Compare Air New Zealand Credit Cards
Earn Airpoints Dollars for free flights, upgrades and more
Updated 13 July 2020
Air New Zealand Credit Cards Summary
Best Buys - Our Recommendations:
We have reviewed the 10+ Air New Zealand Airpoints credit cards on offer, and shortlisted six cards which stand out. We outline the costs, benefits, pros and cons for the following categories:
- There are many available; the best option for you will depend on how much you spend and how much you travel.
- Our pick for light spenders is the American Express Airpoints Card, which has no annual fees and earns a reasonable 1 Airpoints Dollar for every $100 spent. AMEX is increasingly accepted throughout New Zealand, but you won't be able to use it everywhere.
- Many cards offer perks such as Koru club vouchers, status points and free travel insurance - we believe the best card for families and medium to high spenders is the Kiwibank Air New Zealand Airpoints Platinum Visa.
Best Buys - Our Recommendations:
We have reviewed the 10+ Air New Zealand Airpoints credit cards on offer, and shortlisted six cards which stand out. We outline the costs, benefits, pros and cons for the following categories:
- Best Card for Families + Best Card for Airpoints Frequent Flyers - Kiwibank Air New Zealand Airpoints Platinum Visa
- Runner Up Best Card for Maximising Airpoints Earning - The American Express Airpoints Platinum Card
- Best "Pays for Itself" Card - AMEX Platinum Edge Credit Card
- Best No Fee Card - American Express Airpoints Card
- Best Card for Low Spenders - Kiwibank Air New Zealand Airpoints Low Fee Visa and American Express Airpoints Card
- Best Card for Business - ANZ Visa Business Airpoints
What is the appeal of an Air New Zealand credit card?
Who is this guide for?
- Air New Zealand credit cards allow you to save big on flights around the country and even around the world just by using your credit card when you pay for stuff. There are a lot of decent credit cards earning Airpoints, and many have perks such as Koru Club vouchers, status points, Airpoints in advance allowances and partner cards.
- It’s easy to earn – you will get Airpoints Dollars as soon as you spend, not when you fly, and if you catch a good signup offer you can save on fees and get more rewards.
Who is this guide for?
- Because flying is somewhat of a national pastime, Airpoints earning credit card have wide appeal. However, due to the annual fees on most cards, this guide is best for those who spend at least $10,000 on their credit cards every year.
- If you're a lower spender or don’t fly at least once a year, Cashback and Rewards Credit Cards are far more suitable and offer better savings.
- This is a complete guide to the best Air New Zealand credit cards, how to use them, bolster up your Airpoints Dollars balances and enjoy the benefits safely by picking the best card for your needs.
- If you would like to share any tips or insights from your personal experience, please email our research team.
6 Must-Know Air New Zealand Airpoints Credit Card Facts
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Airpoints credit cards are only suitable if you pay off the balance every monthIf you struggle to pay off a credit card, look at a low-interest credit card or a balance transfer credit card (if you have credit card debt) as this is a far better option to crunch your debts.
If this isn't an issue, you can maximize your earning potential by using your credit card for everything you can, replacing your use of debit cards, credit cards, cheques and cash where possible. Just be aware of your monthly budget, spend in line with your finances and set up a direct debit to take care of the bill. If you incur workplace expenses, ask if it’s possible to use your credit card. |
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Airpoints credit cards work with any other card and retailerYou can combine any Airpoints you earn from spending on a credit card with Airpoints accrued from flying or shopping with an Air New Zealand partner such as New World or Harvey Norman. Airpoints go into one account either during the transaction (retail partners) or at the end of the month (when your credit card billing cycle ends). Best of all, you can pay for retail partner purchases with a credit card, effectively earning the maximum Airpoints possible.
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Rewards start from 30 Airpoints DollarsWhen you've collected enough Airpoints, you can redeem awards on the Air New Zealand shop or book a flight. You can also use them for any grabaseat offer. However, international flights have a tax and security fee component which needs to be paid with cash.
