Air New Zealand says each Airpoint is equivalent to NZ$1 when spending with Air New Zealand. These are the NZ credit cards covered here that earn Airpoints, compared by earn rate, annual fee and break-even spend.
The Amex Airpoints Platinum has the highest earn rate here (1 Airpoint per $70) with a $195 annual fee. The ANZ Airpoints Visa Platinum is $150 a year for 1 per $110 and includes overseas travel insurance. The ANZ Airpoints Visa is $65 a year for 1 per $170, and the Amex Airpoints Card has a $0 annual fee and earns 1 per $100. Which comes out ahead depends on how much you spend and where, because Amex is not accepted everywhere. With any of them, interest on a carried balance can wipe out the rewards.
Airpoints Cards Available in NZ
| Card | Annual fee | Earn rate | Break-even spend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amex Airpoints Card | $0 | 1 per $100 | No fee to cover |
| Amex Airpoints Platinum | $195 | 1 per $70 | $13,650 |
| ANZ Airpoints Visa | $65 | 1 per $170 | $11,050 |
| ANZ Airpoints Visa Platinum | $150 | 1 per $110 | $16,500 |
Break-even spend = annual spend needed to earn enough Airpoints to cover the annual fee, valuing each Airpoint at Air NZ’s stated NZ$1 equivalence (the flight redemption rate is set by Air NZ and can vary).
Providers are listed alphabetically.
Amex Airpoints Card
Earn rate: 1 Airpoint per $100 spent
Annual fee: $0
Key point: no annual fee, with a lower earn rate than the Platinum. Amex acceptance limits apply.
Full review: Amex Airpoints standard card review
Amex Airpoints Platinum
Earn rate: 1 Airpoint per $70 spent, the highest earn rate of the cards compared here.
Annual fee: $195
Key benefits:
- 2 Priority Pass passes a year (Basic Card Member only) and 2 Centurion Lounge entries a calendar year, at the Sydney or Melbourne airport
- A discount on the Koru Club joining fee and annual fee
- Complimentary domestic and international travel insurance when you pay for your return trip with the card (terms, conditions and exclusions apply)
The catch: Amex is not accepted at every NZ merchant. Amex’s acceptance page lists Pak n Save, New World and Woolworths among supermarkets, but acceptance can vary by store and petrol station, so you may want a Visa or Mastercard as a backup.
Key point: in the table below it has the highest net value only at $50,000/year of spend, and only on spending at merchants that accept Amex.
Full review: Amex Airpoints Platinum review
ANZ Airpoints Visa
Earn rate: 1 Airpoint per $170 spent on eligible purchases
Annual fee: $65
Key benefits:
- Lower annual fee than the Platinum cards
- Visa network
Break-even: spend $11,050/year to earn $65 in Airpoints and cover the fee.
Full review: ANZ Airpoints Visa review
ANZ Airpoints Visa Platinum
Earn rate: 1 Airpoint per $110 spent on eligible purchases
Annual fee: $150
Key benefits:
- Visa network
- ANZ lists overseas travel insurance, bonus Status Points and a higher earn rate as benefits
Break-even: spend $16,500/year to earn $150 in Airpoints and cover the fee.
Full review: ANZ Airpoints Visa Platinum review
Earn Rate Comparison: Annual Airpoints Earned by Spend Level
| Annual spend | Amex Airpoints Card ($0) | ANZ Airpoints Visa ($65) | ANZ Airpoints Platinum ($150) | Amex Airpoints Platinum ($195) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $10,000 | 100 − $0 fee = $100 net | 59 − $65 fee = −$6 net | 91 − $150 fee = −$59 net | 143 − $195 fee = −$52 net |
| $20,000 | 200 − $0 = $200 net | 118 − $65 = $53 net | 182 − $150 = $32 net | 286 − $195 = $91 net |
| $30,000 | 300 − $0 = $300 net | 176 − $65 = $111 net | 273 − $150 = $123 net | 429 − $195 = $234 net |
| $50,000 | 500 − $0 = $500 net | 294 − $65 = $229 net | 455 − $150 = $305 net | 714 − $195 = $519 net |
Assumes 1 Airpoint = NZ$1, Air NZ’s stated equivalence. The flight redemption rate is set by Air NZ and can vary, and fees other than the annual fee are ignored.
The Amex Airpoints Platinum’s net figure only overtakes the other cards in this table at $50,000/year, and only on spending at merchants that accept Amex.
Airpoints Expiry
Under the Koru terms, Airpoints expire four years after they were accrued, with exceptions. Airpoints earned by the nominated earner of certain Direct Earn financial products, such as some credit cards, do not expire while that person stays the nominated earner, and Air NZ says Airpoints do not expire while you retain Koru Gold, Koru Platinum or Koru Black status. See the Airpoints guide.
Amex Acceptance
Amex says its cards are accepted at over 100,000 locations nationwide, and its acceptance page lists Pak n Save, New World and Woolworths under supermarkets. Acceptance can still vary by store, and some petrol stations, smaller businesses and online merchants may not take Amex, so some cardholders keep a Visa or Mastercard as well.
Where to check the latest data
Rates, fees and returns change often. Before deciding, check current figures yourself:
- interest.co.nz credit card rates: tables of current credit card interest rates and fees.
- The provider's own website: has its current rates, fees and full terms; these change more often than any comparison page.
- Financial Service Providers Register: shows whether a provider is registered to offer financial services in New Zealand.
Next Steps
- Airpoints guide NZ: how Airpoints work and how to redeem them
- Amex Airpoints Platinum review: fees, benefits and limits
- ANZ Airpoints Visa Platinum review: Airpoints on Visa with travel insurance
- Travel credit cards NZ: Airpoints plus travel perks