The Best Ways To Fly to New Zealand With Points and Miles [Step-by-Step]

Key Takeaways

• There are few nonstop flights available to New Zealand from the mainland U.S., but some options include Dallas Fort Worth (DFW), New York (JFK), and San Francisco (SFO).
• Redeeming points for flights to New Zealand can be done through Star Alliance programs like United MileagePlus.
• Award availability is minimal, so you must be flexible about when you fly and from what airport.

New Zealand is on many travelers’ radars, and for good reason. It is known for its gorgeous scenery and rich indigenous Polynesian culture. The filming location of the popular “Lord of the Rings” series, New Zealand is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Thanks to its picturesque landscape and amazing serenity, the country is a bucket list destination for many.

However, getting to New Zealand from the U.S. can be pretty challenging. From the mainland U.S., you need to fly at least 6,000 miles one-way to get to New Zealand. Fortunately, there are still some nonstop routes between the U.S. and New Zealand, with most of the routes operated by New Zealand’s flag carrier, Air New Zealand.

This guide will look at some of the best ways to fly to New Zealand using points and miles. We’ll talk about some of the best nonstop flights and connections with excellent partner airline programs.

Best Programs To Use To Book Flights

Getting to New Zealand isn’t an easy feat: There aren’t a ton of nonstop flights from the mainland U.S. On top of that, economy fares to New Zealand can be expensive. This just makes your points and miles even more valuable.

Air New Zealand is part of the Star Alliance, and so, the most route flexibility will be through Star Alliance partners such as United Airlines.

Here are the airports that offer nonstop Air New Zealand flights to New Zealand from North America:

• San Francisco (SFO)
• Dallas Fort Worth (DFW)
• Chicago (ORD)
• Vancouver (YVR)
• Los Angeles (LAX)
• Houston (IAH)
• New York (JFK)

United Airlines offers 3 routes to New Zealand featuring its Polaris business class:

• San Francisco (SFO) – Auckland (AKL)
• San Francisco (SFO) – Christchurch (CHC)
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Auckland (AKL)

Hawaiian Airlines offers a single route to New Zealand on the A330:

• Honolulu (HNL) – Auckland (AKL)

There are 2 American Airlines routes, and they both feature the 787 Dreamliner:

• Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) – Auckland (AKL)
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Auckland (AKL)

Qantas offers a single route:

• New York (JFK) – Auckland (AKL)

Delta Air Lines offers 1 nonstop service between the U.S. and New Zealand:

• Los Angeles (LAX) – Auckland (AKL)

Lastly, Air New Zealand offers a few nonstop routes between the U.S. and New Zealand:

• Los Angeles (LAX) – Auckland (AKL)
• San Francisco (SFO) – Auckland (AKL)
• Chicago (ORD) – Auckland (AKL)
• Houston (IAH) – Auckland (AKL)
• New York (JFK) – Auckland (AKL)

As we jump into each redemption option, it is important to note that nonstop routes in business class are difficult to find, as award availability tends to be nonexistent.

When award space is limited, your only option may be to take a positioning flight to an airport with the award space you want. Flexibility is key when it comes to award redemptions between the U.S. and New Zealand.

All Nippon Airways Mileage Club

The first program we will look at for award flights to New Zealand is ANA Mileage Club.

As usual, All Nippon Airways, better known as ANA, continues to impress with its amazing award redemption rates. Although ANA only allows for round-trip redemptions, the program offers some of the most competitive round-trip business class award prices in the world

Since ANA Mileage Club is also a member of the Star Alliance, you can fly to New Zealand nonstop on partners United Airlines or Air New Zealand. Best of all, ANA does not pass on fuel surcharges to United!

ANA has 2 award charts for redemptions: 1 award chart for ANA-operated flights and 1 for partner-operated flights. For awards operated by ANA, prices are subject to seasonal fluctuations. There is no seasonality pricing for award flights operated by ANA’s partners.

