Kiwi-family
{Rachael, the Mama of the family}
- Time of past OR future Camino
- walking every day for the rest of my life
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Given the cost and the distance, I hope you are taking the “long” route!I just started looking at flights for November/January expecting the prices to be lower than summer (let's face it, who wants to leave sunny NZ to go to Europe in winter except maybe for a magical Christmas?)....and the costs are astronomical - well, maybe not THAT bad, but certainly as high as for travelling ten years ago before the big tumbles happened. My last trip was the fastest by ten hours (only 27 hrs) and only cost NZ$1400. The cheapest at the moment is just under NZ$2,000 and takes the standard 36 hours.
I'll just have to make walking plans and watch for a flight special - then at least I know I'll be ready if one comes along!
It might be too early to book. I've read that the best time to purchase flights is 4-6 months out.I just started looking at flights for November/January expecting the prices to be lower than summer (let's face it, who wants to leave sunny NZ to go to Europe in winter except maybe for a magical Christmas?)....and the costs are astronomical - well, maybe not THAT bad, but certainly as high as for travelling ten years ago before the big tumbles happened. My last trip was the fastest by ten hours (only 27 hrs) and only cost NZ$1400. The cheapest at the moment is just under NZ$2,000 and takes the standard 36 hours.
I'll just have to make walking plans and watch for a flight special - then at least I know I'll be ready if one comes along!
If you can go to Bangkok first, here are some possibilites, prices in GBP: Lowest date/prices in red. Explore alternatives: Norwegian is cheap and reliable.I just started looking at flights for November/January expecting the prices to be lower than summer (let's face it, who wants to leave sunny NZ to go to Europe in winter except maybe for a magical Christmas?)....and the costs are astronomical - well, maybe not THAT bad, but certainly as high as for travelling ten years ago before the big tumbles happened. My last trip was the fastest by ten hours (only 27 hrs) and only cost NZ$1400. The cheapest at the moment is just under NZ$2,000 and takes the standard 36 hours.
I'll just have to make walking plans and watch for a flight special - then at least I know I'll be ready if one comes along!
My problem is needing to leave very late November at the earliest and coming back as early as possible in January! There was one 50 hour option at a semi-reasonable price but I'm not sure any camino is worth that!With the complicated pricing systems these days who knows what prices will be in a few weeks or months time? Anyone's guess! I was interested in your question and looked up return flights from Auckland to Madrid leaving mid-November and returning mid-January on Kayak. Some reasonable fares showing up with Etihad though not very fast or direct. Starting about £739 / NZD1413.
View attachment 53878
If you can go to Bangkok first, here are some possibilites, prices in GBP: Lowest date/prices in red. Explore alternatives: Norwegian is cheap and reliable.
https://www.norwegian.com/uk/bookin...2019-04&inbound=2019-05&adults=1¤cy=GBP
My problem is needing to leave very late November at the earliest and coming back as early as possible in January! There was one 50 hour option at a semi-reasonable price but I'm not sure any camino is worth that!
@Bradypus I understand it’s a first world problem, but 43 hours is a very long travel time! Especially when they manage 25 going the other way. But I’ll look at it - if it’s a daytime layover, then maybe I get to see some of Seoul!
She's in NZ!LOVE Norwegian! Great planes and prices, as long as you can do without the extras that they charge you for (assigned seats, meals, checked bags, etc).
It’s random luck. If someone cancels, the company is scrambling to fill that seat and its price may drop drastically.It might be too early to book. I've read that the best time to purchase flights is 4-6 months out.
I am in awe of you folks from down under who are all over the Camino, in spite of the grueling number of flight hours and the exorbitant costs to get there. I will stop fussing about my own flights/costs by thinking of you folks always.I just started looking at flights for November/January expecting the prices to be lower than summer (let's face it, who wants to leave sunny NZ to go to Europe in winter except maybe for a magical Christmas?)....and the costs are astronomical - well, maybe not THAT bad, but certainly as high as for travelling ten years ago before the big tumbles happened. My last trip was the fastest by ten hours (only 27 hrs) and only cost NZ$1400. The cheapest at the moment is just under NZ$2,000 and takes the standard 36 hours.
I'll just have to make walking plans and watch for a flight special - then at least I know I'll be ready if one comes along!
It's worth the money to fly down there for a visit too; at least once in every couple of decades.I am in awe of you folks from down under who are all over the Camino, in spite of the grueling number of flight hours and the exorbitant costs to get there. I will stop fussing about my own flights/costs by thinking of you folks always.
