Originally Posted by
bouncingbug
is there better award availability if I book directly from Air New Zealand rather than United (I can transfer SPG points).
Yes - Air New Zealand members can redeem any seat that is available for sale, rather than just those in redemption buckets.
Rather than miles they have 'airpoints dollars' in either NZ$ or AU$, however, I don't know what the exchange rate for SPG points is - or also how they would convert the Pacific-Franc priced ticket into NZ/AU $.