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Your credit score and income are importantAs you’re applying for a credit card, your credit score and ability to make repayments is important. Generally, most cards will be easy to obtain to anyone earning above $30,000 with good finances and one or two other credit cards. If that's not you, then don't apply, as rejected applications can affect your credit score negatively. Our guide to credit score and credit checks explains everything in detail.
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Every credit card favours high spendersHigher spenders earn more points, but also reap more rewards such as Koru vouchers and status credits. As long as you spend enough to cover the annual fee (as we outline below in our "best cards" selections), those cards would be suitable. If not, look at cashback credit cards.
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Cash withdrawals don’t earn AirpointsTaking money out on your card charges you interest and it won't earn you Airpoints.
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Best Air New Zealand Airpoints Credit Cards
Best Buys - Our Recommendations:
We have reviewed 10+ Air New Zealand Airpoints credit cards and outline the costs, benefits, pros and cons for the following categories:
We have reviewed 10+ Air New Zealand Airpoints credit cards and outline the costs, benefits, pros and cons for the following categories:
- Best Card for Families + Best Card for Airpoints Frequent Flyers - Kiwibank Air New Zealand Airpoints Platinum Visa
- Runner Up Best Card for Maximising Airpoints Earning - The American Express Airpoints Platinum Card
- Best "Pays for Itself" Card - AMEX Platinum Edge Credit Card
- Best No Fee Card - American Express Airpoints Card
- Best Card for Low Spenders - Kiwibank Air New Zealand Airpoints Low Fee Visa and American Express Airpoints Card
- Best Card for Business - ANZ Visa Business Airpoints
1. Best Card for Families and Best Card for Air New Zealand Frequent Flyers - Kiwibank Air New Zealand Airpoints Platinum Visa
Benefits include:
- Two Koru Club vouchers for every $30,000 spent (valid for one year for the cardholder and a guest), capped at two pairs (i.e. 4 vouchers) per year.
- Ability to make an Airpoints Dollars™ top up if you’re short for a free flight
- Complimentary overseas travel insurance (as long as you use the credit card when paying for one item of travel).
- Every $200 spent earns 1 status point, which assists reaching Silver, Gold and Gold Elite tier levels. If you spend $45,000 in one year, you’ll earn 225 Status points which are half the points you’ll need to reach Silver.
Our thoughts:
We consider this the best card for a number of purposes. Being a Mastercard, it’s widely accepted. Even though it earns less Airpoints than the AMEX Platinum ($1 per $75 spend vs $1 per $59 spend), the difference in Airpoints Dollars earned is less than $200 on annual spend up to $50,000. Packed with the highest status credit earn rate, Koru voucher earning and a reasonable annual fee, we have not identified a more suitable card for multiple purposes.
The Need-to-knows:
- The interest rate is 20.95% p.a.
- Each $75 you spend earns 1 Airpoints Dollar (and $65 to 1 APD when purchasing Air New Zealand)
- There is an annual fee of $150, but promotions throughout the year have it waive it for the first one or two years.
- To earn the equivalent of $150 in Airpoints, you’ll need to spend $11,250 per year.
- The supplementary card annual fee is $30
- Taxes and levies on flights are additional, and you’ll need to pay them separately when you book a reward flight.
- The card is a Mastercard, which like VISA is widely accepted in New Zealand and around the world.
- Pay the balance every month to maximise the reward benefits – any late payments and interest charges will diminish your gains.
- The Airpoints earned do not expire, and can be shared using Sharepoints with anyone living at the same address.
- Half of the tier points required for Silver and Gold must be generated from flying on Air New Zealand or partner airlines.
2. Runner Up Best Card for Maximising Airpoints Earning - The American Express Airpoints Platinum Card
Benefits include:
The Need to Knows:
Annual Fee: $195
Airpoints or Membership Rewards? Airpoints
Annual percentage interest rate: 19.95% p.a.
