Air New Zealand is launching three day a week Auckland – New York JFK service September 17th using a Boeing 787-9.

Auckland – New York JFK, 7:40 p.m. – 7:55 p.m. NZ1 Mon/Thurs/Sat
New York JFK – Auckland, 9:55 p.m. – 7:30 a.m.+1 NZ2 Mon/Thurs/Sat

At 8,828 miles this will be the world’s third longest flight. It will clock in at 16 hours northbound and nearly 17 and a half hours southbound.

1. Newark – Singapore: 9,537 miles (Singapore Airlines)
   
2. Doha – Auckland: 9,032 miles (Qatar Airways)
   
3. New York JFK – Auckland: 8,828 miles (Air New Zealand, launching September)
   
4. Dubai – Auckland: 8,823 miles (Emirates)
   
5. Los Angeles – Singapore: 8.770 miles (Singapore Airlines)
   
6. San Francisco – Bangalore: 8,702 miles (Air India, United Airlines launching October)
   
7. Darwin – London Heathrow: 8,620 miles (Qantas)
   
8. Houston – Sydney: 8,596 miles (United Airlines)
   
9. Dallas Fort Worth – Sydney: 8,577 miles (Qantas)
   
10. New York JFK – Manila: 8,520 miles (Philippine Airlines)

At New York JFK the airline will utilize Lufthansa’s lounges. The service had originally been planned to start in 2020 using Newark as its destination airport to connect with Star Alliance partner United’s flights. Instead they’ll focus almost exclusively on the New York market from JFK.

Air New Zealand business class award space is notoriously tough, but if you can find some Aeroplan charges 80,000 miles each way (American Express, Chase, Capital One, Bilt transfer partner) and United charges 90,000 miles each way (Chase, Bilt transfer partner). But the amazing value is Virgin Atlantic redemptions:

• They charge just 62,500 miles each way for non-stop business class
  
• Virgin is a transfer partner of Citi, American Express, Chase, Capital One, Bilt

The best practice is to put the award on a 24 hour hold and then make the transfer, or to have the Virgin Atlantic agent set up the award and then transfer the points while still on the phone with them. You cannot include other partners or connecting flights on the itinerary at this price, this deal is just for non-stop travel.