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The Best Credit Cards for Earning Emirates Skywards Credit Cards Miles

We explain the cards on offer, their fees, interest rates, perks, and how converting points to Emirates Skywards miles works.
Updated 3 August 2024
Summary
  • The only credit cards that earn Emirates Skywards Miles in New Zealand are American Express cards and BNZ cards.
  • For AMEX, the most popular card is the American Express Gold Rewards Card ($200/year fee).
  • For the BNZ, 300 BNZ Points = 50 Skywards Miles, and there is a minimum transfer of 600 BNZ Points. Two cards earn BNZ points, as outlined on the BNZ website, but the rate of earning is very low. For example, a $100 spent = 100 and 167 BNZ points with the BNZ Advantage Visa Classic and BNZ Advantage Visa Platinum, which translates to 16.7 and 27.8 Skywards Miles. This is much lower than what an AMEX card earns for the same spend, which we deemed to be very poor. For this reason, we have not focused on the BNZ cards, but you can review them here. You can also see this promotion on the Emirates website.
  • Given the poor value of Skywards miles redemptions from New Zealand, we argue that Skywards is best avoided for any credit card points earning. In January 2023 Emirates devalued the program, increasing reward miles fares by around 100%, as outlined in this trusted airline blog. You'll spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to get a reward flight to Dubai and then pay an absurd amount for taxes and fees.
  • Our research using the Emirates Skywards website confirms the Skywards program provides poor value for all flights to/from Auckland and Christchurch; we suggest New Zealanders refrain from earning Skywards miles via a credit card given there are far more generous alternatives.

If you still wish to consider a New Zealand Skywards mile-earning credit card, our guide outlines what you need to know:
  • American Express offers two credit cards which earn Skywards Miles; both cards earn 2 Membership Rewards Points per NZ$1 spent. You can then convert Membership Rewards Points into Skywards Miles at a rate of 3:1 (3 Membership Rewards points = 1 Skywards Mile). The estimated transfer time is up to one business day, and the minimum transfer amount is 2,000 Membership Rewards Points.
  • No other credit card outside of American Express offers the ability to earn Skywards Miles. All bank-issued credit cards that offer airline rewards focus on Air New Zealand Airpoints Dollars.
  • We calculate that both American Express cards effectively earn Skywards Miles at a rate of $1 spent = 0.67 point, given the American Express earning rate ($1 = 2 Amex points) and the conversion rate (3 Amex points = 1 Skywards Mile).
  • With a return Emirates business class flight from Auckland to London costing 407,500 Skywards miles (per their calculator) and $4,415 in taxes, you'd need to spend $608,000+ on the card to earn the reward.
  • Given that the flight cost in cash is around NZ$10,000 plus taxes, we calculate the earn rate at around 1.6 cents per $1 spent, which is low and arguably poor value for cardholders, and this is before you need to stump up thousands in taxes. With regards to the return business class Christchurch to London example, the value of the award is around $6,000 (given the $4,000+ in taxes charged alongside the points). This brings the earn rate to around 1 cent per $1 spent.
  • If you're serious about Skywards, you'll need to spend above-average amounts and want to redeem business class tickets to enjoy some level of rewards, but the value is very hard to find.
  • American Express periodically offers signup bonuses of Membership Rewards Points, which can be automatically converted into Skywards Miles, reducing the amount of spend to fund a flight award redemption.
  • With Emirates flying daily from Auckland and Christchurch to 100+ destinations in the Middle East, Africa, India and Europe, more New Zealanders are looking at Emirates-related credit cards to boost the miles you'll earn from flying. However, we argue there are far more rewarding ways to use American Express Membership Rewards Points.

In this guide, we look at the pros and cons of having an American Express credit card, the Skywards Miles-earning options and must-know facts. Our guide covers:
Read this First
  1. Our guide has been written to appeal to anyone looking to earn Skywards Miles beyond flying Emirates, Qantas or a partner airline.
  2. Cardholders earn Membership Rewards points; what you earn depends on how much you spend.
  3. Our guide is informational only and does not constitute financial advice.
  4. As stated above, American Express credit cards are provided directly by American Express. This means cards are not available through banks or finance companies.
  5. Emirates Skywards is one of many partners American Express offers points. You can transfer to any of the partners, as outlined in our review here.

Advertising Disclaimer: We may receive a payment if you sign up for a credit card via MoneyHub - please read our advertising policy for more details. 

MoneyHub Founder Christopher Walsh shares his views about the Emirates Skywards Program and Choosing a Miles-Earning Credit Card:

"New Zealand banks have never offered Emirates credit cards and left American Express to own the space with two credit cards. You'll earn 'Membership Rewards Points' which can be transferred into Skywards miles for free (at a rate of 3:1) on demand. This means 1 NZD spent on a points-earning American Express card = 0.67 Skywards mile".

"However, my view is simple - why would you bother? Emirates has devalued their program to the extent where you have to spend $608,000+ to get less than $6,000 of value, and better airline transfer partners are easy to find".

