Air New Zealand Air Points - Is NZ Business Premier Worth Changing Schedule

Hello. I was wondering if anyone could tell me how United Business from SYD compares with NZ Business Premier. I currently have an award ticket booked as follows but am considering a change in order to fly NZ Business premier in both directions.

Current Itinerary
NYC - SFO - AKL (Coach/Business Premier)
AKL - SYD (Thai Air Business Class)
SYD - SFO - NYC (United Business/Coach)

Proposed Itinerary
NYC - SFO - AKL (Coach/Business Premier)
AKL - SYD (Coach)
SYD - AKL (Coach)
AKL - LAX - NYC (Business Premier/Coach)

This is for January Travel. The outbound flight (NZ7) is on the 777 which I believe is Business Premier. I have the opportunity to change my return from SYD (UAL business class) to AKL on NZ2 which I believe is a retrofit 747 flying through LAX. The change would require me to purchase a round trip coach ticket between AKL and SYD. Cost appears to be $450 plus a change fee of $100 to reissue the ticket. Also, I would travel Coach between AKL and SYD instead of the current Business Class on Thai Air. Does anyone know if NZ Business Premier is worth the change and additional cost of this itinerary?

The timing isn't an issue since the UAL flight from SYD departs at 2pm and the NZ flight from Auckland departs at 11pm. Therefore I wouldn't loose any time making the connection between SYD and AKL on my return.

Thank
Mike

I've not flown United Business, but I think its a pretty safe bet that Business Premiere is going to be superior. Flat-bed seats. What more do you need? :)

Trans-tasman coach on NZ should be fine - especially if you're on a new 777. its a shorter flight than NYC-SFO, after all.

Having flown both, I'd recommend BP both ways, without a doubt. Personally, I think the Business Premier product has more in common with UA First.

I'm sorry, but I doubt that you have any chance at all of getting Business Premier reward seats unless you are an Air NZ Gold Elite passenger.

The airline can't satisfy demand, and even Gold and Silver Air NZ frequent flyers can't easily get Business Premier seats, although Gold Elite passengers can.

Business Premier is a great bed for night flights. It's lousy for day flights with company though, because you cannot see or hear your partner!

I'm sorry, but I doubt that you have any chance at all of getting Business Premier reward seats unless you are an Air NZ Gold Elite passenger.

The airline can't satisfy demand, and even Gold and Silver Air NZ frequent flyers can't easily get Business Premier seats, although Gold Elite passengers can.

Backup,
Both Gold and Gold Elite members of the Airpoints programs get Business Premier reward seats from the R bucket - I don't see any differentiation between the two. It is also possible (not with a very high chance) to get a Business Premier reward seat if not Gold Airpoints.

I'm sorry, but I doubt that you have any chance at all of getting Business Premier reward seats unless you are an Air NZ Gold Elite passenger.

The airline can't satisfy demand, and even Gold and Silver Air NZ frequent flyers can't easily get Business Premier seats, although Gold Elite passengers can.

It looks like reward availability for Business Premier is starting to open up. mike_in_nyc said he already has a BP SFO-AKL reward booked for January, and I found *A reward seats available in November. Example:


Star Alliance Rewards - 100,000 Aeroplan Miles

FLIGHT 1: NOV 20, 2005
16:57 DEPART Los Angeles (CA)
18:15 ARRIVE San Francisco (CA) UA 769 Business
Aircraft Type: 752 United

NOV 20, 2005
19:15 DEPART San Francisco (CA)
05:15 ARRIVE Auckland (NZ) NZ 7 Business
Aircraft Type: 744 Air New Zealand

FLIGHT 2: NOV 29, 2005
23:00 DEPART Auckland (NZ)
13:55 ARRIVE Los Angeles (CA) NZ 2 Business
Aircraft Type: 744


NZ2 is operated by a refit on Nov 29.

I think so far its more a case of limited supply than massive demand - with only one refit aircraft operating, those who might normally take the LAX flights have moved over to SFO to try it, so of course those flights have been full.

Business Premier is a great bed for night flights. It's lousy for day flights with company though, because you cannot see or hear your partner!

Got to agree with you there - Business Premier does seem a bit anti-social!