Suppose a traveler first looks for flights to Auckland, the most famous international gateway. That is sometimes reasonable, but it should be avoided. Depending on the planned trip, it may be better to use a different gateway or terminal, one which may mean less backtracking or even more domestic flights. A flight scanner makes it easy to check those options without making several dozens individual searches.
The most important thing here is that the best airfare to New Zealand, is the airfare that best supports the proposed itinerary. It is not always the lowest fare, least travel time, or most used airline. It is the option with a reasonable time, reasonable connection risk, and shown fares, and an arrival point that simplifies the rest of the travel.
The broad search which a flight scanner is useful for require flexibility in date and nearby airports. Include your likely origin and a New Zealand destination, and use flexible date searches.
Flexible date searches are useful because airfares can differ slightly for the days adjacent to your intended travel days.
Quick connections as the result of a flight scanner seem to be the most efficient. However, the connection is only efficient if the time between flights accounts for the route, the airport, and the booking system.
There are many connections that are possible, but the question is, are they ``comfortable`` enough to accommodate standard disruption. A tight connection can work, but the risks increase if the connections include different tickets, different terminals, different immigration, different baggage checks, and/or an unfamiliar airport.
Fragile itineraries are often the result of connecting flights, but a flight scanner is helpful in one aspect - it clearly shows connection times. The traveler must interpret the scanner themselves. Not all flight scanner itineraries are safe to assume. Knowing the connection truly accounts for the time it takes to go through the necessary steps that are needed to complete the connection is most important. Look at the terms of the fare. Know the limits of the booking. If the trips are booked separately, then it is not the responsibility of the second flight carrier to assist with booking if there is a delay on the first flight.
Some travelers avoid connecting flights, which can make for long travel times. The counter argument is longer connections can be less tedious than connecting flights. Most travelers would likely prefer a longer, protected connection rather than a lower fare that comes with a greater risk. A few minutes of time saved on arrival can be a valuable trade-off for the safety and security of a long journey from home.
New Zealand’s geography lends itself best to a multi-city search. A round-trip search will might include extra trips back to your original departure airport to fly home in the more time-consuming return flight path. A flight scanner that has a multi-city option can help you better tailor your flights to adapt to your path.
An open jaw ticket, which includes arriving at one airport and departing from another, isn’t always the cheaper option. An open jaw ticket will likely include a logistical benefit such as reducing how much you have to backtrack, preserving time on the ground, and making your trip easier to manage, especially if you are travelling through a few regions. This is the type of benefit that a lowest fare only search will miss.
Compare these three structures
Then consider the complete trip from the perspective of time and cost and the trade-offs that may be required from a domestic transportation, travel day, baggage, and repositioning perspective. This result is one step in the decision making process, not the final step. A route that costs a little more but saves a day of backtracking might be the better choice. Don't just compare prices. Compare airlines, online booking sites, and all other booking channels. Remember, not every seller is the same. Know the final price, the rules that apply to that price, baggage policy, and who will support you should you need to change your booking or if there are disruptions. It is possible that post-booking communication will be easier with some airlines over others. However, through other booking channels, you may get trips that offer a better combination or price, which may not be visible with the other booking channels. There are no 'best' booking channels. The 'smart' approach is to know who you booked with and what support is available if things change. Be cautious if a flight scanner combines itineraries that cross multiple airlines or itineraries that are sold by a non-traditional booking channel. Check to see if all flights appear on a single ticket, if baggage will be through-checked, and if there are any self connections. These are not administrative fine print details. They determine the level of risk the traveler may face. Travelers should also assume that an itinerary with a familiar airline name does not mean an easier itinerary. There are partner flights that involve different airlines and different proceedings at the airport. While booking flights, you will see obvious brands highlighted by the marketing airlines, but you should check operating flights carefully before you pay. Set Price Alerts but still Use Your Own Judgement Price alerts that show up on flight search sites are really useful in New Zealand. They allow you to see if costs on particular routes have changed over time without having to continually search said flights. They are helpful if you know what dates you want to travel on but haven't booked anything yet. However, something important to remember is that a price alert means nothing in and of itself. An alert tells you that a price changed. If that alert goes off, you have to look at the details to tell if that price is good for your trip. A price many people see as "good" could mean long layovers, less included in the ticket price, or even travel that is scheduled long before or after your desired travel dates. A price that is "good" could just as easily buy you a travel itinerary that is safer and more convenient. Price alerts shouldn't cause you to feel a sense of urgency to book, they are only useful in tracking price trends. With flight deals, there really isn't a "one size fits all" best time to book. Many who claim they know this time are probably just winging it. Prices fluctuate but so do your own needs. Flight search alerts should be seen as a benefit to travelers when price itineraries that best meet their travel needs are within budget. Realize the Total Cost Before you book, you should always compare the total cost of flight deals that show up on flight search alerts. This isn’t difficult. Simply add the estimated cost of each ticket, expected baggage fees, seat fees (if applicable), transport to the airport, any expenses due to overnight stays, and domestic flights or ground transfers that may be incurred due to the flight itinerary. Then weigh the costs with how much time and how convenient each itinerary is.
A simple comparison can show why a seemingly cheaper fare is not always the cheapest option:
Not all of these items can be converted to a dollar amount. A shorter and simpler route can be worth more than a cheaper option, especially for a short vacation. On the other hand, a traveler on an extremely limited budget can take a longer connection to avoid a significant cost. The goal is to make smart trades. A flight scanner shows availability, but smart travels plans show value.
For New Zealand routes, a disciplined search process is more effective than endlessly refreshing results.
While it may seem tedious, this process is a more realistic alternative to simply booking the cheapest flight.
A flight scanner is the best way to book New Zealand flights, however, making the booking is still the responsibility of the traveler. The biggest advantage flight scanners have is showing flight options that traditional airline searches or assumed round-trip flights may not show. Through flexible travel dates, multiple connections, alternate airport options, and multi-city trips, flight scanners show differences in prices based on the booking method.
Don't blindly follow advice, simply because it's the cheapest. The fastest connection is not always the best. The most common routing is not always the best. For New Zealand travel, a balanced fare is the best option most of the time: it includes reasonable connections, appropriate airports, clearly outlined terms, and a total cost that stands after all incidentals are included.
A flight scanner accomplishes this. A scanner is not just about finding a fare. In the context of what you put into it, it can create an optimal travel itinerary before you even get on the plane.