Oh no! When did this happen?I just started looking at flights for November/January expecting the prices to be lower than summer (let's face it, who wants to leave sunny NZ to go to Europe in winter except maybe for a magical Christmas?)....and the costs are astronomical - well, maybe not THAT bad, but certainly as high as for travelling ten years ago before the big tumbles happened. My last trip was the fastest by ten hours (only 27 hrs) and only cost NZ$1400. The cheapest at the moment is just under NZ$2,000 and takes the standard 36 hours.
I'll just have to make walking plans and watch for a flight special - then at least I know I'll be ready if one comes along!
I always fly Korean Air to Spain, leaving from Stdney. There is a 19 hour stopover in Seoul, and as part of the cost of the ticket, they include a room in a 5 star hotel, plus 2 meal vouchers for use in the restaurant, with free transport from the airport to the hotel and back. As some one who cannot sleep on aeroplanes the room is a wonderful bonus, and I usually get in at least 6 hours uninterupted sleep.@Bradypus I understand it’s a first world problem, but 43 hours is a very long travel time! Especially when they manage 25 going the other way. But I’ll look at it - if it’s a daytime layover, then maybe I get to see some of Seoul!
And here I am trying to find tickets to get myself to New Zealand from Europe around that same time. Isn't there a way yet that we can just change places? Or orb? Maybe I have seen too many movies...
My advice is to sign up for alerts from Scott’s Cheap Flights. I can’t believe the deals they find. It isn’t for everyone, because the booking windows are typically very short. There is a free version that gives you about 1/3 of the deals and a modestly priced version that gives you all the deals. Good luck.I just started looking at flights for November/January expecting the prices to be lower than summer (let's face it, who wants to leave sunny NZ to go to Europe in winter except maybe for a magical Christmas?)....and the costs are astronomical - well, maybe not THAT bad, but certainly as high as for travelling ten years ago before the big tumbles happened. My last trip was the fastest by ten hours (only 27 hrs) and only cost NZ$1400. The cheapest at the moment is just under NZ$2,000 and takes the standard 36 hours.
I'll just have to make walking plans and watch for a flight special - then at least I know I'll be ready if one comes along!
My problem is needing to leave very late November
Mary we use Scoot to Singapore , then anywhere you wish in Spain on Emirates or QatarWorth looking into flights to and from London or Paris, which from Sydney at least are much cheaper than flights to Spain. Probably more fare options too.
The cheapest at the moment is just under NZ$2,000 and takes the standard 36 hours.
I have been monitoring prices in October for the last few years. Because I am not sure when I will walk the Camino, I chose to research and put my plans in place. I am now watching prices for September/October as well as May. I am not sure where you want to fly to, but I also know flights from Sydney, Australia to Porto are more expensive than flying to Lisbon and catching local flight or going by train. Enjoy the planning.I just started looking at flights for November/January expecting the prices to be lower than summer (let's face it, who wants to leave sunny NZ to go to Europe in winter except maybe for a magical Christmas?)....and the costs are astronomical - well, maybe not THAT bad, but certainly as high as for travelling ten years ago before the big tumbles happened. My last trip was the fastest by ten hours (only 27 hrs) and only cost NZ$1400. The cheapest at the moment is just under NZ$2,000 and takes the standard 36 hours.
I'll just have to make walking plans and watch for a flight special - then at least I know I'll be ready if one comes along!
I am now watching prices for September/October as well as May. I am not sure where you want to fly to, but I also know flights from Sydney, Australia to Porto are more expensive than flying to Lisbon and catching local flight or going by train.
Hi Kiwi family- I'm just over the pond and down the dirt track a little in Adelaide so feel your pain about prices to Europe at Christmas. While we always think European winter is low season Christmas is very much high season, you've got everyone heading over to Europe for the Christmas markets and it's also our school holidays so prices are higher. Just one of those not so enjoyable problems of being on the other side of the world.I just started looking at flights for November/January expecting the prices to be lower than summer
From Lisbon , only way.train.
