Credit Card Offers Amex Explorer: 50,000 bonus Amex points

Earn uncapped Amex Points and enjoy a $400 travel credit every year!​

Learn more and apply for this card:

American Express® Explorer Credit Card

With the American Express Explorer credit card, earn uncapped Amex Membership Rewards points and offset the annual fee with a travel credit.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

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What are the main benefits of this card?

1. Signup bonus: 50,000 bonus Amex Membership Rewards Points, when you spend at least $4,000 on eligible purchases within 3 months of approval
2. Earn 2 Membership Rewards Points per $1 on eligible purchases, uncapped, which you can transfer to 13 different airline & hotel programs
3. $400 annual travel credit fully offsets the $395 annual fee

Why we like the American Express Explorer credit card

This card lets you earn Amex Membership Rewards points at a solid rate of 2 points per dollar, uncapped, without the higher annual fee of the Amex Platinum card.

You can transfer Amex points to 11 airline frequent flyer programs and 2 hotel loyalty programs, generally at a 2:1 rate. For example, this means you’re effectively earning 1 Velocity Point, Qatar Avios or Cathay Asia Mile per $1 spent on the card.

The $395 annual fee is offset by a $400 annual travel credit that you can spend on eligible flights, car rentals or hotels when booking through American Express Travel.

You'll also receive two free annual visits to the Amex Centurion Lounges in Sydney or Melbourne Airport, plus complimentary travel insurance. See our card guide for the full details:

American Express® Explorer Credit Card

With the American Express Explorer credit card, earn uncapped Amex Membership Rewards points and offset the annual fee with a travel credit.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

AFF members are welcome to discuss this card in this thread.

 

[wxxnxs]

I can confirm this card can't be used for business purposes / large transactions.

Credit Limit: $9k
Available Balance: $9k

My desired transaction amount is $20k. So I put $11k on the card. Available Balance is now $20k.

When put through $20k, the transaction was declined. I rang AMEX and they said I can't spend more than $9k in a given month, they stated this a legislation they need to follow and that other banks shouldn't allow it either. My Westpac allows me to do this just fine. They waived it once for me and approved the $20k but said a note was put on file so I couldn't do it again. Quite sad as my Westpac Bus Plat only yields 1.2 SQ points per $.

You can't not deposit money into your AMEX card before you used all of your limit, the operator did not make it clear due to AMEX is not a financial institution like big 4 that can take the deposit. In your case, you just need to spend your 9K credit first, then bpay the same amount back to your card, and once the payment is cleared, then you can spend that amount again, there're no limit times you can do within a statement cycle.

 

[albyd]

I was planning to do a Reward pay payment nearly 5x my explorer limit last week.
I was told that I could go up to $10k in credit and they took a payment over the phone all I had to do was give them my bsb and account to direct debit. Funds were instantly available even though Debit wasn't processed for a few days.
Was told I could then spend my limit plus the $10k credit.
I could then re-load by calling them to do another direct debit to take my account back to $10k in credit and do it again.
I didn't end up going through with the payment as things changed but my account was in credit $10k and my card wasn't frozen.
You may be allowed to go a little into credit (Amex should be able to confirm how much specific to your account) then re load without the wait associated with BPay but arrange it first before you commit to making your payment to avoid disappointment.
Local banks are more flexible. Not sure if it's just an American thing as US banks won't allow you to go very much in credit either. Just a matter of working in the system. Your credit limit doesn't limit how much you can spend each month as long as you keep reloading.

 

[SOPOOR]

I was planning to do a Reward pay payment nearly 5x my explorer limit last week.
I was told that I could go up to $10k in credit and they took a payment over the phone all I had to do was give them my bsb and account to direct debit. Funds were instantly available even though Debit wasn't processed for a few days.
Was told I could then spend my limit plus the $10k credit.
I could then re-load by calling them to do another direct debit to take my account back to $10k in credit and do it again.
I didn't end up going through with the payment as things changed but my account was in credit $10k and my card wasn't frozen.
You may be allowed to go a little into credit (Amex should be able to confirm how much specific to your account) then re load without the wait associated with BPay but arrange it first before you commit to making your payment to avoid disappointment.
Local banks are more flexible. Not sure if it's just an American thing as US banks won't allow you to go very much in credit either. Just a matter of working in the system. Your credit limit doesn't limit how much you can spend each month as long as you keep reloading.

just curious, is it really worth you guys paying 2.6%+ GST or whatever it is to use amex? seems very expensive, even if it is a tax deduction, that is unless your boss is paying the fee and you pocket the points?

