Airpoints is Air New Zealand’s loyalty programme and New Zealand’s most valuable rewards currency. Here’s how it works, how to earn fast, and how to get the most value from your Airpoints Dollars.
1 Airpoints Dollar ≈ $1 NZD when redeemed for Air NZ flights — the face value is clear and transparent. Airpoints don't expire as long as you earn or redeem at least once every 18 months. The fastest way to earn is via a credit card — ANZ Airpoints Visa (1 per $100), ANZ Airpoints Platinum (1 per $75), or Amex Airpoints Platinum (1 per $59).
What Are Airpoints Dollars?
Airpoints Dollars are Air New Zealand’s loyalty currency. Unlike many frequent flyer programmes that use opaque “points,” Airpoints Dollars have a simple face value: 1 Airpoints Dollar = $1 NZD when redeemed for Air NZ flights.
This makes Airpoints one of the most transparent loyalty currencies in the world — you always know exactly what your balance is worth.
How to Earn Airpoints Dollars
1. Flying Air New Zealand
Earn Airpoints Dollars on Air NZ flights based on:
- Distance flown
- Fare class (economy, premium economy, business)
- Your Airpoints tier (Gold and Elite earn bonus rates)
Economy class typically earns at a lower rate than premium cabins. Redemption tickets (seats paid for with Airpoints) do not earn additional Airpoints Dollars.
2. Credit Cards — The Fastest Way to Earn
| Card | Earn rate | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|
| Amex Airpoints Platinum | 1 per $59 | $200 |
| ANZ Airpoints Visa Platinum | 1 per $75 | $150 |
| ANZ Airpoints Visa | 1 per $100 | $65 |
| Amex Airpoints Card | Check current rate | Low |
On $12,000/year household card spending:
- Amex Platinum: ~$203 Airpoints Dollars
- ANZ Airpoints Platinum: ~$160 Airpoints Dollars
- ANZ Airpoints Visa: ~$120 Airpoints Dollars
3. Partner Network
Airpoints Dollars can be earned at hundreds of partner businesses:
- Car hire: Avis, Budget, Hertz, Jucy
- Hotels: Accor, Hilton, Marriott partner properties
- Shopping: Air NZ’s online Airpoints Mall
- Dining: Selected restaurants in the Air NZ dining programme
- Petrol: Z Energy (with linked Airpoints card)
- Telecommunications: Spark (some plans)
- Insurance: Tower Insurance (some policies)
Check airnewzealand.co.nz/airpoints for the current partner list.
How to Redeem Airpoints Dollars
Flights — Best Value
Redeeming for Air NZ flights gives you the face value: 1 Airpoints Dollar = $1 NZD off the ticket price.
Domestic example: Wellington to Auckland return economy — if the flight costs $300, it would require 300 Airpoints Dollars. You can mix Airpoints Dollars and cash (e.g., use 100 Airpoints Dollars and pay $200 cash).
International: Airpoints Dollars work on all Air NZ operated routes, including international. For premium cabins on long-haul routes, redemption rates can be excellent.
Other Redemptions
| Redemption type | Value per Airpoints Dollar |
|---|---|
| Air NZ flights | $1.00 |
| Seat upgrades | Good — varies |
| Air NZ merchandise/store | Below face value |
| Partner rewards | Variable — check each |
Avoid merchandise redemptions — the value per Airpoints Dollar is significantly lower than flight redemptions. Always redeem for flights if possible.
Status Tiers: Airpoints, Gold, Elite
| Tier | How to qualify | Key benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Airpoints | Everyone | Basic earn and redeem |
| Airpoints Gold | ~40 Status Points (check current requirement) | 50% bonus Airpoints on flights, priority check-in, lounge access on eligible fares |
| Airpoints Elite | ~75 Status Points (check current requirement) | 100% bonus Airpoints on flights, elite lounges, most flexible benefits |
Status Points vs Airpoints Dollars
These are separate currencies:
- Airpoints Dollars — your spendable currency for flights and rewards
- Status Points — determine your tier; cannot be redeemed for flights
Status Points are earned on flights based on distance and fare class. They’re used to calculate tier qualification but have no direct monetary value.