I agree with Mary. My friend and I are booked on 15th September ex-Sydney hubbing through Dubai to Paris then train to Bayonne - two nights there to acclimatise and then train to SJPdP. As this is our first Camino we have paid a bit extra to get the shortest flight time and connection. My husband and I travelled to the UK in late December last year and there were no really cheap flights unless you wanted to do an ultra-marathon journey and my husband (ex-RAF pilot) will not travel on some of the airlines.Worth looking into flights to and from London or Paris, which from Sydney at least are much cheaper than flights to Spain. Probably more fare options too. From those cities it’s easy and comparatively cheap to get to your starting point by train and you can book trains 3 months ahead to get best fares. Search around for the cheapest entry point into Europe from NZ. Sounds like shortest flight time will be the most expensive or you’ll need to have a long travel time to get cheaper fares. From my experience, fares at that time of year don’t get cheaper as it’s peak season.
Yes I agree with you! From nz it’s so expensive to get there before you have even set foot on Spanish soil. At least it balances out as Spain is so cheap to eat and stay (as a pilgrim) this is the only way I can justify my trips to my long suffering husband haha!!I just started looking at flights for November/January expecting the prices to be lower than summer (let's face it, who wants to leave sunny NZ to go to Europe in winter except maybe for a magical Christmas?)....and the costs are astronomical - well, maybe not THAT bad, but certainly as high as for travelling ten years ago before the big tumbles happened. My last trip was the fastest by ten hours (only 27 hrs) and only cost NZ$1400. The cheapest at the moment is just under NZ$2,000 and takes the standard 36 hours.
I'll just have to make walking plans and watch for a flight special - then at least I know I'll be ready if one comes along!
unfortunately you are looking to travel during peak season (school holidays) the rational of weather has no bearing on flight costs as they are purely based on the yeild of the route and school holidays are always peak time (regardless of if you are traveling to a winter destination) I am a travel consultant and this is something the internet wont advise you - peak season tickets need to be booked 11 months in advance to get the lowest fare (and even then they are not particuarly cheap), airlines NEVER have sales during this time as they dont need to, You cant compare the cost from 10 years ago as flight prices havent dropped, fuel charges and demand keep them high and as the world now has 7 1/2 billion people it is much easier to fill a plane. my advice if you want to travel at this time is to book ASAP, waiting will only see the price increase as the lower fares get booked up. Or otherwise book in the low seasonI just started looking at flights for November/January expecting the prices to be lower than summer (let's face it, who wants to leave sunny NZ to go to Europe in winter except maybe for a magical Christmas?)....and the costs are astronomical - well, maybe not THAT bad, but certainly as high as for travelling ten years ago before the big tumbles happened. My last trip was the fastest by ten hours (only 27 hrs) and only cost NZ$1400. The cheapest at the moment is just under NZ$2,000 and takes the standard 36 hours.
I'll just have to make walking plans and watch for a flight special - then at least I know I'll be ready if one comes along!
Have you looked at flights via southern China airlines... I have traveled twice this route to Auckland from Netherlands. The transThen a cheap airline flight to Biarritz. Where are you starting? A winter Camino????I just started looking at flights for November/January expecting the prices to be lower than summer (let's face it, who wants to leave sunny NZ to go to Europe in winter except maybe for a magical Christmas?)....and the costs are astronomical - well, maybe not THAT bad, but certainly as high as for travelling ten years ago before the big tumbles happened. My last trip was the fastest by ten hours (only 27 hrs) and only cost NZ$1400. The cheapest at the moment is just under NZ$2,000 and takes the standard 36 hours.
I'll just have to make walking plans and watch for a flight special - then at least I know I'll be ready if one comes along!
Try this:
NZ to Dublin. I just looked up flights in Nov and one example: Emirates $1184 in 27.5 hours R/T. Then take RyanAir to Biarritz Airport (about $75). Then use https://www.expressbourricot.com taxi service (about $20 each) which will drive you to St. Jean Pied de Port about 45 min. away. There are flights out of Santiago airport back to Dublin on Iberia for about $100. Buen Camino!!
We have flown Cathay Pacific and found them pretty reasonable. Via Singapore. We live in Australia. At the time we went, we were on the last flight with AirAsiaI just started looking at flights for November/January expecting the prices to be lower than summer (let's face it, who wants to leave sunny NZ to go to Europe in winter except maybe for a magical Christmas?)....and the costs are astronomical - well, maybe not THAT bad, but certainly as high as for travelling ten years ago before the big tumbles happened. My last trip was the fastest by ten hours (only 27 hrs) and only cost NZ$1400. The cheapest at the moment is just under NZ$2,000 and takes the standard 36 hours.
I'll just have to make walking plans and watch for a flight special - then at least I know I'll be ready if one comes along!
