Any recommendations?

[HardCorePawn]

Howdy folks...

work have kindly decided that I have been getting too much sun lately and to save me from skin cancer have decided to banish me to the Northern Hemisphere winter for 3 or 4 weeks...

First, I am heading off to Copenhagen for a couple of weeks, then to some place in New Jersey for a week or so, followed by a day (thats right, 1 day) in Los Angeles...

Anyone recommend some decent airlines and or routes to Europe? so I can give the corporate travel agent some tips... furthest I have ever been is Singapore/Hong Kong (west) and Los Angeles (east) and lots of parts inbetween...

Apparently I can fly 'Premium' economy if the airline has it... but the only airline I know that does is AirNZ... so i'm thinking LHR via HKG on AirNZ to avoid the US until I have to go and then some puddle jump to CPH.

Also, has anyone gone to the US lately?? is the customs and immigration and security as bad as everyone makes out?

Any recommendations for US domestic airlines?? based on the 'Airline' TV show, i dont think I will be taking SouthWestern

cheers,
HCP

[towerguy]

another route to check out is aerolineas argentinas to south america and connect from there up to europe - just as long but different stop overs and you get to see areas you would not normally see. just a thought

and yeah I have heard a few horror stories about the jackboots that inhabit the Good ole US of A welcome squads - don't know why but they think that just because you trample human rights anytime you feel like it and invading another country is just about a weekend sport they think the whole world is out to get them B)

if you hear the snap of a rubber glove - be afraid be very afraid!

[ZK-KAG]

Hey HCP,

My Dad has travelled to the US twice this year and yes the customs are pretty horrible at the moment. Everything is very tight, and you reallly do have to read the landing cards and stuff properly. But having said that, if you do every thing as they want, it shouldnt be a problem.

As for US domestic travel, I think UA (United) is the way to go from what Ive heard. They are also Star Alliance, so you can earn Airpoints with them too.

While in Europe, try stick with Star Alliance airlines like Lufthansa or BMI, but if you cant its no train smash, you just cant get points. Oh and if you arnt already an AirNZ Airpoints member, you should join as Long-haul flights give you lotsa Airpoints $$$

Hope that helps in some way

~ZK-KAG~

[mailman]

So what are your drivers here? Is this a work trip and are working paying for it, are you trying to do this as cheap as possible (in that case Premium Economy wont suit), get to Europe as quickly as possible, take heaps of luggage (in which case America is your only real route since you can take 2x32kg cases with you as opposed to 1x20kg case through Asia), see as much of the world as possible or wa?

And dont worry about US customs, you do as you are told, when you are told, how you are told and everything will be fine. Even better if you got kids cause then you get escorted to the front of the queues

On the other hand, if you are a w8nker then you will get treated like a w8nker.

Mailman

[Charl]

Depends a little on whether you're after airpoints.
But why not give Emirates a whirl to Europe, and do a day in Dubai on the way?
It was best airline two years running and fares are competitive.
Transatlantic: anythng but British Airways.
In the US, all the airlines I've ever flown are in Chapter 11 bankruptcy so I guess it doesn't matter.
They will definitely not like the fact that you move through LA in 1 day only so prepare for stripsearch and body cavity examination.

Hope you have a great trip!

[AlisterC]

I flew to San Francisco on Air NZ last September, and US customs were easy as. I've heard good things from friends about Emirates, so what Charl suggested would be my dream trip to Europe. In economy class in the Air NZ 772 you can't fold the arm rests up to lie down across three seats, I'll be avoiding their 772 on longhaul now if possible in future
New York direct to LA you have the choice of all the major airlines pretty much; Continental, United, Delta, American, and Jet Blue - operating anything from a B763, B762, B738, B752, B753, A320 and Air Tahiti Nui do it Wednesdays (at last check) in their A343. So I guess it comes down to airpoints partners?

[Matlo]

B)
I've heard that US Customs is pretty 'serious', but I wouldn't imagine you having any problems unless you started giving them 'grief'.
As opposed to our wonderful Customs service here who can't be faulted ...

(But then again, I may be a tad biased.......)

Craig

[flynz]

When I went to the US customs wasnt a problem and that was April last year although things may very well have changed since then. Just make sure you know simple questions like in what island is wellington and what landmarks will you be seeing here during your stay.

I have also heard when flying accross the atlantic stay away from continental and their B752 as some people i know that were on that said they didnt have a clue what was holding that plane together but they were just pleased to get off it. If you fly American Airlines in the states you may find yourself sitting next to a US air marshal as my brother and i suspect we did as he fitted into all the catagories of aisle seat, front couple of rows, a particular casual style of dress that we saw they wear on some program so as not to be obvious and some other things that made us think hmmm although we didnt ask what his job was or if he was carrying guns on him.

Other option is to go to europe via south africa which takes pretty much the same time as all the other routes just different way of getting there.

[Ian Warren]

jezz .. I have a better Joke , tryin to organise connecting flights within Aussie Domestic at the mo , I only want to bounce around a bit , go here & there lucky have other on the other side for help , simple thing , MAYBE ANOTHER WING WALK , mind u I hear the service is extra bad ........ No one seems to want to shake ya hand

[mailman]

If you fly American Airlines in the states you may find yourself sitting next to a US air marshal as my brother and i suspect we did as he fitted into all the catagories of aisle seat, front couple of rows, a particular casual style of dress that we saw they wear on some program so as not to be obvious and some other things that made us think hmmm although we didnt ask what his job was or if he was carrying guns on him.