Interest-Free Period: up to 55 days
Bonus Offer: 200 Airpoints if you spend $1,500 within the first 3 months
More details: American Express Credit Cards Review
- Every $59 you spend = 1 Airpoints Dollar, and $250 spend = 1 Status Point
- Complimentary Smartphone Screen Insurance, Domestic and International Travel Insurance
- Four lounge passes per year (two in Auckland Airport, two for either Sydney or Melbourne)
The Need to Knows:
Annual Fee: $195
Airpoints or Membership Rewards? Airpoints
Annual percentage interest rate: 19.95% p.a.
Interest-Free Period: up to 55 days
Bonus Offer: 200 Airpoints if you spend $1,500 within the first 3 months
More details: American Express Credit Cards Review
3. Best 'Pays for Itself' Card - AMEX Platinum Edge Credit Card
Benefits include:
- One return, direct flight every year within New Zealand (for example, Auckland to Queenstown, Wellington to Dunedin etc)
- Complimentary New Zealand overseas travel insurance (as long as you use the credit card when paying for one item of travel).
- Earn Membership reward points, which convert to Airpoints Dollars. 100 Membership Rewards ("'MRP') points = 1 Airpoints Dollar.
- Bonus Membership Reward Points per $1 spent earns 3 MRP (when at major supermarkets), 2 MRP (when at major petrol stations) and 1 MRP on all other purchases.
The Need-to-knows
- The interest rate is 19.95% p.a.
- There is an annual fee of $149
- Every new customer receives 20,000 Membership Points, which equates to 114 Airpoints Dollars
- To cover the $149 with Airpoints, you’ll need to use the complimentary flight or spend at least $14,900 on non-supermarket and petrol purchases. When taking into account the earning deals from the retail partners listed above, the spend comes down considerably.
- There is no supplementary card annual fee.
- Taxes and levies on flights are additional, and you’ll need to pay them separately when you book a reward flight (excluding the annual direct return flight).
- Pay the balance every month to maximise the reward benefits – any late payments and interest charges will destroy your gains.
- The card is an AMEX, which has some limitations in where it is accepted (compared to Mastercard and VISA).
- Airpoints do not appear monthly; manual transfers are required via the American Express website.
- The Membership Rewards Points Airpoints earned do not expire, but converting them to Airpoints gives them a life of 4 years from when they appear on your Airpoints account. The balance, once converted, can be shared using Sharepoints with anyone living at the same address.
- No Status points for Silver, Gold and Gold Elite are earned on this card.
- A minimum income of $50,000 is required to apply for the card.
More details: American Express Credit Cards Review
4. Best No Fee Card - American Express Airpoints Card
Benefits include:
- The only No Fee option to earn Airpoints Dollars.
- 50 Airpoints if you spend $750 within the first three months
- A reasonable earning rate of 1 Airpoints Dollar per $100 spent, but you'll need to spend $2,000 to transfer them to Airpoints.
- No supplementary card fee.
- Airpoints are valid for four years from the date they appear in your account
The Need-to-knows
- The interest rate is 19.95% p.a.
- Each $100 you spend earns 1 Airpoints Dollar
- There is NO annual fee.
- The supplementary card annual fee is $0
- Taxes and levies on flights are additional, and you’ll need to pay them separately when you book a reward flight.
- The card is an AMEX, which has some limitations in where it is accepted (compared to Mastercard and VISA).
- Pay the balance every month to maximise the reward benefits – any late payments and interest charges will reduce your gains.
- The Airpoints earned expire after four years, but can be shared using Sharepoints with anyone living at the same address.
More details: American Express Credit Cards Review
5. Top Card for Low Spenders - Kiwibank Air New Zealand Airpoints Low Fee Visa
Benefits include:
- The ability to make an Airpoints Dollars™ top up if you’re short for a free flight
- Low annual fee ($25) and a low interest rate of 16.90%
Watch out:
Requires a hefty $4,000 spend to break even on the annual fee, meaning a Cashback credit card may be more suitable.
The Need-to-knows
- The interest rate is 16.90% p.a.
- Each $160 you spend earns 1 Airpoints Dollar
- There is an annual fee of $25, but promotions throughout the year have waived it in year 1.
