Turning American Express Points into a New Zealand Adventure (LAX → Auckland)
One of our favorite travel hacks as a family (and sometimes just as a couple) is using credit card points to cover big international flights that would otherwise be painful to pay for in cash. This time, we did exactly that by leveraging American Express Membership Rewards and a direct airline transfer.
🧮 The Booking Breakdown
Here’s how this redemption worked out:
Points used: 88,400 American Express Membership Rewards
Transfer partner: Delta Air Lines
Route: Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) → Auckland Airport (AKL)
Tickets booked: 2 round-trip flights
Cash price at booking: $2,015
Taxes & fees paid: $170
Final value: 2.09 cents per point
💡 Why This Was a Solid Redemption
A little over 2 cents per point might not sound flashy compared to some unicorn business-class redemptions, but for long-haul international economy flights, this is a very practical win—especially when you’re trying to keep travel affordable for a family.
This booking:
Saved us over $1,800 out of pocket
Covered a notoriously expensive route
Used points that were easy to earn from everyday spending and bonuses
🔁 Why Transfer to Delta?
Delta is often overlooked for award travel because their pricing can be dynamic, but this is exactly why it’s worth checking. When the pricing lines up, transferring American Express Membership Rewards directly to Delta can:
Be instant
Avoid third-party booking hassles
Allow you to use Delta’s solid international network and partners
For trips like New Zealand—where cash fares can spike quickly—having flexible points ready to transfer can make all the difference.
🧠 The Family Travel Takeaway
Not every redemption needs to be a jaw-dropping 5+ cents per point. Sometimes the real win is:
Fewer dollars spent
Fewer hoops to jump through
And getting your family (or yourselves!) across the world for a fraction of the cost
If you’re sitting on American Express points and dreaming of a far-off destination like New Zealand, don’t sleep on economy redemptions like this one—they can still deliver huge value.
👉 Travel hack tip: Always compare cash prices vs. award prices before transferring points. Once you transfer, it’s usually irreversible—but when the math works like this, it’s absolutely worth it.