Air New Zealand Air Points - NZ J vs LX F on LAX-Europe

I have found available seats in NZ J LAX-LHR-IST/CAI, with the shorter segment in TK F or MS F.
Pros: Flat seat, TK/MS F experience for "free", as long as I can get the "longest segment" rule to kick in. Fewer miles required because it's J.

I have also found LX F LAX-ZRH-IST/CAI, with the latter segment in TK or LX J on a narrow-body plane if it's IST, or LX F widebody if it's CAI.
Pros: I like the LX seat, personal F service, and catering is quite good too. Flew ZRH-BKK-SIN last year on A343.

I have never used NZ on long-haul. Can anyone compare the two choices, taking into account NZ J catering, IFE, and transit at LHR vs.ZRH, the Koru Club at LAX vs. whatever LX F uses (probably a crappy TBIT F lounge?), also ZRH J/F lounge vs. LHR F lounge for TK/MS, etc.
Would you spend the extra Miles+ Cash to do LX F?
Divergent opinions welcomed. :)
Thanks!

NZ plusses are the London based crew are consistently better than the AKL crew. Food is good, seats in Zone A are fine. The LAX lounge is good by LAX standards. However LHR is not a great transit airport, ZRH is much better. NZ is a J product and all that entails.

LX F is a more exclusive product and the transit arrangements IMHO are better. I would go with LX, but you could do a lot worse than NZ J.

NZ plusses are the London based crew are consistently better than the AKL crew. Food is good, seats in Zone A are fine. The LAX lounge is good by LAX standards. However LHR is not a great transit airport, ZRH is much better. NZ is a J product and all that entails.

LX F is a more exclusive product and the transit arrangements IMHO are better. I would go with LX, but you could do a lot worse than NZ J.

Thanks for the reply. Yes, NZ is J, but I do like the full-flat seats (though AC and UA have them, I'm assuming catering and service are generally better on NZ?).
AC is very difficult to find availability for its Europe flights. Nearly impossible. So it's NZ or UA for full-flat J, or LX for F (much better catering than UA F, and no annoying extra miles required a la LH F!)

Thanks for the reply. Yes, NZ is J, but I do like the full-flat seats (though AC and UA have them, I'm assuming catering and service are generally better on NZ?)

Yes NZ catering is a lot better than UA and AC.

Definitely LX First.

Since Switzerland joined Schengen transit for LAX-ZRH-IST/CAI has become less convenient. Left with choice to remain in satellite E (with poor lounge & few amenities) or go through immigration twice (on the way in and way out) in order to use the nice F lounge.

If the difference in miles is not a problem for you, LX F would seem to be an absolute no-brainer. One of the best European F experiences around. Nice lounge at ZRH.

I'm pondering the same thing for LHR-HKG and I'm also tending towards LX F over NZ C... the reason why I'm debating it at all is that I'd have to buy more miles to top up the account for F in my case.

Well I ended up going with NZ C for a few reasons:
I could get Z3-Z2 BMI redemption for 18,750 miles+GBP175 all-in:
LAX-LHR NZ C
LHR-IST TK F
And with the fabulous experience that TK F promises, for the C miles and cash amount, I decided to go for it.
If done with LX, it would have been F on long-haul, but C intra-Europe on narrowbody.
Miles difference was enough for me to decide--but not a huge difference:
C Class: 37,500 miles, OR (18,750 miles+GBP127.50+taxes)
F Class: 62,500 miles, OR (31,750 miles+GBP 212.50+taxes)

I see someone said, "As long as you have a seat in Zone A." Is Zone A the front nose of the 744? Or anywhere on the lower deck? The Upper Deck seems to be less that perfect, with PE there, right?
I will look more for seating advice in other threads.
Thanks for your help!
EDITED TO ADD:
Just called ANZ and was told it's too close to flight time (I guess it departs AKL within 24 hours?) to book a seat, so I will just have to do it at the airpport.
1) I went to anz.com and couldn't find the operating hours of the NZ Koru Club in LAX. Anyone know?
2) By chance, I'll be arriving on NWA, which is in the same terminal. If I don't have any checked bags, do I need to exit security, or can I check in at the Koru Club?
3) If not, does anyone know what time the NZ desk at LAX opens for check-in? Hopefully early since I will arrive around 11AM. :(

Zone A is in the forward section on the lower deck. There is no Koru Club at LAX, this is the name of the Air NZ domestic lounge service, the international lounges are business class lounges and the Air NZ lounge is top of the escalator right hand side. I think that if your luggage is not checked through you will have to exit and checkin. The lounge will not check you and your luggage in. 11am seems early for the lounge to open but maybe??

NZ check in will not be open when you arrive. IIRC it only opens 2 - 2 1/2 hours before departure of NZ2. The lounge however opens at 1230 per the NZ website (http://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/airpoints/koru/lounge-directory/international-lounges.htm).

If you are already airside (eg NW flight is late) and no bags to check then I'd try checking in at the lounge. Even if they cannot do it they should let you use the lounge while someone takes your passport and checks you in.

BTW NW changes terminal at LAX later this year due to the merger with DL.

NZ check in will not be open when you arrive. IIRC it only opens 2 - 2 1/2 hours before departure of NZ2. The lounge however opens at 1230 per the NZ website (http://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/airpoints/koru/lounge-directory/international-lounges.htm).

If you are already airside (eg NW flight is late) and no bags to check then I'd try checking in at the lounge. Even if they cannot do it they should let you use the lounge while someone takes your passport and checks you in.

BTW NW changes terminal at LAX later this year due to the merger with DL.

That's good news. I actually have NWA WorldClub access (across the hallway) so can hang out there until the NZ club opens.
And I'm doing this just in time--NWA's last day in Terminal 2 at LAX is June 30th! Then they're moving over to T5 to be with DL.