Showing 11 Virgin Atlantic Airways Flights from Auckland - Starting at Just ₹61,012

  About Auckland

New Zealand's most populous city, Auckland, is known to be one of the best cities to visit for a cheap winter vacation. Auckland is a cosmopolitan city that houses multitudes of races and cultures. Not to mention how it is also the abode to the largest Polynesian population in the globe. The city was once a British colony and hence, continues to have some Victorian influence in their lifestyle as well as architecture. The city is known to be one of the most overpriced cities in the world. Yet, thanks to the humble crowd and beautiful landscapes, it easily becomes one of the best places to settle in. The city is vibrant with music and food festivals that take place in spring and autumn, respectively.

Booking flight tickets to Auckland well in advance would be favourable for you. Since the city will be an expensive rendezvous, by striking good flight deals to Auckland, you will be able to enjoy the city's spirit. Not to mention, booking hotels in Auckland much before the date of arrival is also essential. That way, you might be able to get some cheap deals on accommodation as well.

Best time to visit Auckland

The start of autumn in Auckland are pleasant with the temperatures ranging between 10 degree Celsius to 22 degree Celsius which makes it ideal for tourists to engage in outdoor activities. It is easily the best time to indulge in adventure sports such as zip-lining, hiking and exploring the city's green expanses. The months from March to May, which is basically the autumn season, witnesses the most charming weather. Aside from indulging in outdoor activities, travellers mostly root for various festivals that are held around the city. The months are ideal for budget-travellers. In fact, booking a hotel in Auckland during this season is also quite affordable. Patrons of art and culture festivals would have the time of their life during their visit to Auckland in autumn, courtesy all the festive vibe of the place.

September to November is also known to be ideal for a trip to Auckland. These months experience spring season with the cold winters melting away to welcome the summers. Spring is basically the onset of summer and touted to be one of the best seasons for Auckland. Interestingly, since it prepares the city for summers, the weather is charming and the vibe friendly. Although the temperatures are normally on the lower side of the thermometer, you will still enjoy the cold breeze and the occasional showers. During spring, the locals unite to ring in a food festival where there are dozens of delicious dishes that are Auckland-special.

Not only will you experience astounding flavours mixing together but will also enjoy the festive mood that takes over. Flights to Auckland during this time see a tremendous spike as it is the best time to travel. In fact, months from September to February are ideal for travellers who arrive from tropical cities. The summers would also feel like winter. Booking hotel rooms in Auckland during the spring or even summer season would be quite pricey. Unless you have some good saved up miles or savings in general, travelling here during peak season would burn a hole in your pocket.

Summers are perfect in Auckland as the sun is bright while the atmosphere is cool. People traversing from countries with hot climates would find the summers amiable and cool enough. However, summers also bring a plethora of adventure junkies and abundant tourists. No wonder the accommodation prices in Auckland during these months spike up. But if you manage to place in advance, you might be able to snag some cheap flight deals to Auckland and on hotel room prices.

Places to visit in Auckland

One of the biggest attractions in New Zealand has got to be the Waitomo Glowworm Caves. It is a natural wonder located a little away from Auckland but hosts illuminating glowworms that rest easy on the cave ceiling of Waitomo. The exquisite blue lights that they illuminate is scintillating. You can use either a kayak in the cave, or you can book a boat ride to visit the caves. The Auckland Zoo is located approximately 6 km away from the main city. The huge animal sanctuary is sprawled across a vast expanse of green lands which is known to host the largest population of exotic as well as native animals in all of New Zealand.

Many people are not well aware of the history and culture of New Zealand. Having been down under, the country is still a fresh new chapter that needs to be explored for many enthusiasts. With a view to educating tourists about the Maori people and their illustrious history, the city maintains an Auckland War Memorial Museum. The museum sheds light on the militia history of the country as well as venerates the martyrs. Auckland's fame majorly comes from two tourist attractions, the Hobbiton movie set and Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Although the movie set is located about 177 km away from the main city, the set is a must-visit for all The Lord Of the Rings and The Hobbit movie franchise fans. The lush green spread is too beautiful for words, as is the movie-set experience. Another top attraction of Auckland is the famed Mount Eden, known for its dormant volcano.

Things to do in Auckland

Much like the famous Central Park in New York, the Cornwall Park of Auckland holds the same stature in the country. The park literally sits on a volcanic cone with extensive greenery and dense forests. As you walk around the park, you will find relics of the Maori fort and even the remains of the park's donor, Sir John Logan Campbell. The Waitakere Ranges Regional Park beckons travel and adventure junkies who simply want to unwind by taking up some fun activity. The regional park is sprawled across 40,000 acres of beaches and forests, making it quite an attractive site. The place also accommodates bird-watching, hiking, strolling, biking and taking a swim in the water. Just a day here would put you in a comfortable space. Be it the foodie in you or the adventure seeker, Waiheke island is the ideal spot for you if the water is what you seek.

