Brisbane to Vancouver, business class: Air New Zealand or Korean Airlines?

10 replies

Grum217

Member since 31 Jan 2017

Total posts 5

I am in the early stages of planning a Canadian holiday for my wife & I in around Aug-Sep 2017 and looking at travelling in business class comfort return. We are both VA velocity members yet our preference is to fly directly into YVR and not transiting via LAX. The most competitive fares seem to be on Air New Zealand via AKL or Korean Airlines via ICN (both 1 stop & reasonable transit times) We have ruled out the direct Air Canada B787 BNE-YVR due to the lack of positive reviews and the more excessive cost in fares. NZ would have slight advantage being linked to FF programs, yet we have read & heard great things about Korean Airlines service and J/Class seats. Any ideas or views would be much appreciated. FYI our 3rd choice would be to travel on Hawaiian Airlines J/Class into Seattle via 1 stop in Honolulu and then train over the border SEA-YVR.




RealKid

Member since 20 May 2014

Total posts 91

I am not sure what you have read but Air Canada's 787 seat is certainly better than NZ, and better than any seat on Korean's fleet (except for arguably its new apex suite, which I'm not sure is available on the route).


AC's service and food isn't as nice I've heard compared to KE and NZ, but seat comfort + non stop would win out for me (unless it's remarkably more expensive.)

Grum217

Member since 31 Jan 2017

Total posts 5

Thanks Realkid & so far Air Canada quotes are considerably more than NZ & KE unfortunately. I understand that Korean do use the new apex suite on the A330-300 ex BNE and then on the B747-800 ex SEL to YVR.....thanks anyway and I appreciate your views.

David

Member since 24 Oct 2010

Total posts 1,020

Agreed, as nice as it'd be to fly direct on Air Canada's Boeing 787, if the Cannucks have priced themselves out of your reach then I'd think Korean Air would be a solid starter as long as you are getting those Apex business class suites. Might be nice to break the journey in Seoul fora few days, too.

TheRealBabushka

Member since 21 Apr 2012

Total posts 2,058

I was not thrilled with Korean Air when I flew them. Great seat in their Business class suites but food I found to be average and the service too demure. I'm also not a fan of ICN airport and the Korean Air lounges. Given the choice I would fly NZ.

henrus

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 23 Oct 2013

Total posts 765

I'd go with NZ. KE is fine but ICN airport is chaotic in the best of times.

Grum217

Member since 31 Jan 2017

Total posts 5

Thank you all for your feedback and my thoughts are definitely favouring NZ via AKL unless AC pricing becomes more competitive.

EscapeNow

Member since 05 Apr 2015

Total posts 3

I travel J class between BNE & YVR a few times a year.  Yes, AC is often preposterously more expensive, but it is as comfortable (perhaps more so) than its competitors, and direct, so I am continuously monitoring pricing to snag the rare discount.

Over Xmas I have the luxury of being able to take my time, so I fly Hawaiian via HNL.  Their refurbished J class is great for the 9h20min flight, and at about $3500 return, I spend my savings in a nice resort for a few nights in both directions for the layovers. 

Getting to YVR out of HNL can be pricey, but Westjet has some terrific deals if you can stomach a discount carrier for the 5h40m.  And if Waikiki isn’t your thing, take a 45min flight to Maui or the Big Island, where you can also fly direct into YVR after your mini-break.

Rod H

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

Member since 06 Mar 2015

Total posts 273

Have you considered Cathay Pacific?

They do have flights BNE-HKG-YVR and the fares are quite good not to mention the great CX service and their new J Class seats. My family and I are going Perth- HKG-YVR  in June and we did a lot of research and CX came out way in front overall.
It's well worth investigating, you might be pleasantly surprised.
Good luck.

Grum217

Member since 31 Jan 2017

Total posts 5

Have you considered Cathay Pacific?
They do have flights BNE-HKG-YVR and the fares are quite good not to mention the great CX service and their new J Class seats. My family and I are going Perth- HKG-YVR  in June and we did a lot of research and CX came out way in front overall.
It's well worth investigating, you might be pleasantly surprised.
Good luck.

 

Thanks Rod, I had not considered CX but I certainly will now. Much appreciated

Rod H

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

Member since 06 Mar 2015

Total posts 273

Grum217. 

There are a couple of things you need to consider.

If you fly Air NZ then because you have a velocity account you will get velocity points and status credits.

That's something well worth considering but the J Class seats are nowhere near as good as CX but still very nice.

Also if you do fly CX it will be on the nice new A350-900 from BNE when you travel.

That alone is almost enough to select CX but ANZ is very good  and if you need Velocity points etc . 

they might be the way to go if you do much travelling .

Isn't it nice to be able to choose who to fly with and get such good service and comfort.

Such a dilemma!!

You can't lose with either of these two.

Enjoy it which ever way you go.

I can hardly wait for my CX flight HKG-YVR on the A350.



Last editedby Rod H at Feb 06, 2017, 11:08 AM.

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