Getting Here
Unless you are planning on taking a traditional Maori Waka to get here, you are going to end up flying. I guess if you are a billionaire, then you might have your own yacht, but we are going to assume that you are going to fly.
Tickets are not cheap. Most of what we can comment on is coming from the States. Europe is another set of logistics that we do not have experience with. Peak season runs from about November to April. Late December to 3rd week in January is school holidays, so every thing is chocker block at that time.
In the winter you can occasionally find some better deals on air fares. Air New Zealand is the primary choice, but lately a few other airlines have also added routes. Airlines that fly direct from the West Coast of the US are Air New Zealand, American, and United. There are also direct flights from Houston and New York.
| Class | Peak | Off-season |
| Economy | $3,400 | $2,000 |
| Premium | $7,200 | $4,000 |
| Business | $15,000 | $10,000 |
All the flights are over-nighters and leave the west coast of the US around 9 pm and show up in Auckland around 6 am. Flying back it is similar but usually lands in the US around 10 am. Total flight time is about 13 1/2 hours depending on the wind.
Pro Tip: If you are made of money and it is burning a hole in your pocket, then for god’s sake buy B-class tickets and don’t think about it. If you are on a more austere budget and/or a total cheapskate like me, and the thought of hanging out in economy class with 200 of your closest friends for 13 hrs without sleep is more than you can bear, then we have the answer for you. Air New Zealand has a thing called the “Skycouch” which is basically a row of economy seats that has been fitted with foot rests the raise up and make a “couch.” The additional cost is about $1300 one way. It is about what premium economy costs, but infinitely better.
We have used the Skycouch a couple of times. The first time we had one Skycouch for the two of us. Although it kind of worked, it was pretty squished. Might work if you have a kid or your partner is 4′ 6″ and weighs 97 lbs. The other times we have each had our own and that was great. I slept great and having the space was lovely. And it was 1/3 the cost of B-class. If you are over 5′ 11″ then it would not be that comfortable for sleeping.
One thing to note on the Skycouch is that you can only book it directly with Air New Zealand. United is a partner airline, but if you try to do it through United, you will be sorely disappointed.
If time is not an issue: We are fortunate and have family in Hawaii, so often stop there on our way back to Aotearoa. What we discovered is that the flight from Honolulu to Auckland is a daytime flight of 9 hrs or so. Since you don’t have to mess with a sleep cycle, it is much easier to slum it in economy. So if time is not an issue but flying economy overnight is, then a good option for you is to make a side trip to Hawaii on your way down here.
You can do the same thing on the way back if you go through Tahiti (poor you). There is an Air Tahiti flight that leaves Auckland around 3 pm and gets to Tahiti around 10 pm. We then took a French Bee flight that left Tahiti at 7 am and got to SFO around 5 pm. All day time flights and all doable in economy.
Obviously, flight times and routes change all the time, but as of April 2025, this all works.
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Let me know what you think!