Classic plus to the US - cheaper to start flight in Auckland than Sydney.

[Leroyb]

I’m seeing flights to the US that start in Auckland, and route through Sydney, are much cheaper than flights direct from
Sydney to the US.

If this ticket is booked, what are the implications of ignoring the first leg and starting the flight in Sydney?

 

[billmurray]

You'd be considered a no show at Auckland then the rest of your ticket forfeited I would think.

 

[levelnine]

As bill said, you will be denied check-in/boarding at Sydney because you won't have a valid ticket.

Also, remember Classic Plus rewards are tied to the cash fare. So keep an eye out for cash fare sales. You'll get a reduced Classic Plus price then.

 

[kevrosmith]

Yes you’d have to make your way to Auckland to start the journey. People have done it…

 

[justinbrett]

Yes you’d have to make your way to Auckland to start the journey. People have done it…

For cash fares, it’s a good deal. Save a few thousand and get some extra SCs.

I’m doing it for a flight to Japan later in the year, booked with DCs.

 

[DC3]

If this ticket is booked, what are the implications of ignoring the first leg and starting the flight in Sydney?

As above, there will be no boarding in SYD if you are a no-show in AKL.

 

[CaptJCool]

Yes
It’s often the case that Auckland to wherever is cheaper substantially than Sydney and even where one will fly more and pay less

And no internationally you cannot no show the first leg

 

[kangarooflyer88]

As others have pointed out you cannot skip the first leg of a flight be it domestic or international as your contract with the airline is to transport you from that originating point to the final destination listed on the booking. The fact that one of the flights involved happens to be Sydney to US is completely incidental. Now for the opposite situation (i.e. US to NZ connecting in Sydney) it is technically possible to check in and take that first flight to Sydney and just don't take the second leg over to Auckland. This practice is called skip-lagging and is frowned upon by the airlines. Certainly if you had any checked bags I wouldn't encourage you to do this practice since it will be checked through to NZ even if you do have that stop in Australia as international connections in Australia allow for checked bags to be transferred thru to the next flight.

If you are serious about wanting to find an economy or business classic award (which by the way will almost always be cheaper than any Classic+ flight award you find) use tools like Seats.aero or the multi-city booking trick to identify days where there is availability. Sometimes this may meaning flying into LA instead of say San Francisco.