New Zealand is a beautiful trip destination, with plenty of tourist destinations and a rich cultural history. And, with a little research and preparation, flying to New Zealand can be budget-friendly. Planning your vacation during the off-season, searching for the cheapest flight tickets, and buying your tickets at the right time can all help make your flight to New Zealand more affordable. Once you’ve bought cheap plane tickets, you can travel to New Zealand without breaking the bank!
StepsPart 1Part 1 of 3:Choosing the Cheapest Travel Times
1Visit New Zealand during the “shoulder seasons” for inexpensive tickets. The shoulder seasons, or off-seasons, are 3-4 month periods where flight tickets and traveling expenses in New Zealand are cheaper. To save money on plane tickets, visit between March and May, June and August, or September and November.XAlthough less expensive, New Zealand is still busy during shoulder seasons, especially at popular tourist destinations.X
2Avoid visiting during the busy season, New Zealand’s summer. Because New Zealand is located on the southern hemisphere, its summer runs from December to February. Try not to plan your vacation during this time, as it’s when flight tickets will be the most expensive.XNew Zealand’s busy season, however, is the time with the best weather and tourism opportunities. If you’re set on visiting during the busy season, you can still take steps to find the cheapest tickets possible for that date.
3Plan your vacation around international holidays. New Zealand is a popular destination during holidays or school breaks around the world. Avoid visiting on or around international holidays, particularly holidays during New Zealand’s summer, for cheaper plane tickets.XChristmas and New Year’s Day and generally the most popular (and expensive) dates for New Zealand trips.Part 2Part 2 of 3:Checking Flight Comparison Sites
1Use a flight search engine to compare deals on upcoming flights. Searching one plane company after another can take time. To look at several flight options on the same day and choose the cheapest, visit a reliable flight search engine and look up the date of your choice.XPopular flight search engine sites include Kayak, Adioso, Google Flights, Hipmunk, Momondo, Hotwire, and Expedia.X
2Look several months out for the best deals. Generally, flights within the next several days or weeks will be the most expensive. If possible, plan your vacation at least 2-3 months in advance so you can search for the greatest deals possible.XIf you can’t plan your trip several months in advance, avoid going during the busy season when short-term tickets will be at an annual high.
3Keep an eye out for budget airlines tickets. Budget airlines are companies that provide cheaper plane tickets at the cost of fewer in-flight accommodations. If your flight search airline allows you to filter for budget airlines, choose the appropriate filter. Check for budget airlines in your country and in New Zealand if you can’t find search by budget flights.XYou can find a list of budget airlines at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_low-cost_airlines.Budget airlines in New Zealand include Pacific Blue, Jetstar, Freedom Air, Kiwi Airlines, and Air New Zealand.
4Check the flight search engine for fare combinations. The cheapest flights to New Zealand are usually near coasts. Check your flight search engine for flights to your area’s coastline nearest to New Zealand to determine whether 2 separate flights may be the cheapest option.XIf you live in the United States, for example, the cheapest flights to New Zealand will usually be from the West Coast.Part 3Part 3 of 3:Booking an Inexpensive Flight
1Book your flight at least 6 weeks before you plan to go. Once you’ve located a flight, plan on buying the tickets 6-8 weeks in advance. After 6 weeks, the flight will likely increase in price until the departure date.XIf you’re leaving on short notice, book your tickets as soon as you finalize your trip dates.
2Check the flight prices in New Zealand’s currency. Sometimes, flight prices will be cheaper in the currency of the country you’re departing to. Use the flight search engine to find the price in New Zealand’s currency, the New Zealand dollar, and make a transaction in their currency if possible.XKeep in mind that in some cases, paying in a foreign transaction with your debit or credit card may incur fees.
3Buy tickets on a Tuesday or Wednesday, if it fits with your schedule. The most expensive dates to book flights are usually weekends, and the cheapest are during the middle of the week. If you can, check for flight prices on Tuesdays or Wednesdays and buy the cheapest tickets.X
4Purchase your flights in bulk, if applicable. Some airlines offer discounts for buying multiple tickets at once. If you’re planning a trip for multiple people, buy all of the tickets at once for the cheapest price.XReturn tickets are also usually cheaper than one-way tickets.