- To cover the $25 with Airpoints, you’ll need to spend $4,000 per year to breakeven.
- The supplementary card annual fee is $10
- Taxes and levies on flights are additional, and you’ll need to pay them separately when you book a reward flight.
- The card is a Mastercard, which like VISA is widely accepted in New Zealand and around the world.
- Pay the balance every month to maximise the reward benefits – any late payments and interest charges will destroy your gains.
- The Airpoints earned do not expire, and can be shared using Sharepoints with anyone living at the same address.
- Half of the tier points required for Silver and Gold must be generated from flying on Air New Zealand or partner airlines.
6. Best Card for Business - ANZ Visa Business Airpoints
Benefits include:
- $75 spent = 1 Airpoints Dollar, and $50 = 1 APD when spent on Air New Zealand
- Koru Club joining fee waiver and annual discounted membership
- Airpoints don't expire
- Every $250 spent earns 1 status point, which assists reaching Silver, Gold and Gold Elite tier levels. If you spend $56,250 in one year, you’ll earn 225 Status points which are half the points you’ll need to reach Silver.
Watch out:
You'll need to spend $10,875 to earn enough Airpoints to break even on the $145 annual fee.
The Need-to-knows
- The interest rate is 19.95% p.a.
- Every $75 you spend earns 1 Airpoints Dollar, and $50 spent on Air New Zealand travel earns 1 Airpoints Dollar.
- There is an annual fee of $145, but promotions throughout the year have waived it for the first year.
- To cover the $145 fee with Airpoints, you’ll need to spend $10,875 per year to breakeven.
- The supplementary card annual fee is $10
- All Airpoints Dollars earned by your business will never expire while you have an ANZ Visa Business Airpoints card account.
- Cardholders don't pay a Koru Club joining fee (valued at $255) and receive a discount of $145 off the standard 12-month individual Koru membership fee for all principals working at the business.
- Taxes and levies on flights are additional, and you’ll need to pay them separately when you book a reward flight.
- The card is a VISA, which like Mastercard is widely accepted in New Zealand and around the world.
- Pay the balance every month to maximise the reward benefits – any late payments and interest charges will reduce your gains.
- The Airpoints earned do not expire, and can be shared using Sharepoints with anyone living at the same address.
- Half of the tier points required for Silver and Gold must be generated from flying on Air New Zealand or partner airlines.
Air New Zealand credit card FAQs
I fly more than just Air New Zealand. Are there credit cards for other airlines?
Yes. Any American Express card earns points in their own program, Membership Rewards®, whereby you can convert points into programs with Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas and Virgin Australia. For most Kiwis, an Air New Zealand affiliated credit card is the most suitable choice.
Can I have an additional cardholder in my account to boost Airpoints?
Yes – all expenditure goes onto the same bill. Additional cards cost between $0 and $30 per year. See our best buys below for more details.
Can I buy extra Airpoints?
No - to redeem an award flight, you will need to have at least the required balance of Airpoints unless you use Air New Zealand's Flexipay option.
Can I link my credit card to PayPal?
Yes. If you shop online, using PayPal is a popular method of payment. Read our PayPal fee page to minimize the fees you’ll pay while maximising your Airpoints.
Are Mastercard and VISA more accepted than AMEX in New Zealand?
Generally, the answer is yes. Many Kiwi retailers don’t accept AMEX due to the higher fees it charges them. The Airpoints earning rates may be higher, but that’s secondary if you can’t use the card at your local café etc. However, AMEX helpfully lists all the retailers accepting their card, and it covers major supermarkets, petrol stations and more.
Do I need to fly Air New Zealand to use the Airpoints Dollars?
No. You can use them on partner airlines or a range of non-travel awards, such as wine and gifts. Visit the Airpoints store.
Do I need to bank with the issuer of the credit card?
No. You can apply for a credit card with any bank, and it doesn’t matter whether you are a customer or not. Be aware that American Express credit cards are provided directly by Amex, and not available through banks. You can read more about the American Express credit cards here.