According to ANA’s partner award chart, North America is part of Zone 6, and New Zealand is part of Zone 10. Here is the round-trip award pricing for flights between the U.S. and New Zealand:

Hot Tip:

ANA requires round-trip bookings when it comes to award redemptions. However, the program does allow for stopovers and open-jaws on its award bookings.

Using ANA miles on partners is best for flying nonstops, even though it may cost more than flying on ANA’s own metal.

Here are examples of redemptions on nonstop routes:

• Chicago (ORD) – Auckland (AKL) round-trip for 120,000 miles and about $128 in taxes and fees in business class on Air New Zealand
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Auckland (AKL) round-trip for 120,000 miles and $128 in taxes and fees in business class on Air New Zealand
• San Francisco (SFO) – Auckland (AKL) round-trip for 120,000 miles and $128 in taxes and fees on United Airlines in Polaris business class

ANA does not operate any of its flights to Auckland. Instead, it codeshares with Air New Zealand from Tokyo. Therefore, you can’t use the award chart for ANA’s own flights to save miles.

Regardless, Star Alliance partners Air New Zealand and United Airlines have amazing business-class products on flights to New Zealand.

If you’re booking a United flight with ANA miles, we recommend using United.com to search for award space because of United’s more user-friendly interface.

To redeem your ANA miles, follow these instructions:

1. Use United’s website to search for award space.
2. Visit ANA’s website.
3. Choose ANA Mileage Club.
4. Choose International, then Award Reservation.
5. Log in to your account.
6. Enter your desired route, dates, and desired class of travel.
7. Choose your flights.
8. Reserve your flight and pay for any applicable taxes and fees.

Earning ANA Miles

ANA is a transfer partner with American Express Membership Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy.

ANA is an Amex airline partner whose points transfer at a 1:1 ratio. Amex Membership Rewards points can take 2 to 3 days to transfer to ANA.

Marriott Bonvoy points transfer to ANA at a 3:1 ratio. For every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points you transfer, you receive a 5,000-mile bonus. Keep in mind that it can take up to 7 business days for your Marriott Bonvoy points to transfer to ANA.

Bottom Line:

ANA Mileage Club offers some of the best pricing for award flights between the U.S. and New Zealand.

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Cons

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The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

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The American Express^® Gold Card is a game-changer.

With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants, up to $50,000 per calendar year, and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x.

There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.

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Pros

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• Earn 2X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Virgin Atlantic is another option for award flights to New Zealand. Although Virgin Atlantic joined SkyTeam earlier this year, the program has a special partnership with Air New Zealand. The partnership even has its own award chart.

Virgin Atlantic charges 62,500 points one-way for business-class flights between New Zealand and mainland North America. Again, it is worth mentioning that award space on Air New Zealand is difficult to come by.

Earning Virgin Flying Club Points

Fortunately, earning Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points is relatively easy. The program is a transfer partner of Chase Ultimate Rewards, Capital One Miles, American Express Membership Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy, and Citi ThankYou Rewards.

American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One Miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Citi ThankYou Rewards instantly transfer at 1:1. Marriott Bonvoy points transfer at a 3:1 ratio, usually within 1 business day. You also get a 5,000-mile bonus when you transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points

Hot Tip:

Be on the lookout for transfer bonuses to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. There are frequent transfer bonuses from American Express and Chase.

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The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

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• 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
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• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
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Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!

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• 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase TravelSM immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
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• Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
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Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

Alaska Airlines might not be the first airline you think of for flights between the U.S. and New Zealand. That’s because Alaska doesn’t operate flights to New Zealand — but it has plenty of partner airlines that do.

Alaska Airlines is part of the Oneworld Alliance with other member airlines such as Cathay Pacific, Fiji Airways, Qatar Airways, and Qantas. These airlines all offer routes to New Zealand.

As of now, Alaska Airlines has an award chart for partner awards. However, this is due to change in March 2024, when Alaska moves to its new distance-based award chart. This will be a huge devaluation for flights between the U.S. and New Zealand, as these are some of the most long-distance flights you can take.

