Air New Zealand Air Points - ? paying to upgrade to business class

Hi everyone!! My twin sister and I are flying out on Sun 14th Melb-Auck-San Fran then onto Disneyworld in Orlando. My question is...... I recently had spinal surgery (i'm only mid 20s) and hence we are travelling PE so I can try and recline a little as there is NO WAY I could sit in economy for that long. Last year when we flew with United, we were able to pay a little to upgrade to business. Does anyone know if I can do this when checking in for our premium economy flight? I was wondering whether I should ask or not when we check in if there is a possibility to pay and upgrade? Also approx how much would it cost to do this? Thanks heaps for any answers.....I am embarrassed to ask, so I thought I would get an idea here first! Also what is currently on offer as far as meals/ in flight entertainment at the moment in PE? Thanks guys!:)

Last year when we flew with United, we were able to pay a little to upgrade to business. Does anyone know if I can do this when checking in for our premium economy flight? I was wondering whether I should ask or not when we check in if there is a possibility to pay and upgrade? Also approx how much would it cost to do this?From Premium Economy on United? Or on NZ? The only way to pay cash and upgrade on Air New Zealand is to pay the fare difference i.e. if you didn't buy Business in the first place doing it at check-in on a premium economy ticket is likely to be prohibitively expensive. On United I know you can pay to upgrade from economy to premium economy at check-in - for US$49 or whatever, but this means nothing more than a few extra inches of legroom. (There is a big difference between the premium economy offerings from UA and NZ.) So I presume you can also pay on United from premium economy to business - but probably for a much bigger sum to reflect the genuine difference in class. (And, again, there is a big difference between the business offerings from UA [domestic] and NZ [international].)

Whoops

From Premium Economy on United? Or on NZ? The only way to pay cash and upgrade on Air New Zealand is to pay the fare difference i.e. if you didn't buy Business in the first place doing it at check-in on a premium economy ticket is likely to be prohibitively expensive. On United I know you can pay to upgrade from economy to premium economy at check-in - for US$49 or whatever, but this means nothing more than a few extra inches of legroom. (There is a big difference between the premium economy offerings from UA and NZ.) So I presume you can also pay on United from premium economy to business - but probably for a much bigger sum to reflect the genuine difference in class. (And, again, there is a big difference between the business offerings from UA [domestic] and NZ [international].)

Indeed UA offers buy-ups. Recent offers (see this thread (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=530404)) include:
$119 Economy to Economy Plus (which indeed is not anything like Premium Economy on NZ)
$550 Economy to Business (I did this last year)

I don't believe NZ does this; it devalues the product. An op-up is a possibility (I have gotten into Premium Economy as a *Gold) but don't count on it.

I find NZ's PE/Y+ significantly more comfortable than Y... YMMV of course!! The seats recline quite a bit more.. and the extra legroom makes that feasible.. you don't end up with the person in front in your lap... The leg/foot rest is not that good for me...

And in MY opinion the best seats are the main deck pairs (27-30 A&C) on the 747 rather than "upstairs"... others will no doubt disagree... 8 seats in essentially a separate area (and some room for standing/stretching etc) ... I like it!

PE on the 777 doesn't feel QUITE as "exclusive".. but has virtually all of the features found on the 747... technically slightly less seat pitch?/width?.. My buddy didn't notice when we flew back on a 777 (I got a points upgrade to BP for that leg so can't comment!....;) :) ) He thought it was quite OK.... If on the 777 I'd caution against 23C and 23H.. they LOOK great.. unlimited leg room etc.. but they are kinda part of the "traffic area" IMO at least... Have a look at the seat maps and seatguru etc.... it's often a subjective thing....

Food/service has changed since this class was introduced.. the first time I flew in it it was straight Economy meals/service... Nice surprise in February with OJ/Champagne on boarding.. orders taken then for ones "post take off" bevvy... meals served in a sort of "Business class Lite" manner etc...

Pretty sure there is a help yourself drinks/snacks arrangement.. but I didn't need any snacks after the meal!! :) (I am NOT a big eater so others may feel different!)

Entertainment is the same as in Economy (and Business for that matter - BP just gets a bigger screen) ..

AVOD with a goodly number of movies and TV shows etc (games too I believe).. not all recent movies either... I wouldn't call their "Classics" that myself, but they are generally good older films....

I slept pretty damn well too.. so I didn't watch that much of the entertainment....

Hot brekky was fine... and there was/is a "Continental" choice if memory serves...... Disembarking is nice and fast as you are right near the usual exit...

Upgrades? Seems you have to belong to the ANZ "Airpoints" program... as NZ is NOT part of the *A upgrade system...... Standby PE to BP is 395 "Airpoint dollars"...... Quite a lot really given earning rates... but BP IS something special! (IMO anyway:) )

Hope all that helps a bit!