Travel
Overseas travel
Thanks to American Express Fraud Protection, you don’t need to let us know when you’re travelling overseas. Our security systems continually monitor transactions on your Account that we suspect may be fraudulent. If we detect suspicious activity, we’ll make every effort to contact you.
For General Credit or Charge Card and Travel Enquiries Call 0800 656 660 (or +64 9 583 8300 if outside New Zealand) Charges may apply.
However, before you leave we do recommend that you:
- Update your contact information, in case we need to contact you while you're away
- Download the American Express Mobile App to help manage your Account on the go.
Yes. While overseas, you can continue to use your Card to make purchases anywhere that accepts American Express. However, keep in mind that currency conversion fees may apply to your transactions.
We recommend doing a few things before you leave to help you make the most of your Card and/or keep your Account in good standing while you’re away:
- Check your Card’s expiry date to make sure it doesn’t expire while you’re away
- Make note of your insurance company’s phone number and your policy number in case you need them.
A foreign transaction fee is a percentage of the New Zealand Dollar value of foreign currency transactions. You may be charged a Currency Conversion Fee when an international transaction is converted into New Zealand currency. On Personal Cards this is 2.5% of the converted amount.
While overseas, you can continue to use Online Services and the American Express Mobile App to make payments on your Account, view your transaction history and more.
We also recommend setting up automatic Card payments before you go to help you avoid any late payment fees while you’re busy exploring.
To find out locations where you can cash Travelers Cheques and how to redeem your Travelers Cheques directly with American Express, please click here.
For all information including Frequently Asked Questions about American Express Travelers Cheques please, click here.
Complimentary flights and Travel Credit
Redeeming your Travel Credit is easy:
VISIT
Visit the American Express Travel Online website to book flights, hotels, and car hire.
BOOK TRIP
Make a booking to the full value of your Travel Credit or more and select the Travel Credit at checkout.
STATEMENT CREDIT
Pay for your booking using your eligible American Express Card and we will credit the amount to your Account within 3 business days.
Don't worry. You can combine Membership Rewards points and/or Travel Credit (if applicable) with payment on your American Express Card.
Log in to your Online Account. Eligible Card Members will see a tab labelled ‘Travel Credit’. Choose your itinerary and proceed to the checkout page. Select ‘Use Travel Credit’ on the payment page. Plan your travel and proceed to the checkout page.
If your booking is cancelled, you will forfeit your annual Travel Credit benefit and American Express may reverse the statement credits issued.
Follow these steps to apply your Travel Credit as a payment option:
1. Ensure you are logged in.
2. Ensure you are selecting the products eligible for payment with Travel Credit.
3. If you still cannot see your Travel Credit, contact the number on the back of your Card.
No. You have to Make a booking to the full value of your Travel Credit or more and select the Travel Credit at checkout.
You can use your Travel Credit when it appears on the American Express Travel website at checkout.
Yes, your Travel Credit can be used to book travel for others, provided the tickets are not for resale, promotional or commercial use.
Please log in to your Online Account to check the expiry date of your Travel Credit.
Eligible Card Members will see the Travel Credit tab. Hover your mouse over the tab to view the expiry date and Terms and Conditions.
Only one Travel Credit may be used per booking.
No, if your complimentary flight is not redeemed within your Membership year, it will not be carried forward to any subsequent year.
Travel Insurance
Some American Express Cards include complimentary domestic and international Travel Insurance benefits if you book your trip using your Card. We suggest you read the Terms and Conditions applicable to your Card to understand your insurance benefits, eligibility and activation criteria, and to determine whether you require additional travel insurance.
Click on the link below to view the insurance benefits and eligibility criteria applicable to your American Express Card.
Yes, you can purchase American Express Travel Insurance up to the day your journey begins but not after you’ve started travelling.
Single Trip Travel Insurance*: This can be purchased up to 9 months before your journey begins. From the date we confirm your insurance, you’ll be covered for loss of deposits and cancellation charges – however, all other cover will start from the date your journey begins and continue up until the final date indicated on your policy.