Airpoints Expiry Rules
Airpoints Dollars do not expire as long as you meet the activity requirement:
Earn or redeem at least once every 18 months.
If you go 18+ months without any Airpoints activity (earning or redeeming), your Airpoints Dollars will expire.
How to stay active: Use your ANZ Airpoints credit card for everyday purchases — every transaction earns Airpoints Dollars and resets your 18-month window.
Best Strategies for NZ Airpoints Earners
1. Use an Airpoints Credit Card for Everything
The fastest way to accumulate Airpoints is via a credit card on everyday spending. At 1 Airpoints Dollar per $100 (ANZ Airpoints Visa), $800/month in groceries and petrol earns 96 Airpoints Dollars/year — a domestic flight after 2–3 years of normal spending.
2. Earn on Partners Where You Already Shop
Check the Airpoints partner list and see which partners overlap with your existing shopping:
- Z Energy petrol station → link your Airpoints card
- Accor hotels → enter your Airpoints number when booking
- Air NZ online shopping portal → click through before online purchases
3. Focus Redemptions on Flights
The $1 face value only applies to flights. Merchandise, vouchers, and other redemptions deliver lower value. Save your Airpoints Dollars for flights.
4. Fly Economy Domestically, Business Internationally
Domestic economy redemptions are excellent value. If you have enough Airpoints Dollars for a long-haul business class upgrade, this can also be outstanding value — business class tickets that cost $5,000+ can be offset with Airpoints Dollars.
Airpoints vs Other NZ Loyalty Programmes
| Programme | Value per unit | Transparency |
|---|---|---|
| Airpoints Dollars | $1.00 (flights) | Excellent |
| Flybuys | ~1c (2,000 pts = $20) | Good |
| hotpoints | ~0.5–1c | Moderate |
| Everyday Rewards | ~1c | Good |
Airpoints Dollars are the most valuable and transparent loyalty currency available to NZ consumers.
Airpoints Dollars vs Status Points — The Key Distinction
Many people confuse these two currencies. They work very differently:
| Airpoints Dollars | Status Points | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Spendable currency (flights, rewards) | Tier qualification only |
| Value | $1 NZD when used for flights | No direct monetary value |
| Earned on | Flights, credit card spend, partners | Eligible Air NZ flights only |
| Expire? | Only if inactive 18+ months | Each year (tier requalification) |
| Can be redeemed? | Yes — for flights and other rewards | No |
Focus on earning Airpoints Dollars. Status Points determine your tier (and the benefits that come with it), but Airpoints Dollars are what you spend on flights.
How Much Is Your Airpoints Balance Worth?
As a general rule:
- 1 Airpoints Dollar = $1 NZD when used for Air NZ flights
- But partial redemptions are flexible — you don’t need exactly the right amount
Example redemption:
- Auckland to Queenstown economy return = $340
- You have 200 Airpoints Dollars
- Pay with 200 Airpoints + $140 cash
There’s no fixed minimum redemption amount, and Airpoints Dollars can be used alongside cash in any ratio.
Redemption Exceptions (Lower Value)
Avoid using Airpoints Dollars for:
- Air NZ merchandise store — value falls to ~$0.60–$0.80 per Airpoints Dollar
- Selected partner rewards — value varies and may be well below $1
- Seat upgrades (good value but you can only apply Airpoints once you’ve bought an eligible fare)
Stick to flight redemptions for full face value.
Earning Airpoints on Air NZ Flights — The Rate Table
The Airpoints Dollars you earn per flight depends on your fare class and whether you’re flying on a domestic or international route.
Domestic Flights (NZ)
| Fare type | Airpoints Dollars earned | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Seat + bag (economy) | ~$2–$5 | Short hops (e.g., AKL-CHC) |
| Works (economy + extras) | ~$4–$8 | |
| Works Deluxe (premium economy) | ~$10–$20 | |
| Business Premier | ~$20–$40 |
Redemption tickets (paying with Airpoints Dollars) earn zero additional Airpoints Dollars.
