Air New Zealand Business Premier
from$4,500round trip · per person
Air New Zealand flies Auckland nonstop from five US cities, including the 17½-hour flight from New York, and its Business Premier cabin — refreshed with the new Business Premier Luxe suites on the retrofitted 787 fleet — is the way most Americans arrive in New Zealand. The airline has won AirlineRatings' Airline of the Year more often than any other, and the crew's warmth is the reason.
Business cabin
Business Premier
Alliance
Star Alliance
Hub
Auckland (AKL)
Business Premier lie-flat with aisle access
Business Premier Luxe with a closing door on the 787-9
Premium New Zealand hospitality
Built for ultra-long-haul
At a glance
Premium cabins · US routes
- Business cabin
- Business Premier · 1-1-1 herringbone lie-flatDetailsHide
- First Class
- No · Business is the top cabinDetailsHide
- Alliance
- Star Alliance · Program: Airpoints
- Hub
- AKL · Auckland
- US gateways
- 6 US cities · Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Chicago, New York JFK, HonoluluDetailsHide
- Flight time
- 13–17.5h · Los Angeles → New YorkDetailsHide
Business Premier (1-1-1 herringbone lie-flat) on the 787-9 and 777-300ER; new Business Premier and Business Premier Luxe (1-2-1 with doors; Luxe suites with a companion seat) on retrofitted and new 787s
none
Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Chicago, New York JFK, Honolulu
13h Los Angeles · 13h San Francisco · 15h Houston · 16h Chicago · 17.5h New York
Air New Zealand fares from the US
Negotiated round-trip starting fares, per person — request yours for exact dates.
Starting fares for lead-time bookings; your exact price depends on dates and availability.
The seat
What makes Business Premier different
The original Business Premier is a lie-flat 1-1-1 herringbone — every seat has aisle access and its own space, the bed is made up with a mattress by the crew, and the New Zealand food and wine (lamb, seafood, a Marlborough sauvignon blanc and Central Otago pinot list) are the best on the Pacific. The new cabins are a leap: Business Premier becomes a 1-2-1 suite with a sliding door, and Business Premier Luxe adds four larger front-row suites with a companion seat and a bigger screen. Air New Zealand's Skynest sleep pods in economy made headlines, but the point in Business is the crew — consistently the friendliest on the Pacific — and Auckland's easy connection to Queenstown.
Popular destinations with Air New Zealand from the US
Tap a destination for starting fares, routes and the full guide.
Contract fareFrom
Los Angeles
To
Auckland
Contract fareFrom
Los Angeles
To
Sydney
Contract fareFrom
Los Angeles
To
Melbourne
Contract fareFrom
Los Angeles
To
Brisbane
Contract fareFrom
Los Angeles
To
Fiji
Contract fareFrom
Los Angeles
To
Tahiti
Why it is worth it
Benefits of flying Air New Zealand in a premium cabin
7 things that come with the ticket, before you count the seat itself.
Lie-flat with aisle access on every seat; doors and Luxe suites on the new cabins
New Zealand cuisine and wine program in Business Premier
Free Wi-Fi in Business Premier on Wi-Fi-equipped aircraft
The most US gateways of any airline to New Zealand, including the New York nonstop
Star Alliance Gold benefits when connecting on United, Singapore, ANA or Air Canada
Same-ticket domestic connections to Queenstown, Christchurch and Wellington
Amenity kits and pajamas in Business Premier on long-haul
Air New Zealand lounges
Auckland's international Air New Zealand Lounge is one of the best in the region, with a bar, cooked-to-order breakfast and showers, and the domestic lounges connect for onward flights. In the US, Air New Zealand operates its own lounge at Los Angeles Tom Bradley and uses United Polaris or Star Alliance lounges at San Francisco, Houston, Chicago and New York.
Upgrades: can you move up?
Air New Zealand's OneUp program lets you bid for an upgrade before departure, and Airpoints members can upgrade eligible fares. There is no cabin above Business Premier; Business Premier Luxe is sold as a higher fare on aircraft that have it, and we quote both.
Important to know before you book
- The 787 retrofit is progressive; some flights still carry the original herringbone Business Premier, which is excellent but older. We confirm the aircraft.
- The New York nonstop is one of the longest flights in the world; the westbound sector is around 17½ hours.
- Air New Zealand and United run a joint venture on the Pacific; United's San Francisco–Auckland Polaris is the comparison.
- New Zealand's summer (December–February) and ski season (June–September) are the peaks.
Rankings and reviews
Air New Zealand has been named AirlineRatings Airline of the Year more times than any other carrier, most recently for 2024, and holds a Skytrax 4-Star rating; its crew and lounges are consistently rated the best in the Pacific by reviewers.
Why book Air New Zealand with LuxeSkies
Transpacific business fares are the highest on the map and Air New Zealand's move sharply with New Zealand's calendar. We hold contract fares from $4,500 round trip, price Air New Zealand against United, Qantas and the Fiji Airways one-stop, confirm whether your aircraft has the new cabin, and build the Queenstown connection into the ticket.
Air New Zealand questions
How much is Air New Zealand business class from the US?
Our negotiated starting fares are $4,500 round trip from Los Angeles for lead-time bookings; San Francisco is close, Houston and Chicago higher, and New York highest. December–January dates price higher.
Does Air New Zealand have First Class?
No. Business Premier is the top cabin, with Business Premier Luxe as a larger front-row suite on the newest aircraft.
How long is the Air New Zealand flight from New York to Auckland?
About 17½ hours westbound and 16 hours on the return — one of the five longest flights in the world. The flight departs in the evening and lands in the morning two calendar days later.
Can I connect to Queenstown on the same ticket?
Yes. Air New Zealand's domestic network connects Auckland to Queenstown, Christchurch and Wellington in about 90 minutes, and we book it on the same ticket so bags check through.
Related pages
Reviews
4.8 on Trustpilot, in Clients’ Own Words
“They answered all my questions and were very responsive and provided flexible dates for travel.”
SELCHUK
Jul 22, 2026
“Wonderful! The crew were so helpful! It’s no worry trip! We enjoyed the process especially our trip arrangements. We couldn’t complain of how wonderful everything went! Thank you for making our trip memorable!!!”
Mrs. Gray
Aug 5, 2026
“Tony Carter made the experience easy. He was very professional, friendly and patient; made the process go smoothly.”
Almaree Owens
Aug 4, 2026
“Steven was enthusiastic (to a fault). His first of three offers was about 10% above my budget but the flights really fit the schedule so well I had to say yes. The other two offers were cheaper but the timing was off for me.”
Scott C Rosen
Aug 3, 2026
“Good customer service and pricing saving me a few thousand dollars on a couple of business class tickets.”
Francisco E.
Jul 31, 2026
“Great customer service. English speaking representatives. Quick response time.”
Donna
Jul 16, 2026
“Tony Carter...nothing else needs to be said!!! His professionalism, patience, personable responses made this almost perfect. No doubt will be using him / them again on our next adventure. Alan R Vernon”
Alan
Jul 23, 2026
“It was great! So helpful and patient the only negative thing I can say is it wasn’t communicated the price for assistance until I already paid and left a tip.”
Stephen Girard
May 27, 2026
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