Pffffft, dont worry about this. Sky Marshalls dont sit next to suspects...but near them where they can be observed. Its much safer for everyone that way (as it makes the terrorists job harder to overpower the skymarshall and get his water pistol etc.

Mailman

[Alex]

United is very good, unfortunately they don't fly out of Auckland any more...


Alex

[ardypilot]

I've flown the Auckland to London route many times:

1. London- Los Angles- Auckland, Air New Zealand B747 the whole way, 9/10
2. London- Kuala Lumpur- Auckland, Malaysian B747 to K.L then B777 to AKL, 9/10
3. London- Frankfurt- Jakarta- Bali- Auckland, Guaruda Indonesia B747 then A330, 4/10
4. London- Osaka- Christchurch- Auckland, JAL B747 between London and Japan, Air New Zealand B767 between Osaka and NZ, 4/10

As you can imagine, the last two trips, we opted for low budget carriers to get us across the world as cheap as possible. Unfortunately, because of that you get dumb flight attendants who don't understand English and disgusting Asian foods (IMO anyway). ANZ was properly the best airline for service, and these days they have an upgraded in flight entertainment service. Malaysian was pretty good- awesome in-flight entertainment and a decent British crew with good food

Make a stop off too, the more exotic the location, the more interesting it will be! Don't forget to get some photos

[HardCorePawn]

Well the corporate travel agent has come up with:

Fri 12th Jan AKL - LAX - LHR - CPH - LHR - EWR - LAX - AKL Thu 7th Feb


1. AKL - LAX - LHR is just the standard NZ2 flight, on a 772. Luckily I dont have to worry about Albatross' comments about the arm rests... I'm in Premium Economy

2. LHR - CPH - LHR is on Scandanavian Airlines... on a MD-80 both ways. Never been on one of these so should be fun (cept for the whole Economy class thing )

3. LHR - EWR is with Virgin Atlantic. Not sure what the 'equipment' is, as the Itinerary lists it as 'UNKNOWN'... maybe SS1? but supposedly premium economy... woohoo!

4. EWR - LAX is on Continental... on a 752... never been on a 757 so that should be fun as well.

I would have preferred to stay with United so I could get Star Alliance Airpoints dollars thingys for the entire trip... but the only seats they had were first class B) and my boss doesnt love me THAT much ... the only direct economy flights out were like 8am and 10am... and I am supposed to be going to a hockey game (Devils vs. Sabres) the night before and then hitting the town I am concerned about spending 6 hours in US Domestic Economy class

5. LAX - AKL... good old NZ1, 772 again... yay for Premium Economy!


Now I just need to practice my 'I am not a terrorist' travelling face to make my travel through the US easier

[flynz]

2. LHR - CPH - LHR is on Scandanavian Airlines... on a MD-80 both ways. Never been on one of these so should be fun (cept for the whole Economy class thing )

Nice route, just make sure in the MD-80 that you get the seat as close to the back right as you can so that you feel numb and deaf for a week with all the noise and vibrations from those crappy engines

[mavman]

My girlfriend is an ex Corporate Agent, now working for Air NZ... this is what she came up with...

"AKL / SIN = SQ - EQU B747-400
SIN / CPH = SQ - EQU B777-200

CPH / EWR = SK - EQU A330-300

*EWR / PHX / LAX = US - EQU A320
[I] can also trvl via CLT (diff EQU tho)

LAX / AKL = NZ - B777-200

*you might just wanna stick with UA, book F class and ask the agent what the levels are looking like for waitlisting Y class, then you could go direct to LAX.

Not sure what kind of fare your agent would've come up with, perhaps was using CO to help with reducing the fare, the fare for the suggested itin above would be a Star Alliance "Round the World" fare. Fare may be higher, however you should be saving on taxes by avoiding LHR. The price of the RTW fare depends on mileage covered, there are 3 tiers, this itin should fit into the 1st level fare. This also means you would only have to face the craziness of US Immigration once on arrival to EWR. This itin would also cut down travel times, as it's a very direct route and also less transits. Another plus, it's Star Alliance for the whole itin and you'll get Airpoints!

This itin might not go too well with your plans for "Premuim Economy" as NZ, VS and BA are the only major commercial carriers that offer this service... so it'll either be Y class or J class all the way! I'm sure you wouldn't mind that tho! But if you trvl Y class you still should be able to get a sector upgrade on the LAX / AKL leg to Premium.

Not sure if this is any help to your plans, happy travelling"

[HardCorePawn]

Thanks for that mav...

I did get the option of the direct to CPH route on SQ, but given that I am 6'3" and wouldnt look out of place size-wize packing down in an All Blacks scrum, premium economy ranks pretty high up on the list

Unfortunately, my job rank isnt high enough to qualify for J class.. that's something they reserve for the upper level managers I'm afraid...

besides, I dont really need the extra frills of business (the drinks are still free in economy )... i just need the room!

I really should run my ass round the block a few times... especially if I want to go and get my class2 medical renewed