Air New Zealand Air Points - Inquiry about Air New Zealand Buisness Class.

Hello I have a quick question. I am planning to do a Star Alliance Award

on the route

LAX-NAN (Nadi, Fiji)

or LAX-PPIT (Papeetee)

I am planning to use an Buisness Class Award for 120,000 US Airways Dividend Miles.

I understand the non stop service is provided on a 767-300. How is the buisness class on these aircraft. Do the 767's offer Lie Flat Beds. What kind of Inflight Entertainment, am I bound to find onboard this approx 11hr25 minute flight. What kind of meal service is offered. Are there 2 or 1 meals offered onboard. The glasses are glass or plastic? The forks, spoons, knives, are they plasitc. In general how are the seats. Thanks for the help, and possibly, might you have a picture to show buisness class on the 763 aircraft in buisness class cabin?

The 767 has old business class seats (comparable with domestic american F I guess). Definitely not lie flat. IFE is limited - a PTV with about 8 channels of movies + audio, no avod.

LAX-NAN and LAX-PPT are both night flights (arrive in small hours of the morning local time), so dinner and light breakfast (or possibly just a yummy smoothie before arrival) would be the meals. Can get a snack any time. Glasses are real, but the cutlery is plastic thanks to US paranoia.

...(comparable with domestic american F I guess)... Not quite :confused: Pitch is 50" and recline is 60 degrees - better than most american "F" I would say.

Well that is certainly quite a detailed question. Here's a quick rundown of what to expect:

Firstly, don't chose between Fiji and Tahiti based on the flights, miles, onboard service or anything like that, they are very different countries and you'll have a very different holiday in each. Tahiti is more expensive, and has a more international, less local style. Fiji is equally beautiful, much better value and has the local flavour. AirNZ fly to both, also Air Tahiti Nui flies to Tahiti and Air Pacific flies to Fiji. On Air NZ:

Biz in LAX has seperate check in, lounge is now very good with good wines and excellent food. The flight (to both Tahiti and Fiji) is on a 767-300. 24 Seats in Biz class in 2-2-2. Seats are getting old, no electric controls but are still very comfortable. Drinks/champagne on boarding, followed by dinner after takeoff (pre-dinner drinks / starter / main / dessert course / cheese course / tea&coffee). Real glasses and forks (but not knives, due to the reason Kiwi Flyer mentioned). Very good drinks and wines. The seats have PTVs, these have 7 move channels, plus 1 channel showing the economy main screen and another the airshow. Movies aren't on demand, rather have 2 cycles that alternate.

Before landing there is a light breakfast, which is a few courses long but basically has fruit bowl, warm pastries, ham&cheese croissant, and a few other things. If flying to Fiji you arrive around 3am, which isn't bad as it's a decent time on the US west coast and will have you at your resort for sunrise.

Also remember that the one thing that will make the trip on AirNZ for you is the onboard service, you'll need to experience it though to appreciate. From my experience there's definately a large dfference to US carriers.

Cheers, Zac

Thank you for the post Zac, very thorough. This trip is not like a mileage run, buts its actually using our frequent flyer miles, for my Mom's 50th Birthday. She said she doest really have a preference, it might as well turn out to be The Cook Islands, but she yearns to go see the South Pacific. OF course, you're totally right! Air New Zealand has exceptional service, better than US carriers- even in coach. I flew Air NZ (choice over Qantas, and the very poor in service United Airlines) And it was great. Therefore, no doubt its Air New Zealand there. Yes, the lounge at LAX, is much better now, and will definetely use it. Even though the 767 is probably not like the 747 in Buisness Premier cabin, Im positive it will be a great experience. I am a US Airways Dividend Miles member, and they also said, another option, that might become available in near future is that seats will open up on the lax-akl routes in biz premier, and they will route me lax-akl-nan or lax-akl-ppt! I think that would be wonderful, but as of now, were quite convince to got with the non stop. Once again thank you so much for the review, it really helped!

Can i make a suggestion and choose the cook islands ..Its much more laid back great food ..and add on aitutaki its a flight there but its the WORLDS best lagoon you wont be disappointed ..I was a international flight attendant with NZ now short haul and all i have ever heard is recommendations esp from americans and it is beautiful ..Its the place most flight attendants go to relax if they are on leave and going to the pacific ..If i had to list the islands in order they would be ...1 Cook Islands 2 Tahiti 3 New Caledonia 4= Fiji and Vanuatu 5 Samoa 6= Niue and Tonga hope it helps I have stayed on most of the islands and the ones i have not very good friends have instead