Air New Zealand Air Points - Can I use a Comp upgrade AND airpoints upgrade on the same leg?

Hi all

I searched for the answer to this, but I couldn't find it - apologies if it has been covered.

I am flying from NZ to HKG in Y over Easter. I think that PE is sold out, and I have an upgrade voucher (from Silver membership) to use. This will only get me to PE and I'd like to upgrade to Business Premier if possible.

I'm thinking a standby airpoints upgrade to PE (220ish airpoints dollars) and then the comp one sector voucher to BP from there - but with PE full, will that mean that my first upgrade simply won't clear, and I'll get neither? I thought of doing it the other way around - comp upgrade to PE and then pay standby airpoints $ to BP, but that would cost more than twice the airpoints I think for the PE to BP part - so less desirable. And again - if PE is full, then I'm guessing that I won't get either (and they won't "leapfrog" me to BP)

Is there any way I can work this upgrade? Or should I just ask when checking in if I can do a standby points and then comp upgrade at the time? Or am I most likely poop out of luck? :(

Thanks in advance,

NKHK

Yeah that won't work. You could use 2 u/g vouchers or extra airbucks to try to upgrade all the way from economy to business.

Note in such situations I'd expect some people in premium economy to go up to business class (either supported through u/gs or op-ups), which frees room for NZ to process some economy to premium economy u/gs.