$613 Find Cheap Flights from San Diego to New Zealand - Compare and Save

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Cheap Flights from San Diego to New Zealand

Cheapest round-trip prices found by our users on KAYAK in the last 5 days
Auckland
Auckland1 stop$1,094
Christchurch
Christchurch3 stops$1,303
Queenstown
Queenstown2 stops$1,311
Wellington
Wellington2 stops$1,396
Auckland
Auckland1 stop$1,094
Christchurch
Christchurch3 stops$1,303
Queenstown
Queenstown2 stops$1,311
Wellington
Wellington2 stops$1,396
Booking Insights

Price, demand and travel trends for San Diego to New Zealand flights

Use KAYAK data on prices, travel dates, airlines and seasonal trends to compare options and book flights with more confidence.

Are flights from San Diego to New Zealand cheaper or more expensive than last year?

Fares from San Diego to New Zealand are running about 18% lower than they were around this time last year, averaging $1,184 round-trip.

What are the cheapest fares from San Diego to New Zealand right now?

Here are the cheapest round-trip fares from San Diego to New Zealand on KAYAK in the last week:

• Auckland Intl (AKL) from $1,094
• Christchurch (CHC) from $1,303
• Queenstown Intl (ZQN) from $1,311
• Wellington (WLG) from $1,396
• Napier Hawkes Bay (NPE) from $2,493

What’s the cheapest month to fly from San Diego to New Zealand?

January is the cheapest time of year to fly, with average fares of $865. Prices are highest in October, when average flight costs increase to around $1,773.

Which airport in New Zealand is the cheapest to fly to from San Diego?

Based on KAYAK data from the past 12 months, the cheapest airports to fly into New Zealand are:

• Queenstown Intl (ZQN) (avg. price $1,201)
• Auckland Intl (AKL) (avg. price $1,261)
• Wellington (WLG) (avg. price $1,552)

What’s the cheapest day to fly from San Diego to New Zealand?

Monday tends to be the cheapest day to fly from San Diego to New Zealand, while Sunday is the most expensive. Fares run about 35% higher that day, based on the past 12 months of KAYAK data.

What's the cheapest time of day to fly from San Diego to New Zealand?

Data from the past 12 months shows it's cheapest to fly to New Zealand during the afternoon with average prices of $1,201. The morning is the most expensive time to fly, with average prices of $1,764.

Key details for San Diego to New Zealand flights

Low season

May

Cheapest flight

$613
Beat the crowds with an average 22% drop in travelers.
The most popular month to fly with an average 29% increase in travelers.
One-way flight from San Diego to Auckland

Your San Diego to New Zealand flight questions, answered

Find helpful answers about this route, including flight times, airports, airlines and booking tips.

  • Is now a good time to book a flight from San Diego to New Zealand?

    Fares from San Diego to New Zealand are around their usual level right now. A round-trip under $1,031 is considered a good deal, so it's worth keeping an eye out, or setting a Price Alert to catch price changes.

  • How much should I budget for a flight from San Diego to New Zealand?

    Over the past 12 months, round-trip fares from San Diego to New Zealand have ranged from $1,031 to $1,724.

  • What are the main airports serving New Zealand?

    New Zealand has 31 airports. The three busiest are Auckland Intl (AKL) (77% of arrivals), Christchurch (CHC) (10%) and Wellington (WLG) (7%).

  • What airlines fly nonstop from San Diego to New Zealand?

    Based on the flight schedule for the next 3 months, no airline regularly operates nonstop flights from San Diego to New Zealand. One-stop options include United Airlines and Air Canada.

  • Which cabin classes are available on flights from San Diego to New Zealand?

    On flights from San Diego to New Zealand you can book Economy Class, Premium Economy Class, Business Class or First Class.

  • What are some popular landmarks in New Zealand?

    KAYAK travelers' favorite landmarks in New Zealand include:

    • Sparks Arena
    • New Zealand Maritime Museum
    • Skycity Auckland
    • Sky Tower

  • Which airport in New Zealand has on-site hotels?

    Wellington Airport has two on-site hotels at Wellington Airport where passengers can check-in. There are Rydges Wellington Airport in the International Arrivals connected to the terminal providing complimentary shuttle services to the city centers of Wellington if you land at the airport late in the night and Airport Motor Lodge located about a 6-minute walk to the terminal.

  • Which financial services are available at AKL airport?

    AKL airport offers currency exchange services essential to international travelers. Travelex offers Travelex Money Transfer and Money Exchange services at the International Terminal. Travelex services also include Travelex TravelCard purchase that helps you save travel money. All major currencies are available from Travelex in the domestic and international terminals.

