NZ should care because MileagePlus customers aren't likely to purchase fares Prem Economy fares (especially USA-Australia through fares) if those fares don't provide credit for the entire journey -- going to have ALOT of angry customers when their TT flights won't post. UA agents will blame NZ for NZ not allowing credits on those flights. Makes for upset pax, and since this is the US we're talking about, lawsuits or DOT complaints/fines. The cost of the 1,500 UA miles (assuming AKL-East Coast) to NZ is ~ USD15. NZ needs to ramp up its benefits to US and Australian customers given the 2 new services being launched in a few months (ie, SFO-SYD by QF and LAX-SYD by AA).

Important to note that the NZ PremEco fare rules (take the fare rules for an A fare, LAX-SYD for example), which specifically note "FREQUENT FLYER POINT ACCRUAL NOT PERMITTED ON FARES BOOKED IN K/G/S/L CLASS OF SERVICE EXCEPT FOR ANZ AIRPOINTS PROGRAM." This NZ written fare rules notation implies, and any buyer will reasonably infer, that the A fare will provide flight credit for LAX-AKL-SYD in the UA program.

So, NZ really needs to get this fixed ASAP.