Devonport is an important harbour in the suburbs of Auckland. The port offers a stunning view of the city and is perfect for photography. You can carry your cameras with you and start clicking away postcard-worthy memories. Aside from all the photography, you can also take a stroll around the harbour and relish the lovely colonial architecture as well as amazing wine and dine options. When in Auckland, you should definitely indulge in some wine tasting and tours of the vineyard. The idea of meeting new people during the wine tour while you sip on exquisite wine sure sounds like a good plan, right? Plus, the vast expanses of the vineyard would undoubtedly intrigue you.

Food and restaurants in Auckland

Auckland's cuisine is all about fresh kiwi and appetising seafood. Some of the signature dishes include hokey pokey, Pavlova, bluff oysters, green-lipped mussels and the all-time favourite, fish and chips. To get the best of these dishes though, here are some restaurants that you should check out during your trip to Auckland. One Tree Grill restaurant and Kazuya Restaurant appeal to a few travellers who are all about experimenting. Whereas the other famous kitchens include Ela Cuisine, Azabu, Best Ugly Bagels, The Sugar Club, Depot Eatery and Oster Bar.

How to reach Auckland

By Air

Auckland Airport is one of the busiest airports in New Zealand. The airport has domestic as well as international flights flying to and from Auckland. Dedicated international flights to Auckland are not present from India yet. You will have to take multitudes of connecting flights to reach the city in New Zealand. There are international routes connecting Auckland to India via cities such as Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai. Airlines such as Thai Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Singapore Airlines are known to have frequent flights to Auckland from India. However, they are not directly connected so you will probably have to change flights from Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, depending on which airlines or international route to Auckland you pick.

Singapore Airlines' flights to Auckland from Mumbai are recognised as the fastest route as it takes roughly 16 hours to reach. Meanwhile, cities such as Delhi and Chennai see slight differences in the flight duration. Flight connectivity to Auckland is quite decent from India and favourable to travellers as there are options of airlines to choose from. Flight tickets to Auckland vary depending on the city you choose to travel from.

By Water

Travelling across continents and covering oceans in the process is not a viable option to reach Auckland from India. The international route to Auckland from India via water would take approximately 30 to 35 days. Unless you're going on an expedition where you boycott flying and opt to use cheaper and time-consuming modes of transport, cruises work for you. Even then, the connectivity to Auckland from India is not available via sea. Flights to Auckland from India are your best bet. Plus, depending on the season you choose or how you make use of your miles, you might be able to acquire great flight deals to Auckland. Perhaps even cheap and affordable tickets to Auckland? Travelling by air is comparatively safer and quicker, so look no further.

  About Virgin Atlantic

Virgin Atlantic which follows a trading name of Virgin Atlantic Airways Limited and Virgin Atlantic International Limited, is a British-owned airline that has its headquarters in Crawley, England. The airline was founded in 1984 under the name British Atlantic Airways, by Randolph Fields and Alan Hellary with flight connectivity between London and the Falkland Islands. However, the name was changed to Virgin Atlantic Airways as Fields sold his shares in the company. A disagreement between Fields and Sir Richard Branson regarding the management of the company resulted in Fields walking out of the airline. In the same year since its establishment, the airline had its first flight from Gatwick Airport in London to Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. Virgin Atlantic is owned and operated under the holding company Virgin Atlantic Limited. The same holding company also controls Virgin Holidays. The holding company has 51 percent ownership of the Virgin Group while the remaining 49 per cent is owned by Delta Air Lines, a major airline of the United States of America.

Virgin Atlantic Airways Limited and Virgin Atlantic International Limited have both received the Civil Aviation Authority Type A Operating Licenses. The said licence permits both the airlines to accommodate passengers, cargo and mail on aircraft that comprises 20 seats or more. Virgin Atlantic's fleet is mixed with wide-body aircraft of Airbus and Boeing. The airline majorly has its operations in North American, Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and the Middle East. Its main base is at London-Heathrow Airport while its secondary hub is at Manchester in the United Kingdom. Virgin Atlantic also has seasonal flight operations from Glasgow and Belfast. The airline consists of three types of cabin, namely Economy, Premium (premium economy) and Upper Class (business class). In 2017, Virgin Atlantic expressed its intention to form a joint venture with Europe's Air France - KLM. However, in 2019, it was announced that the venture would not involve a stake in the British airline. Virgin Atlantic has witnessed tremendous losses over the years and has had to cut down operations to various international destinations, owing to the growing debts and losses.

In 2019, as part of its expansion plans, Virgin Atlantic announced that it had plans to go all out and hopefully create a second flag carrier in the United Kingdom, provided slot reforms were being considered in the airline's favour at the Heathrow Airport. With this, the airline planned to serve about 103 destinations in total with many domestic routes and international routes. They wished to add about 84 new destinations to their list of services, of which 12 catered to the domestic route while 37 are European and the remaining 35 being international routes. The 35 international destinations in Virgin Atlantic's list include Austin, Buenos Aires, Addis Ababa, Karachi, Tokyo, Cape Town, Beijing, Singapore, Bogota, Mexico City and Sydney. While the airline has already functioned in international routes catering to Cape Town, Vancouver, Sydney, Karachi and Tokyo, the remaining long-haul destinations that the airline plans to add would be completely new for them. It was reported that Flybe, UK's largest low-cost carrier regional airline, was supposed to join hands with Virgin Atlantic. However, the plans fell through as Flybe ceased operations in 2020.

