Vacation Review: New Zealand, North & South Islands, Tauranga, Queenstown, Hiking, Two-Week Trip

I would not book the flights through the travel agent.  I was advised by Heather to book the flights through them and call the airlines to use my points for seat upgrades to first class.  Worse advice ever.  I had 6 flights for the entire trip.  United reps couldn't adjust Air New Zealand flights and vice versa.  When I determined who could do what, they told me my class of ticket was ineligible for an upgrade.  Throughout the trip we had baggage issues too.  Since the tickets were booked through the travel agent, we had no leverage to make changes.  The air travel was the worst experience of the whole trip.