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Is Air New Zealand Koru Membership worth the price?

In this guide, we look at the costs of Koru membership, how to get it for cheaper (or free), the pros and cons and must-know considerations.
Updated 17 November 2023
Summary
  • Air New Zealand charges around $600 per year for airport lounge access, priority check-in and luggage benefits, among other benefits. However, how often you fly and how much time you want to spend at the airport will determine the actual value of a Koru membership.
  • The standard membership fees published by Air New Zealand can be significantly reduced. For example, the $255 joining fee, outlined here, can easily be avoided in several ways using a qualifying credit card. Such cards also discount the annual membership fees.
  • Not all airports have lounges - Whangarei, Kerikeri, Rotorua, Taupo, Gisborne, Timaru and Hokitika together see 100+ flights a week but do not offer Air New Zealand lounges.

Our guide covers:
Know This First: Do you have a Platinum Airpoints Credit Card?
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MoneyHub Founder Christopher Walsh shares his views:

"I've had a few airline loyalty programs in my time – everything from Qatar Airways Platinum down to Qantas Bronze. As a long-standing Air New Zealand Gold Airpoints member, I believe the most valuable benefit of Koru membership is access to the lounges. Fourteen domestic and seven international lounges open their doors to you as a member".

"I would give up all the Airpoints Gold benefits – extra bags, seat selection, priority boarding, etc. to keep the lounge access benefit. I believe others would do the same. Koru membership benefits closely shadow the Airpoints Gold benefits when flying Air New Zealand. How valuable Koru membership is will depend on how often you fly and where you fly to and from".

"Aside from the lounge access, I would argue that everything else is probably of little value or can be purchased separately. For example:
  • Priority check-in is near-useless if you're flying without bags, and all domestic airports have kiosk check-in to save time and avoid lines.
  • Priority boarding is nice, but most elite travellers will confirm that when a boarding call is made, the line to board is usually long and "unprioritised" by the time they get to the gate after leaving the lounge.
  • Furthermore, baggage privileges are limited to one additional complimentary piece of checked baggage (up to 23kg). But to get this, you'll need to buy at least a seat+bag fare to take advantage; it's not common for most travellers to need to check in two bags regularly unless their work demands it".

"As you decide what's right for you, please read our guide closely - the last thing I want you to do is overpay for membership if you end up applying. Our tips below are designed to save you money".

Know This - Koru Membership, Flying More for Less, and the Airpoints Credit Card Disparity

Earning Airpoints from a credit card is arguably one of the fastest and cost-effective ways to build up a balance. Unless you're flying a lot for work, most New Zealanders will earn 5-10 Airpoints Dollars per flight (unless expensive/flexible airfares are booked). Over a year, that's probably around 40-100 Airpoints Dollars. However, if you spend $2,500 a month on groceries, petrol and general expenses, you can earn over 500 Airpoints Dollars a year with the right high-earning credit card. 

The problem is not every Airpoints credit card is equal. The banks are reducing the earning ratio of their Airpoints Dollars-earning credit cards while cutting back on other benefits. Most disappointing is when it comes to 'Platinum' credit cards:
Our view is simple - flying Air New Zealand is a lot more cost-effective with an American Express card than any other credit card. Best of all, the annual fee is in line with bank cards and the card benefits arguably exceed the bank-issued cards, which makes it our Favourite Airline Credit Card in our 2023 Editor's Choice Awards.

We continue to challenge the 'deals' offered by banks (this Stuff.co.nz column is one example) and believe there is a reliance of New Zealanders accepting inferior credit card rewards because it's convenient. However, we don't see an American Express as an inconvenience.

Conclusion: If you are looking to pay for a Koru membership, we believe it's most cost-effective with a credit card that earns the highest Airpoints Dollars - this continues to be the American Express Platinum Airpoints Card. However, as always, if you are in any doubt about what you can afford, the best Airpoints credit card is likely to be "no credit card".

Is Koru Membership Good Value for Money?

It all depends on how much you travel. As Air New Zealand doesn't offer paid access to domestic lounges or domestic business class, Koru membership (or premium Airpoints qualification) is the only way to get in the door. The benefits of priority check-in, priority seating selection, an additional bag and lounge access for you and a guest all come in one membership. 

