Kiwibank Air New Zealand Airpoints Platinum Visa

Roland Bleyer

Credit Card Expert with over 15 years card experience and the founder of Creditcard.co.nz. Ask Roland a Question about this card.

The Big Review: Kiwibank Air New Zealand Airpoints Platinum Credit Card

Issued by Kiwibank, the Air New Zealand Airpoints Platinum Credit Card offers excellent points earning potential, with the added bonus of having the highest Status Point earn rate in the market. In addition to having no points expiry, the card also offers a number of platinum perks, including two Air New Zealand Lounge passes for every $30,000 spent (up to four in total per year), Koru discounts, access to an Airpoints Dollars Advance, built-in travel insurance and 1.99% p.a. on balance transfers for six months.

• Earn 1 Airpoints Dollar for every $75 spent on everyday purchases
• Earn 1 Airpoints Dollar for every $65 spent on Air New Zealand products
• No points expiry
• Earn 1 Status Point for every $200 spent on eligible purchases
• Two Air New Zealand Lounge passes per $30,000 spent (maximum of two pairs per year)
• No joining fee on Koru membership plus $145 off the annual fee
• Access to Airpoints Dollars Advance (up to 200 Airpoints Dollars)
• Complimentary overseas travel insurance
• 1.99% p.a. on balance transfers for six months

• Account Fee: $75 (every six months)
• Joint or Additional Cardholder Fee: $15 (every six months)
• Purchase Rate: 20.95% p.a. (variable)
• Cash Advance Rate: 22.95% p.a. (variable)

This Card: The Lowdown

With its higher earn rate – and higher account fee – the Air New Zealand Airpoints Platinum Credit Card is designed to appeal to bigger spenders. An awesome option for cardholders who can afford to channel a larger spend through their card, it provides an easy way to earn Airpoints Dollars on everyday spending, with an even better earn rate for purchases made through Air New Zealand (this includes not just flights, but car hire and accommodation booked through their site as well).

Its earn rate is certainly decent within the market. Allowing cardholders to earn 1 Airpoints Dollar for every $75 spent, it provides an effective earn rate of 0.013 Airpoints Dollars per $1. While there is an American Express Airpoints card that offers slightly better value, it’s worth noting that Visa is more widely accepted, and generally charges lower acceptance fees, which could provide better value in the long run.

One feature this card can claim however, is the fact that it offers the best Status Point earn rate in the market. This could work well for cardholders looking to boost their Status Points balance, to either move up a tier, or retain their tier. Aside from that, the card offers a number of handy features, which might especially appeal to the frequent traveller. Given the offering of extensive overseas travel cover, up to four lounge passes per year, and great Koru discounts, this card makes it easy for frequent travellers to enjoy value back on their annual fee.

Digging Deeper

With the basics covered, it’s time to dig a little deeper into what’s on offer with the Air New Zealand Airpoints Platinum Credit Card, so you can decide whether this card is right for you.

This Card: As a Rewards Card

With ‘Airpoints’ in the name, it’s clear the Air New Zealand Airpoints Platinum Credit Card is a rewards card above all else. So, what does it offer to those interested in earning points within Air New Zealand’s incredibly popular Airpoints loyalty programme?

Earning Airpoints Dollars

With the Air New Zealand Airpoints Platinum Credit Card, you will earn:

• 1 Airpoints Dollar for every $75 spent on eligible purchases, and
• 1 Airpoints Dollar for every $65 spent on Air New Zealand products bought directly from Air New Zealand.

Eligible purchases include most card spending, apart from fees or interest, balance transfers, credit card repayment insurance, gambling chips, money orders, travellers cheques or foreign currencies in cash, cash advances or cash withdrawals made from an ATM, or any transaction that is reversed, refunded or charged back.

Aside from earning points when using the card, cardholders can also earn points when:

• Flying with Air New Zealand or Airpoints partner airlines,
• Staying at Airpoints partner hotels,
• Renting Airpoints partner cars,
• Sailing on Airpoints partner cruises.

