Upgrades. Airpoints to miles?

My wife and I are flying LHR - IAD on 2nd December. We are currently booked Premium Econ with Virgin. We are Airpoints members with Air NZ. Please correct me if I am wrong here but it appears we have to have a minimum of 40,000 miles to request an uprgrade from PE to UC. Could anyone tell me how many Air NZ Airpoints that is as they give you points rather than miles. many thanks in advance.

Iain

I'll let someone correct me, but sadly I don't think you can upgrade on VS using points from other frequent flyer programmes.

[Nottingham Nick]

That is also my understanding, Slinky.

Nick

Hello Iain and welcome.
Just to add you'll also need to be booked into an eligible fare class to be able to upgrade to UC from PE if you find a way of using your Airpoints on VS as an upgrade.
DL

In essence you can't. Because VS isn't a Star Alliance carrier. It just happens to have some agreements with some *A airlines.

Here is the normal chart for *A upgrades using your points. Sadly of no help to you now

http://www.airnewzealand.com.au/airpoints/spending_airpoints_dollars/star_upgrade_chart.htm

Thanks for all the replies Folks. That has cleared that one up for me.

Best regards

Iain