Bronze
Entry tier
- Earn Airpoints Dollars and Status Points
- Online check-in
airline
Air New Zealand Koru
Air New Zealand Koru is the loyalty program of New Zealand's flag carrier (52% government-owned, CEO Nikhil Ravishankar since October 20, 2025). The program rebranded from "Airpoints" to "Koru" on April 22, 2026 — all 5M+ members moved across automatically, status carried over, and a new top tier called Koru Black launched at 3,200 Status Points (with at least 1,920 SP on Air NZ-operated or marketed flights). The currency is still called Airpoints Dollars. The new Koru Premier Lounge at AKL is due to begin construction later in 2026, with two distinct spaces — one for Koru Platinum and Black, one for Koru Gold, Star Alliance Gold, Koru Silver, and Koru Club members.
For US travelers, the practical reality is that there is no major US flexible-currency direct transfer. US Amex, Chase UR, Capital One, Citi, Bilt, and Wells Fargo are all non-partners. Marriott Bonvoy 200:1 is the only US-issued bridge — and it is one of the worst Marriott ratios in the program (200,000 Bonvoy = 1,000 Airpoints Dollars + 75-point bonus on 60K+ transfers). The Airpoints Dollars currency is a near-cashback model on Air NZ own metal (1 APD = NZ$1 cash value), so the value lives entirely in the Star Alliance partner award chart — distance-based, fixed APD per band, where premium-cabin partner redemptions consistently exceed 1 NZD per APD.
Award chart
The actual numbers. Get your nerd on, memorize the cheap ones.
The cheat sheet.
See the rates →
Award chart
The actual numbers. Get your nerd on, memorize the cheap ones.
The cheat sheet.
Air NZ uses two award models. Air NZ-operated awards use APD 1:1 with cash price (no upside - effectively cashback). Star Alliance partner awards use a distance-based published chart in fixed APD per band - this is where the value is. Sample partner one-way pricing as of May 2026:
| Distance band | Cabin | APD |
|---|---|---|
| Band 1 (shortest intra-Asia) | Economy | ~150-200 |
| Band 1 | Business | ~400-500 |
| Band 2 (BKK-HKG, SIN-SGN) | Economy | ~250-300 |
| Band 2 | Business | ~600-750 |
| Band 4 (medium-haul intra-Asia/Pacific) | Business | ~1,000-1,250 |
| Band 6 (long-haul transpacific) | Business | ~2,500-3,000 |
Verify current APD per band on airnewzealand.com - the partner chart updates periodically.
Sweet spots
Where your points punch above their weight.
Where this currency genuinely shines.
Show me the picks →
Sweet spots
Where your points punch above their weight.
Where this currency genuinely shines.
- Star Alliance partner short-haul intra-Asia at lowest band - the highest APD-to-value ratio.
- Second-band partner premium-cabin redemptions (BKK-HKG, SIN-SGN, TYO-PVG) consistently exceed 1 NZD per APD.
- AKL-JFK on Air NZ if you can find Star partner redemption windows - one of the world's longest commercial routes.
- Koru Black launching April 22, 2026 with Koru Circle benefit-sharing for family/friends - genuine differentiation at the top.
- 4-year APD expiry is more generous than most distance-based-chart programs.
Ways to earn more
How to get more points.
2 programs that transfer in.
See inbound paths →
Ways to earn more
How to get more points.
2 programs that transfer in.
Programs that transfer points or miles into Air New Zealand Koru.
| From | Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ALL - Accor Live Limitless | 2,000 pts : 30 Airpoints Dollars | 2,000 Reward points = 30 Airpoints Dollars (not a miles currency - Airpoints Dollars are a fixed-value NZD-pegged currency). |
| Marriott Bonvoy | 200:1 | Airpoints are dollar-denominated; transfers at 200:1, not a standard mile ratio. |
Tier benefits
The status ladder. 5 rungs, each unlocking better lounges, bags, and bragging rights.
5 status levels.
Climb the ladder →
Tier benefits
The status ladder. 5 rungs, each unlocking better lounges, bags, and bragging rights.
5 status levels.
