Air New Zealand Air Points - Using airbucks for an AC flight

I may seem dense but i am a little confused .
When it comes to spending my airbucks for awards on other Star carriers, can i only use them to purchase seats that are already award seats in the other carriers system ( eg d or w with AC ) or can i simply use them to "purchase" any seat where the revenue fare is equal to or less than the amount left in my airpoints account whether or not award seats are available .
Ozflier

Unfortunately any seat is award only applies to NZ flights. From Airpoints T&C (http://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/airpoints_tc.htm).


3.1.6.1 Travel solely on Air New Zealand Operated Flights will be charged at the Airpoints Dollars equivalent of our published fares, or will be charged using the Discounted Long-haul Reward Travel on Air New Zealand Chart (in each case, subject to availability and to any applicable taxes, levies or surcharges).

3.1.6.2 Travel solely on Partner Airlines, or a combination of Air New Zealand and Partner Airlines, will be charged using the Partner Airline Reward Chart (subject to seat availability and to any taxes, levies or surcharges).


I'll add this to the Air NZ Master thread (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=409115).

It would be a nice enhancement of Airpoints to expand this to the other *A airlines. Probably quite a lot of people think it already does cover all *A.

So for non-NZ flights still only the award chart (and from award buckets in terms of availability).

Thanks for that.
Ozflier