Our view is simple:
  • If you fly alone and 1-5 times per year, Koru membership is probably not worth it. You'll be paying around $100 per trip for the benefits. However, if you're flying away for the weekend and not checking in bags, the benefits are further limited.
  • If you fly 5-8 times per year as a couple, the economics are better. That is at least 20 visits to an airport with a lounge (five flights outbound, five on the return, with one visit each per person), you're paying around $30 per entry per person. If you're booking low-cost seat or seat+bag fares, you're unlikely to fly enough to reach Airpoints Gold, so Koru membership is the only realistic way to access lounges.
  • If you fly 8-10+ times per year as an individual, Koru membership is likely to be very useful. This is because planes get delayed, so a lounge makes it more comfortable and WIFI is always available. In addition, the jet-area lounges in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch have showers, and if you need to change planes via a main centre, access to a lounge becomes more convenient.
  • Related guide: The Fastest Way To Earn Air NZ Status Points

Koru Membership – Benefits and Must-Know Facts

In this section, we expand on the benefits of Koru membership and ways to save money on the joining fee and annual fees.

Who is Koru Membership for?

Koru Membership runs parallel to the Air New Zealand Airpoints program. It is aimed at people who don't fly enough (or buy status points-heavy airfares) to qualify for Gold or Gold Elite level Airpoints membership. Koru membership offers a similar level of benefits to premium Airpoints members and anyone flying in business class overseas.

What Does Koru Membership Cost?

  • There's a one-off joining fee of $255, which covers setting up your membership.
  • You then select how long you'd like to be a member for - one year ($629), two years ($1,109) or five years ($2,549). The longer the period you prepay, the cheaper the annual cost.
  • Prepaying too far in advance is not without the danger of overpaying should your travel habits change - Air New Zealand makes its refund policy clear: Koru membership costs are not refundable and won't be put on hold should your Airpoints tier status change to Gold or Gold Elite member. In such instances, your Koru membership will run for its full term and is non-transferable. This means you'd have paid for Koru membership, but the benefits would all come free via Airpoints. Alternatively, if you sign up for two or five years and then stop flying, there's no chance of a refund.

For most people, the total up-front cost of joining Koru as a new member (including the one-off $255 fee) comes out at:
  • One year: $884
  • Two years: $1,364
  • Five years: $2,804

Renewal: You can renew your Koru membership by paying the same annual fee. However, if your membership period finishes and you don't renew, you'll need to pay the $255 joining fee again.

Understanding the Koru Lounge Access Benefit

The most valuable benefit of Koru membership is lounge access ahead of Air New Zealand flights for the member and one guest who is travelling with you. There are around thirty lounges to access worldwide, as outlined below:
  • Domestic Air New Zealand lounges: There are currently fourteen, but you won't find them in Whangarei, Kerikeri, Rotorua, Taupo, Gisborne, Timaru and Hokitika. More details of where they are and what they look like can be found here and here.
  • International Air New Zealand lounges: Air New Zealand operates many lounges for its international flights. There are three in New Zealand (Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch) and lounges in Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Nadi and Rarotonga. These lounges are single-class, meaning business class passengers use the same facilities. More details can be found here.
  • International Partner lounges: Air New Zealand doesn't operate lounges everywhere, so it uses "partner" facilities in many locations. Examples include Los Angeles, Singapore and Hong Kong. Koru members have full access to a lounge at such locations. More details are found here.
  • International Partner Airline lounges: If you've booked an Air New Zealand ticket with an Air New Zealand flight number (i.e. starting with an NZ), the following airlines recognise Koru membership:
  1. Air China: Koru members, travelling between Auckland and Beijing with Air China can access the Air New Zealand lounge in Auckland and the Air China lounge in Beijing.
  2. Cathay Pacific - Koru members, travelling between Auckland and Hong Kong with Cathay Pacific can access the Air New Zealand lounge in Auckland and the Thai Airways lounge in Hong Kong.
  3. Singapore Airlines: Koru members, travelling between Auckland or Christchurch and Singapore with Singapore Airlines can access the Air New Zealand lounge in Auckland or Christchurch and the SATS lounge in Singapore.
  4. United Airlines: Koru members travelling between Auckland and San Francisco with United Airlines can access the Air New Zealand lounge in Auckland and receive a drink voucher in San Francisco.

