 PM

I paid around $1400 in August 2004 for San Diego -> LAX -> Hong Kong -> Manila, through Cathay Pacific. Nice ride, nice airline, but I did learn afterwards (I studied in HK for four months) that some people had found flights for around $700. However, they did direct to HK, and all of this was from the west coast.

Those cheap flights seem to have been found via travel agencies. And, er, I think travel agencies in Chinatowns. But try to bump that fare down! Unless you're flying Cathay or (THE BEST AIRLINE EVER), Singapore Air.

**U2fan** · 02-19-2006, 07:17 PM

Have you tried zuji.com.au?

Are you a student? Check out studentuniverse.com

I am positive you can do better than that...

**omisan** · 02-21-2006, 11:37 AM

For anyone interested, Air New Zealand just put up one of its great web specials good from April - August.

SFO or LAX to Auckland + Australia for $798

Basically, you get the flight from NZ to Australia for free (Perth is extra...)

**bellelass** · 05-08-2006, 10:59 PM

I got my ticket in March for 1500. I feel your pain, my bf is in oz and Im here. How long have you been apart?

**LiveFreeorDie** · 05-09-2006, 02:43 AM

Flights from Chicago and the west coast to Hong Kong, Bangkok and Singapore can be had for under $1,000 if you keep your eyes out. Continental also flies direct from Newark to Hong Kong for less than $1,000. United has a lot of specials from Chicago to Asia and the west coast to Australia - though their prices are going up because of fuel prices. I just read an article about United that says their fuel costs are going up another 20% or so as their fuel hedges ran out.

I would look up individual airlines that fly U.S. to Australia or Asia, sign up for their mailing list (as mentioned above)and keep an eye out for specials. Some airlines to try include:

Cathay Pacific (Hong Kong based)
China Airlines (Taiwan based)
EVA(Taiwan based)
United
Continental
Thai Airways (usually more expensive)
Singapore Airways
Qantas

Good luck.