International Flights
Earning rates on international Air NZ flights depend on distance flown and fare class. Business Premier on a long-haul route (e.g., AKL-LHR) can earn $150–$300+ in Airpoints Dollars on a single return trip.
Credit Card Strategy for Airpoints Earners
For most NZ Airpoints members, credit card spending is the fastest way to accumulate Airpoints Dollars — much faster than flying.
Spending Example: $3,000/month card spend
| Card | Earn rate | Monthly Airpoints | Annual Airpoints |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amex Airpoints Platinum | 1 per $59 | ~50.8 | ~609 |
| ANZ Airpoints Platinum Visa | 1 per $75 | ~40 | ~480 |
| ANZ Airpoints Visa | 1 per $100 | ~30 | ~360 |
At $3,000/month spend, the Amex Platinum earns ~609 Airpoints Dollars per year — enough for a return flight between Auckland and Christchurch with some left over.
Annual fee vs earnings trade-off
| Card | Annual fee | Break-even spend/year |
|---|---|---|
| Amex Airpoints Platinum ($200 fee) | $200 | ~$11,800 (to beat the $65 Visa card on net value) |
| ANZ Airpoints Platinum ($150 fee) | $150 | ~$15,000 |
| ANZ Airpoints Visa ($65 fee) | $65 | Starting point |
For high spenders ($3,000+/month), the Amex Platinum is the best earning card. For moderate spenders ($1,000–$2,000/month), the ANZ Airpoints Visa offers the best value after fee.
Which Businesses Don’t Accept Amex?
Amex acceptance has improved but is still not universal. Key gaps:
- Some petrol stations (Z accepts Amex; some independents don’t)
- Some supermarkets (Pak’nSave — use ANZ Visa here)
- Government services and councils (use ANZ Visa)
- Some small/local businesses
Strategy: Use Amex wherever accepted; have an ANZ Airpoints Visa as a backup for non-Amex merchants.
Airpoints and Overseas Travel
Earning While Overseas
Your Airpoints credit card still earns Airpoints Dollars on overseas spend — even in non-NZD currencies. The conversion applies to the NZD-equivalent of each transaction.
Warning: Credit card foreign transaction fees (typically 1.5%–2.5%) can offset the Airpoints value. If travelling extensively overseas, compare a fee-free travel card vs Airpoints card mathematics.
Redeeming on Overseas Flights
Airpoints Dollars work for Air NZ operated routes only — including international routes. Air NZ partners (codeshares) may allow some earn but not redemption.
If you want to redeem on non-Air NZ flights (e.g., Singapore Airlines, Emirates), you generally cannot — Airpoints is Air NZ specific. Consider whether joining a Star Alliance or OneWorld programme would better suit your travel patterns.
Using Z Energy With Airpoints
Z Energy and Airpoints have a partnership that allows earning on fuel purchases:
- Airpoints members link their Airpoints membership to their Z App
- You earn Airpoints Dollars on fuel purchased at Z stations
- Rate varies but approximately 1 Airpoints Dollar per $60–$100 spent on fuel
For regular drivers, this can add 20–50 Airpoints Dollars per year passively. Open the Z app and link your Airpoints number.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Airpoints Dollars expire?
Yes — if you have no Airpoints activity (earn or redeem) for 18 consecutive months, your balance expires. Any credit card spend (ANZ Airpoints Visa) resets the 18-month clock. If you’re not flying, keep one Airpoints credit card active and use it occasionally to prevent expiry.
Can I transfer Airpoints Dollars to someone else?
Airpoints Dollars are generally non-transferable. You can redeem them for flights for other passengers, but you cannot transfer the dollars themselves to another member’s account.
What happens to Airpoints if Air New Zealand collapsed?
This is a genuine risk with any loyalty currency — if the issuing airline fails, points may become worthless. New Zealand’s government has historically supported Air NZ as a majority-owned strategic asset, but this is not guaranteed. For this reason, avoid accumulating very large Airpoints balances without redeeming them periodically.
How do I join Airpoints?
Airpoints membership is free. Sign up at airnewzealand.co.nz/airpoints with your name, email, and contact details. You’ll receive a membership number immediately and can start earning on your next flight or credit card purchase.