Air New Zealand Air Points - Need urgent help re premier econ booking...being told i have to pay airfare now!

We are travelling to the USA in premium econ in late Oct 08. We went to the travel agents and booked our seats last week and were told we just had to pay a $240 deposit each to hold the flights and then pay in full 30 days prior to leaving (which would be sept sometime). Now we are being told by the travel agent (travelscene) that we have to pay our flights in full within 14 days because we are flying premium economy, and if we don't we will loose the seats????? Is this true, because I have looked on Air New Zealands web site and it just says full money is due 30 days prior to departure. I can understand if we are going next month or something, but we have like 7 mths to go yet. Is the travel agent correct or are they just trying to get our money early for some reason. PLEASE can someone help me....I have also email air new zealand with this question..... I just think that it is a lot of money to pay up front ($5000 each) when we are not travelling for 7 mths yet!!...was thinking I would have a bit longer to save up!!!:)

Thanks everyone...would REALLY appreciate and feedback!!

Um is this travel for AKL-SFO or AKL-LAX or LHR-LAX. Thats the first time that i have hered that you can pay that late but then every trip since 1999 i have book online. Although i do know NZ does like to know its planes are fill way before departure.

I think that's right - most ex-Australia airfares have a 14 day ticketing deadline. It's been a while since I've seen one that's different except for business class.