AUCKLAND — Air New Zealand has teamed up with global food delivery giant DoorDash to extend its popular Airpoints™ loyalty program into the food delivery space, underscoring how airlines are increasingly looking beyond flights to deepen customer engagement.
The partnership officially launched this week with a symbolic delivery spanning 14,000 kilometers. Levain Bakery’s famous cookies, a New York institution, were flown from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Auckland International Airport (AKL) to mark the occasion.
Loyalty Points From the Dinner Table
From now on, DoorDash users in New Zealand can earn one Airpoints Dollar™ for every NZD $60 spent on orders. For Air New Zealand, the move reflects a deliberate strategy to embed its loyalty program into more areas of everyday life, far beyond ticket sales.
With more than 4.8 million members, Airpoints™ is among New Zealand’s most recognized loyalty schemes. Members already earn rewards across a wide range of categories, including groceries and fuel. Linking food delivery into that ecosystem expands the reach even further.
Air New Zealand’s General Manager of Loyalty, Alex Larsen, said the unusual cookie delivery was meant to illustrate how the partnership connects daily routines with bigger travel ambitions.
“The New York-to-Auckland cookie dash was designed to showcase how the collaboration brings members closer to their next trip, whether that’s a short flight to Wellington (WLG) or a long-haul journey back to New York (JFK),” Larsen explained.
DoorDash Gains Edge in Competitive Market
For DoorDash, the deal provides a clear differentiator in New Zealand’s crowded food delivery market. By tapping into one of the country’s most established loyalty brands, the company can offer added value to customers who already view meals as a frequent, essential purchase.
Bradley Thomas, DoorDash’s New Zealand General Manager, said the partnership enhances the everyday appeal of food delivery.
“This tie-up makes everyday food delivery more rewarding by giving customers additional value from the meals and essentials they already buy,” Thomas noted.
The collaboration also bolsters DoorDash’s expansion efforts in the region, positioning it against rivals by pairing convenience with loyalty incentives.
Launch Giveaway Brings U.S. Cookies to Auckland
To celebrate the launch, Air New Zealand is staging a one-day giveaway in Auckland. On Thursday, Airpoints members who have linked their accounts with DoorDash will be able to pick up a complimentary Levain cookie at Commercial Bay between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., while supplies last.
The cookies will not be available for delivery through DoorDash beyond this activation, and the trans-Pacific shipment was a one-off stunt designed to underscore the novelty of the launch.
Expanding Everyday Earning Opportunities
The announcement marks another step in Air New Zealand’s efforts to make Airpoints Dollars more accessible in customers’ day-to-day lives. The airline has steadily broadened opportunities for members to earn rewards, moving the program away from being purely flight-centric.
By integrating with DoorDash, Air New Zealand is reinforcing the message that loyalty benefits can accumulate from routine purchases as easily as they do from booking long-haul tickets. For customers, it offers a chance to turn dinner into a discount on their next holiday.
For DoorDash, the connection with Air New Zealand brings a halo effect, giving the platform added relevance by tying a takeout order to one of the country’s most aspirational loyalty currencies. In a competitive and increasingly commoditized industry, such value-adds can help build stickier customer relationships.
A Broader Trend in Loyalty Programs
The partnership reflects a broader trend among airlines and consumer brands: expanding loyalty programs into daily touchpoints. Rather than limiting rewards to travel purchases, companies are integrating with supermarkets, fuel stations, and now food delivery apps, ensuring customers accumulate points even when they are not flying.
For Air New Zealand, the move builds on a history of leveraging Airpoints beyond aviation, while for DoorDash it adds an experiential dimension to food delivery that competitors may struggle to replicate.
Bottom Line
The Air New Zealand–DoorDash partnership demonstrates how loyalty programs are adapting to modern consumer habits.
By linking food delivery to travel rewards, the two brands show that collecting Airpoints isn’t confined to airports or ticket counters — it can start with a simple meal at home.
