There are many options for flying from Toronto (YYZ) to Auckland, NZ (AKL). At the time we are going, airfare varies substantially from about $1400 pp up to the stratosphere. (All prices CAD). Variables are of course, duration, number of connections, class, options, and airline. The $1400 option would take about 40 hours and two layovers. The options with the shortest layovers might cause us to miss our connection. For example, the outbound route offered through Chicago (ORD) allowed only 2 hours for the connection. While we do clear US customs before leaving YYZ, the size of ORD and the possibility of flight delays during winter travel could cost us to miss the plane to NZ. Other connections were offered via Vancouver (YVR), San Francisco (SFO), Houston and Los Angeles (LAX). United Emirates offered to take us via Dubai but the 50+ hour journey seemed too long even if we did have a layover in Dubai of almost 24 hours.

I reviewed options on Expedia, Trip Advisor, Red Tag, and Google in addition to Air Canada, United Airlines, and Air New Zealand. Sometimes the airline sites offered cheaper flights than the other vendors and often, the routes were different too. There were certainly lots of choices. Without considering seat selection, flying United from YYZ to AKL via SFO looked the best.

The journey across the Pacific is over 14 hours as was our 2017 flight to China via Taiwan. For that flight, we booked premium economy as the price difference wasn’t huge. That gave us more space and easier bathroom access (21 seats and 2 toilets for the section). Seat space is important as I’m 1.86m tall. I’ve been very uncomfortable on some flights and once even had to ask the person in front of me to not recline her seat so I didn’t have to fold my legs in three. Unfortunately, premium economy is almost three times the cost for this flight and was therefore out of the question. In the economy section, Air New Zealand offers Sky Couch for the long haul flight. That option, at additional cost of course, provides 3 seats for 2 passengers. The foot rest rises on the 3 chairs, creating a couch across which to sprawl and grab some pseudo-sleep. The only way I could see to book it was through the Air New Zealand website so that’s what I did. Connections were offered via ORD or LAX outbound and via YVR on the return trip. Both ORD and LAX are huge but LAX offered a longer layover and we could avoid running between flights. (We did miss a connection a few years ago and spent Christmas Eve in Houston instead of Cozumel, Mexico. We then needed to wake up about 3:00 AM on Christmas morning to catch a two-legged flight instead of sleeping in and then enjoying a special breakfast at a resort. That taught us to always watch the layover time. Fifty minutes isn’t enough, especially when you accidentally take one step out of the secure area - they don’t let you just turn around and re-enter without going through security again!) For Sky Couch, the total additional cost for the 2 of us through ORD was $699 and via LAX was $549. It was also $699 for the return to YVR.

We booked with Air New Zealand and will have Sky Couch for the longest legs. Outbound transit is through LAX and return via YVR. We will fly on an Air Canada A320 then Air New Zealand 777 and return on an NZ 787and then an AC 787.

We will likely overnight in Toronto before and after our flights due to the unpredictable weather in our area. Park4U is a good option for the car as they drop us off and pick us up in our own car and they will clean off any snow that accumulates on it while we are away. Alternatively, we may just leave the car at the hotel. Hopefully we will be able to park it inside this time.

More decisions to come. Life is an adventure.