Air New Zealand Credit Cards

If you are a keen traveller and you make frequent trips with Air New Zealand, then you may be looking for ways to earn Air New Zealand Airpoints Dollars. There are currently no Air New Zealand branded credit cards available in Australia. However, there are a number of rewards credit cards here  that will allow you to earn points, and then convert these to Airpoints Dollars. Certain cards also could give you access to other travel benefits such as airport lounge access or complimentary travel insurance.

Before signing up for a rewards credit card, there are some important things to keep in mind. Rewards credit cards tend to be more expensive than non-rewards cards, potentially carrying higher annual fees and interest rates. When it comes to frequent flyer cards and similar rewards cards, you may well expert to see interest rates around 20% per annum.

It is therefore important to ensure that the cost of any rewards card you sign up for does not outweigh the benefits. If you’re considering a credit card that allows you to earn points and then convert them to Air New Zealand Airpoints Dollars, it may be worthwhile to first ask yourself:

• Do you typically pay your closing credit card balance in full each month? If not, you will be charged interest on your balance, and at a high interest rate, this could be expensive each month.
• Are you a frequent traveller, and if so, would putting points towards Airpoints Dollars and earning other travel related benefits be rewarding to you?
• Are you likely to use your card enough to earn the rewards you’d need to justify the annual fee and any interest charged? If you do not use your card frequently enough, you may find you are paying fees and potentially a high interest rate without earning enough points to make it worth your while.

In general, before applying for a credit card or any kind of credit product, it is important to ask yourself whether it is a good fit for your financial situation, and whether you will be able to manage your spending.

It is also important to ensure that you read the product disclosure statement to determine whether the product you are considering is right for you.

While there are no dedicated Air New Zealand frequent flyer cards on the Australian market, the airline is partnered with a number of rewards credit cards. If you’re thinking about taking out a rewards card that allows you to convert your points to Air New Zealand Airpoints, there are a number of things to consider, including:

• Points earn rate: Rewards credit cards will typically allow you to earn points by spending money on eligible purchases, with some offering bonus points for spending at certain frequent flyer programs such as Air New Zealand Airpoints. These points can then be converted towards  Air New Zealand flights and related features.
• Points transfer rate: Different credit card rewards programs may allow you to exchange your rewards points for Airpoints Dollars at different rates. It is important to check the terms and conditions of your card to find out the exchange rate for rewards points, and how many reward points will convert to one Airpoints Dollar.
• Annual fee and interest rate: Frequent flyer cards typically charge higher annual fees and interest rates than non-rewards cards, so it is important to consider whether the benefits you’ll get from one of these cards outweigh the potential costs.
• Sign-up bonuses: Some credit cards offer introductory bonuses for new cardholders, which can include rewards points. If your chosen credit card offers points as a sign-up bonus, you may potentially have enough to transfer to your Air New Zealand and redeem them through the Airpoints program.
• Extras: Many frequent flyer cards offer additional features to members, including such things as complimentary travel insurance, lounge access at airports and hotel and travel credits and seat upgrades. Remember to read the policy terms and conditions to understand what extras you may be eligible for if you sign up.

While certain features such as sign-up bonuses and member-exclusive extras may seem appealing, it is important to bear in mind that the costs of owning and using a credit card can quickly cancel out the benefits of some of these offers.

You should always consider whether the credit card suits your spending habits and whether you are likely to pay off the card each month. This is particularly important for rewards credit cards and frequent flyer credit cards as they often come with a high interest rate.
That said, if you’re considering taking out a credit card where you can earn rewards points to put towards Airpoints Dollars and you would like to know what’s out there, you can start your search by comparing cards with Canstar, using the comparison tool at the top of this page

According to Air New Zealand, you can spend your Airpoints Dollars on:

• Flights with Air New Zealand, Star Alliance and partner airlines
• Extra baggage allowances
• Onboard food and drinks
• Products from the Airpoints store
• Travel insurance
• Car rental with Avis or Budget
• Seat upgrades on flights
• Wines from a selection of New Zealand wine-makers

There are currently no credit cards in Australia that allow you to directly earn Airpoints Dollars. It is possible, however, to earn points from a participating rewards credit card, and then transfer these to your Air New Zealand account in exchange for Airpoints Dollars that you can put towards a trip.

Explore further→ 8 Hacks that could help you earn more frequent flyer points

The method of transferring credit card reward points to Airpoints will differ depending on your credit card provider. Air New Zealand’s website advises customers to contact their credit card provider directly to find out the exact method of transferring points, however in general, it is advisable to:

1. Make sure that your participating rewards credit card account is linked to your Air New Zealand account
2. Log into your participating rewards credit card program account and follow the instructions on how to transfer points to Airpoints Dollars
3. Confirm the details of the transaction and follow the prompts to complete the transfer

It is also worth keeping in mind that the transfer of reward points to Airpoints Dollars may not be instantaneous, so check with your provider to find out how long the process is likely to take.

According to Air New Zealand, Airpoints Dollars expire after four years. The airline advises that if you wish to spend them towards a flight but do not have enough, then you can mix Airpoints Dollars and cash through the Airpoints Flexipay system.

Generally speaking, any everyday spending on a credit card could be considered an ‘eligible purchase’ for the purpose of rewards points. This means, for example, that things like supermarket shopping, dining out, petrol and general retail purchases would all fall under the umbrella of eligible purchases.

On the other hand, transactions including cash advances, balance transfers, BPAY payments and the payment of fees and charges on the credit card itself would not count towards reward points. It is important, however, to read the terms and conditions to find out exactly what kind of purchases count towards reward points.

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