SYD FC on UA or Air New Zealand Business
 

I have a FC ticket on United SFO-SYD. I want to make a date change and the option is the ANZ flight in their business premiere (I think it's called). I'm guessing this is comparable and/or better than UA in some respects? Any opinions on using FC mileage award for this? Thx

Search is your friend here. NZ business premier is a top-class product. Even though it's "only business", the hard and soft products beat UA's. Look in Trip Reports or the Air NZ forum ... lots of information.

There is no way that NZ's herringbone business class seat beats UA's "new" F seat on the 747.

Yeah, it can. Plus, you don't get the hit or miss service on NZ that you get on UA/CO.



To the OP: NZ all the way baby!

We're talking about seat. UA's 3-cabin F seat is definitely better than the NZ J seat.

Service I agree is another story, but on seat alone, UA F is definitely superior.

I've only walked through, and never sat in, the cabin, but I'd say that NZ business is definitely comparable to United First. And the food and service should be excellent.

On the downside, if you're getting off NZ7 in AKL and continuing to SYD you're going to be connecting to a single-class A320. So your last three hours are going to be stuck in Economy.

I know we were talking about the seat. I like herringbone better then UA F, but of course you disagree.

What is it that you like about herringbone that UA F doesn't have?

The main advantage of herringbone is aisle access for everyone (which is not a given in other biz classes). But you already have that in UA F.

The only plus for UA F seating is easy window access. Other then that it's actually about the same. I still say NZ though. (Herringbone I find to be cooler:cool: which is why I said I liked it better)

Ridiculous. There is no comparison between the two seats. I do agree that service quality on NZ wins.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...r_777_seat.jpg

Larger

http://content.united.com/ual/asset/...it_402x256.jpg

Thanks - I'm on a 67 from AUK to SYD with business class. Maybe that's a new addition?

I have flown both. UA 747 F seat hands down, particularly if you can get one of the windows seats. Service on NZ is more consistent and on average significantly better. UA on a bad day is FAR worse than NZ. UA on a good day is as good.

Been on both too.

I actually wasn't that impressed with the NZ food. It was just okay. Service was good, not great. But as always, it just depends upon the crew that given flight.

As far as seat, UA does win hands down. Not even close.

Ah, it seems to be a function of the day of the week you fly. Possibly A320s on weekdays and 767s on weekends. If it's a 767 then I retract my primary objection. Biz on the 767 isn't as snazzy as Biz-Prem on the long-haul, but it shouldn't be uncomfortable.

How about reliability and likelihood of arriving at your destination on the date that you want to? If reliability is a factor, and I assume it would be unless you can afford to risk cancellations on UA (search the threads to see how many UA 744 flights this month have been canceled -- it is staggering), then NZ would be the logical choice.

From what I read here, I now expect the NZ fligth to similar to LX business which I just had the pleasure of flying SFO-ZRH. Yes, UA's first seat is bigger, and screen is better, etc., but UA SFO-SYD can have some serious burned out staff, that can often make it a grumpy experience.

Since I will do one airline each way, I'll report back. My main drawback on NZ is the connection - sometimes just nice to get on the plane, and get off at your final destination. But UA arrives so early in the morning, not much to do anyway......

NZ All the way!
 

If you enjoy the experience of flying, then you should definitely do NZ in Business.

The UA crew to Sydney is the most senior and THE MOST burned out! I upgraded the the fare mistake to AKL via SYD to UA First a couple years ago and I was extremely disappointed.

The FA's are mean!

The NZ FA's are funny, professional, and attentive.

UA's International F experience doesn't touch any other airlines F that I have tried (Thai, Oz, LH, SQ, Emirates - all on awards)

IMHO

There simply is no comparison between UA F seat and NZ business seat. I've been in both and the NZ seat compares very unfavorably to UA F. I find it to be a lousy seat since its recline is limited. To convert it into a bed, you have to get up out of the seat and flip it over.

NZ food is nothing special - not bad, not great.

If going to New Zealand, by all means take NZ. But if going to SYD and F is available, it makes no sense to take a detour through AKL to get an inferior product.

You sound like you're talking about SQ, you don't have to get up to change the NZ seat into a bed, unless I missed something. :confused:

This is getting interesting! Thanks everybody.

I'm on a waitlist for the UA flight for the date I need, so I might not even get the choice.

Good luck, and if you do clear the waitlist, I wish you additional luck that your UA flight actually leaves that day (let alone on time). Unless I was on a pure award, or I had a couple extra days to spare on the tail end of my trip before needing to get back to work, I wouldn't choose UA.

I admit I am partial to great airlines like NZ that take their service and reliability of their aircraft very seriously (and I actually don't mind the connection in AKL with its excellent lounge and nice selection of wines and manuka honey at the duty free).

NZ business class required you to get up and flip the seat over to make a fully flat bed as of a year ago. I think they may have come out with a new seat but not sure if it is rolled out across the entire fleet yet. I would take UA simply because on this flight you'll want to sleep as much as possible and UA will have a quieter cabin and wider flat bed thanks to it being a true first class seat. If you were flying the other direction I'd choose NZ for better service, food and entertainment. NZ's biz seat is one of the best in the sky but UA's first still tops it as far as comfort.

