Sydney - Christchurch Flight Options

[jamesatfish]

G'day all,

My wife and I need to travel from Sydney to Christchurch in May - flying over on a Saturday morning and back again Sunday afternoon. We're both WP members so a OneWorld airline would be best, but the schedule rules out the Jetstar options (they leave at the wrong time) and Qantas (travelling via Auckland doesn't leave enough time in Christchurch). I can't see any other OneWorld options that would make this work.

I haven't flown a non-OW airline for about a decade, so I'm in unfamiliar territory.

Does anyone have any recommendations for these flights as to the best airline (in Economy)? So far I can see flights on Air New Zealand and Emirates that would match the schedule and work out about the same cost-wise, but I don't have experience with either to know which would be the better option. Alternatively if there are others I've missed that would be really helpful to know also.

Additionally, are there any options for a WP to gain lounge access in CHC without being booked on the JQ flights?

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help me out.

James

 

[Mwenenzi]

Do not be tempted by Jetrats NZ via AKL: you may regret it

For a random date in May
SYD CHC QF45 07:15 12:20 Sat 15 May
CHC SYD QF46 13:25 14:50 Sun 16 May

Only others are Air NZ & Emirates or via WLG AKL MEL. Air NZ better than EK IMHO

Buying the return in NZ from Qantas New Zealand or an other airline as a one way is usally cheaper than the return of an Aust purchased ticket. You don't need to fly both legs on the same airline

 

[Bundy Bear]

Sat15 May 10 09:15 Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD) 3hr 5min
0 Stops Economy
Boeing 777-300ER Sat15 May 10 14:20 Christchurch International Airport (CHC)


INBOUND Christchurch, New Zealand to Sydney, Australia
Flight
Depart / Arrive
Time
Airport
Duration / Stops
Class / Aircraft
EK419 Sun16 May 10 15:55 Christchurch International Airport (CHC) 3hr 20min
0 Stops Economy
Boeing 777-300ER

I would go Emirates but if the Qantas schedule seems ok; I would go Qantas on the outbound for the F lounge and take Emirates if they have a good schedule on the return.

Yes you can buy Emirates ex NZ and if it doesn't work you just ring them and they accept the online fare. Try business if you can get it under $500 AUD; need to pick the specials on that but a nice way to finish a trip.

 

[Andyzx]

My pref would be Air NZ, better service, seat, entertainment and food I guess. Better safety video! on an A320
Emirates seats do not have foot rests and unless your 5'10 and above your feet may struggle to be on the floor. 777

You may find a good fare on airnz aust site grab a seat.

Qantas lounge in chc is a shared lounge so may not allow WP?? but its a good standard lounge anyway. If you have an extra hour then go via auckland on the way back on Qf44.

QF45 leaves Syd at 7.15am you dont get much earlier than that, and come back via auckland on QF44. See the back bone of NZ along the way unless its covered by clouds!!

 

[harvyk]

AirNZ has a really good TT product IMHO. To the point that I sometimes fly them over QF even though I don't get the points or the SC's with AirNZ.

 

[jamesatfish]

Thanks all for your opinions - most appreciated.

I had missed the QF45 option, as I was searching ex-Canberra and there's nothing flying CBR-SYD early enough to make the connection to QF45 - hence it wasn't appearing on my searches. Although it's an early start compared to the Emirates & ANZ options, we decided to go with QF45 to give us some more time in Christchurch on the Saturday afternoon.

We've also booked QF46 as the return leg, to take advantage of lounge access in Christchurch. I booked this separately using the Qantas NZ website and saved about $120 AUD for the two tickets - so thanks for that advice.

As WPs we have been able to snag Row 4 for both flights, which no doubt is an improvement on what we'd get flying a non-OW airline.

Thanks again for everyone's help.