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ANZ Airpoints Visa Review 2026 — Is It Worth the Annual Fee?

Updated

The ANZ Airpoints Visa is ANZ’s Airpoints-earning credit card, and it carries a $65 annual fee. Here’s how the numbers work out.

Quick answer

The ANZ Airpoints Visa ($65/year) earns 1 Airpoint per $170, so at NZ$1 per Airpoint the Airpoints cover the fee from $11,050/year of spend, provided you pay in full monthly. Below that, a no-fee card costs less than the Airpoints you'd earn. The ANZ Airpoints Visa Platinum ($150) earns 1 per $110 and includes overseas travel insurance; its break-even spend on the same basis is $16,500/year.

ANZ Airpoints Visa — Key Facts

Feature Detail
Annual fee $65
Interest rate 20.95% p.a.
Airpoints earn rate 1 Airpoint per $170 spent
Airpoint value Air NZ says 1 Airpoint is equivalent to NZ$1 when spending with Air NZ
Bonus Airpoints on application Check current ANZ offer
Interest-free period Up to 44 days
Minimum credit limit $500
Card network Visa
Foreign currency conversion charge 0%
Contactless payments Yes
Apple Pay / Google Pay Yes

The Break-Even Calculation

Valuing each Airpoint at NZ$1, you need to earn at least 65 Airpoints to cover the $65 annual fee:

Break-even spend = $65 fee × $170 per Airpoint = $11,050 per year

Annual spend Airpoints earned Net value (after $65 fee)
$3,000 about 18 -$47
$5,000 about 29 -$36
$8,000 about 47 -$18
$11,050 65 $0 (break-even)
$15,000 about 88 $23 profit
$20,000 about 118 $53 profit

If you spend less than $11,050/year on your card, a no-fee card (like the Kiwibank Zero Visa) costs less than the Airpoints earned.

Features and Limitations

Features:

  • 1 Airpoint per $170 spent; Airpoints cover the $65 fee from $11,050/year of spend
  • Visa network
  • Up to 44 interest-free days

Limitations:

  • No travel insurance (the Platinum version includes overseas travel insurance, earns 1 per $110, and costs $85 more a year)
  • 20.95% p.a. interest on a carried balance

Airpoints Visa vs Airpoints Visa Platinum

Feature Airpoints Visa Airpoints Visa Platinum
Annual fee $65 $150
Earn rate 1 per $170 1 per $110
Travel insurance No Yes
Break-even spend $11,050 $16,500

The Platinum earns about 55% more Airpoints per dollar spent and includes overseas travel insurance, subject to eligibility. The fee is $85 more per year. Above $16,500/year of spend, the Platinum’s Airpoints cover its fee.

Full review: ANZ Airpoints Visa Platinum review

How to Maximise the ANZ Airpoints Visa

  1. Use it for all spending — groceries, petrol, bills, online shopping (not just big purchases)
  2. Foreign fee: ANZ shows a 0% foreign currency conversion charge on this card
  3. Pay in full every month — the 20.95% rate wipes out any Airpoints earnings if you carry a balance
  4. Watch for bonus Airpoints offers — ANZ periodically offers bonus Airpoints for hitting spending milestones
  5. Link to your Airpoints account — make sure your card is correctly linked; Airpoints credit to your account monthly

Practical Airpoints Value

Air NZ says each Airpoint is equivalent to NZ$1 when spending with Air New Zealand, and Airpoints can be spent on Air NZ, Star Alliance and partner airline flights. Redemption rates in the Airpoints Store can differ from the cash prices partners charge for similar products.

On $10,000/year of spend, this card earns about 59 Airpoints a year.

Summary

The ANZ Airpoints Visa costs $65 a year and earns 1 Airpoint per $170, so at NZ$1 per Airpoint the Airpoints cover the fee from $11,050 of annual spend if you pay in full. Below that, a no-fee card costs less. The Platinum version earns 1 per $110 and includes overseas travel insurance for a $150 fee, with a break-even spend of $16,500.

Where to check the latest data

Rates, fees and returns change often. Before deciding, check current figures yourself:

Next Steps