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

Updated: January 18, 2024, 10:13am CST

Edited by:

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

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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

Air New Zealand Boeing 787 business class cabin rear — You’ll be ready to hit the water swimming when you fly Air New Zealand’s business class. Image Credit: Daniel Ross

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:

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Class of Service	Required Mileage
Y (Economy)	75,000
C (Business)	120,000
F (First)	225,000

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:

Use United’s website to search for award space.
Visit ANA’s website.
Choose ANA Mileage Club.
Choose International, then Award Reservation.
Log in to your account.
Enter your desired route, dates, and desired class of travel.
Choose your flights.
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.

Recommended American Express Cards (Personal)

BEST LOUNGE ACCESS

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The Platinum Card^® from American Express

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The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

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The Platinum Card^® from American Express

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Welcome OfferEarn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
80,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$1,760

Annual Fee

$695

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card^® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

Pros

The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com
Annual and monthly statement credits upon enrollment (airline credit, Uber Cash credit, Saks Fifth Avenue credit, streaming credit, prepaid hotel credit on eligible stays, Walmart+ credit, CLEAR credit, and Equinox credit)
TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit
Access to American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts
Access to Amex International Airline Program
No foreign transaction fees (rates and fees)

Cons

$695 annual fee (rates and fees)
Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card^®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
$200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card^®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
$240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card^® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
$155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card^®. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Up Benefits are excluded.
$200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card^®.
$200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
$300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card^®. Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
$189 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR Plus at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card^®. Learn more.
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$695 annual fee.
Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

APR: See Pay Over Time APR
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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American Express Membership Rewards

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Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

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

American Express^® Gold Card

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Welcome OfferEarn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months.
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UP's Bonus Valuation*:
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Annual Fee

$250

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Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

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

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

Pros

4x points per dollar at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases; and 1x thereafter
3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at Amex Travel
Up to $120 annual dining credit: up to $10 monthly statement credit when you pay with the Amex Gold card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations
Up to $120 in annual Uber Cash: get $10 monthly in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S. when you add your Gold Card to your Uber account
No foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees)
Access to Amex’s The Hotel Collection
Access to American Express transfer partners

Cons

$250 annual fee (see rates and fees)
No lounge access

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
$120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
Get a $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel. Experience credit varies by property.
Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Annual Fee is $250.
Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

APR: See Pay Over Time APR
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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American Express Membership Rewards

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Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Air New Zealand Boeing 787 business class seat 1K — Believe it or not, you can actually redeem Virgin Atlantic points to book Air New Zealand business class flights. Image Credit: Daniel Ross

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.

Recommended Chase Cards (Personal)

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Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

U.P. Rating

A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

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Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Welcome OfferEarn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
60,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$1,200

Annual Fee

$95

APR

21.49%-28.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

Pros

5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services
2x points on all other travel worldwide
$50 annual credit on hotel stays booked through the Chase Travel portal
6 months of complimentary Instacart+ (activate by July 31, 2024), plus up to $15 in statement credits each quarter through July 2024
Excellent travel and car rental insurance
10% annual bonus points
No foreign transaction fees
1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs like United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt

Cons

$95 annual fee
No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
Enjoy beneﬁts such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
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.
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

APR: 21.49%-28.49% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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Chase Ultimate Rewards

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

U.P. Rating

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Welcome OfferEarn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel.
60,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$1,200

Annual Fee

$550

APR

22.49%-29.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Excellent (740-850)

If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® is one of the best options out there.

The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options. Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.

Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!

Pros

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
10x points on Lyft purchases March 31, 2025
10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025
5x points on airfare booked through Chase Travel^SM
3x points on all other travel and dining purchases; 1x point on all other purchases
$300 annual travel credit
Priority Pass airport lounge access
TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS credit
Access to Chase Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection
Rental car elite status with National and Avis

Cons

$550 annual fee
Does not offer any sort of hotel elite status

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
$300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck^®
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more
Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

APR: 22.49%-29.49% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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Chase Ultimate Rewards

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Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

Fiji Airways Airbus A350 Business Class Cabin from Front — Fiji Airways Airbus A350 business class. Image Credit: Greg Stone

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:

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From Contiguous U.S., Alaska, and Canada	Economy Starting From:	Premium Starting From:	Business Starting From:	First Starting From:
To South Pacific	30,000	45,000	55,000	70,000

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:

Go to Alaska’s website.
Search for your desired route (make sure you select Use Miles).
Select your desired flight and Add To Cart.
Log in to your Alaska Mileage Plan account.
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.

