this is largely the reason you had the YMMV experience, NZ is the one airline that still seems to manage to bring some glamor and dignity to the skies with good menus, good quality food and wine, consistently cheery and welcoming FA's, etc.

with that said, my last two flights international trips on UA J have been "fine". I had absolutely nothing to complain about leading up to or during the travel, which going into them I honestly was not expecting would be the case.

i see air travel as the means to the ends. i no longer hold up high expectations, just that i get there on time, safely, and in somewhat reasonable comfort. i avoid budget airlines and fly premium cabin whenever i can justify it. i used to fly for fun, but those days are long gone, now i only fly when i want or need to go somehwere. i'm also very fortunate that for international travel my employer pays for J and i don't do very much domestic work travel.