Air New Zealand Air Points - NZ 762 v QF 763 - which is best in Business?

I'm planning a trip to Oz/NZ and the South Pacific for next year using BA miles to SYD. To kick off the NZ leg (SYD - AKL) I am weighing up the 2 options above.

I've flown QF with the Dreamtime seat (1-2-2 arrangement) a couple of times and enjoyed it a lot. I've no experience at all of NZ so how does it stack up in terms of seating, pitch and food. Most importantly of all, how good is the champagne?

Thanks for your input!

[This message has been edited by Swanhunter (edited 06-10-2003).]

I personally prefer Air NZ to Qantas trans-Tasman - the food is better on Air NZ and the service more complete (appetiser, main, dessert) whereas on Qantas everything except the main was preplated. I found that the Air NZ J seat on the 767-200 was VERY spacious and indeed offered better support than the Qantas Dreamtime seat which I found rather flimsy.

However, I hear that Qantas has recently revamped their trans-Tasman product for the better - these comparisons are based over the last two trips I took with the respective airlines: QF AKL-SYD in December 2002 and Air NZ AKL-SYD-AKL in April 2003.

The 762J could have new or old style J-class seats depending on which a/c you fly on. Theres not a huge difference but the newer ones are more supportive, and definitely better for stretching out and snoozing on. I think the old ones have slightly more pitch (52" vs 50") but not enough to make a noticeable difference; QF is also 50" though their seats are wider if you get the 1+2+2 config, though I've heard that they are starting to use domestically configured a/c on the Tasman routes, which have pretty low grade J seats in 2+2+2 with about 38" pitch - best avoided.

Food/wine/service is consistently good on NZ; QF can be great but also can be terrible. Bubbly on NZ trans-Tasman is usually a choice of Piper Heidseick and Nicolas Feuillatte (sorry, don't know how to spell that). Personally I'd pick NZ - I prefer their service style, and across the Tasman the service is almost as good as long haul. Even the 737's are comfy in J!

Thanks for the advice - I think I'll go with NZ. It's certainly cheaper in miles than QF.

Looks like my flights to Samoa and Fiji should be good too!