Recommended Marriott Bonvoy Cards

Marriott Bonvoy Bold^® Credit Card

U.P. Rating

A great option for Marriott hotel fans who want a no annual fee card and automatic Marriott Bonvoy elite status.

Marriott Bonvoy Bold^® Credit Card

A great option for Marriott hotel fans who want a no annual fee card and automatic Marriott Bonvoy elite status.

Welcome OfferEarn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
30,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
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Annual Fee

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Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Casual travelers who like to frequent properties that are part of the Marriott Bonvoy collection of brands may want to consider the Marriott Bonvoy Bold^® Credit Card.

The Marriott Bold card rewards cardholders for Marriott stays and gives them a boost towards Marriott Bonvoy elite status.

Pros

Up to 14x points per $1 on Marriott purchases
2x points per $1 on travel purchases
15 Elite Night Credits each year (automatically gives you Silver Elite status)
No foreign transaction fees
No annual fee

Cons

Lower point earn rate than other Marriott Bonvoy cards
Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status is the lowest status tier

Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Pay no annual fee with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold^® Credit Card from Chase^®!
Earn up to 14X total points per $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy^® with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold^® Card.
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Your points don't expire as long as you make purchases on your card every 24 months.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Member FDIC

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APR: 21.49%–28.49% Variable
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Marriott Bonvoy

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Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® Credit Card

U.P. Rating

Marriott loyalists will love this card's annual free night award, automatic elite status, and up to 17x points per $1 on Marriott hotel stays.

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® Credit Card

Marriott loyalists will love this card's annual free night award, automatic elite status, and up to 17x points per $1 on Marriott hotel stays.

Welcome OfferEarn 5 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after spending $5,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card!
Earn 5 Free Night Awards

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$1,750

Annual Fee

$95

APR

21.49%–28.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

If you’re a frequent traveler and a Marriott loyalist, there’s a lot to love about the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® Credit Card. The card comes packed with several great benefits like a free hotel night once a year, automatic Silver Elite status (with a fast-track to Gold Elite status), and multiple options for redeeming points.

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
1 Free Night Award each cardmember anniversary (valued up to 35,000 points)
One year complimentary DoorDash DashPass subscription
No foreign transaction fees

Cons

$95 annual fee
Marriott Silver status is the lowest status tier

Earn 3 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after qualifying purchases.
Earn 3X points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining.
Earn 1 Elite Night Credit towards Elite Status for every $5,000 you spend.
1 Free Night Award (valued up to 35,000 points) every year after account anniversary.
Earn up to 17X total points per $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy^® with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® Card.
Receive 15 Elite Night Credits annually, automatic Silver Elite status, and path to Gold Status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each calendar year.
No Foreign Transaction Fees. Your points don't expire as long as you make purchases on your card every 24 months.
Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

APR: 21.49%–28.49% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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Rewards Center

Marriott Bonvoy

NEW 155K OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express^® Card

U.P. Rating

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 OfferEarn 155,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
155,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$1,085

Annual Fee

$250

APR

20.99%-29.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

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

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
Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
15 Elite Night Credits per year
1,000 bonus points per paid stay
1 Free Night Award (up to 50,000 points) when you spend $15,000 on the card in a year
No foreign transaction fees (rates and fees)

Cons

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

Earn 155,000 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.
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: 20.99%-29.99% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

NEW 185K WELCOME OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card

U.P. Rating

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 OfferEarn 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
185,000 bonus points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$1,295