Sounds like an interesting route :D
http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=Syd-auk

And an earlier post said they do this on a 737! Now that's a flight to fear:)

I've done both. UA F is a slightly bigger seat, but you do have more "space" of your own outside the actual seat itself. To me, the NZ seat is far far more comfortable even though it's a little smaller.

Service is completely in favor of NZ. It's exceptional service, good food, great wine, pleasant, etc. On UA's very best day their service is merely "equal" to what I get on NZ every time.

The 767 NZ102 depart SYD for AKL each week day at 9.30ish....the weekend 767s leave at 11.30pm.

Business Class on the 767 is not BP but sure beats Y.

Yes, the NZ biz seat is the same as VS - you have to get up and flip it over (by pressing a button) to convert it into a bed. Ergo, you need to make a real decision when it's time to sleep (or wake).

Having recently flown a bunch of NZ and VS as well as UA F, I can't imagine a universe in which the NZ hard product is better. The VS/NZ seat was awesome in 2004, but now is a tatty relic.

Staff were generally good/friendly.

-G

While many previous posters are citing having to get up to flip the seat as a disadvantage, I actually much prefer this design, as it results in a single, solid, flat bed to lay on rather than a bunch of seat sections with cracks that your body can wedge into. That said, UA's new F seats aren't anything to avoid anymore. And I'd take NZ C over UA F soft product any day of the week.

The seats on NZ's new 773's are not (yet) tatty...;)

..and the addition of the new mattress pad has turned a decent C bed into a very good one indeed... (at least IMO)

There are 777s' that head down to SYD as well- just few and far between.

Yes, I'd agree in going for NZ on this route over UA.

Air New Zealand wins by a mile!
 

Wasn't even close. Here's my quick summary on a 100 point scale with 40 for seat and AV, 40 for service food and bev, and 20 for ground and lounges...

UA FIRST -Seat and AV- seat was great - as you know. I made the mistake of taking 1A so you have somebody kind of across from you, and in this case someone annoying, but it was a nice bed, pillow and cover. I watched 2 movies i was looking forward to seeing. 38/40

NZ Business Premier - Herringbone seat, was actually slightly more private feeling to me when reclined than 1A. The seat flips to the bed. FA does this for you and put a blanket down for padding. Pillow and duvet very nice, I slept well and really liked it. Movies a disappointment, and small screen. 35/40 mostly due to AV.

Food and wine
UA - I am generally a fan of UA food. Like it usually. This was not the case this time. Very good salad, lousy creamed soup (Campbells is better), fish very dry and i could not eat it. White roll for dinner, the usual lousy croissant with breakfast. Ice cream was Breyers I think. Vanilla with chocolate sauce. i asked for the cheese plate and pursar said - "we don't have this on this flight." I said - "why's it on the menu?" She said "let me look." 20 minutes later she brings me a cheese plate - no fork, knife or napkin and said "thanks for telling me! I looked again and found it." I noticed she did not offer to any other passengers, then it was all in the galley for crew meals. It was actually quite good - best part of meal. As for wine - the FA said, "Sir, I am very sorry to have to serve you this." Nuff said. She was the one good crew member, but the crew goes on break towards the end of the meal, then all service dissolves into plates hanging around, no offer of tea coffee etc. Breakfast was underripe fruit plate and the soggy croissant the NEW Smisek coffee. 10/40

NZ - great crew - some senior but maternal, on it, and upbeat. i don't mind a Mom in the air when they take care of you! Salad good, fish decent, ice cream AND cheese both excellent - Ice cream was small patch 2 flavors with a cookie. Wines - one was better than the next. Breakfast - very tasty warm eggs with chives for breakfast. Always a great bread/pastry selection - multiple bread offerings, hot muffins, sweet rolls , etc 35/40

Ground - US check in at SYD - the 2 first class agents were too busy talking to each other to help me - only one in line - so a business class agent had to call me over tot eh desk. They use the NZ lounge in SYD anyway with is fine, and muuch better than UA FCL in SFO. 5/20

NZ lounge in Auckland - coffee bar - staffed with barrista! Nice shower room, excellent connection facility. Hot breakfast. 15/20

Point summary:

UA 53/100
NZ 85/100

....but my bottom line - I got off the ANZ plane feeling nice and taken care of.
I got off UA feeling tee'd off and a little used.

Your results might vary......

This is an exceptionally good summary. I can, have, and will continue to pay B fares on NZ so I can use UA miles to upgrade, rather than book UA and upgrade there.

1k all the way, great comparison. Having been in the 'new' UA f and AZ business premier I would have to say for me AZ wins hands down on all fronts.

Coffin seats
 

I call the ANZ seats the coffin seats. I am not a big guy and felt squeezed into the biz ANZ seat. It is hard and uncomfortable in the upright seating position and too narrow and hard for side sleeping when flipped into the flat position.

The UA first seat is much wider and more comfortable IMHO. There are newer seats in the ANZ fleet now, they might be better.

no, your results are guaranteed every time in this case.

Excellent comparison, agree 100%

and the new 773 product is even better.

When you refer to Alitalia (AZ) do you really mean Air New Zealand (NZ)?

Obviously, since AZ doesn't fly from LAX or SFO (or anywhere else) to SYD last I checked. :rolleyes:

On NZ, my meal came out cold - twice (it was lamb) and I didn't like the attitude I caught from the FA at all. I'd take UA - the seat is miles better.

without a doubt Air New Zealand business any day and everyday ^