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.

 

[blueythecat]

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!

If QF is an important transfer partner for you then the Charge is definitely the way to go. It also works really well if you can make use of the Charge's tiered earn rates:

• 3pts / $ on restaurants, bars etc
• 2pts / $ on travel

Either the Charge or Edge together with the Explorer make the Explorer significantly more valuable as you can link your Explorer to your Ascent or Ascent Premium Membership Rewards program and then airline transfer as 1:1 (instead of 0.75:1).

The Explorer is a great card, whichever way you look at it!

 

[diningdecadence]

If QF is an important transfer partner for you then the Charge is definitely the way to go. It also works really well if you can make use of the Charge's tiered earn rates:

• 3pts / $ on restaurants, bars etc
• 2pts / $ on travel

Either the Charge or Edge together with the Explorer make the Explorer significantly more valuable as you can link your Explorer to your Ascent or Ascent Premium Membership Rewards program and then airline transfer as 1:1 (instead of 0.75:1).

The Explorer is a great card, whichever way you look at it!

presumably you wouldn't be eligible for both bonii (charge & explorer) though, so potentially the companion platinum reserve (with the charge) is more valuable than the explorer in this case?

 

[blueythecat]

presumably you wouldn't be eligible for both bonii (charge & explorer) though, so potentially the companion platinum reserve (with the charge) is more valuable than the explorer in this case?

As it seems with Amex's current system that is quite correct - you are only eligible for one sign up bonus. I guess the secret is to apply for the card with the biggest bonus first!

If they are both the same I recommend applying for the Charge first as the Explorer then has a good chance of arriving prelinked to Ascent MR Premium. This will save a little bit of phone hassle.

 

[Kangol]

Has anyone managed to get around the 18 month exclusion clause preventing you getting the sign on bonus this year?
I know in previous times it has worked for some people, wondering how strict they are now. Hopefully they're like Westpac

 

[blacksultan]

Unless you apply for the Amex dj as your second card

 

[blueythecat]

Has anyone managed to get around the 18 month exclusion clause preventing you getting the sign on bonus this year?
I know in previous times it has worked for some people, wondering how strict they are now. Hopefully they're like Westpac

Whilst I don't have any personal experience posts here on AFF and elsewhere indicate that they have become quite strict, which is annoying!

If you go ahead please post back your feedback as I'm sure others, including myself, would be very interested.

Good luck!

 

[dennis_3107]

I am referring my friend, unbeknownst to me he already has DJ card.

Should I tell him to cancel the card? Anyone has any recent experience, since I have heard DJ cards are a little different.

Appreciate the help.

 

[blacksultan]

Why cancel the card ? You don't get the bonus for a new dj card if you have already held a dj card but you do get it even if you had any other Amex card . Herein lies the difference between it and other Amex cards .

 

[dennis_3107]

Why cancel the card ? You don't get the bonus for a new dj card if you have already held a dj card but you do get it even if you had any other Amex card . Herein lies the difference between it and other Amex cards .

I understand this. I meant cancelling the Explorer. He does not travel much, the travel credit hence is worth much less than 400$ to him, so the card is not really a good choice for my friend. Therefore, I am wonder if you still get points even though you already have DJ card (the opposite of the situation you stated).

 

[blacksultan]

No you won't . If he doesn't travel he. Could even use the credit for a local experience .

 

[maverick1]

The Great conundrum.

In a difficult situation - Want to apply for explorer for missus she currently has AMEX discovery, been holding it for almost 2years now. I know the rules have tightened, but has anyone had recent success with the bonus points? About 130K at stake (30K for my referral). Never held a card linked to Amex award points like Ascent or Gateway.
B. For self - I want to apply for a charge card currently hold explorer and DJ. Again any recent success stories here?
Lot of points at stake need to bring my balance up as just recently burned 200K MR points...feeling very poor!!!

 

[Dr Ralph]

The Great conundrum.

In a difficult situation - Want to apply for explorer for missus she currently has AMEX discovery, been holding it for almost 2years now. I know the rules have tightened, but has anyone had recent success with the bonus points? About 130K at stake (30K for my referral). Never held a card linked to Amex award points like Ascent or Gateway.
B. For self - I want to apply for a charge card currently hold explorer and DJ. Again any recent success stories here?
Lot of points at stake need to bring my balance up as just recently burned 200K MR points...feeling very poor!!!

I cant see you getting any points except for a DJ card if you haven't recently held one.

My advice is to cancel your cards and start the waiting period. I'm about to do just this.

 

[blacksultan]

Just FYI even if she doesn't get the sign up bonus , you might get the referral bonus of 30 k - even for an existing card holder

 

[PDog]

Just FYI even if she doesn't get the sign up bonus , you might get the referral bonus of 30 k - even for an existing card holder

I'm not sure this is true, unless you're suggesting it may slip through. From the explorer T&Cs:

• You cannot refer a friend who already has one of our cards or has applied for one in the last 18 months.

 

[maverick1]

Hv been contemplating a cancellation, bt hv recently signed up for the AMEX ezicover 20K offer. So would wait for that to credit and make a call! Bt 18 months is such a long wait!

 

[Dr Ralph]

Bt 18 months is such a long wait!

It is. But the large new sign on bonuses make it worthwhile. And don't forget about all of the other cards you will churn through in those 18 months.

 

[maverick1]

It is. But the large new sign on bonuses make it worthwhile. And don't forget about all of the other cards you will churn through in those 18 months.

hahah..true..m just brainstorming on my next Qantas cards..hv picked the low hanging fruits i.e. ANZ 75K no fee and Westpac 50K no fee...
Qantas card with 60K and 149 makes the most sense - bt the only question that keeps me away from applying is if they were to come out with a better offer after 31st Aug.
The other one is HSBC 60K for 199.
or Macquarie for 40K for 99 - but heard that they are very strict with approvals!
Any thoughts or personal favourites?

 

[blacksultan]

I'm not sure this is true, unless you're suggesting it may slip through. From the explorer T&Cs:

• You cannot refer a friend who already has one of our cards or has applied for one in the last 18 months.

in my recent experience it has slipped through a few times

 

[Cynicor]

I might be wrong, but I haven't seen any actual experience of people applying in the last 3/4 months and being knocked back for points. I haven't seen any get the points either, it's basically been dead silent.

We need someone who wants the card regardless to apply and see if they get the points! My partner may end up being the test dummy but we've both applied for a few cards lately.

 

[djchuckles]

Existing member - wanted card anyway - didn't get the points