New Zealand is a long way from the UK and when the time comes to book your flight there, whether you’re coming over on a holiday/recce trip or emigrating for good, it pays to do your homework

 

Says expat Pattie Pegler of NewZealandBuyingGuide.com:

Price is probably one of the biggest considerations for many of us and the cost of flights can vary hugely, so check out airline’s individual sites as well as sites like Expedia. In a quick on-line browse recently, a one-way economy ticket for an adult from London to Christchurch varied from a bargain £290 (Air Asia) to an eye-watering £4,700. It’s worth varying your dates as well – there was a £300 saving between the same flight on a Sunday and a Tuesday.

There are other things to weigh up such as total travel time, which typically varies from 27 hours to 48 hours between London and Christchurch. If you don’t mind several stops and sitting around in airport lounges then you’re in luck as the more circuitous routes tend to be cheaper. However, another option, if you have the time, is to break the journey up with an overnight stay. A 24-hour stopover in Hong Kong or Singapore for example, will give you time to check into a hotel, get the cabin air off you and do some sight-seeing before your onward journey, like a mini-break.

The other thing is that airlines do vary in what they offer. For example, some have larger seat pitches whilst others seem to offer consistently good service. If you want to do research on this, then check out www.airlinequality.com which offers a wealth of information on airlines, seating plans and so on.
If you’re prepared to spend a bit extra on the flight then you can always try out more comfortable seating options. Whilst business class fares remain hugely expensive, there are other choices. Air Asia, a budget long-haul airline in this part of the world, advertise themselves as having the cheapest “lie flat” beds. In my London-Christchurch research this option came in at £1,020 but that was one way.

Other airlines offer premium economy options but again, these can really vary. It’s also worth checking if they are touting a big upgrade to their premium economy seats, that the route you are flying on offers the new seating.

Air New Zealand has recently started offering what it calls a SkyCouch option in economy which allows three economy class seats to convert into a couch bed. It costs extra and has mixed reviews but some people have found it great, especially if travelling with small children. But the general consensus is – don’t expect two adults to be able to lie down side by side on it – not unless they are exceptionally thin.

For details of property for sale in New Zealand, visit the NZ listings on Rightmove Overseas. One way to save money when emigrating or NZ or buying property there is to use a currency specialist when transferring your pounds into dollars. For more information on this, contact Smart Currency Exchange.

To understand the full step-by-step process to buying a property in New Zealand, collect The Overseas Guides Company’s ‘New Zealand Property Buying Guide’