Here are the current award rates for flights between the U.S. and New Zealand using Alaska Airlines miles:

For now, Alaska miles can be used to book only 2 nonstop routes between the U.S. and New Zealand. These are American Airlines routes from Los Angeles (LAX) and Dallas (DFW) to Auckland (AKL).

Thanks to its numerous Oneworld partners, you have several options when redeeming Alaska Airlines miles. Cathay Pacific and Qatar Airways are 2 airlines with single-stop routes worth considering. With these 2 airlines, you can connect through their respective hub airports, Hong Kong (HKG) and Doha (DOH), respectively.

Additionally, you can fly to several cities in New Zealand on Fiji Airways with a connection in Nadi (NAN), in Fiji, from Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), and Honolulu (HNL).

Lastly, you can fly with Alaska Airlines’ partner outside an alliance, Korean Air. This route requires connecting through Seoul-Incheon (ICN) on your way to New Zealand.

Here are great example routes and their redemption costs

• Boston (BOS) – Hong Kong (HKG) – Auckland (AKL) round-trip for 120,000 miles and $38 in taxes and fees on Cathay Pacific in business class
• Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) – Sydney (SYD) – Auckland (AKL) round-trip for 140,000 miles and $38 in taxes and fees on Qantas in first class and business class 
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Nadi (NAN) – Christchurch (CHC) round-trip for 110,000 miles and $38 in taxes and fees on Fiji Airways in business class
• New York (JFK) – Seoul-Incheon (ICN) – Auckland (AKL) round-trip for 125,000 miles and $76 in taxes and fees on Korean Air in business class

Here are the steps to book partner awards using Alaska Airlines miles:

1. Go to Alaska’s website.
2. Search for your desired route (make sure you select Use Miles).
3. Select your desired flight and Add To Cart.
4. Log in to your Alaska Mileage Plan account.
5. Pay the necessary taxes and fees and complete your booking.

Hot Tip:

Alaska has an incredible stopover policy, including one-way awards. For example, you can use Alaska miles to fly Cathay Pacific, have a stopover in Hong Kong, and then connect onward to New Zealand.

Earning Alaska Airlines Miles

Alaska Airlines miles are not the easiest to earn, as they only have one transfer partner: Marriott Bonvoy. Marriott Bonvoy points transfer at a 3:1 ratio, and with every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points that you transfer, you receive 5,000 bonus Alaska miles.

Alaska Airlines does have co-branded credit cards offered by Bank of America. Applying for these cards is the best way to get extra Alaska miles.

Alaska Airlines also runs frequent bonuses for when you purchase Alaska miles. Alaska Airlines often offers discounts of up to 40% on purchased miles.

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Pros & Cons

Pros

• Earn big when you use your card at thousands of participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
• Earn big at grocery stores, gas stations, and dining
• Automatic Silver Elite Status

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• Marriott Silver Elite Status is the lowest status tier

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Card Highlights

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.99% - 27.99% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 

Rewards Center

Marriott Bonvoy

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card gives you automatic Marriott elite status and helps you earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on your everyday purchases.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express^® Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card gives you automatic Marriott elite status and helps you earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on your everyday purchases.

Welcome Offer

Earn 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you spend $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

85,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$595

Annual Fee

$250

APR

20.24%-29.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express^® Card, the latest mid-tier offering in the Marriott Bonvoy lineup of cards, offers cardholders automatic elite status and ways to earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on each of their stays and daily purchases.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 6x points per $1 at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
• 4x points per $1 at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases per calendar year, then 2x points)
• 2x points per $1 on all other purchases

Cons

• $250 annual fee (rates & fees)
• Free Night Award certificate is not an automatic benefit

