Auckland (AKL) is New Zealand’s major international air hub and well connected to Sydney Kingsford Smith international airport (SYD) in Australia.

There are 103 non-stop services flying each week on this particular trans-Tasman route, with the 1,340 mile flight taking around 3 hours. In terms of time zones, Auckland is 2 hours ahead of Sydney.

The following airlines currently serve the route:

Qantas - Australia’s main airline and Oneworld carrier flies 5-x-daily between SYD and AKL. The early flight at 0615 (QF141) is operated using an Airbus A330-200, whilst the other 4 services are flown with Boeing 737-800s. Watch for “Red E-Deal” offers which normally start at AUD 400 return – this will earn Qantas Frequent Flyers 40 status credits. Business class is priced from AUD 2,300.

Jetstar - Qantas “low-cost” subsidiary flies daily using an Airbus A320. Charges AUD 20 each leg for checked bags. Return fares can be found for under AUD 300. Flights can also be purchased on the Qantas website.

LAN - Oneworld member LAN runs a daily flight between the cities using a long-haul Airbus A340. The flight is code-shared with Qantas. Whilst ex-Oz economy prices are similar to Qantas, LAN’s business fares can be competitive from around AUD 1,200 return. However, buy the fare ex-New Zealand and you will pay from only AUD 630 – excellent value and QFF members will pick up a handy 160 Status credits.

Emirates - The Gulf heavyweight flies daily using an Airbus A380. Business class fares (upper-deck seating) from AUD 1,500 return or about 20% cheaper if buying ex-NZ.

Virgin (Pacific) Blue – Flies daily between the 2 cities using a Boeing 737-800. Prices are reasonably similar to Jetstar with 20kg checked luggage included. Passengers can pay AUD 50 each sector to choose “Blue Zone” seating – exit or first row. Note that Virgin Blue’s decent “The Lounge” (AUD 30 for a single entry pass, worth a visit) is only accessible from Sydney’s domestic terminal – whilst the AKL flight departs the international terminal.

Air New Zealand – The Star Alliance airline flies 5-x-daily using Boeing 767-300s (2 flights) and Airbus A320s (3 flights). Air NZ’s cheapest economy fare includes only carry-on bags (7kg) plus a hot drink – priced from about AUD 260 return. You can choose to pay extra for checked luggage, meals, movies and lounge access. Business class is normally priced from around AUD 2,000.

Aerolineas Argentinas – Flies 5-x-weekly using an older series Airbus A340 with economy returns from around AUD 400.

Exchange rates at time of writing:

1 USD = AUD 1.04 = NZD 1.34; 1 GBP = AUD 1.62 = NZD 2.09

Singapore Airlines
A380 launch customer
First flight: Oct 2007
A380s in service: 11
A380s total order size: 19
Engines: Rolls Royce Trent 900

Routes from Singapore (SIN):
Hong Kong (HKG), London (LHR), Melbourne (MEL), Paris (CDG), Sydney (SYD), Tokyo (NRT) and Zurich (ZRH).

As a precaution, Singapore Airlines is replacing some of its engines.

Emirates
First flight: Aug 2008
A380s in service: 13
A380s total order size: 90
Engines: Engine Alliance GP7000

Routes from Dubai (DXB):
London Heathrow (LHR), Sydney (SYD), Bangkok (BKK) and on to Hong Kong (HKG), Toronto (YYZ), Paris (CDG), Seoul (ICN), Jeddah (JED), Beijing (PEK), Manchester (MAN), , New York (JFK).

There is also a daily Sydney to Auckland (AKL) service.

Qantas
First flight: Oct 2008
A380s in service: 6
A380s total order size: 20
Engines: Rolls Royce Trent 900

Routes from both Sydney (SYD) and Melbourne (MEL):
Singapore (SIN) and on to London Heathrow (LHR), Los Angeles (LAX)

QF A380s are currently grounded pending engine failure investigation.

Air France
First flight: Nov 2009
A380s in service: 4
A380s total order size: 12
Engines: Engine Alliance GP7000

Routes from Paris (CDG):
New York (JFK), Johannesburg (JNB), Tokyo (NRT)

Lufthansa
First flight: Jun 2010
A380s in service: 3
A380s total order size: 15
Engines: Rolls Royce Trent 900

Routes from Frankfurt (FRA):
Beijing (PEK), Johannesburg (JNB), Tokyo (NRT).

Lufthansa is replacing one of its engines, as a precaution.

Best A380 economy cabins – Both Singapore Airlines and Air France have smaller upper level economy cabins with 2-4-2 configuration – which have a more intimate feel than the lower level 3-4-3 economy config.

NOTE: UPDATED LISTING of Paypal Airlines for 2011 go here: Airlines Accepting Paypal 2011

Following our surveys in 2008 and 2009 its time to review once again which airlines accept Paypal as a form of payment for purchasing flights. Whilst all the major airlines in the US accept Paypal payments, the uptake from other international airlines has been less widespread.

The 2010 Paypal airlines list:

US airlines:

American Airlines – US/Canada/UK customers only
Delta – US customers only
United Airlines
Continental Airlines
US Airways
Southwest Airlines
JetBlue
Midwest Airlines (merged with Frontier)

International airlines:

Lufthansa
British Airways (added Jan 2011)
Emirates – GBP/EUR transactions only
Transavia
Monarch Airlines
Jet 2 – GBP/EUR transactions only
Vueling

Air Asia – Australia flights only (though currently there is no info about Paypal on their website??)

Travel Agents:

Australia agent Webjet will allow you to pay for booking flights (including domestic flights with Qantas, Virgin Blue, Tiger Airways and Skywest and all international flights excluding Jetstar). Other Aussie agents using Paypal are Jetabroad and Flight Centre.

Hotwire in the US accepts payments by Paypal.

UPDATE: Airlines Accepting Paypal 2011

NOTE: UPDATED LISTING of Paypal Airlines for 2011 go here: Airlines Accepting Paypal 2011

It’s time to update our list of airlines that accept payment via Paypal for flight bookings online. The list has grown a little since last year’s article (2008)  – but this form of payment still remains more common in the US than other parts of the world.

“Paypal” airlines (as of September 2009):

American Airlines – US/UK customers only
Northwest Airlines – US customers only
Delta – US customers only
US Air
Continental Airlines
Southwest Airlines
JetBlue
Midwest Airlines

Lufthansa (Germany)
Monarch Airlines (UK)
Jet 2 (UK) - GBP/EUR transactions only
Emirates (Dubai) - GBP/EUR transactions only
Air Asia (Malaysia)
Air Asia X (Malaysia)

Some airlines are currently offering incentives to book through Paypal. For example Jet 2 and Monarch are waiving booking fees; JetBlue will give you a free first checked bag; Emirates and AA are offering a 1% cashback to UK residents.

Online agent Hotwire also accepts Paypal as payment for flights.

UPDATE: Airlines Accepting Paypal 2011

And AirTravelGenius.com accepts Paypal for purchases of the Ultimate Airfares & Upgrades Guide