Booking J to LAX through AKL instead of originating in Australia

[Uncharted6264]

I have some specific dates I need to be in California for and I've wasted a decent bit of time trying to make rewards flights work, to the point where I think I'll be saving money by just going revenue - with that in mind:

Booking from AKL to LAX is significantly (50%) cheaper than a booking originating in Australia - I need to travel to SYD first regardless to catch QF11. Is there any pitfalls to taking a short hop across to AKL the night before the flight to the States to get the lower fare? Hoping someone can give me some wisdom here, I don't mind taking the late flight to AKL then making the journey back to SYD to catch QF11 the next morning...

 

[Gold Member]

Should have no problems. And to vindicate your decision and displeasure with Qantas’ exorbitant price gouging, don’t fly with them over the ditch.

 

[Uncharted6264]

I totally agree with you there and I'd love to - boycott for the fact it's so expensive and the fact that I spend a lot of money with their CC partners yet still have to scrabble for flights - but 1 I'm in the status game and 2 they are genuinely (comparatively) economical when going from AKL...

 

[Mwenenzi]

No problems doing XYZ-AKL then a separate AKL-SYD-LAX.
And Air NZ from SYD/MEL/BNE can be a lot cheaper than from AKL going to USA.
This is common for airlines from a home port compared to a a flight from an opposition home port

FJ can be competive, but a transfer in NAN
AA & UA also fy from AKL. As will DL later in the year.

 

[Uncharted6264]

No problems doing XYZ-AKL then a separate AKL-SYD-LAX.
And Air NZ from SYD/MEL/BNE can be a lot cheaper than from AKL going to USA.
This is common for airlines from a home port compared to a a flight from an opposition home port

Ah nice thank you I will keep that in mind - doesn't look like the case for my dates at the moment but handy to know for future bookings.

 

[MELso]

That's a handy tip!

I was playing around with the multi-city booking engine to add a week's gap between the return leg to Australia from the US and the leg to AKL. This complies with the fare rules (so no need for short-checking baggage) and I presume you could cancel the final Australia-AKL leg after you were back in Australia to reclaim the taxes...

 

[SYD]

That's a handy tip!

I was playing around with the multi-city booking engine to add a week's gap between the return leg to Australia from the US and the leg to AKL. This complies with the fare rules (so no need for short-checking baggage) and I presume you could cancel the final Australia-AKL leg after you were back in Australia to reclaim the taxes...

Or push it out further for a future trip to NZ? Seperate tix home.

 

[CaptJCool]

I have some specific dates I need to be in California for and I've wasted a decent bit of time trying to make rewards flights work, to the point where I think I'll be saving money by just going revenue - with that in mind:

Booking from AKL to LAX is significantly (50%) cheaper than a booking originating in Australia - I need to travel to SYD first regardless to catch QF11. Is there any pitfalls to taking a short hop across to AKL the night before the flight to the States to get the lower fare? Hoping someone can give me some wisdom here, I don't mind taking the late flight to AKL then making the journey back to SYD to catch QF11 the next morning...

good plan
Fly More Pay Less
and thus proving its not about cost...

PS and the same applies in the other direction (Auckland to Europe)

one tip you might have considered was the reverse itinerary

reward flight AKL-Dubai-USA with EK
I haven't looked since pre-Covid but it had been a thing