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

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.

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).

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.

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.

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

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

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.

Have you considered Cathay Pacific?

Grum217. 

There are a couple of things you need to consider.