Annual Multi-Trip Insurance*: This cover can be arranged up to 45 days before your first journey’s start date. Cover for loss of deposits and cancellation charges commences from when we agree to provide Insurance – with all other cover starting from the start date of your first journey or the latest renewal date, whichever is the latest. Cover continues until the end of your period of Insurance, one year after the start date, as indicated on your policy.
*American Express Travel Insurance is issued and underwritten by Chubb Insurance New Zealand Limited Company Number 104656, Financial Services Provider Number 35924 (Chubb) and distributed by American Express International (NZ) Inc. Company Number 867929, Financial Services Provider Number 43608 (American Express). American Express receives a commission from Chubb for promoting this product. This website/communication provides only factual information and does not take into account your personal circumstances, objectives, financial situation or needs and does not constitute financial advice. You should read the Policy Wording which sets out the terms, conditions, exclusions and limitations and obtain financial advice if required before making any decisions about this product.
Eligibility criteria apply. You must be a New Zealand resident and aged between 18-89 for Single Trip policies (with lower age limits for certain plans) or 18-69 for Annual Trip policies. Terms, conditions, exclusions, maximum age limits, pre-existing medical condition exclusions and limits apply as set out in the American Express Travel Insurance Policy
Yes – the maximum journey period is 365 consecutive days.
There is a maximum journey period depending on the option you select. You may select up to thirty (30), forty-five (45) or sixty (60) consecutive days per journey. You can take multiple trips throughout the year, while insured under an Annual Multi-Trip policy.
Using points for travel
There are many ways points can book you the perfect trip:
American Express Travel Online: Book flights, accommodation, car hire and more with points.1
Airline and Hotel Partners: Save money on flights and accommodation by transferring Membership Rewards points to up to 11 airline and hotel partner programs including Air New Zealand and more.
Webjet: Redeem Membership Rewards points2 on flights from 150 plus airline partners when booking online with Webjet.
Helloworld: If you prefer to book and plan your trip in person, visit your local Helloworld Travel branch and book your next trip using points2 or a combination of points and Card payment.
T&Cs
1. American Express Travel Online. You can redeem points for prepaid travel of a nominated value through American Express Travel Online with the point-of-purchase redemption capability. Travel bookings using points may be made for any person, provided all your Accounts are kept in good standing and are not overdue. All travel bookings are subject to availability. Subject to the American Express Travel Online standard booking Terms and Conditions.
2. Minimum redemption amounts apply. You can redeem points for prepaid travel of a nominated value through Webjet.com.au and Helloworld with the point-of-purchase redemption capability. Travel bookings using points may be made for any person, provided all your Accounts are kept in good standing and are not overdue. Partner Terms and Conditions apply. Webjet is not available to Card Members enrolled in the Gateway program. Subject to the Membership Rewards Terms and Conditions and the partners' booking terms and conditions.
You can transfer your points to up to 9 travel partners by following these steps:
1. Link your Membership Rewards Account to your Frequent Flyer or guest loyalty Account. If not already linked:
a. Visit the Membership Rewards page to view the Frequent Traveller Partners
b. Click the appropriate link in the dropdown box and then click ‘Next’ and add your Account information
2. Select an amount of points to transfer (Remember: all transfers are final, so it’s important to check flight and hotel availability, as well as points needed before transferring)
3. Check your Frequent Flyer or guest loyalty Account to confirm your points have been transferred, then redeem directly through them.
Most transfers take between 1-3 days. However, to avoid any unnecessary delay, it's best you allow 5 business days. Please check the Terms & Conditions for the airline or hotel partner to ensure you allow sufficient time to transfer points.
For information on each program’s Terms and Conditions, click here.
No. You won’t incur any fees for using Membership Rewards points at American Express Travel Online.
Airport Lounges
The airport lounges you can enter will depend on your Card type. You can find detailed information on the lounges you can access by locating your Card through the link below.