Lounge Access for Children
  • If you have children, Koru membership has added value.
  • Koru members can bring up to a maximum of three children aged between 3 and 17 years (inclusive) into Air New Zealand Domestic and International Lounges on a complimentary basis (if space is available). Children aged two years and under can access a lounge too.
  • This means that in addition to a guest (i.e. partner), a family of up to five (with children aged 17 or below) can access a Koru lounge with one membership.

Qantas Domestic Lounges in Australia
Koru members do not have access to Qantas Domestic Australia Club lounges when travelling on Air New Zealand codeshare flights. This means if you've booked an Air New Zealand ticket to, for example, Hobart via Sydney, you wouldn't be able to use the Qantas lounge at Sydney airport during your transit. This is a benefit reserved for Air New Zealand's Gold, Gold Elite and business class passengers.

Further Benefits of Koru Membership:

It's arguable that while the lounges are the biggest benefit, there are a host of other perks which make membership convenient. We outline these below:

1. Priority check-in
Koru members can access the Premium check-in areas/desks, avoiding lines and self-check-in kiosks.

2. Additional Air New Zealand baggage allowance
When travelling with Air New Zealand, Koru members can check-in another bag (up to 23kg) if they have purchased a seat+bag fare (or higher). This pushes the standard economy allowance from 23kg to 46kg.

3. Priority baggage
Check-in bags are tagged "priority – Koru" and are some of the first to appear on the baggage reclaim belt on arrival.

4. Complimentary frequent flyer seating
Koru members don't need to pay to select their seats and receive complimentary access to Air New Zealand's reserved frequent flyer seating areas located towards the front of the economy cabin. This saves lots of time getting off a plane and is a valued benefit enjoyed by many Koru members. You can't book these seats unless you're a Elite, Gold or Koru member.

Doing the Numbers – Is Koru Membership Worth the Cost?

When deciding whether Koru membership is worth it for your travels, the best starting point is to estimate how many times you expect to fly in the next twelve months. Our examples explain more:

Example 1: Taking five return trips (10 flights) per year and visiting the lounge up to 10 times.
  • If you signed up and paid the annual fee, the total cost is $884 – so the cost per visit is around $88. This is much more than the cost of a meal and drink at any airport.
  • However, if you have a guest with you, the cost per visit drops to $44.
  • Of course, lounge access isn't the only benefit of a Koru membership, so you'll need to evaluate how important the other perks (outlined above) are.

Example 2: Taking ten return trips (20 flights) per year and visiting the lounge up to 20 times.
  • This works out to be around $44 per visit or $22 if you're with a guest.
  • Add in children 17 years and under, and it's even more cost-effective.

Koru membership isn't for everyone. You may prefer to order off a menu and choose a drink from an extensive list. If so, your best bet is likely to be a nice airport café or restaurant while you wait. And even at airport prices, $884 can go a long way for the occasional traveller.

Know this: Even if you fly once a month, you're unlikely to reach Airpoints Gold
  • Most Air New Zealand flights earn 5-15 status points per sector. So even if you fly 20 flights a year, you'll earn between 100 and 300 status points, whereas Gold requires you to earn 900 status points.
  • For this reason, Koru membership gives many of the benefits of a top-tier frequent flyer at a fixed annual cost.
  • However, if you do reach Gold (or higher) as a Koru member, the benefits start right away, but you won't be refunded for the unused Koru benefits.

Other Ways to Get Air New Zealand Lounge Access

Air New Zealand lounges aren't just for Koru and premium Airpoints members. There are other ways to gain access:
  1. ​Travel with a qualifying member – if you're on the same flight as someone with Airpoints Gold (or higher) or has Koru membership, they can guest you in.
  2. Reach Silver Airpoints status: Silver members receive one complimentary lounge entry per year.

How to Cut the Cost of Koru Membership (and get it for free)

By getting a qualifying credit card, you can save up to 45% in your first year (and up to 23% every year you renew). We explain how:
  • The American Express Airpoints Platinum Card, Kiwibank Airpoints Platinum Visa and ANZ Airpoints Visa Platinum offer cardholders a $255 saving on the joining fee (reducing it to $0) and an annual $145 saving on the membership fee (reducing it from $629 to $484).
  • In addition, the annual credit card fees charged by any of the three cards are well below the Koru joining fee.
  • This means joining, and a one-year membership costs $484 using a qualifying credit card, whereas you would pay $884 if you joined directly with Air New Zealand.

