AC vs NZ to Australia; AC 787 non-stop vs Air NZ 777 via AKL?
 

To be clear, are you asking about using your Aeroplan miles or Air Miles, as the two are not related and completely different?

Does NZ still offer "cuddle seats" aka sky couch in Y for the three seats in window rows.

I flew Y twice to NZ. Once solo with two the other seats full, and I found the footrest section completely hindered leg room. It wasn't pleasant at all.

Second time with wife, there was no third person, and it was amazing to be able to spoon on a plane and it was more comfortable than J imo!

i really miss NZ

Air Miles - taking advantage of the miles rebate for 1 ticket when booking 2 tickets for BMO Air Miles World Elite card, unfortunately Airmiles only has Y inventory access.

Both will be awful but endurable. NZ may be a bit more pleasant but you have to deal with the stop-over. If they still have it and two of you are flying, the NZ skycouch would be worth a go (if bookable with Air Miles).

My recommendation would be to fly direct on AC and given your height pay the extra to get an exit row/bulkhead seat.

To me the extra travel & transit time via AKL would overide the nominally better service. NZ to Au is ~3:30hr. I would also be looking at the actual departure & arrival times. The back of the bus is the back of the bus. Service is limited.
Does depend a little which Australian destination
Route-->Great Circle Mapper

Will you be able to get advance seating without paying on AC?

yes, I get advanced seating without paying on AC, but if I want preferred seats/exit row will have to pay extra as I am TK Elite Plus (*G) and no free access to these for me. I don't know if NZ gives *G any free access to preferred seats. Does NZ allow advanced seat selection to get exit rows (don't mind paying extra).

I don't mind the extra travel time by connecting through AKL, it is the comfort that is my main concern since I am 6'5" and my long legs need room.

Looking at open jaw in /out SYD/MEL though with NZ could do Adelaide instead of either of those. Flexible on in/out cities as still in planning stages, flights are bookable on Airmiles website. One aberration noticed is that we can get seats to oz for the 11,500 airmiles, but if we try just going to NZ or open-jaw with NZ the cost is 20-22,000 each, even if the YVR -AKL nonstop is used, the same non-stop when continuing on to oz drops to 11,500 as long as we fly in/out of oz. Its like, "Hey fly us to Oz, but don't stay in NZ".

On trans Tasman (NZ<----> Au) on Air NZ you can pay extra $30 for a exit row. Expect will be the same on NZ long haul, but more $$. If that can be done with an airmiles ticket is another matter. But on an ordinary cash fare have the chance to purchase exit row at any time on line.

If first going to an Au airport not served by AC (BNE-SYD-MEL) then via AKL is viable option. The SYD international <---> domestic shuffle is best avoided if possible.

I would take any option that avoids a transit of AKL, an airport I regard as the anti-room to hell.

That said, I agree the NZ experience is likely to be marginally better than the AC one but on balance that would still not get me to transit AKL.

I assume you have flown AC, so its nice to try other airlines.

What are the issues with transiting AKL?

There are a few I've experienced in recent months, more annoying than terrible. If you are not flying NZ via the U.S. then it's less of a hassle.

You might also want to ask opinions on the NZ FT forum

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/air-...ir-points-440/