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Card Highlights

• Earn 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy^® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
• Earn 4X points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets per calendar year, then 2X points).
• Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases with the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ Card.
• Marriott Bonvoy 1K Bonus Points Per Stay: Earn 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® bonus points per paid eligible stay booked directly with Marriott for properties participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
• With complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elites status, earn up to 2.5X points from Marriott Bonvoy^® on eligible hotel purchases with the 25% Bonus Points on stays benefit, available for Qualifying Rates.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Free Night Award: Earn 1 Free Night Award after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ Card in a calendar year. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® points) at a hotel participating in Marriott Bonvoy^®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
• 15 Elite Night Credits: Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express Card^® you can receive 15 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy^® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express. Terms apply.
• Plan It^® is a payment option that lets you split up purchases of $100 or more into equal monthly installments with a fixed fee. Plus, you'll still earn rewards the way you usually do.
• $250 Annual Fee.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.24%-29.24% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A premium card for Marriott fans who want perks like an annual statement credit and Free Night Award, plus a fast track to Marriott elite status.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card

A premium card for Marriott fans who want perks like an annual statement credit and Free Night Award, plus a fast track to Marriott elite status.

Welcome Offer

Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

95,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$665

Annual Fee

$650

APR

20.24%-29.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card is a premium card designed with road warriors and Marriott Bonvoy loyalists in mind.

So is the card a worthwhile addition to your wallet?

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 6x points per $1 at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy program
• 3x points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines and restaurants worldwide
• 2x points per $1 on all other purchases

Cons

• Steep annual fee of $650 (rates & fees)
• 6x points per $1 is the same earn rate offered with lower annual fee alternatives like the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express^® Card

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Card Highlights

• Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
• $300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) in statement credits for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card at restaurants worldwide.
• With Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status, you can receive room upgrades, including enhanced views or suites, when available at select properties and booked with a Qualifying Rate.
• Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy^® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy^®. Earn 3X Marriott Bonvoy^® points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines and 2X Marriott Bonvoy^® points on all other eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card.
• Free Night Award: Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy^®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
• Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card, you will be eligible to select a Brilliant Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.
• $100 Marriott Bonvoy Property Credit: Enjoy your stay. Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton^® or St. Regis^® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card.
• Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®: Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($120) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck^® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
• Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card you can receive 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy^® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express.
• Enroll in Priority Pass™ Select, which offers unlimited airport lounge visits to over 1,200 lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. This allows you to relax before or between flights. You can enjoy snacks, drinks, and internet access in a quiet, comfortable location.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases.
• With Cell Phone Protection, you can be reimbursed, the lesser of, your repair or replacement costs following damage, such as a cracked screen, or theft for a maximum of $800 per claim when your cell phone line is listed on a wireless bill and the prior month's wireless bill was paid by an Eligible Card Account. A $50 deductible will apply to each approved claim with a limit of 2 approved claims per 12-month period. Additional terms and conditions apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
• $650 Annual Fee.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.24%-29.24% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Marriott Bonvoy

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Marriott Bonvoy Business^® American Express^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A great option for business owners who stay in Marriott hotels and want automatic elite status.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Marriott Bonvoy Business^® American Express^® Card

A great option for business owners who stay in Marriott hotels and want automatic elite status.

Welcome Offer

Earn 3 Free Night Awards, valued up to 50k points each for a total value of 150k points, after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

3 Free Night Awards

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,050

Annual Fee

$125

APR

20.24% - 29.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

Business travelers who opt for Marriott as their hotel chain of choice will definitely want to consider the Marriott Bonvoy Business^® American Express^® Card. The card offers great benefits to cardholders like a complimentary hotel night once a year, complimentary Gold Elite status, and multiple point redemption options.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 6x Marriott Bonvoy points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy^® program.
• 4x points for purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping.
• 2x points per $1 on all other purchases

Cons

• Moderate annual fee of $125 (rates and fees)
• No premium perks like airport lounge access