Koru Silver
450 Status Points within membership year
- Status Points Top-Up access
- Priority check-in on Air NZ
- Bonus APD earning
Koru Gold
900 Status Points within membership year
- Star Alliance Gold
- Air NZ Koru Lounge access on Air NZ flights
- Premium check-in
- Priority boarding and baggage
- Two Recognition Upgrades per membership year (one cabin class up when you achieve or retain Gold)
- Status Retain available (buy missing Status Points to maintain tier)
Koru Platinum
1,500 Status Points within membership year
- Star Alliance Gold
- Enhanced rewards earning
- Priority for waitlists and operational upgrades
- Status Retain available
Koru Black
3,200 Status Points within membership year (with at least 1,920 SP on Air NZ-operated or marketed flights)
- All Platinum benefits
- Koru Circle benefit-sharing for family and friends
- New Koru Premier Lounge access at AKL (construction begins later in 2026)
- Status Retain available
- Highest priority across all services
Lounge access
Where to vanish before takeoff. Your status (or ticket) opens which doors.
Who gets in, who doesn't, and the carve-outs.
See the rules →
Lounge access
Where to vanish before takeoff. Your status (or ticket) opens which doors.
Who gets in, who doesn't, and the carve-outs.
Air NZ operates Koru and International Lounges at AKL, WLG, CHC, plus AU outstations and US gateways including LAX and HNL. Koru Gold and above get Koru Lounge access on Air NZ flights; Star Alliance Gold reciprocity applies worldwide. The new Koru Premier Lounge at AKL — construction begins later in 2026 — will have two distinct spaces: one for Koru Platinum and Koru Black members, and another for Koru Gold, Star Alliance Gold, Koru Silver, and Koru Club members. Day passes are available for purchase at standard Koru lounges.
How to spend
The high-leverage moves. Read this before you transfer a single mile.
The smart-money plays.
Get the playbook →
How to spend
The high-leverage moves. Read this before you transfer a single mile.
The smart-money plays.
- Star Alliance partner short-haul intra-Asia at the lowest distance band - the highest-value APD use.
- Second-band partner premium cabins (BKK-HKG, SIN-SGN, TYO-PVG) - consistently exceed 1 NZD per APD.
- Air NZ own-metal awards are essentially cashback (1 APD = NZ$1 cash value) - no upside vs. paying cash.
- Long-haul Star partners for premium-cabin redemptions where APD pricing beats dollar-cost.
- Status Points Top-Up (Gold and above) lets members buy missing SP to retain status.
Tips & quirks
Stopover rules, surcharges, the stuff nobody tells you until you've been burned once.
The fine print, decoded.
Spill the gotchas →
Tips & quirks
Stopover rules, surcharges, the stuff nobody tells you until you've been burned once.
The fine print, decoded.
- Rebranded from Airpoints to Koru on April 22, 2026 — tier names changed, new top tier Koru Black launched
- Currency is still Airpoints Dollars (APD) — 1 APD = NZ$1 cash value on Air NZ metal; the rebrand didn't touch the currency
- Government-owned (52% New Zealand government); CEO Nikhil Ravishankar since October 20, 2025
- Star Alliance partner award chart is distance-based, fixed APD per band — where the value lives
- Status Retain (Gold/Platinum/Black) — buy missing Status Points to maintain tier if you fall just short
- Koru Circle (Black-only) — share benefits with friends or family
- NO US flexible-currency direct transfers — Amex/Chase UR/Cap One/Citi/Bilt/Wells Fargo all non-partners
- Marriott Bonvoy 200:1 — only US-issued bridge, one of the worst Marriott ratios
- AU/NZ Amex transfers exist at 200:1 — poor
- Co-brand cards from ANZ, Westpac — no US-issued co-brand
- Earning is revenue-based (1 APD per spend tier on Air NZ)
- APD 4-year expiry from earn date; Status Points reset annually
- Airpoints for Family account-linking, not pure pooling
- AKL-JFK launched 2023 — one of the world's longest commercial routes
- 777-300ER retiring; fleet centered on 787-9 and A321neo
- New Koru Premier Lounge at AKL — construction begins later in 2026; two distinct spaces (Platinum+Black, and Gold/SA Gold/Silver/Club)
Alerts
Last reviewed: May 2026
Loyalty programs change rules, fees, transfer ratios, and award pricing all the time — sometimes without warning. We do our best to keep these pages current, but the program's own site is always the final word. Always confirm specifics directly with Air New Zealand Koru before transferring miles or booking an award. Treat anything on this page as a starting point, not a guarantee. Crazy4Points is not responsible for actions taken based on information here — see our Terms of Service for full details.