I will fly from LHR to LAX and on to AKL/SYD. Any experience on both airlines in Y ? is one better to the other.
I know I would have access to Eco Plus on United but not sure it would make any difference with NZ.

NZ is way better than UA in Y, except in one aspect. If you can get E+ on UA due to status then you get slightly better seat pitch (36" vs 34"). NZ does have economy plus, but unlike UA it is a separate cabin with more included than just the seat and so need to pay a higher fare to get it.

IFE on NZ is avod (audio-video on demand) with lots of channels of movies, programs, games.

Food on NZ is better quality although sizes are a bit small (you can get extra snacks on request). Drink on NZ is pretty good and totally free.

Service on NZ is much better than on UA.

Thanks Kiwi Flyer! I'm heading that way soon and was thinking the same thing.

Yep, I've been researching this as well. Looks like NZ is preferred, unless you want to earn your bonus miles on UA, or really want that extra 2" instead of better IFE and other amenities.

Forgot to mention - watch out for the cheapest fare classes on NZ as they're non-mileage earning.

Thank you for that info. It would be on a RTW ticket so class M would accrues miles.
Given your summary, I really hesitate between good service on NZ and 25% more miles on UA...

But I guess on a flight of more than 12h, some good entertainment and service is more important...

Actually I was wondering if booking class M on NZ and requesting upgrade to Eco + for USD 300 would give me additional miles and confort. Is it booked in a different class ?

I don't believe that UA's 744's have 36" pitch in E+. The seat maps claim 34-36"; my experience would indicate closer to the former than the latter, though it could be partly UA's old style, thicker seats making the pitch seem less than it is.

Anyway, unless you're a UA elite wanting to earn the bonus miles, there is absolutely no reason whatsoever to choose UA's Y product over NZ's on the 744s. Personal space is about equal, while in every other respect NZ is in a different league, IMHO.

LH silver members get 25% bonus on UA, but further to the posts I read here, I prefer to fly NZ and not get this bonus.

Thanks all for your reply, I cannot wait to visit New Zealand! ^

Premium economy on NZ will give additional comfort and a few other pluses, but no additional miles unless credited to NZ Airpoints (and probably Miles & More if they treat it same as full fare economy).

It is booked under class E which gives 150% with Miles and more (LH).

That makes sense. Premium economy generally costs as much or more than full economy so it would be ridiculous to earn less miles.

I have another one to throw in here.. I am based out of AMS.. "direct" *A flights to NZ for me mean a stop in SIN.. I was thinking about making the hop over to LHR to jump on NZ for the eco+ seating down to NZ.. especially now with the HKG stopovers (no need to go via LAX!).. so.. would i get more miles flying with NZ from LHR in eco+?? I have an Air Canada card.... what would you do? Or would you take a UA flight via the US???? LH via via via via.. I would prefer NZ but i would also like most miles for my euro. I did notice NZ has some deal going on with KLM where you would fly KL to somewhere in Asia and then swap over to NZ... wonderful...........whats the deal there then? do you get *A miles on the leg to Asia or do you get SkyTeam??

Apparently you get 100% miles with Aeroplan, even on E+. If you are a LH member, you could get up to 125% there depending on the booking class.

Given what has been said here, I would definitely go for NZ E+ for such a long trip. Their service looks nice and the pitch is very good, plus: E+ is on the 2nd floor of the 747s which is nice.

If you live in AMS, why not considering the LH or BD program instead? just a thought...

i wanted to switch to miles and more.. from LH.. but i have so many miles and status level with aeroplan its difficult to change.. funny thing is i usually fly BMI, OS or LH out of AMS just for *A... the stopovers can get to be a drag though. I contacted LH about joining M&M but they said they would not transfer the miles.. so... perhaps i will join after i spend all the miles on an award ticket :-))) thats what i did with KLM.. but I would like to go to E+ way on NZ.. but i do want to get more miles than regular economy if im paying more!! ^