Air New Zealand Air Points - New C vs. UA. F

In terms of cross-Pacific.
Can we compare the two, regardless of cost ($ and/or points) or is it too early and, therefore, give NZ the benefit of the doubt?

In terms of cross-Pacific.
Can we compare the two, regardless of cost ($ and/or points) or is it too early and, therefore, give NZ the benefit of the doubt?
If your destination is SYD/MEL UA F will be better, because of non-stop service. I wouldn't want to transit in AKL and fly the last 3h or so across the tasman in ExpressJ.

If your destination is in New Zealand NewJ will be better as you will not need to fly SYD - [New Zealand] in ExpressJ.

I think we can very safely assume that the new NZ J will be streets ahead of UA F. Why?
1) We know that the VS suite is considered by many/most to be at least equal to the (fairly tired) UA F suite, and the new NZ J seat is simply a VS suite with different materials and colours
2) We also know that the F suite is the single best thing about the UA product - the food, wine, service and lounges are already better on NZ J than UA F, let alone the new upgraded service. The only other thing UA had is their F concierges, who I think barely exist anymore anyway.

As far as travel to east coast Australia is concerned, bear in mind that both BNE and MEL get connections from AKL on aircraft with the long haul product, rather than just the A320 express product. It's really only Sydney that gets express only, though some of those aircraft are 763s with the current long haul J config. An AKL transit (as opposed to acutally arriving or departing there) is generally fairly painless. Of course, with the stronger new product and increasing Australia-US demand, NZ may well reintroduce direct SYD-LAX flights... we live in hope! :)

#You missed those wonderful * F departures lounges.#

mad_atta As a whole if the "fares" were equal would you fly a LAX-AKL-SYD NZ NewJ or LAX - SYD UA F routing ?

mad_atta I think that NZ FAs' over UA's is worth a mention. I have flown UA domestically but not intl. I read story after story on FT about the UA matrons/dragons in UA F, NZ FAs' are superb in all classes ^

mad_atta As a whole if the "fares" were equal would you fly a LAX-AKL-SYD NZ NewJ or LAX - SYD UA F routing ?

Good question - assuming I was actually in the position to be paying for long haul premium travel (highly unlikely!) I guess it would depend on a few different factors, like is the time saved by a direct flight important. Then again, it's equally unlikely that UA F and NZ J fares would be comparable.

What I'm more interested in is comparing the actual product like for like, rather than looking at examples where one is nonstop and one is connecting. So if we look at the LHR-LAX route, where NZ and UA both compete with a nonstop service, I reckon the NZ new J product would walk all over UA's current F. I do feel a bit silly saying that, given that I've never flown UA F and the new NZ product is not even in existence yet, but based on what I know of UA longhaul J and what I've seen of those tired UA suites and read about the service, I think it's a fairly safe bet.

taupo, I agree the FAs are a very, very important part of the equation, and basically the reason why UA will never be truly competitive with the best airlines out there. That's what I meant by NZ's service being better in my original post.

Ironically, my likely (reward) NZ routing would be AKL or CHC with a stopover, and on to SYD.
Doesn't Thai fly AKL/SYD?
UA would be if SYD was the sole destination.
Obviously gateways in the US are either SFO or LAX, and for me, that decision might go down to which has the better lounges.
I would like to think that since NZ has a F and C product, the introduction of the new C won't have as many "bumps," shall we say.

Ironically, my likely (reward) NZ routing would be AKL or CHC with a stopover, and on to SYD.
Doesn't Thai fly AKL/SYD?
UA would be if SYD was the sole destination.
Obviously gateways in the US are either SFO or LAX, and for me, that decision might go down to which has the better lounges.
I would like to think that since NZ has a F and C product, the introduction of the new C won't have as many "bumps," shall we say.

Yes TG flies between SYD and AKL and BNE and AKL.

At SFO, NZ uses UA's lounges. At LAX, NZ is in different terminal and has own lounge. Gets very crowded but hopefully the expansion/refurbishment currently underway will fix that.