Chiang Mai to New Zealand

[luther]

Chiang Mai to NZ

(Can land anywhere...Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch)

Best (fastest) routes?

Cost of economy seat?

I've done some homework, but I was hoping there are some Kiwis out there who can help me cut quick to the chase.

[Dante99]

Travel Shoppe and Sea Tours are not Kiwis but will provide uptodate info on tickets and very good service.

[mesquite]

I'm not a Kiwi, but I can second Dante99's Travel Shoppe recommendation.  They are great.  Never tried Sea Tours.

[stupidfarang]

One of the fastest way from Bangkok to Christchurch is with Emirates via a stop over in Melbourne. Saves stopping at Auckland and then transferring to a local flight to Christchurch. As for price, depends on how close to the date you book (more expensive) and what time of the year you fly so very hard to say about the price.

[Paul Catton]

Air Asia fly to Auckland via KL, cheapest but not the most comfortable.

27,023 THB for two passengers return, based on the reverse journey AKL-CNX for February 2017

Carry on baggage only.

Schedule below gives times and duration.

Friday  17	Dep	Arr
AKL-KUL
Air Asia DZ 207	20.30
Saturday 18		04.40
KUL -CNX
Air Asia  AK 854	06.55	08.40

Sunday 5
CNX-KUL
Air Asia AK 855	09.10	13.00	LAYOVER 7HR 15 MIN
KUL-OOL
Air Asia DZ 200	20.15
Monday 6		06.35
OOL-AKL
Air Asia DZ 206	10.15	16.40

[kaptainrob]

AirAsiaX ticket CNX to AKL via KL is best price and marginally longer travel time than Thai Airways via Bangkok.

 

The AirAsia A330 out of KL is comfortable and I almost always score an aisle seat with empty one alongside, but there's a knack to it.  Smiling and talking nice at an early check-in works wonders when all else fails.

I never pre-book a meal and carry a large water bottle onboard.  You can refill airside at CNX and KL LCCT.  I use the ^2 hour layover in LCCT terminal to have dinner in the foodcourt (Popeyes chicken my favourite) and browse the 'net.  The next stop is just 1 hour at OOL/Gold Coast but you only have time to stretch legs and grab a bite to eat.  Arrival time in AKL is still daylight and of course it's a great city to visit with an easy $18 shuttle bus service which drops off at or near most CBD hotels. 

 

Traveling my wife at Xmas I've booked Thai ex CNX and on a 777 out of BKK.  Comfort level is equal to AirAsiaX A330 but with full service at higher cost and saves approx 2 hours travel time.  AirAsia's timetable suits our return trip best.  TG outbound = 21,000 each.  AAX return = 14,000 each (approx)

 

Since the devastating earthquake, Christchurch is not a good destination IMHO and for those wishing to visit Queenstown you should book inexpensive flights in or out of AKL.  Taking a hire car or train one-way between North and South is a great option if time permits.  The Nelson/Marlborough region well worth exploring as is Rotorua, south of AKL.

[kaptainrob]

55 minutes ago, Paul Catton said:

Air Asia fly to Auckland via KL, cheapest but not the most comfortable.

27,023 THB for two passengers return, based on the reverse journey AKL-CNX for February 2017

Carry on baggage only.

Schedule below gives times and duration.

Friday  17	Dep	Arr
AKL-KUL
Air Asia DZ 207	20.30
Saturday 18		04.40
KUL -CNX
Air Asia  AK 854	06.55	08.40

Sunday 5
CNX-KUL
Air Asia AK 855	09.10	13.00	LAYOVER 7HR 15 MIN
KUL-OOL
Air Asia DZ 200	20.15
Monday 6		06.35
OOL-AKL
Air Asia DZ 206	10.15	16.40

 

Worth noting this flight schedule is only ONE option with a very long layover.  There are better connections available. Shorter layover of just a few hours .... or much longer which permits a KL city visit.

[jmd8800]

sometimes it pays to check matrix.itasoftware.com  You cannot buy tickets there and all airlines are not included (Air Asia etc) but sometimes you get some handy info. You can search prices and flight over a 30 day period and by using codes you can restrict searches by carriers, by connecting flights etc.

[THAIJAMES]

Emirates used to be the best way to New Zealand.

 

However now with China Southern you can fly to New Zealand with only one stop over in  guangzhou.  If you plan ahead of time you can get good prices.  I don't like chinese airlines too much but they do have the fastest times to the south island and modern planes.  Around 15 hours flight time from Chiang Mai.