Another point worth mentioning is that there is no points expiry on this card. So, as long as you have a current credit card and you’re the primary cardholder, your Airpoints Dollars will never expire. This is great for cardholders who want to build up a large points balance to use on bigger rewards, such as flights or upgrades.

More About Airpoints

When it comes to redeeming Airpoints Dollars, the programme offers a redemption rate of 1 Airpoints Dollar = NZD $1. Airpoints Dollars can be spent in any number of ways, such as:

• Flights: You can redeem Airpoints Dollars on almost any Air New Zealand flight and some Star Alliance and partner airline flights.
• Upgrades: You can use your Airpoints Dollars to purchase a seat of your choice or make a OneUp upgrade offer.
• Airpoints Store: Check out the Airpoints Store to redeem points for anything from electronics and sports gear to fashion items and jewellery. A range of gift cards is also available.
• Mitre 10: You can redeem Airpoints Dollars instore and online at Mitre 10, to pay in part or in full with Airpoints Dollars when you spend $75 or more.
• Rental Cars & Travel Insurance: Your Airpoints Dollars can cover your rental car or travel insurance, helping you to keep costs down when travelling.
• Fine Wine: Use your Airpoints Dollars to buy wine, Champagne, spirits and more – with delivery available worldwide.

Airpoints Dollars Advance

With the Air New Zealand Airpoints Platinum Credit Card, you will have access to an Airpoints Dollars Advance. So, if you don’t have enough points to pay for the reward you want, you can use an Advance up to 200 Airpoints Dollars to make up the difference. Then, as you earn more points on your card following that redemption, you can pay back the points you ‘borrowed’.

Airpoints Dollars Top Up

As an alternative to the Airpoints Dollars Advance, Airpoints Dollars top up allows you to buy additional Airpoints Dollars online for a fee.

Monthly Competitions

Another feature of the Airpoints programme is its monthly competitions, offering cardholders the opportunity to boost their Airpoints Dollars balance. Every month you make a purchase on your card, you’ll automatically be entered in the draw to win:

• Two prizes of 1,500 Airpoints Dollars
• Twenty prizes of 100 Airpoints Dollars

Earning Status Points

As the only card within Kiwibank’s Air New Zealand range to offer Status Point earning, the Air New Zealand Airpoints Platinum Credit Card provides 1 Status Point for every $200 spent on eligible purchases. So what do Status Points offer?

Earning Status Points allows you to climb the membership ladder from Silver to Gold to Elite, giving you access to a range of benefits according to your tier status. To move up a tier, or to retain your tier, you need to earn a certain number of Status Points within each 12 month period. Aside from earning Status Points using your card, you will also earn Status Points on eligible Air New Zealand flights and many Star Alliance and partner flights.

Here are some of the benefits available as you move up the tiers:

• Lounge Access: You can relax and unwind in Air New Zealand’s award-winning lounges before your flight departs, enjoy comfortable chairs, functional work spaces, and access to a great range of refreshments and light snacks.
• Upgrades: Whether you're a Silver, Gold or Elite member, there are several ways to request a cabin class upgrade to Premium Economy or Business Premier.
• Extra Baggage: Gold and Elite members can benefit from generous check-in and carry-on baggage allowances.
• Other Benefits: On top of all that, Silver, Gold and Elite members can enjoy access to benefits such as priority check-in, frequent flyer seating, hotel vouchers and more.

This Card: As a Travel Rewards Card

As an Airpoints Dollars earning platinum card, the Air New Zealand Airpoints Platinum Credit Card offers a number of travel-related perks, making it an excellent choice for frequent flyers.

Air New Zealand Lounge eVouchers

As a cardholder, you can earn Air New Zealand Lounge passes with your card spending. For every $30,000 you spend on eligible purchases each year, you will receive two complimentary Air New Zealand Lounge eVouchers. You can earn a maximum of two pairs of passes within a 12 month period (so, four passes in total).

After reaching the required spend, you will receive a notification to say that your eVouchers have been loaded onto your Airpoints account. You can then use these vouchers to access domestic or international Air New Zealand branded and operated lounges at your departure airport on the day you’re flying. Simply present your boarding pass or your Airpoints membership card to enter.