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• WELCOME OFFER: Earn 3 Free Night Awards after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in eligible purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Each Free Night Award has a redemption level up to 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® points, for a total potential value of up to 150,000 points, at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy^®. Certain hotels have resort fees. Terms apply.
• Receive a 7% discount on eligible bookings as a benefit of being both a Marriott Bonvoy^® member & a Marriott Bonvoy Business^® American Express^® Card Member when you book directly with Marriott through an eligible channel for a participating property under the Amex Business Card Rate.
• 6x Marriott Bonvoy points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy^® program.
• 4x points for purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping.
• 2x points on all other eligible purchases.
• Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Plus, earn an additional Free Night Award after you spend $60K in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Awards can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy^®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
• Enjoy Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status with your Marriott Bonvoy Business^® American Express^® Card.
• Terms apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.24% - 29.24% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Marriott Bonvoy

Air Canada Aeroplan

Another solid program for award redemptions between the U.S. and New Zealand is Air Canada Aeroplan.

The program has some incredible award redemptions and plenty of airline partners, does not pass on fuel surcharges, and allows for stopovers on bookings, including one-way award tickets.

Aeroplan uses a zone-based award chart for partner awards and factors in the total distance flown. The farther you fly, the more Aeroplan points you need, assuming your mileage falls into the next distance band.

Aeroplan divides the world into 4 regions: North America, the Atlantic, the Pacific, and South America. The U.S. is in the North America zone, and New Zealand is in the Pacific zone.

Here is the award chart for partner award flights between the North America and Pacific zones:

Aeroplan’s distance-based award chart favors those on the West Coast of the U.S., as flights price out for significantly less than those in other parts of the country.

For example, flights between Auckland (AKL) and Los Angeles (LAX) or San Francisco (SFO) fall within the 5,001-7,500-mile distance band. Thus, one-way bookings for these flights cost 75,000 Aeroplan points.

As mentioned above, Aeroplan also allows for stopovers on one-way awards for 5,000 points. This provides an excellent way to stop in 1 city before connecting to another city. However, you must be careful, as distance still applies. You do not want to fall into the next distance band, as award pricing will increase.

Here are the steps to follow when it comes to booking partner awards using Aeroplan points:

1. Visit Aeroplan’s website.
2. On the top right, click Sign in and enter your Aeroplan number and password.
3. On the resulting page, you’ll see a search box. Fill in the desired trip type, origin and destination airports, travel dates, and number of passengers.
4. Check the box that says Book with Aeroplan points.
5. Click Search.
6. Select your flight and pay for any taxes and fees.

Earning Air Canada Aeroplan Points

Air Canada Aeroplan is a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Capital One Miles, and Marriott Bonvoy.

All programs transfer at a 1:1 rate to Aeroplan, aside from Marriott Bonvoy. Marriott Bonvoy points transfer at a 3:1 ratio to Aeroplan. For every 60,000 Bonvoy points you transfer, you get a 5,000-mile bonus.

United Airlines MileagePlus

Another points program worth considering for flights between the U.S. and New Zealand is United MileagePlus. Although the MileagePlus has undergone serious devaluations over the years, the miles are still worth using for awards.

Unlike most programs with an award chart, United MileagePlus uses dynamic pricing. Thus, predicting how many miles are needed for an award redemption is difficult.

Award flights can sometimes cost upward of 250,000 miles one-way. Programs without true award charts are not the best options, as you don’t know what it will cost until you start looking for award space.

It’s noteworthy that United provides United Airlines credit cardholders and Premier members access to additional award space on United flights. When searching, you should make sure you are not logged out of your MileagePlus account, as this ensures you can find saver award space.

Here is an example route you can take with your United MileagePlus miles:

• San Francisco (SFO) – Auckland (AKL) one-way from 100,000 miles and about $55 in taxes and fees in United Airlines in Polaris business class

United does not charge fuel surcharges on United-operated flights. Also, keep in mind that the mileage price quoted above is the saver-level pricing.

Hot Tip:

Check out our guide on the best ways to book United Polaris business class.

Earning United MileagePlus Miles

Earning United MileagePlus miles is easy, as Chase offers several United co-branded credit cards that earn United miles.

