Air New Zealand Air Points - Problems getting VS points on NZ

My partner recently flew HKG-SYD return on VS in premium economy and both times was granted the airline partner DISCOUNT economy airpoints. So, as you can imagine, we contacted Air NZ to point out that premium economy tickets should at least earn the full economy rates for partner airlines.

Anyone else had trouble getting the right class credited for VS?

Any sign that those of us flying Star and non-Star partners in premium economy might get better recognition with airpoints?

E.g. SK and NH both offer premium economy, but you only get full economy partner airpoints on NZ airpoints.

NZ airpoints is known to be not the best program for crediting your partner points to as they heavily punish you.

Yeah, ANZ has some funny scheme such as you earn airpoints on there discount economy pacific fares, but ONLY on ANZ Airpoints, not any other *A carrier..

What did NZ say when you contacted them?

I thought it was the partner airline that decided how many A$ were credited.. (or rather what basis was used)..

On a cheap C deal ex-Asia I was credited Y A$ for a C segment.. and told by NZ that was because that is what AC had deemed the trip to be "worth".......

I'm confused....

NZ credited the points, but the same thing happened again a few months later (We're UK based so VS is an option for many routes) and I had to contact NZ again. VS is probably part to blame, but surely the booking codes for VS in premium economy are what comes through and that certainly isn't "discount economy".

I know NZ is far from optimal for one flying *A airlines and partners, but given I flew to NZ return four times last year, half the time in C class, I'm Gold Elite through to mid 2009 already and happy to retain that. I'm not on any single other *A airline (or VS) enough to make it worthwhile joining the BD or VS schemes.