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American Express Airpoints Card Review 2026 — Free Airpoints Card NZ

Updated

The American Express Airpoints Card is the entry-level Airpoints-earning Amex: lower (or no) annual fee, a basic Airpoints earn rate, and no lounge access. Here’s how it compares with the standard Visa Airpoints cards.

Quick answer

The Amex Airpoints Card (low or no annual fee) earns Airpoints at a lower rate than the Platinum but at minimal cost. The Amex acceptance problem still applies, so cardholders usually carry a backup Visa or Mastercard. The ANZ Airpoints Visa ($65, 1 per $100) is on the Visa network, which is accepted almost everywhere. Which costs less overall depends on where you spend and whether you already hold another card.

Amex Airpoints Card — Key Facts

Feature Detail
Annual fee Low or $0 (check current terms at americanexpress.com/en-nz)
Interest rate Check current rate
Airpoints earn rate Lower than Platinum — check current earn rate
Travel insurance Not included (Platinum benefit only)
Lounge access No
Card network American Express
Foreign transaction fee ~2%

Always verify current earn rates, fees, and terms directly with American Express before applying.

Amex Airpoints Card vs Amex Airpoints Platinum

Feature Amex Airpoints Card Amex Airpoints Platinum
Annual fee Low/$0 $195
Earn rate Lower 1 per $70
Travel insurance No Yes
Lounge access No 2 Priority Pass visits a year

The standard card sacrifices earn rate and travel benefits for a lower cost. Whether that trade-off is worth it depends on your spending volume.

The Amex Airpoints Card vs ANZ Airpoints Visa

This is the key comparison for most NZers considering the standard Amex card:

Feature Amex Airpoints Card ANZ Airpoints Visa
Annual fee Low/$0 $65
Earn rate Check 1 per $100
Network American Express (not accepted at some NZ merchants) Visa
Travel insurance No No
Backup card needed? Yes No

Acceptance: Because some NZ merchants don’t accept Amex, Amex cardholders typically also hold a Visa or Mastercard. The ANZ Airpoints Visa is a single Visa card.

Features and Limitations

Features:

  • Low or no annual fee
  • Earns Airpoints at merchants that accept Amex

Limitations:

  • Not accepted at some NZ merchants
  • No travel insurance or lounge access (the Amex Airpoints Platinum includes these)
  • Lower earn rate than the Platinum
  • ~2% foreign transaction fee

The Two-Card Approach with Standard Amex

Using the Amex Airpoints Card alongside a backup card:

Card Use for
Amex Airpoints Card Woolworths, New World, major retailers (Amex-accepting merchants)
A no-fee Visa or Mastercard Everywhere else

This gives Airpoints earning where Amex works and coverage elsewhere. If both cards have no annual fee (the Kiwibank Zero Visa, for example, has none), the combined annual cost is $0.

Airpoints Earning: Standard Amex vs ANZ Airpoints Visa

Assuming the standard Amex earns at a rate comparable to the ANZ Airpoints Visa (1 per $100):

Annual spend Airpoints Dollars earned Net vs ANZ ($65 fee)
$5,000 $50 ANZ: -$15
$8,000 $80 ANZ: +$15
$12,000 $120 ANZ: +$55

If the Amex Airpoints Card has no annual fee and earns at a comparable rate, it can be more profitable than the ANZ Airpoints Visa — but only at merchants that accept Amex. On spending at non-Amex merchants, the backup Visa earns nothing (unless you use an Airpoints Visa as backup).

Summary

The Amex Airpoints Card earns Airpoints for a low or no annual fee, but only at merchants that accept Amex, so it works as a second card alongside a Visa or Mastercard. The ANZ Airpoints Visa ($65/year, 1 per $100) earns Airpoints on a single card accepted almost everywhere. The Amex Airpoints Platinum ($195) earns 1 per $70 and adds travel insurance and Priority Pass lounge visits.

Where to check the latest data

Rates, fees and returns change often. Before deciding, check current figures yourself:

Next Steps