I am a total researcher and it was by accident that I found such cheap airfare to the Camino starting point of SJPDP. I ended up booking the longest leg with Norwegian Air from NY. I live on the west coast. The airfare was so reasonable that I knew I could really look around and find a bargain airfare to Ny from Oregon. The airline is definitely no frills but I wanted to save money and knew that walking the whole Camino was our end game. We flew from NY to London. We then took a small airline from there to Biaritz, and a train to Saint Jean. I worked backwards from St. Jean as to what trains went there and then airlines that flew into that town. The times worked. It takes a lot of searches, but it was worth it. Good luck!I just started looking at flights for November/January expecting the prices to be lower than summer (let's face it, who wants to leave sunny NZ to go to Europe in winter except maybe for a magical Christmas?)....and the costs are astronomical - well, maybe not THAT bad, but certainly as high as for travelling ten years ago before the big tumbles happened. My last trip was the fastest by ten hours (only 27 hrs) and only cost NZ$1400. The cheapest at the moment is just under NZ$2,000 and takes the standard 36 hours.
I'll just have to make walking plans and watch for a flight special - then at least I know I'll be ready if one comes along!
Hi Hilary, I’m starting my Camino from Paris in September and will be in SJPP on 5th. I’m planning an average of 20k a day, so might see you along the way if you’re moving faster than me. It’s getting closer nowI agree with Mary. My friend and I are booked on 15th September ex-Sydney hubbing through Dubai to Paris then train to Bayonne - two nights there to acclimatise and then train to SJPdP. As this is our first Camino we have paid a bit extra to get the shortest flight time and connection. My husband and I travelled to the UK in late December last year and there were no really cheap flights unless you wanted to do an ultra-marathon journey and my husband (ex-RAF pilot) will not travel on some of the airlines.
Hi Mary. Very exciting! We won’t be in SJPdP till 18th September. I doubt we will be moving faster. It will be great to know we are walking in your footsteps and those of all the pilgrims that have gone before. You will be in our thoughts!Hi Hilary, I’m starting my Camino from Paris in September and will be in SJPP on 5th. I’m planning an average of 20k a day, so might see you along the way if you’re moving faster than me. It’s getting closer now
And if you use Iberia’s cheap, no frills version (Level) - it gets cheaper still.My tip from, JKK New York to Madrid was just $400 on Iberia. The Camino is the cheapest adventure
you will ever take/ Book on a Tuesday flight/ About 8 weeks in advance to get cheapest raters.
Business travelers do not travel mid week/ Book with AAA Travel and get flight insurance/
Since you are waling and not renting a car the Camino is the least expansive adventure you Will ever take/
Most airlines provide free accommodation when your lay over is over 8-12 hours although all airlines are different. I sometimes seek out these longer flights so that I can rest in the provided accommodation as I rarely rest on the flight itself.@Bradypus I understand it’s a first world problem, but 43 hours is a very long travel time! Especially when they manage 25 going the other way. But I’ll look at it - if it’s a daytime layover, then maybe I get to see some of Seoul!
Most airlines provide free accommodation when your lay over is over 8-12 hours
Yes, most airlines do it as part of normal service. They do vary on the length of time, Emirates for example require a lay over of more than 8 hours (or 6 hours if first class). The trick is that they prefer not to offer it and so you only get it if you request it before you get to the lay over point.
Some airlines require you to request it when you book the tickets and it is usually hidden away somewhere obscure unless you know where to look. Emirates have recently changed and now only require that you make a reservation 24 hours ahead.
I have pre-reserved and used it in Dubai and I have tried to ask for it without a reservation in Dubai and been refused with the excuse that all rooms are already full. You can find the Emirates info for Dubai here https://www.emirates.com/nz/english/before-you-fly/dubai-international-airport/dubai-connect/
What I do these days is that I find out the terms of the offer before I reserve my tickets so that I know where to look for the accommodation option.
This is one of those benefits of sometimes using a travel agent instead of making your own reservations as the travel agent should know the rules and request accommodation for you automatically.
I tried this site just now, and compared it to Skyscanner and booking direct with Qantas. Matrix did not find the cheapest flights overall nor the cheapest flights offered by Qantas. The difference for the cheapest flights was under AUD100, but over AUD400 on airline specific flights. It also didn't find the shortest flights, although the differences here appeared to be minor.Try using matrix.itasoftware.com. I'm finding flights for NZ $ 1200 rt from aukland, and rt from Wellington from NZ$1,500. You can't buy the tickets at the website, but can find them and then contact the airlines. You can organize your search for flights in a hundred ways.