Fleet size of Virgin Atlantic

As of 2020, Virgin Atlantic's fleet size stands at 35 aircraft. 22 aircraft are expected to join the fleet. The fleet comprises 17 Boeing 787-9s, 10 Airbus A330-300s and four Airbus A330-200 and Airbus A350-1000s respectively. All the aircraft operated by Virgin Atlantic are wide-body type. The airline accommodates a mixed fleet that comprises Airbus and Boeing wide-body aircraft. The Airbus A330-200s of the airline operate from London's Gatwick International Airport as well as Manchester Airport and connect to international routes of the United States and the Caribbean. There are seasonal routes connecting to Orlando International Airport in Florida, which is offered from Glasgow and Belfast International Airport. Much recently, the airline retired its Boeing 747s which catered to the seasonal flight operations to Florida. Virgin Atlantic's aircraft Airbus A330-300s, A350-1000s and Boeing 787-9s are used interchangeably on routes that fly from London's Heathrow Airport. In 2002, the airline became the first in the world to operate the Airbus A340-600.

Virgin Atlantic was supposed to add six Airbus A380-800s to its fleet, which they had ordered for in 2001. However, the order had to be cancelled for good. Instead, in 2019, at the Paris Air Show, the airline signed a deal to accommodate 20 Airbus A330-900neos to its fleet. With this move, the airline became the first United Kingdom customer for the aircraft. The airline does plan to replace its older Airbus A330-200s and -300s from the fleet with deliveries of newer models that will be joining the fleet between 2021 to 2024. Much recently, the airline retired its long-running A340-600 with its last service taking place between Lagos to London Heathrow. Simultaneously, the airline has also retired seven of its Boeing 747-400 aircraft from the fleet.

Baggage Allowance

Baggage allowance on Virgin Atlantic depends on the destination the passenger is travelling to and from as well as the ticket type. Economy class tickets allow one checked bag which should not weigh more than 23 kg and should be within the dimension of 90 x 75 x 43cm. Premium cabin class tickets' baggage allowance on Virgin Atlantic enables two pieces of baggage which cannot exceed 23 kg and should be within the dimension as mentioned in the economy class. The Upper class or business class tickets have a baggage allowance of up to three pieces of bags that should not weigh more than 32 kg. The dimensions of all the baggage should be 90 x 75 x 43cm and not more than the stated measurement. Interestingly, the airline recently made some changes to its baggage allowance policy for passengers travelling to and from Indian cities such as Mumbai and Delhi. They have allowed a free bag allowance which means passengers can carry two bags weighing 32 kg each for Upper Class. However, two pieces of bags are allowed for passengers travelling from premium class with a weight allocation of 23 kg. As for the economy class tickets, the airline has enabled two pieces of bags allowed with a weight permit of not more than 23 kg. These new rules are as opposed to the earlier ones which allowed more baggage allocation by Virgin Atlantic.

In-flight services

In-flight services experienced on Virgin Atlantic are quite exceptional. The airline brings forth some of the best seating accommodation. They have enhanced the seats with better leather and equipment such as a personal lamp, entertainment system, better overhead bin space and seats that recline with better legroom too. Depending on the cabin class chosen by the passenger, the facilities do change. However, the comfort measure remains constant in all the cabins. Virgin Atlantic's in-flight services also include in-flight meals which are inspired by global cuisine.

Popular routes and top cities for Virgin Atlantic

Virgin Atlantic caters to a handful of domestic routes and international routes. In fact, in terms of domestic routes, the airline doesn't have a strong game as it only caters to London and Manchester. Barring these two hubs, the airline doesn't have any destination flying within the United Kingdom. As for international routes, it is well-connected with North America and parts of Asian destinations. The airline doesn't have a magnanimous presence in a lot of destinations internationally. They have also terminated services with a slew of cities owing to the loss-making management structure. As of 2020, the airline caters to cities such as Antigua, Shanghai, Havana, Hong Kong, Mumbai, Delhi, Tel Aviv, Lagos, Johannesburg, Tobago, London, Belfast, Manchester, Atlanta, Boston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, Orlando, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington DC. While the airline did have hopes to acquire more recognition and presence in the domestic market by tying up with Flybe, the deal didn't take off, and neither did Virgin Atlantic's plans to make a bigger UK reach.

Why travel by Virgin Atlantic?

Virgin Atlantic has been facing significant losses and important issues over the years. However, the airline is known and recognised for offering quality service and hospitality. Virgin Atlantic has grown into a favourable airline for passengers who wish to travel to destinations in the United States of America from London and the United Kingdom. The airline has also worked on improving much of its in-flight services and facilities that further enhance the experience of travellers. On the airline's official website, they have enabled booking a Virgin Atlantic flight without any conundrums. Following the same, the airline has also made web check-ins possible with up to date details concerning the flight status of the passengers. Virgin Atlantic's flight schedules are also added on the website along with constant updates. These facilities actually help passengers make the airline a viable option. Virgin Atlantic's flyer clubs also have some of the best amenities in the airport lounge as well as while booking the flight tickets.