  • Are there passenger-accessible parking facilities at SAN airport?

    Yes. SAN airport offers various ample parking spaces to its travelers. Short-term parking services are offered in Terminal 1 and 2 parking lots connected to the terminals by covered walkways. If you need long-term parking use the parking lot on Harbor Drive and Winship Lane.

  • Does SAN airport offer pet-friendly facilities?

    Yes. SAN airport provides pet-friendly facilities for traveling animals. There is a fenced and grassy outdoor pet relief area outside Terminal 1 where you can take your furry friend to run, have fun, and hydrate while waiting for the flight. Other pet relief areas are on the West side concourse, near gate 47 where pets can relieve themselves.

Your guide to booking San Diego to New Zealand flights

Get tips on when to book, when to fly and what to know before your trip.
  • If your travel dates are flexible, book your trip for January when flights are typically cheapest and avoid October when prices are at their highest.
  • Flying on Monday is usually the cheapest. Flights on Sunday cost about 35% more on average, so being flexible with your travel dates could help you save.
  • If you're looking to save, Queenstown Intl (ZQN) is the cheapest airport to fly into from San Diego. If you have onward travel, don't forget to factor in the cost of your journey by train, bus or domestic flight.
  • Start your trip in Auckland, which is the most popular destination in New Zealand. From there, it's easy to continue on to other popular destinations such as Queenstown, Christchurch and Rotorua.
  • San Diego International Airport is an ideal option for disabled travelers because it has improved accessibility to cater to travelers with special needs. Accessible toilets, lifts, and change rooms are located throughout the airport. TDD telephones for deaf travelers and mobility carts are also available. Park and ride services are provided for disabled travelers, making it easier to get to the terminal.
  • SAN airport has public art programs for life-enriching art experiences. Before boarding, check out the public artworks displayed in the airport terminal and gate areas. Temporary exhibitions and major artworks are also displayed to its passengers as a part of its Terminal 1, 2, and 3 buildings. You can also enjoy performing arts offered in the terminals while waiting for your flight.
  • Auckland International Airport (AKL) is one of New Zealand's airports with VIP Lounges designated for use by corporate travelers. The international terminal hosts Air New Zealand International Lounge, Qantas International Lounge, Strata Lounge and Emirates Lounge offering food, refreshments, computers, fax, printers, newspapers, magazines, TV, and showers to business class passengers.
  • Family travelers will be glad to land at Wellington Airport (WLG) as it provides family facilities. It has a family-friendly parent's room on Level 1 with children's high chairs. The mothers' room in the main terminal is equipped with a sink, comfortable seating, and a cupboard with a baby changing unit are also available. You will also find baby changing tables in the international arrivals.
  • Christchurch Airport (CHC) in New Zealand offers various ground transportation options to its arriving travelers. There are taxi services outside the International Arrivals Hall with Corporate Cabs, Blue Star Taxis, Gold Band Taxis, and First Direct Taxis as the official operators. Group travelers who want to get to the city center should consider Metro Bus. Car hire services are offered next to the baggage reclaim area in the International Arrivals Hall.

Reviews of the top 3 airlines serving from San Diego to New Zealand

 
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from San Diego to New Zealand? KAYAK airline reviews give an overall score for each airline based on loads of factors, including comfort, boarding, in-flight entertainment and more, to make your decision easier. See airline scores according to verified KAYAK customer reviews.
8.0
Air New ZealandOverall score based on 681 reviews
7.9Comfort
8.5Crew
7.5Food
7.5Entertainment
8.2Boarding
Airline reviews

Great airline service by the staff. I highly recommend it

10.0 ExcellentManish, Apr 2026
Read more Air New Zealand reviews

Great airline service by the staff. I highly recommend it

This flight was the second leg of a trip that began in Auckland, New Zealand. I was unable to find a way to select seats in advance. The boarding passes we were given in Auckland did not have seat assignments for the second flight. There was no way to check on it until personnel showed up at the gate in Los Angeles, immediately before boarding time. The flight was overbooked by one, and since I was traveling with my sister, we needed two seats. We waited in considerable anxiety for everyone else to board and when one person did not show up, we had to take whatever was left. At least we finally got on the flight although we were the very last to board. We were not able to sit together, of course.

The food was not as good as Air New Zealand. The veg pasta was pass-able but the veg cibotta sandwich was dry, hard and not up to par. The coach staff were attentive and accommodating.