"If you're serious about Skywards, there are some limitations with the AMEX cards. Unlike Air New Zealand credit cards, you can't earn status points on American Express spend. This means that anyone looking to qualify (or renew) as Skywards Silver, Gold or Platinum will need to fly and won't be able to rely on credit card spending to get a status point boost.

"Emirates has a dominant position and is popular with New Zealanders thanks to its double-daily Airbus A380 services to Auckland and Christchurch. However, the devaluation of Skywards makes it a poor value AMEX transfer partner and your Membership Rewards Points compared to airlines such as Singapore Airlines".

"Whatever you decide, make sure it's the best for your immediate needs. There's no point getting a card "for later," as you'll either overpay and/or get the wrong rewards. For this reason, we've explained the cards in detail to help your decision-making process. If you are in any doubt about what you can afford, it's likely that the best credit card is "no credit card" - all the benefits are lost if you don't pay the balance in full every month".
Christopher Walsh
MoneyHub Founder

American Express Credit Cards - General and Specific Pros and Cons

Pros
  1. The only New Zealand credit cards to earn Emirates Skywards miles - $1 spent = 0.67 Skywards mile.
  2. Travel perks – both cards offer free travel insurance, bonuses for joining and bonuses.
  3. Favourable Customer Dispute Terms – if you experience fraud or wish to question a transaction, American Express will actively fight in your corner.
  4. Customer Service – With American Express, you have a direct line, but if you use Visa and Mastercard, you'll have to deal with your bank. Most New Zealand banks use a multi-option call centre for credit card help with standard office hours. Any troublesome issues may be ‘referred’ to Visa or Mastercard for ‘review’ and 'decision'. American Express operates specific 0800 hotlines which are open 24/7 and makes decisions directly.
  5. Cards are increasingly accepted at major New Zealand retailers – you can use an American Express card at Countdown, New World, PAK'nSAVE and other supermarkets. Other retailers include most petrol stations and airline websites.
  6. You don't need to convert points to Emirates' Skywards program - there are dozens of partners and reward options

Cons
  1. Many non-chain retailers don’t accept it – unlike Mastercard and Visa, which is primarily due to the high merchant fee Amex charges and favourable cardmember terms when disputes are raised.
  2. ​Membership points partnerships – if you don’t spend at least $20,000 a year, a points-earning card would struggle to offer value.

Beyond the Skywards Miles Conversion - Explaining American Express Membership Rewards Points

Membership Rewards is American Express' awards program. You earn different numbers of points depending on where you spend. These points can be redeemed for Skywards miles as well as vouchers from supermarkets, travel agents and online.

For example, if a card earns 2 points for every $1 spent, $8,000 spent at Petrol Station Partners = 16,000 Membership Reward Points. This converts to:
  • 5,333 Skywards miles
  • $100 Bunnings Gift Card (1.26% reward value)
  • $100 New World Voucher (1.26% reward value)
  • 107 Air New Zealand Airpoints Dollars (1.34% reward value)

Membership Rewards - Our Thoughts:
  • If you spend $200 to $300 a week on groceries and petrol, the rewards are significant, and the flexibility of reward options makes the points useful.
  • Our view is that it's one of the best reward schemes available, when compared to the reward schemes offered by a number of New Zealand banks. You keep the flexibility of a range of choices to redeem American Express points which never expire.
  • You can read more about Membership Rewards Points here.

The Best Skywards Miles-Earning Credit Cards

There are currently two Skywards mile-earning American Express credit cards offered:

Best Card for Diners and Travellers: The American Express Gold Rewards Card

Basics:
​Annual Fee: $200
Reward program: Membership Rewards
Annual percentage interest rate: 19.95% p.a.
Bonus offer: $200 statement credit when you apply online, are approved and spend $1,500 on your new Card within the first 3 months. New Card Members only. 
Earn Membership Rewards: The Gold Card earns at a rate of 2 points for every $1 spent. You can use Membership Rewards Points to pay for travel with American Express directly, or you can convert them to other airline and hotel programs.
Conversion Rate: 3 Membership Rewards points = 1 Skywards mile

Read more: AMEX Gold Rewards Card Review

​Benefits include:
  • Two $100 dining credits every year - American Express has a number of dining partners throughout New Zealand. If you visit them and spend over $100 on one bill, you’ll get $100 credited to your statement. The dining credit resets every six months. The participating restaurants are located all over New Zealand, although Auckland, Wellington and Queenstown have the widest choices.
  • Comprehensive domestic and international travel insurance.
  • There is no supplementary card fee.

