bigbyte Welcome to FT
Originally Posted by
bigbyte
Not sure what to do with this scenario. I am starting to fly Air New Zealand more frequently. LAX to LHR in Business Class. In December 2020 I want to take the family to New Zealand for vacation, but fly business class - ideally paying with miles. I have 250,000 miles at United Airlines. I have about 100,000 Chase Ultimate Reward Points. My wife has 40,000 United Miles which I plan to transfer to me. My son (14) has 70,000 United Miles which I will transfer as well. I have 125,000 Avios. I will have at least 10 transatlantic trips until next summer.
Should I stick to the native Air New Zealand points program or rather use my United Airlines account number when flying Air New Zealand? I do not care if I buy 2 business class round-trip tickers via United miles, 1 via Air New Zealand or if I should aim to use Avios (not sure how much 200,000 AVIOS can take a family of 3).
Air NZ is one of the worst ffp's out there. For a USA resident make little sense, even if flying Air NZ at times.
With Air NZ ffp you pay with airpoints dollars (the ff currency of Air NZ) Check how many airpoints dollars you get flying LAX-AKL. It may be few. And how many it would cost to get as a flight. It may be OK: just paying the retail fare rate with airpoints dollars.
https://www.airnewzealand.com.au/airpoints
Air NZ release few business awards to ff partners. Sometimes 4-6 weeks out some show. The chances of getting 3 Air NZ awards at a peak time is very small to close to zero.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/air-...ir-points-440/
UA & AA (BA avois partner) both fly LAX-AKL. But business award will be very hard to get. 3 on the same flight even harder. At a peak time harder
If you have the old UA award chart (pre dynamic) look at what business awards used to cost [one way business class award 40,000 UA ff miles?].
Real premium economy is another option (not economy plus)
Transferring ff miles may cost more than they are really worth.
You could book one way out from 1 account and back from another ff account.
Does not need to be the same ffp, airline and/or route. Splitting to 2+1 and/or different days may help
Earn to burn is what is important when awards are the objective
How many LAX-LHR flights on NZ crediting to Air NZ ffp to get 1 business class award LAX-AKL on Air NZ or UA (if available)?
How many LAX-LHR flights on NZ crediting to UA ffp to get 1 business class award LAX-AKL on Air NZ or UA (if available)?
A very general guide (LAX-AKL Bus one way)---->
https://www.awardhacker.com/#f=LAX&t...=1&c=y&s=1&p=1