Originally Posted by
Cajun Storm
I have only recently started looking into a trip to New Zealand from DFW. I'm looking at December 2024 at the earliest. What options should I look into for comfortable business class seats? It seems like United has DFW to IAH to AKL (on Air New Zealand) that seems reasonable but I see that the seats are "dated" per a quick look in other threads. Does Qantas (or another airline) have seats that might make sleeping so much more easier that any extra cost is worth it? What other variables should I consider when looking into the different routes/airlines? I have miles with AA but it seems like using that will be next to impossible.
Cash ticket? Or hoping for an award? USA<--->NZ-AU business class awards have been hard get for many years.
If looking for an award, just looking for AKL may limit options. Search for other NZ airports as the final destination.
Air NZ are know for *not* making / *very few* awards available to partners.
From about Saturday 14 Dec 2024 will be a peak time with people going to NZ for Christmas-New Year. Dec-Jan is summer in this part of the world.
QF fly DFW-MEL and DFW-SYD non stop. Then a 3:30hr flight across the Tasman Sea to a range of NZ airports. Not just AKL.
Between now and Dec 2024 will be changes to routes-airlines.
Airlines that fly USA/Canada to/from New Zealand (not from all airports to all airports).
Following the pandemic routes are being re-established and with some new routes. Schedules can change. Route restart dates subject to change.
- American Airlines AA . DFW-AKL from 29 Oct 2022 to 25 Mar 2023(new route) Pre CV19 AA flew LAX-AKL and was due to fly LAX-CHC 3 days a week from Oct 2020. [Oneworld Alliance]
- Air Canada AC YVR – AKL From 12 Nov 2022 [Star Alliance]
- Air New Zealand NZ LAX SFO IAH JFK YVR ORD– AKL. JFK started 17 Sep 2022. [Star Alliance]
- Air Tahiti Nui TN LAX SEA – PPT - AKL (AS AA QF NZ partner)
- Delta DL LAX – AKL. Due to start 28 Oct 2023 [Skyteam alliance]
- Fiji Airways FJ LAX SFO HNL YVR – NAN - AKL WLG CHC. (Oneworld connect)
- Hawaiian HA HNL – AKL (AA & VA partner)
- Qantas QF SYD-AKL-JFK from June 2023. LAX SFO DFW JFK HNL YVR* via SYD BNE & MEL. {* seasonal} [Oneworld Alliance]
- United UA SFO – AKL, SFO - CHC from 01 Dec 2023, LAX – AKL from 28 Oct 2023 [Star Alliance]
- And others via Australia, South America, Asia & Middle East
Airlines that fly USA/Canada to/from Australia.
Following the pandemic, routes are being re-established and some new routes. Schedules can change. Route restart dates subject to change.
- Air Canada AC YVR – SYD BNE [Star Alliance]
- Air New Zealand NZ LAX ORD SFO IAH JFK YVR – AKL – Australia various[Star Alliance]
- Air Tahiti Nui TN LAX SEA via PPT Tahiti & AKL. Last segment on QF codeshares. (AA AS partner) [SEA new route March 2023]
- American Airlines AA LAX-SYD [OneWorld Alliance]
- Delta DL LAX – SYD. [Skyteam Alliance]
- Fiji Airways FJ LAX SFO HNL YVR– NAN - BNE SYD MEL ADL. NAN-CBR from July 2023 (OneWorld Alliance connect.)
- Hawaiian HA HNL – SYD. Pre CV19 also used to fly to BNE ( AA VA partner)
- Jetstar JQ HNL – SYD. Pre CV19 also used to fly to/from BNE & MEL
- Qantas QF LAX DFW HNL YVR* - SYD; LAX - BNE; LAX DFW - MEL. {* seasonal}. SFO - SYD due to restart 22 May 2023. SYD-AKL-JFK planned from 14 June 2023. [OneWorld Alliance]
- United UA SFO LAX - MEL, IAH* LAX SFO - SYD, SFO – BNE, LAX – BNE from 29 Nov 2023 {* seasonable}.[Star Alliance]. (VA partner)
- and others via Asia, South America & Middle East