The United MileagePlus program is also a transfer partner of Bilt Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy. Chase and Bilt transfer at a 1:1 ratio, while the current Marriott Bonvoy transfer ratio is 3:1. If you transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, you get a bonus of 10,000 United miles.

Bottom Line:

Although United uses dynamic pricing for its award flights, there are still plenty of solid award redemptions.

American Airlines AAdvantage

Another great program for award redemptions to New Zealand is with American Airlines AAdvantage. Like Alaska, American Airlines is a member of the Oneworld alliance.

Although the American AAdvantage program has undergone significant devaluations over the past few years, it can still offer great value, especially when you redeem American AAdvantage miles for partner awards.

American Airlines uses dynamic pricing for American-operated flights, making it difficult to know precisely how many miles you need for an award redemption. Redemptions can be upwards of 400,000 AAdvantage miles one-way. No thanks.

However, American Airlines has a simple award chart for partner awards, and prices are not subject to dynamic pricing. This is generally the best way to redeem AA miles.

American Airlines places New Zealand in the South Pacific region on its award chart. Here is the partner award chart for American Airlines partner awards for flights between the U.S. and New Zealand:

Here’s how you book on American Airlines:

1. Visit the American Airlines website.
2. Log in using your AA username and password.
3. In the search box, check off the box that says Redeem Miles.
4. Enter the departure city, destination city, travel dates, and number of passengers.
5. Click Search.
6. Complete the booking 100% online by using your miles and a credit card for taxes and fees.

Need help booking? See our step-by-step guide for booking American Airlines business class.

Hot Tip:

American Airlines miles can be quite valuable. Check out our guide on the best ways to redeem American Airlines AAdvantage miles for maximum value.

Earning American Airlines AAdvantage Miles

Earning American Airlines AAdvantage miles is relatively easy, thanks to the company’s co-branded credit cards with Citi and Barclays and transfer partners.

American AAdvantage is a transfer partner of Marriott Bonvoy. Marriott Bonvoy is a 3:1 transfer partner, and transfers from Marriott Bonvoy take around 2 business days.

Avianca LifeMiles

Lastly, we will look at another excellent program for Star Alliance awards: Avianca LifeMiles. The program has plenty of partners, does not add fuel surcharges on awards, and makes it easy to earn its miles.

There are many great ways to redeem Avianca LifeMiles for maximum value. One of them is to use them for award flights on United or Air New Zealand between the U.S. and New Zealand.

Here’s the award pricing for one-way flights between North America and New Zealand:

Avianca’s LifeMiles website can be tricky to navigate, but you can book awards completely online. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Go to the Avianca website.
2. In the top-right corner, click the flag icon and change the language to English, if needed.
3. Log in to your LifeMiles account.
4. On the redirected homepage, click Travel.
5. Enter your flight details, and click the blue search button.
6. Find the flight you’re looking for and redeem your LifeMiles for the ticket.

Earning Avianca LifeMiles

As mentioned above, it’s incredibly easy to earn Avianca LifeMiles, thanks to its many partner programs. Avianca LifeMiles is a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards, Brex Rewards, Capital One Miles, Citi ThankYou Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy.

All the programs transfer to Avianca LifeMiles at a 1:1 ratio, except for Marriott Bonvoy. Marriott Bonvoy points transfer to Avianca LifeMiles at a 3:1 ratio.

LifeMiles also frequently offers bonuses on the purchase of miles, which can be as high as 200%.

Bottom Line:

Avianca LifeMiles offers excellent rates on partner awards. They are also incredibly easy to earn, as the program is a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards, Brex Rewards, Capital One Miles, Citi ThankYou Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy.

Final Thoughts

Although getting to New Zealand from the U.S. is relatively complicated, plenty of award programs can help get you there. Whether you want a nonstop flight to get you there quickly or don’t mind connecting elsewhere in the world to try a different airline, your options are endless.

Just a reminder, award availability from the U.S. to New Zealand can be challenging to find. However, you might find that coveted award seat if you are flexible with your dates and open to a positioning flight.