is this the best I can do? - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**U2fan** · 09-04-2005, 07:27 AM

Ok, so I am trying to figure out my plans for getting to Japan and wanting to see NZ and Oz as well. I sent in a request to a travel agency for this itinerary:

Dec.: LAX to Auckland
Beg. of Jan.: Auckland to Tokyo
May: Tokyo to Sydney
July: Sydney to LAX

They wrote back and told me it will be $2465 (US) BEFORE taxes

using Air New Zealand and Japan Airlines. The frustrating thing is that they won't give me the itinerary unless I commit to buying this within 14 days. I mean, that is a hell of a lot of money to not even know the dates; I'd like to know how long I'd get in each place!

I've searched on tons of sites and seem to only be able to find any decent deal for the LAX to Auckland one way....Auckland to Tokyo is at least $1500 alone; Tokyo to Sydney is closer to $2000 alone.

So I am thinking maybe I can't do any better that this? I don't think I can commit to buying this now but at least I will not buy anything that is more than this in the future....

Anyone have any thoughts? I have looked into Circle Pacific tickets but that is not really applicable to what I want to do here.

**benna2** · 09-04-2005, 08:54 AM

Ouch that is a bit of a gamble. But I don't think it's right to ask you to spend that much money and not even know the itinerary until after you have purhcased it.

My suggestion would be to actually go into a travel agent, sit down with someone, tell them about your travels and see what they can come up with. You should figure out beforehand how many days and approximately what dates you want to fly on and figure out where you are flexible. That will help the travel agent as well. They might in turn suggest a couple of different days for cheaper prices and you will be able to know right away what works for you. Good luck!!

**omisan** · 09-06-2005, 04:18 PM

Hmmm.. not sure on suggestions on how to bring down the price - you're going at peak times for those places, so anything that might resemble a good deal probably is one.

What timeframe are you looking at for Auckland? I'll be there the first week of December

**beergal** · 09-07-2005, 01:39 AM

My friend, nat flew with air new zealand and i quote "thats the best fuc*in airline ive used" and she has flown more times than ive had hot dinner's!

**omisan** · 09-07-2005, 02:59 AM

Hot dinners? Is that what you kids are calling them nowadays?

**beergal** · 09-07-2005, 03:17 AM

ha ha i suppose that could be interpreted in numerous ways but no actually i meant hot dinners as in hot food

**U2fan** · 09-07-2005, 05:33 AM

Peak times? May-July is peak time to visit Australia? Bu bu but it's winter there then!!!

And I don't think I'd make it to Auckland the first week of December....I think I'll just miss you! My last exam is the 6th and I'll need at LEAST a few days to get organized...

**omisan** · 09-07-2005, 03:03 PM

Dec/Jan are peak times to fly in/out of Auckland or Sydney.

May is around the peak time to fly in/out of Tokyo (spring and fall are big for Japan)

July's a peak time to fly in/out of the US

I hate this seasonal thing!

I'll be leaving Auckland on Dec. 6, so yeah, we'll just miss each other. I'll be sure to send some updates/pointers from there while you're dealing with finals!