Do you want Koru membership for around $145 per year? American Express offers 300 bonus Airpoints Dollars when you apply for their Airpoints Platinum Card card, are approved and spend $1,500 on your new card within the first 3 months. New Card Members only. You can then redeem your 300 free Airpoints for Koru membership (for 484 Airpoints Dollars), given the card waives your joining fee and offers the $145 a year discount.

Know This - Koru Membership, Flying More for Less, and the Airpoints Credit Card Disparity

Earning Airpoints from a credit card is arguably one of the fastest and cost-effective ways to build up a balance. Unless you're flying a lot for work, most New Zealanders will earn 5-10 Airpoints Dollars per flight (unless expensive/flexible airfares are booked). Over a year, that's probably around 40-100 Airpoints Dollars. However, if you spend $2,500 a month on groceries, petrol and general expenses, you can earn over 500 Airpoints Dollars a year with the right high-earning credit card. 

The problem is not every Airpoints credit card is equal. The banks are reducing the earning ratio of their Airpoints Dollars-earning credit cards while cutting back on other benefits. Most disappointing is when it comes to 'Platinum' credit cards:
Our view is simple - flying Air New Zealand is a lot more cost-effective with an American Express card than any other credit card. Best of all, the annual fee is in line with bank cards and the card benefits arguably exceed the bank-issued cards, which makes it our Favourite Airline Credit Card in our 2023 Editor's Choice Awards.

We continue to challenge the 'deals' offered by banks (this Stuff.co.nz column is one example) and believe there is a reliance of New Zealanders accepting inferior credit card rewards because it's convenient. However, we don't see an American Express as an inconvenience.

Conclusion: If you are looking to pay for a Koru membership, we believe it's most cost-effective with a credit card that earns the highest Airpoints Dollars - this continues to be the American Express Platinum Airpoints Card. However, as always, if you are in any doubt about what you can afford, the best Airpoints credit card is likely to be "no credit card".

Koru Membership – Pros and Cons

If you need further help evaluating whether or not to apply for Koru membership, our pros and cons has specific details:

Pros:
  • The ability to take one guest and up to three children under 18 into an Air New Zealand lounge is a strong feature of Koru membership, even if you're flying 3-5 times a year as a family.
  • The luggage savings can be significant – if you often carry many bags and book seat+bag fares, having an extra luggage allowance is valuable.
  • Air New Zealand has upgraded all of its jet-area domestic lounges (Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch) to the same or similar standard. The catering is also similar, as it is in the regional lounges. This means as long as your home city has a lounge, Koru membership has added value.
  • The membership fee can be tax-deductible even if you travel infrequently for work.
  • Domestic lounges are open all day, and you can arrive up to four hours before your flight's departure time.
  • Air New Zealand's team works hard to provide clean bathrooms, spotless showers (in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch), comfortable seats, round-the-clock food and beverage and good coffee, and are nice places to be if and when a flight is delayed.

Cons:
  • Overcrowding – Air New Zealand has had problems with lounge overcrowding; we believe that on Friday afternoons/evenings, Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch airports can see more people in the domestic lounges than in the main terminal. This means it can be hard to find seats.

Overall:
  • If you are unsure if Koru membership is for you because of how much you'll fly, it's probably not for you.
  • If you're likely to fly more than five times a year and/or travel with someone else regularly, it will likely be much more attractive.
  • The joining fee and full price are expensive, especially when many companies and government departments get big discounts. For this reason, it's worth considering a qualifying credit card that saves 45% of the first-year cost.
  • If you're unwilling to commit to the cost, you may want to consider an American Express offer which gives 500 bonus Airpoints Dollars when you apply for their Airpoints Platinum Card. You can then put these towards Airpoints Dollars to cover the joining fee and 12 months of membership.
  • We urge people to try it for one year first, before committing to a two-year or five-year membership. Life changes and Air New Zealand doesn't give refunds for unused memberships.
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