Forum USA Trip 2018

[03Stormchaser]

So my plan still is to arrive the 15th, leave the 15th from CHC into Dallas the same day and leave late on the 26th. The flight back home is a shocker, 11hr lay over in Sydney!! May call Qantas when a sale is on to sort this out.

I'm happy to organise a SUV for four (Myself, Brendan (Rouge), Jamie and his mate) I guess we can chase in different vehicles if we want when were over there, see how it plays out. Happy if there is those who want to stay longer arrange there own car as well, I know Brendan has mentioned he may stay on longer

How many others are still in NZStorm, Spwill, tg, Tornado Tim, Richard, RODALCO? I know Brian said he might but unsure if he visits here anymore. I do know Mike is out.

[jamie]

I’ve caught up with Brian lots recently and he hasn’t mentioned anything about it. I’ll ask him tho. Usually chat near weekly.

[tgsnoopy]

So my plan still is to arrive the 15th, leave the 15th from CHC into Dallas the same day and leave late on the 26th.
How many others are still in NZStorm, Spwill, tg, Tornado Tim, Richard, RODALCO? I know Brian said he might but unsure if he visits here anymore.

Pretty sure Brian does not frequent the forums these days, would be good if someone was keeping him informed and giving him the opportunity to participate if he wished.

I'm definitely still interested, but have stepped back a lil for the moment, I'll start paying attention if people are starting to commit to purchasing flights etc. At least the dates seem consistent

[03Stormchaser]

Good leave approved today, so I'm def in

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[NZstorm]

l will look at it in early January.

[jamie]

Brian is considering it. I talked to him today.

[tgsnoopy]

Brian is considering it. I talked to him today.

Thanks Jamie.

[tgsnoopy]

From airline websites:

Air NZ has a Black Friday sale on. Our dates to Houston from Auckland is NZ$1292 return. Note that so far indications are from those who have tickets that we will be travelling QANTAS to Dallas Fort Worth on the A380 from Sydney.

QANTAS deal is currently NZ$1501 return.

And from House of Travels Mix and Match:

AKL DFW Nov24.jpg

[jamie]

Yea I saw that sale too. Still cant beat Quantas on arrival time and price. It is a shame AirNZ don't fly to Dallas and not Houston

[jamie]

Quantas and house of travel have 999 return to New York today. On that pricing I would think Dallas would be similar or cheaper.

[tgsnoopy]

Quantas and house of travel have 999 return to New York today. On that pricing I would think Dallas would be similar or cheaper.

I've e-mailed my agent. The deal is AKL-SYD, SYD-LAX, LAX-JFK, but the days it's available aren't that clear. If I can organise a stopover to chase in at LAX either way I'll be very interested. The deal does not include the DFW flights sadly.

15Dec17 Deal.jpg

JFK Deal.jpg

[Peter]

Since 2011, I’ve been organising storm chasing tours to the United States from New Zealand … these were started by me assembling a group of friends I’d met chasing since 2002, and running the tours on a non-profit basis, using a cost-sharing formula that would equitably share the costs. After 7 straight years with me, some of those friends have “retired” so to speak, and are heading off on other holiday experiences in 2018, which means I have spaces available for 2018. If you’re interested in taking a storm chasing tour in 2018, please contact me through www.stormgroupchasers.com – all details of the tours are there, along with past chase accounts, photos and testimonials. This is not a commercial promotion, so I hope this is acceptable to post here.

[tgsnoopy]

The New Years sale from Air NZ has started. AKL-HOU is NZ$1290 return on the dates discussed earlier (Dep Tue May 15th, Return Fri May 25th). I still await the sale from QANTAS (AKL-DFW via SYD) which is my preferred option as it improves our chase options over the HOU arrive/depart times.

[jamie]

Still need to try get to Dallas from Houston tho. I’ve searched for cheap flights there but jeez they are expensive. Prob cheaper and possibly quicker to simply hire a car and drive up.

I’m fairly certain I’ll end up quantas vi syd

[03Stormchaser]

Qantas sale yet to come out this month, from memory it hasn't been long after AirNZ sale.

[03Stormchaser]

Qantas sale yet to come out this month, from memory it hasn't been long after AirNZ sale.

$1290 to Houston isn't bad though, hoping for the same costs to Dallas

[Willoughby]

Qantas sale yet to come out this month, from memory it hasn't been long after AirNZ sale.

$1290 to Houston isn't bad though, hoping for the same costs to Dallas

That's a pretty good deal. Something is up with that Sydney to DFW flight though - much more expensive than last year on QF.

Just set some dates and came back with 2149 from Darwin...or $1693 from Sydney direct and they're both on 'sale' fares. Last year could get 1450 return DRW <-> DFW on QF.

I do know that some travel agents offer a price drop guarantee also for a small fee.

[03Stormchaser]

HOU arrival and departure times are actually really good, 1340 and 2205pm

[tgsnoopy]

HOU arrival and departure times are actually really good, 1340 and 2205pm

Yes, but the location & times are better with DFW. Still waiting for QANTAS to do it's sale.

[jamie]

This air nz sale goes until about the 19th Jan I think. So we have time for qantas to come out with a sale to match this.

[NZstorm]

Yes, avoid Houston if you can.
Not sure how much you would pay for a flight HOU to DFW but I drove hwy45 last year between the two cities and its not a nice drive.

[tgsnoopy]

I'm surprised we have not seen a promoted QANTAS New Years special on these flights AKL-SYD-DFW, just checked and they are ok at around NZ$1600, but we have seen them better than that.

[NZstorm]

I'm surprised we have not seen a promoted QANTAS New Years special on these flights AKL-SYD-DFW, just checked and they are ok at around NZ$1600, but we have seen them better than that.

I think the airlines are doing better now than a couple of years ago so the real cheap deals may not come up. Still, the Qantas $1,600 is OK and I recommend people grab if they are committed to going. I am still reviewing my plans for 2018 and there is a chance I won't go as I have other stuff happening.

[spwill]

I still have some doubts on being able to get over this year so I can't commit until a later date (at the risk of having to pay more for a flight).
$1600 Dallas return with Quantas looks a reasonably good deal.

[03Stormchaser]

Doubts overy trip atm, have to do different dates and a shorter trip I'm thinking sadly