Status: checked against official sources; automated independent review
GUIDE
How to earn Airpoints with Airpoints credit cards
Airpoints credit cards are the cards through which a member of Koru, Air New Zealand's loyalty programme, earns Airpoints — one of the programme's two currencies — from everyday spending with programme partners. [9] Air New Zealand's Koru pages name the Amex Airpoints Platinum Card, and they keep two things apart: Airpoints is the balance you spend on rewards, while Status Points are what move you up the tiers. [9]
Facts checked: 18 October 2026
Key takeaways
- Koru runs on two currencies: Airpoints, earned on flights and through everyday spending with partners, and Status Points, which decide tier progress. [9]
- Status Points are earned on flights and by using a Status Points-earning credit card. [9]
- The offer Air New Zealand was advertising on 18 October 2026 is 400 bonus Airpoints on the Amex Airpoints Platinum Card, for applications by 28 October 2026, and it is open to new Amex Card Members only, who are approved and spend $1,500 on the new card within the first three months. [9]
- Airpoints can be combined with up to nine family and friends through Shairpoints, free to join and open to New Zealand-based Koru members. [9]
What are the two Koru currencies?
Koru is Air New Zealand's loyalty programme, and it has five tiers, from Koru Bronze through Koru Silver, Koru Gold and Koru Platinum to Koru Black. [9] It also has two currencies that do different jobs. [9]
Airpoints are earned on flights and through everyday spending with Air New Zealand's partners, and they can be used across a range of rewards. [9] Status Points are the currency of tier progress: they are earned on flights and by using a Status Points-earning credit card. [9] Because the two balances are separate, they track different things — the Airpoints a member has to spend on rewards, and how far along the Koru tiers that member has moved. [9]
How do you earn Airpoints with a credit card?
Air New Zealand lists flights and everyday spending with its partners among the ways to earn Airpoints, and the card it names on its Koru pages is the Amex Airpoints Platinum Card. [9]
Bonus offers sit alongside that everyday earning. As of 18 October 2026, Air New Zealand was advertising 400 bonus Airpoints for applicants who apply by 28 October 2026, are approved, and spend $1,500 on a new Amex Airpoints Platinum Card within the first three months. [9]
Earning also happens inside the programme's own store. Members earn 1 Airpoint for every NZ$100 spent at the Airpoints Store, with terms and conditions applying. [9]
What is the current Amex Airpoints Platinum offer?
The offer is time-limited and conditional, so the details matter. [9]
| Detail | What Air New Zealand states |
|---|---|
| Bonus | 400 bonus Airpoints [9] |
| Apply by | 28 October 2026 [9] |
| Spend requirement | $1,500 on the new card within the first 3 months [9] |
| Eligibility | New Amex Card Members only [9] |
| Approval | Applicant must be approved [9] |
The same notice states that terms and conditions apply. [9]
What can you do with the Airpoints you earn?
Air New Zealand lists flights, an upgrade, and the Airpoints Store among the ways to spend Airpoints. [9] In the store, members can buy Liquorland e-Giftcards using Airpoints, cash or Flexipay, choosing a value from $20 up to $500, and each card is valid for three years from the date of purchase. [9]
Balances can also be pooled. Shairpoints lets a member combine Airpoints with up to nine family and friends, it is free to join, and it is available to all New Zealand-based Koru members. [9] Air New Zealand also lists an Airpoints for Business side of the programme. [9]
Conditions and limits
- The 400 Airpoints bonus is for new Amex Card Members only, requires approval and $1,500 of spending within the first three months, and closes to applications after 28 October 2026. [9]
- The bonus and the Airpoints Store earning rate are each stated with terms and conditions attached, and Koru terms and conditions apply to the programme as a whole. [9]
- Shairpoints is described as available to New Zealand-based Koru members, so location is part of the eligibility. [9]
- The e-Giftcard range and validity are stated for Liquorland cards bought through the Airpoints Store: $20 to $500, valid three years from purchase. [9]
Frequently asked questions
Do Airpoints credit cards earn Airpoints or Status Points?
Both currencies exist in Koru, and they are earned differently: Airpoints come from flights and everyday spending with partners, while Status Points come from flights and from using a Status Points-earning credit card. [9]
Which Air New Zealand card is advertised with a welcome bonus?
The Amex Airpoints Platinum Card, with 400 bonus Airpoints for new Amex Card Members who apply by 28 October 2026, are approved and spend $1,500 in the first three months. [9]
Can I combine my Airpoints with someone else's?
Yes, through Shairpoints, which lets a member combine Airpoints with up to nine family and friends and is free to join for New Zealand-based Koru members. [9]
Can Airpoints be used for anything other than flights?
Air New Zealand lists upgrades and the Airpoints Store, where members can also earn 1 Airpoint per NZ$100 spent, as ways to use and grow a balance. [9]
Sources
Sources accessed on 18 October 2026. It covers Air New Zealand's Koru programme and the card Air New Zealand names on its Koru pages; other airlines' credit card programmes are not covered here.
- Air New Zealand Koru loyalty programme pages, checked 18 October 2026