Annual Fee

$650

APR

20.99%-29.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

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

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
25 Elite Night Credits each year
Priority Pass Select membership upon enrollment
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee statement credit
Annual Free Night Award after card renewal
Complimentary Platinum Elite status

Cons

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

Earn 185,000 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^®. 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines. 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
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 ($100) 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. Terms apply.
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: 20.99%-29.99% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Marriott Bonvoy

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Marriott Bonvoy Business^® American Express^® Card

U.P. Rating

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 OfferWELCOME 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.
3 Free Night Awards

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$1,050

Annual Fee

$125

APR

20.99% - 29.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

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

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
15 Elite Night Credits
1 Free Night Award each cardmember anniversary (up to 35,000 points)
Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status
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.
No foreign transaction fees (rates and fees)

Cons

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

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. Award 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: 20.99% - 29.99% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Marriott Bonvoy

Air Canada Aeroplan

Air Canada Signature business class — Air Canada in business class may be the way you want to go to Auckland. Image Credit: Air Canada

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 zones between NA and Pacific zones — Aeroplan’s partner award pricing for flights between the North America and Pacific zones. Image Credit: Aeroplan

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:

Visit Aeroplan’s website.
On the top right, click Sign in and enter your Aeroplan number and password.
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.
Check the box that says Book with Aeroplan points.
Click Search.
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 3:1.1. If you transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, you get a bonus of 5,000 United miles.

Bottom Line:

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

American Airlines AAdvantage

AA Flagship Lounge — When flying AA Flagship business class, relax in one of American Airlines’ Flagship lounges before your flight. Image Credit: Stephen Au

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:

SCROLL FOR MORE

From Contiguous U.S. and Canada:	Main Cabin	Premium Economy	Business/First	First
To: South Pacific	40,000	65,000	80,000	110,000

Here’s how you book on American Airlines:

Visit the American Airlines website.
Log in using your AA username and password.
In the search box, check off the box that says Redeem Miles.
Enter the departure city, destination city, travel dates, and number of passengers.
Click Search.
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 Bilt Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy. Bilt Rewards is a 1:1 transfer partner, and transfers from Bilt take around 1 business day. Marriott Bonvoy is a 3:1 transfer partner, and transfers from Marriott Bonvoy take around 2 business days.

Avianca LifeMiles

Air New Zealand Boeing 787 business class kia ora — If you have a chance, you can also try the Air New Zealand 787 Dreamliner business-class product! Regardless of what plane you fly, Air New Zealand business class is one of the best in the world. Image Credit: Daniel Ross

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:

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Cabin Class	Avianca LifeMiles Cost	Taxes and Fees
Economy	80,000	$61
Business	160,000	$61

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

Go to the Avianca website.
In the top-right corner, click the flag icon and change the language to English, if needed.
Log in to your LifeMiles account.
On the redirected homepage, click Travel.
Enter your flight details, and click the blue search button.
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.

The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Bold^® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card^® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express^® Gold Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express^® Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Business^® American Express^® Card, click here.

Featured Image Credit: Ömer Faruk Bekdemir via Unsplash

Frequently Asked Questions

Which airlines include carrier-imposed surcharges on award flights to New Zealand?

None! There are no fuel surcharges when flying to New Zealand.

Can I use American Airlines miles to fly to New Zealand?

Yes, you can use American AAdvantage miles for award flights to New Zealand. Flights can be operated by American Airlines or its many Oneworld Alliance partners.

What is the fewest number of miles required to fly business class to New Zealand?

You can use 120,000 ANA miles to book a round-trip ticket in business class on Star Alliance flights to New Zealand.

What is the fewest number miles required to fly first class to New Zealand?

There aren’t any nonstop routes from the U.S. to New Zealand that offer first class.

However, you can use Alaska miles or American Airlines miles to fly partner airlines like Cathay Pacific and Qantas in first class.

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About Ehsan Haque

Ehsan is an avid traveler who has traveled to 100 countries, diligently using points and miles to fund his journeys. Currently, he holds 32 active credit cards and earns over a million points and miles annually, primarily using them for luxury hotels and long-haul premium cabins.

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