Air New Zealand Cheap Flights to Auckland

We didn’t think flights to New Zealand could get any lower, but Air New Zealand has reduced their flight prices for travel in 2010.

The previous $838 round-trip fare (exclusive of taxes and fees) has dropped to $798 round-trip. Departures are only available from the West Coast – San Francisco and Los Angeles – with a destination of Auckland. For an additional $100, travelers can continue on to Wellington, Christchurch or Queenstown. The price is good for travel between May 1 and June 8, 2010, when you book by Nov. 18. 

Cheapflights.com hint: Don’t forget, the seasons are reversed, so it will be fall during the valid travel dates.

Qantas Vacations Offers Cheap Flights to Fiji and Four Nights at the Sofitel

Some deals are just too good to pass up, and this may be one of them. Qantas Vacations is offering cheap flights to Fiji and stellar hotel deal once you get there.

With more than 300 islands in this sun-drenched archipelago, you can’t go wrong when you book a flight to Fiji. From stunning hills to mysterious volcanic craters, mountain villages, and Hindu temples, Fiji is so much more than just a picturesque coastline.

When you book with Qantas Vacations by this Saturday, Oct. 31, you get flights to Fiji  (from Los Angeles)  for $365 each-way on Air Pacific. Travel by March 31, 2010.

Discount Airfare: LAN Airlines Cheap Flights to South America

We’ve been paying a lot of attention to LAN Airlines lately because of their cheap flights to South America and the Caribbean. This time, Miami travelers are reaping the benefits of cheap flights.

The airline has discounted fares to Punta Cana, Buenos Aires and other destinations when you depart from Miami. Traveling and book-by dates vary by city, so it’s a good idea to check the fine print for your specific destination.

We searched for a flight between Miami and Punta Cana for mid-November travel. With taxes, the total round-trip flight is $338. In a wider search, the cheapest flight we found was $426 roundtrip on American Airlines.

Ryanair to Charge $64 to Check-in at Airport

Leave it to Ryanair to cause a stir in the travel industry. Ryanair customers who don't check-in online will be forced to pay a check-in fee of £40 each way – about $64 – to check-in at the airport.

The "emergency check-in fee" will be a mandatory cost to travelers. Don't pay, don't board.

What we found most interesting about this fee is that in most cases, it's more expensive than the flight itself. There's good reason, though, according to the London Telegraph: "the high fee is designed to encourage people to remember, and not to be hit again. Technically the fee is to cover reissuing the ticket," said a Ryanair spokesperson.

The Daily Mail of London reported "Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary said the measures would save him £50million a year. The low-cost airline has been building up to the deadline as from May 1 all new bookings have had to be made on the internet -- with a 'web check-in fee' of £5 applied to all but promotional or special offer flights."

These latest fees are, of course, creating chaos among travelers on Ryanair who either can't access the Internet, or are having problems logging on before their flights.

What do you think? Is this a bad customer service move from the airline, or is Ryanair just trying to add a little convenience to the travel process by asking travelers to avoid the check-in counters?

© Cheapflights Ltd

Air France New York-Paris 'Premium Voyageur' Seats for $591

Air France is giving travelers 40 percent more space in their economy class. Intrigued? We were, too.

The airline has announced their Premium Voyageur seating, which offers 40 percent more room than regular economy seating and is located between the economy and business classes.  Right now, the offer is only available on flights between New York City and Paris and begins on Oct. 25.

The current price of $591 each way (exclusive of taxes) is good through Dec. 19 and again between Dec. 25 and March 31, 2010. We tried booking a Premium Voyageur seat and found plenty of availability through the next few months. The total price, with taxes and fees included, was $1,302.

Airline News: Spirit Airlines Fined $375,000 for Consumer Complaints

Spirit Airlines was fined $375,000 for consumer complaints involving overbooked flights, lost baggage and falsely advertised fares. Spirit Airlines agreed to pay $215,000, the largest-ever paid fine derived from airline consumer complaints, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The low-cost carrier is known for its $9 deals and one-way fare specials, but when it comes to customer service, the airline has a lot to consider.  After a slew of complaints, the U.S. Department of Transportation took action as part of a consumer protection initiative and fined the airline for poor airline customer service.

"Selling fares for $9 has made us very popular, and a few years ago when we adopted this model, we had some growing pains during the transition. We have addressed all the core issues that caused customer experience challenges a few years ago, including upgrading our computer systems and utilizing a new reservations partner. We want to thank the government, our partners and our employees for helping us create a great customer experience and low fares for consumers," said a Spirit spokesperson in a statement provided to FOX news.

© Cheapflights Ltd

Discount Airfare to Ireland: Fall Flights to Dublin, Shannon from $199

After a few trips across the pond this year, Ireland has become one of our favorite destinations: the culture, the people, the landscapes, the pubs... Ireland has it all, and for a very affordable price.

Thanks to Aer Lingus' new fall sale, you can explore the Cliffs of Moher, the Dingle Peninsula, Stephen's Green and the Killarney pubs for as low as $199 one-way from Boston, New York or Chicago.

The one-way fares are based on round-trip purchase for travel Monday through Thursday, Nov. 1, 2009 - March 31, 2010. Weekend flights are available for a slightly higher price.

Airline News: American, BA, Qantas Eye Joint Offer to JAL

American Airlines announced it will team up with British Airways and Qantas Airways to offer Japan Airlines (JAL) additional cash and capital, in an effort to sav the struggling airline. Sources said the joint offer aims to outbid a rival offer from Delta Air Lines.

JAL is hearing proposals from both sides. The two sides are hoping to capture JAL's market and gain access to Asia routes, which would mean major expansions for international flights on the winning airline.

Why the competition? The alliance makes all the difference. American Airlines is part of Oneworld, which is associated with British Airways and Qantas, while Delta Air Lines is part of the SkyTeam alliance. If JAL accepts Delta's bid, the SkyTeam alliance will have its first major Japanese carrier.

© Cheapflights Ltd

Discount Airfare: Mexicana Airlines Mexico Flights from $200 RT

Mexicana Airlines latest fare sale will require you to make one decision: Head to the beach or the city. One thing you won’t have to decide on is how good the fares are, which start at $200 round-trip.

The sale includes flights to some of Mexico’s best destinations, such as Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara. All you need to do is decide whether you want the sand between your toes or the rush of a city. The fares are good for travel through Dec. 10 (with black-out dates around Thanksgiving) when you book by Sept. 20.

Note: Departures are limited --flights are available from Orlando, Dallas, Denver, Las Vegas and San Antonio. In a quick search, we found travel between Denver and Puerto Vallarta was cheapest every day except Monday and Tuesday. However, in a search from San Antonio to Monterrey, the $230 fare was available during the entire month of October.

Airline News: Porter Airlines Arrives at Boston Logan Airport

There's a new airline in town, and this one will help transport New Englanders into the Great White North.

Porter Airlines, regional passenger airline headquartered at Toronto City Centre Airport, will fly three daily roundtrip flights between Boston and Toronto. Travelers will be able to reach connecting Porter flights from Toronto to Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City and Thunder Bay.

The flight will be a welcome treat for many travelers. Porter Airlines offers complimentary in-flight wine, beer and premium snacks on all flights. The Bombardier Q400 fleet, which will fly the Boston-Toronto route, seats up to 75 people.