New Zealand deal: $1,800 premium economy round trips from most of US

Tourism in New Zealand continues a major rebound after the country shut its doors to international visitors for years during the pandemic, and now we're seeing a resurgence of nonstop flights from the U.S. to Auckland. Last month, travelers had the chance to jump on some great economy fares to the bucket list destination.

There are again some fairly decent economy fares to New Zealand right now — below $900 round trip from what appears to be most U.S. markets with American Airlines service.

But what you really might want to consider is the premium economy option. If you live in a city with American Airlines service, there’s a good chance you can find a fare to Auckland for between $1,800 and $1,900 round trip for late October, November or early December.

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Considering that premium seats on American Airlines’ Boeing 787 Dreamliners often go for well over $3,000 round trip, and considering a flight to Auckland will take some 15 hours each day (not including your positioning flight for the long-haul portion of the trip), it might be a good idea to invest in a bit more comfort.

Scott’s Cheap Flights was the first to point out the great premium economy offerings. For premium memberships starting at $49 annually, the site will flag great economy deals. For $199 annually you get alerts on premium economy and business class deals.

After years where visits to New Zealand were not possible, travelers again have the opportunity to embark on what is a once-in-a-lifetime trip for many. A deal like this could be a way to make it both feasible and comfortable along the way.

Deal Basics

Airlines: American

Routes: New York, Washington, Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles and many other U.S. markets to Auckland

Travel dates: Late October through early December, with some Thanksgiving availability

How to book: Directly with the airline

Like the economy deals to New Zealand TPG wrote about in August, you’d be traveling during the latter part of fall. There isn’t a ton of availability at this price point in late October, although you may find some if you look closely enough. November seems to have wide-open availability, and the deals extend into the first week or so of December.

What’s so remarkable about this deal is not just the premium economy round trip price — potentially thousands in savings compared to what you’d often pay — but how widespread and consistent the availability and fares are. From large American Airlines hubs to other airlines’ major hubs and the smallest of U.S. airports I checked, I found round trips in premium economy priced at $1,840.

The other thing that’s very consistent is the itinerary which will bring you through Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), where you’ll board a Boeing 787 Dreamliner for the 15-hour flight from DFW to Auckland. It’s a shorter, 13-hour, 45-minute flight on the return trip to the U.S.

Here’s one example of what you can find, out of the New York area. Departing on a Tuesday evening in early November from Newark/Liberty International Airport (EWR) aboard an American Boeing 737, you’ll arrive just before 9:30 p.m. central time at DFW. After a brief 77-minute layover, you’ll take off at 10:44 p.m. central time on the Dreamliner, and arrive after the 15-hour haul to Auckland at 8:45 a.m. on Thursday.

Departing on the return trip, you’ll leave mid-afternoon from Auckland and fly overnight back to DFW, arriving in Texas mid-morning. For this itinerary, it’s a layover of just under two hours before your much shorter, three-plus-hour flight back to Newark.

Los Angeles travelers can catch a mid-afternoon flight to DFW and have two hours or so on the ground to prepare for the long flight to New Zealand, before getting just over an hour and a half at DFW in the morning hours after arriving back in the U.S.

Meanwhile, here’s an itinerary out of O’Hare International Airport (ORD) in Chicago with similar timing options, but take note that this is an example of a trip that spans the Thanksgiving holiday, giving you a chance to maximize days off from work.

Related: Should you visit New Zealand now?

Maximize your purchase

When you pay with The Platinum Card® from American Express, you can earn 5 points per dollar on flights booked directly with the airline or through American Express Travel on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. Meanwhile, consider the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card to earn 5 miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel. If you’re loyal to American Airlines, you might want to go with the Citi®/AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®. You earn 2 miles per dollar on eligible American Airlines purchases, along with a host of other benefits you’ll be able to enjoy when flying with American.

Bottom line

It’s not every day that good deals become available to New Zealand, particularly those that allow you to fly in something other than coach. It’s even less likely for those deals to be available to flyers across such a wide swath of the U.S.

If you can find a window on the calendar to travel late this fall, it could be a great time to travel to this epic destination in some comfort at a fraction of what you might otherwise pay.