 

[albyd]

It depends on your situation. If paying a tax deductible payment, then I might be able to get a deduction for the rewardpay fee (check with your accountant to ensure this applies to your situation) then becomes 1.3% and averages to 0.65c per point on Explorer at 2 MR/$. I can usually get better value than that for a redemption or similar value if have to turn it into a credit on my account or a gift card.
If there wasn't a tax benefit and explorer wasn't 2ppd, I wouldn't bother I think it's hideously expensive which might also be why they won't open an account unless you have an ABN and are paying someone else with an ABN.
Otherwise a more efficient way to gain points on a large transaction than by breaking it up into lots of small ones using supermarket GCs.

 

[unfunkable]

A bit of misinformation here.
If your credit limit is for example 10k, and you prepay your account to go into credit 11k, a purchase of 11k in one go will likely fail. Speaking to a AMEX rep, he said the limit in one transaction will be the limit on your card.
You can probably do a 10k transaction follow by a 1k one and this SHOULD be fine. I have not tested this theory, but reading above, the transaction failed for the larger amount.

The limit is NOT the amount you can spend per month. I spend up to 2x my limit per month by continuing paying it off during the month.

I hope they do not devalue this card...its so bloody good - connected to a Ascent premium account that is.

 

[vzey]

how do i get an ascent premium account?
how do i get a referral code to get more points?

cheers

 

[jetcam]

how do i get an ascent premium account?
how do i get a referral code to get more points?

cheers

ascent premium is only for platinum charge and platinum business charge

 

[daft009]

generate your own referral amex code here, https://www316.americanexpress.com/...ub_en_AU&evtsrc=link&evttype=0&CPID=100253510

 

[blacksultan]

You can sign up to ascent premium only if you have a relevant card -platinum charge I believe .
Referral code can be generated by clicking on rewards at the top of your online account then click on refer a friend . Alrernatelt you can ask customer service to email you one .

 

[JessicaTam]

how do i get an ascent premium account?
how do i get a referral code to get more points?

cheers

Welcome to AFF, vzey.

Interesting first post.

 

[Steady]

how do i get an ascent premium account?
how do i get a referral code to get more points?

cheers

Welcome aboard vzey, you can find referrals to the Amex charge card here

By signing up to a Charge card you will get the ascent premium account and by following someone's referral link you get some extra points. (This is not financial advice)

 

[vzey]

thanks everyone. very new to points, just trying to find a good deal.

 

[blacksultan]

If you have an explorer also apply for a platinum edge then link the explorer to the ascent program of platinum edge to maximise your points .

 

[Doctore1003]

The 100,000 point sign-up bonus is back.

 

[burmans]

Some might claim this is a referral link!

 

[LordGarlic]

If you have an explorer also apply for a platinum edge then link the explorer to the ascent program of platinum edge to maximise your points .

Has anyone had any success in linking the explorer to the ascent program lately?

 

[Steady]

Has anyone had any success in linking the explorer to the ascent program lately?

I tried yesterday and was told I could but would loose the Gateway points, they then suggested I use/transfer them to a partner first etc.

 

[diningdecadence]

was contemplating the platinum charge for the 100k but have seen the explorer come through with the new 100k offer (albeit converting at 0.75, and no QFF transfer).

any reason to take one over the other?

a few people suggested you could get the platinum reserve CC alongside the platinum charge, but amex website, and blog sites suggest that card was discontinued ages ago, so am confused. Decisions decisions!

 

[SOPOOR]

I would love to cancel mine. Wait the period and reapply for the bonus points but the card is so darn good.

It's awesome. I'd be homeless without it

 

[PDog]

I would love to cancel mine. Wait the period and reapply for the bonus points but the card is so darn good.

It's awesome. I'd be homeless without it

Totally agree, even with the limited acceptance of AMEX in my town!

I cancelled mine and got a sup card to my husbands account while I wait out the 18 months to reapply- is that an option for you?