Air New Zealand Air Points - Business in Air New Zealand vs Air Canada

In your opinion, are the long-haul trans-pacific flights from AC in Executive First Service better than the Business Premier service in Air New Zealand? How do their respective lounges compare?

In your opinion, are the long-haul trans-pacific flights from AC in Executive First Service better than the Business Premier service in Air New Zealand? How do their respective lounges compare?

It's about 4 years since I flew AC First (Vancouver - Kansai), but, based on then AirNZ is far better. I don't know which airport you'll be departing from, but in Vancouver AirNZ uses the AC lounge anyway.

In your opinion, are the long-haul trans-pacific flights from AC in Executive First Service better than the Business Premier service in Air New Zealand? How do their respective lounges compare?

I find the AC seat not as comfortable for sleeping as it has ridges where as the AirNZ seats flips over to a flat smooth surface, and has a great memory foam mattress placed on top. And AirNZ staff are much better.

The NZ Business Premier flat bed is a similar configuration to the AC one, but the NZ one is wider and has a dedicated sleeping surface (flips over) whereas the AC one reclines flat. I think the NZ one is superior, but almost as important, NZ food and beverage service outdoes AC by a mile.

AC is decent in Executive First, but inferior to NZ in every way, except one: the AC seat can recline much further than the NZ one. That means it can recline continuously until it becomes a flat bed, whereas the NZ one doesn't recline so far, and in order to become a bed it flips right over. If you really, really care about reclining waaay back while watching a movie (some people do) then you'll like that feature.

Otherwise, NZ's food, wine, IFE, service, seating comfort, sleeping comfort, and personal space (it's wider than the AC version) are all noticeably better.

What about Business class in Air New Zealand compared to a similar service in Qantas, Cathay Pacific, Korean Air, and JAL?

What about Business class in Air New Zealand compared to a similar service in Qantas, Cathay Pacific, Korean Air, and JAL?

Business on AirNZ is far better than Qantas, Korean and JAL.

It is very similar to, and in my opinion, only marginally better than Cathay.

It is very similar to, and in my opinion, only marginally better than Cathay.

In Business, I find the NZ seats wider than CX (herringbone layout). No complaints about either airline.

In Business, I find the NZ seats wider than CX (herringbone layout). No complaints about either airline.

Yep, I do find the width of the AirNZ seats better. I also do prefer the less of an angle that the NZ herringbone is, I assume there is a difference, as it certainly feels like it and just the layout gives the overall impression of more space.

Other points of difference;
CX reclines further, all the way to a flat bed
NZ bed is much more comfortable
If I want to watch the entertainment system lying down, the CX system is useless for this, as it the screen has very limited maneuverability, whereas on NZ, you can make the bed and prop yourself up on a pillow.
Much bigger and nicer pillows on NZ

NZ is a great product though depending on where you are based it may require an additional stop.

In Business, I find the NZ seats wider than CX (herringbone layout). No complaints about either airline.

Cathay's herringbone layout is exactly the same design as AC's, I believe, so the same pros and cons about seat comfort, width, bumpiness of bed service etc. However CX's soft product is rather better than AC's...

Thanks everyone for your opinion and input. It was much appreciated.