Koru Discounts

If you’re thinking about becoming a Koru member, the Air New Zealand Airpoints Platinum Credit Card can offer valuable discounts. With this card, you will pay no joining fee for a Koru membership (saving you $255), and you will get $145 off the annual fee. Want to know more about what Koru membership offers? Here are some of the benefits:

• Lounge Access: You will have access to Air New Zealand Lounges and partner lounges when departing on Air New Zealand flights and selected flights with alliance airline partners.
• Guest and Child Lounge Access: You can bring a guest when visiting Air New Zealand Lounges and some partner lounges.
• Priority Check-in and Boarding: Offering a more efficient experience as you travel, you will benefit from priority check-in and boarding on Air New Zealand flights and some alliance airline partner flights.
• Complimentary Frequent Flyer Seating: You can take advantage of complimentary access to reserved frequent flyer seating areas, located towards the front of the Economy cabin on most aircraft.
• Baggage Privileges: You can have a complimentary additional piece of checked-in baggage, plus priority on your checked baggage wherever possible when travelling with Air New Zealand.
• Fast Bag on Regional Flights: Enjoying a faster service when travelling domestic, Koru members can utilise the Fast Bag service on regional flights.
• Alliance Airline Partner Travel Benefits: Koru members enjoy select travel benefits when flying on select routes with alliance airline partners, Air China, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines and United.

Travel Insurance

Cardholders can save time and money searching for standalone travel insurance thanks to the complimentary cover offered on the Air New Zealand Airpoints Platinum Credit Card. As long as you pay for your travel and/or accommodation before you leave New Zealand, you can benefit from up to 40 days built-in overseas travel insurance, including cover for any immediate family travelling with you.

Cover includes:

• Medical expenses if you’re injured or have an accident,
• Loss or damage to your belongings or travel documents,
• Unforeseeable cancellations, delays and loss of deposits,
• Kidnap and ransom,
• Rental vehicle excess.

This Card: Extras on Offer

Aside from the various travel perks on offer, the Air New Zealand Airpoints Platinum Credit Card also provides a range of other handy extras.

Visa Concierge: As a cardholder, you will have access to the Visa Concierge service, providing 24/7 assistance with anything from travel bookings and restaurant reservations to gift buying and directions to the nearest New Zealand consulate.

Interest Free Period: As long as you clear your balance by the due date each month, you can benefit from up to 44 days interest free on purchases, helping you manage your cash flow while saving on interest.

Balance Transfer Offer: If you have credit card debt to pay down, you could take advantage of 1.99% p.a. on balance transfers for six months to help you clear your debt faster while you pay less in interest. Note, there are no interest free days when you have a balance transfer on your account.

This Card: The Essentials

So, now you know exactly what the Air New Zealand Airpoints Platinum Credit Card could offer you, let’s take a look at whether all these extras will offer value to you as a cardholder. First up, the account fee. Paid every six months, the account fee is about standard for this type of card, plus you can add joint or additional cardholders for $15 every six months, helping to add even more value as you stack up more Airpoints Dollars on their spending.

As long as you – and your additional cardholders – earn more back in Airpoints Dollars than you pay out in account fees, this card could certainly offer value. Plus, there is the value of the extras to take into account as well. While it would be nice to get lounge passes as standard, if you’re spending the required amount on the card anyway, the passes act as a nice bonus.

As for interest, both the purchase rate and cash advance rate on this card is high. Unless you clear your balance each month before it starts accruing interest, you may find you pay out more in interest than you get back in rewards. As with any rewards card, it’s all about minimising unnecessary outgoings to make the most of what’s on offer.

Decision Time

The Air New Zealand Airpoints Platinum Credit Card offers an easy way to boost points earning on the Airpoints programme, earning both Airpoints Dollars and Status Points. The extras on offer are geared towards the frequent traveller, and are likely to offer value to those who channel a sizeable spend through the card, while clearing their balance each month.