Learn more or apply
​​Are you a Business Owner? 
  • Many SMEs are enjoying the benefits of the recently improved American Express Gold Business Card
  • Why it wins: 2 points per $1 spent (double the rate of most cards), 50-day payment terms for superior cash flow, plus you can pay IRD and ACC bills via RewardPay to earn points on tax obligations.
  • MoneyHub runs on this card, which we use for 98%+ of our monthly business expenses, including online subscriptions, offline purchases, supplier payments via RewardPay, IRD bills, and more. The $95 annual fee pays for itself within weeks through the points we earn.
  • Bonus: 50,000 Membership Rewards points when you spend $1,000 in your first 2 months - worth $500+ in travel or 333 Airpoints Dollars.
  • Popular with: New Zealand businesses with $60,000+ revenue who want to turn every expense into rewards while extending payment terms.
  • Annual fee: $95 (our lowest business card fee, easily offset by rewards)
  • Apply for AMEX Gold Business Card and read our detailed card review

Applying for an American Express Credit Card

To apply for any American Express credit card, you will need to:
  1. Be over 18 years of age.
  2. Have a good credit history.
  3. Be a permanent resident or citizen of New Zealand.
  4. Meet the minimum income criteria for your chosen Card.
  5. If you are self-employed, you will need to have been trading for at least 18 months or 12 months if you have an existing American Express-issued Card.

You will need to provide:
  1. A copy of your New Zealand driver’s licence (if you hold one)
  2. Personal information, including your current address details.
  3. A current email address and a mobile or landline number.
  4. Financial Information, including your annual income, household income (if married/de facto), monthly living expenses, employment details, superannuation (if retired), or other sources of income.
  5. Details about any other credit cards and loans you have and their balances.

Final steps:
  1. American Express will perform a credit check to assess your financial history
  2. After that, American Express will assess your credit card application and provide a response in between 5 and 10 working days from when you submit your application.

Five Must-Know American Express Credit Card Facts

​Selecting a Membership Rewards Points American Express needs consideration

  • Emirates only services long-haul destinations from New Zealand; unless you plan to go to the Middle East, India, Africa or Europe, Skywards arguably has little value, although you can use Skywards miles on Qantas.
  • If you don’t fly that often (whether on Emirates or not) and don’t spend a regular amount on a credit card, it may be worth considering the American Express Airpoints Card which earns Air New Zealand Airpoints Dollars but doesn’t charge an annual fee. These can be redeemed widely by flying Air New Zealand, a partner airline, or at the Airpoints Store.

Our view:
  1. For anyone looking for a Emirates credit card, the entry-level American Express Gold Rewards Card ($200/year fee) offers value by way of travel insurance, dining vouchers and one Skywards mile with every $1 spent.
  2. As an example, spending an average of $2,500 per month will earn you over 20,000 Skywards miles.

Where you spend makes a big difference when it comes to earning Skywards miles

Important: Your ability to earn rewards will also depend on where you spend and whether or not American Express is accepted. Supermarkets, petrol stations and big retailers are almost certain to accept American Express, but independent retailers may be a different story. For this reason you'll need to have a debit card as a backup.

To earn Skywards miles, you'll need to sign up as a member via Emirates' website

Signing up is free and there's no annual fee - you can do so here.

American Express cardholders are offered curated tickets via ‘American Express Experiences’

Generally, American Express states that for certain concerts and events, cardholders have access to ‘the best-reserved tickets’.

American Express Membership Rewards Points don't expire

Membership Rewards points have no expiration date. However, points may be forfeited if you breach the terms and conditions of the program. You can also decide when to convert points into Skywards miles, and this usually takes around one business day to process and appear in your Skywards account.

Frequently Asked Questions

What credit cards can earn Skywards miles?

Only the American Express Gold Rewards Card ($200/year fee).

What credit card earns the most Skywards miles?

Both American Express cards give the same points (1 Point per $1 spent) since they earn the same amount of Membership Rewards Points, and the transfer/conversion rates to Skywards are the same. However, each card has a different one-off signup bonus which means the Gold card offers fewer Skywards miles in this sense.

What is the best frequent flyer credit card in New Zealand? Is it a Skywards mile-earning card or Air New Zealand Airpoints card? Or something else?

The answer depends on how much you spend per year and your travel or lifestyle demands. Our Air New Zealand Airpoints-earning credit cards review offers alternative cards that arguably offer increased flexibility (by way of Airpoints' ease of use). Saying this, many New Zealanders happily earn Skywards miles using American Express cards and have no plans to change their habits.

Is an AMEX card worth the annual fee to earn Skywards miles?

Skywards credit cards have value if you can earn a decent number of miles and redeem them for business or first class flights. However, it all depends on how much you spend per year - the more you do, it's likely the greater the rewards relative to the annual fee.

Credit Cards vs Charge Cards - What's the Difference?

  • Charge cards look and behave like a credit card, but it doesn’t charge interest if you pay the balance late. Instead, a late fee is charged, which for, as an example, could be $20 or 3.25% of the balance, whichever is the greater.
  • This means if you spend $5,000 and don’t make the repayment by the due date, you’ll be charged a whopping $162.50, which will be added to the balance. You’ll continue to pay the late fee every month until the balance is cleared.
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