And now some airlines will match those lowest quotes, if you can provide the proof. That way the airlines do not have to pay the commissions to the free airfare search services.I tried this site just now, and compared it to Skyscanner and booking direct with Qantas. Matrix did not find the cheapest flights overall nor the cheapest flights offered by Qantas. The difference for the cheapest flights was under AUD100, but over AUD400 on airline specific flights. It also didn't find the shortest flights, although the differences here appeared to be minor.
If I am looking for the absolutely cheapest flights, I find using a couple of different airfare search services gives better results than relying on only one. They don't reveal their optimisation approach, nor any embedded biases that they might have for certain airlines, so getting information from a number of different sources can be worthwhile.
Most airlines provide free accommodation when your lay over is over 8-12 hours although all airlines are different.
Not most airlines. I think that it tends to be Middle Eastern and Asian airlines that do this. It hasn't been my experience at all with North American and European airlines.Yes, most airlines do it as part of normal service.
thanks. I know that Matrix misses RyanAir and a few others. I like it as I can shift the search parameters (for example look only for short flights), and the price given includes taxes and fees. Matrix also recently stopped searching for departures from more than one country-- which is annoying. But it's interesting to know they missed Qantas.I tried this site just now, and compared it to Skyscanner and booking direct with Qantas. Matrix did not find the cheapest flights overall nor the cheapest flights offered by Qantas. The difference for the cheapest flights was under AUD100, but over AUD400 on airline specific flights. It also didn't find the shortest flights, although the differences here appeared to be minor.
If I am looking for the absolutely cheapest flights, I find using a couple of different airfare search services gives better results than relying on only one. They don't reveal their optimisation approach, nor any embedded biases that they might have for certain airlines, so getting information from a number of different sources can be worthwhile.
I didn't realize that Air Canada, TAP Portugal and Finnair were Middle Eastern or Asian airlines.Not most airlines. I think that it tends to be Middle Eastern and Asian airlines that do this. It hasn't been my experience at all with North American and European airlines.
I didn't say that there were no North American or European airlines that offered hotel rooms, just that in my experience they haven't. And Finnair doesn't provide a free hotel, just a free extended stop over.I didn't realize that Air Canada, TAP Portugal and Finnair were Middle Eastern or Asian airlines
Two things.Hi Kiwi!
I'm looking at Camino Madrid.
Flying Scoot out of Gold Coast via Singapore into Athens, then Ryanair fm Athens into Madrid.
For September into Athens $430-ish one way.
Athens into Madrid A$125-ish one way.
I book about six months out.
Jetstar I think flies NZ into Gold Coast so maybe worth a look.
All discount airlines so the extras will cost for sure. Seats, food, drinks, etc.
Good hunting.
Regards
Gerard
PS I've been staying up Waimauku and currently in Turangi. Lovely kiwi summer!
Just to note, it seems that Air Canada offers the "free" hotel room only if you are travelling on one of the more expensive fares ("Latitude" and up) - not on the typical economy fares. So, you would need to spend more in order to save the cost of a hotel.I didn't realize that Air Canada, TAP Portugal and Finnair were Middle Eastern or Asian airlines.
Generally, the airlines that offer this service only offer it on their "hub" or "hubs" and so for Air Canada as an example, they only offer it for transits through Toronto. If you have never flown via one of these hubs then you have probably never encountered it for this reason.
To be exact, they didn't find the cheaper Qantas fares the airline was offering, and the miss was by a pretty substantial margin.thanks. I know that Matrix misses RyanAir and a few others. I like it as I can shift the search parameters (for example look only for short flights), and the price given includes taxes and fees. Matrix also recently stopped searching for departures from more than one country-- which is annoying. But it's interesting to know they missed Qantas.
Korean Air is not mentioned in the earlier list of airlines providing a room during an extended stopover. From Australia there is a break of 19 hours in Seoul before the connection to Madrd. I have been promised a room in the Hilton when I am due to arrive in May, with 2 meal vouchers for use in their restuarants.
Anyone want to swap?
Be brave. Life is joyous.
Alan
I have indeed used Korean for lots of years, and have always been happy to recommend them. I even had enough frequent flyer points accumulated that this years flight is in Business Class! My only doubt this year is the fact that the corona virus is rife in Korea. Hence the little joke at the end, with the smilie.ecall , and it's a problem, you have used Korean before and was extremely happy.
We followed your advice or who ever it was a few yrs ago and had a great flight.
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