Overall the plane was good and the crew great. The big disappointment was the skycouch. Maybe it would be good if you were a parent with 2 small kids travelling but as a couple it's hopeless. It's impossible for 2 adults to lie down so one ends up sitting. We split our time with one lying and the other sitting. We both got more sleep sitting upright. We will never book one again and don't recommend it to anyone.

Not entirely positive. It’s frustrating that everything is done through the united app. One of our flight attendants on our trip from San Francisco to MSP continually had trouble hearing people so she flipped her hair into people’s faces

Our original flight was cancelled from SFO to AKL on 6/16/25. So we had to stay overnight at a hotel after a 12-hour layover plus 3-hour delay before the cancellation. Then had to fly to LA and then to AKL the following day losing an entire day of our vacation in NZ, that we can never get back.

Everything very good except the sofa couch not as comfortable as expected.

New Zealand crew were attentive. We were not informed that we needed transit document to pass through New Zealand. A checkin employee helped with this for which we were thankful.

There was a snafu with confirming seats at check which left us in limbo for the second leg of our trip. I believe the ANZ app is not well integrated with the systems at the terminal resulting in this disconcerting error.

The only thing that was less than excellent was the food server at dinner. (I had the chicken.) It wasn't that it was poorly heated or in difficult-to-open containers; it was just that it had a very peculiar taste. And I use that to describe not just the main course but the dessert as well. Very odd flavours for what seemed to be a mainstream item. I did like that the airline offered us a free glass of wine. The breakfast omelette wasn't bad, although it was quite bland.

The only issue is that the plane was HOT. This was not the case on my first flight so not sure why, but thankfully I had a portable fan with me. Everything else was great!

Seats were old and very uncomfortable. Coach seating is way too tight

Flight was delayed at airport with large backlog and WiFi was spotty

Flight was delayed from San Diego due to being overweight for weather conditions. We missed our connecting flight to our final destination due to the delay, as well as the connecting flight leaving before the scheduled departure time. We missed the connection within 10 - 15 minutes. We were booked on a later flight arriving 7 hours later. There were 7 passengers sharing the same originating and connecting flight.

Horrible, mismanaged ground issue resulting in a long delayed, next flight left early, waiting extra 7 hours in the airport, screen did not work

The internet on these planes stinks. Need to get starlink

Very good flight. Crew was great. No issues and we even arrived early.

Loved the crew! Sucks that we went from 1 hour and 8 minute layover to a 3 hour layover. But weather sucks like that.

Delayed flight (1hour) plus a long layover after an overnight flight with no backup plane available.

Crew was excellent. Comfort seats not as nice as other kinds of planes.

Entertainment was great. Seats were good. They did not have my pre-ordered hot food product available but did comp me something cold in place of the item.

Food was good. Clean aircraft. But why do the airlines make the seats so narrow?! Your executives should have ride in a seat so restrictive for 11 hours and see how miserable it is! When.we got to MUC they changed my boarding gate 3 times for my next flight!!!!

Flight was on time, clean, etc. Despite connecting to your wi fi I was unable to use your app to watch entertainment.

The back to back mechanical delays from Denver to San Diego and then on my return flight from Denver to Great Falls it added extra time both ways

Service was professional and quick. Premium economy seat was comfortable given the class

The staff was extremely helpful and friendly at all times! They went above and beyond to get us into an earlier flight in San Diego to make our connection in SFO possible, because our original flight did actually not make it! I did so much appreciate the UA team and how they made this possible. We also didn’t have seats together on the long flight to Singapore, but they found us seats together last moment with no additional cost! Nobody sat next to us, so that we were able to sleep! Thanks to UA for improving their service and Underpricer for booking this trip! Please be careful: 1,5 hrs for transfer in San Francisco might not be enough time in the future

Over 2.5 hour maintenance delay on first morning flight with no acknowledgement, compensation or even gesture of good will. Aircraft had overnighted at airport so issue should have been addressed prior to boarding. Over 3.5 hours before first slow and deliberate beverage service.

Complimentary light meal would be appreciated. But great flight crew service on all legs

The food was terrible this time. Otherwise pleasant, quiet, on-time.

I was in first class. The outlets at my seat did not work. The plane was shabby and run down. I had prepurchsed a day subscription for internet that was not redeemable. I had to repurchase the internet for my flight and then it didn’t work anyway. Quite disappointed in what was supposed to be the launch of a great vacation.

More options for your flight from San Diego to New Zealand

Complete your trip to New Zealand with a hotel stay or car rental