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.

 

[N860CR]

Yes that’s right. I had a change of heart and cancelled something. Unfortunately, I’d already transferred the points to Krisflyer so the Amex account went into a negative balance.

 

[travelnutjohn]

Yes that’s right. I had a change of heart and cancelled something. Unfortunately, I’d already transferred the points to Krisflyer so the Amex account went into a negative balance.

mine was made up of 2 refunds, 1 x was for a car which I paid a hefty deposit, of which for some reason they forgot to process properly and when the purchase had finished they transferred the amount into my bank account

 

[travelnutjohn]

if im cancelling the explorer card after getting bonus points and trying to avoid the annual fee

is it best to do it before the first statement?

bearing in mind that I will be taking the physical statement and paying it at the post office?

if I cancel before the first statement, do I still get a physical statement in the mail?

 

[travelnutjohn]

just fyi, maybe i got unlucky but they dont seem to be allowing to cancel cards and refunding annual fees if youve receveived your bonus points, last time I was able to cancel without too much fuss

 

[Dr Ralph]

Looking at getting back onto this card after my 18 month wait out period is almost up.

Current offer is for 50,000 points.

Anyone aware of a pattern in a different sign on bonus being offered.

I'm just wondering if I should delay getting this card if a more generous bonus offer is around the corner.

 

[michaelangelo]

It's currently 60k with a referral, which I'd be more than happy to provide!

I think it was 100k a few months ago, but that was the first time in well over a year I'd seen it that high.

 

[Coops1]

I'm just wondering if I should delay getting this card if a more generous bonus offer is around the corner.

I have the card, it’s reward points on the bonus and earn. The bonus points are only worth 25k FF points, although you do have the benefit of transferring to KrisFlyer and AsiaMiles.

Effectively 2 reward points earnt on $1 spend, but 1 FF point when transferred.

I wouldn’t even consider this card, unless I got the bonus FF points from a specific Velocity or Qantas card and then converted to or applied for this after for day to day spend.

If your still interested, I reckon a 100k off for the Explorer is a month or 2 away.

 

[Dr Ralph]

I have the card, it’s reward points on the bonus and earn. The bonus points are only worth 25k FF points, although you do have the benefit of transferring to KrisFlyer and AsiaMiles.

Effectively 2 reward points earnt on $1 spend, but 1 FF point when transferred.

I wouldn’t even consider this card, unless I got the bonus FF points from a specific Velocity or Qantas card and then converted to or applied for this after for day to day spend.

If your still interested, I reckon a 100k off for the Explorer is a month or 2 away.

Not interested in the card for transferring points to any airline. Have used this card previously for transfer to Marriott. Expecting to do so again.

If Explorer is not the card you recommend @Coops1 then which AMEX is your suggestion?

 

[NoName]

Looking at getting back onto this card after my 18 month wait out period is almost up.

Current offer is for 50,000 points.

Anyone aware of a pattern in a different sign on bonus being offered.

I'm just wondering if I should delay getting this card if a more generous bonus offer is around the corner.

We will also be looking at getting back on this card in coming months (for transfer to Marriott too FWIW) but I’m not interested for anything less than 100k sign on. Suspect this will pop up at some point in the next few months so guess it depends how long you want to wait.

 

[bbqwer]

Your friend will receive 60,000 Membership Rewards points if they apply, are approved for an American Express Explorer® Card and spend $3,000 in their first 3 months of Card Membership. (T&Cs apply)

 

[Dr Ralph]

We will also be looking at getting back on this card in coming months (for transfer to Marriott too FWIW) but I’m not interested for anything less than 100k sign on. Suspect this will pop up at some point in the next few months so guess it depends how long you want to wait.

I can wait for a while, but I'd like to be back on for the next small shop - in November from memory.

 

[piratematerial]

We will also be looking at getting back on this card in coming months (for transfer to Marriott too FWIW) but I’m not interested for anything less than 100k sign on. Suspect this will pop up at some point in the next few months so guess it depends how long you want to wait.

I agree. There are much better deals around than $395 annual fee for 33k Marriott points. It's even making the Platinum Charge look attractive.

Shows how the mighty have fallen with the devaluation ... it would have been 150k Marriott points with the 100k MR points offers going around last year.

 

[Dr Ralph]

I agree. There are much better deals around than $395 annual fee for 33k Marriott points.

Exactly which AMEX offerings are you referring to @piratematerial ?

 

[piratematerial]

Exactly which AMEX offerings are you referring to @piratematerial ?

As always, depends on what you're aiming to get, but based on current offers I'd go for the 100k VFF points from the Velocity Platinum or else 150k Membership Rewards from Platinum Charge (if you can stomach the annual fee on the latter). Or maybe the combined Westpac Altitude Amex/MC for 120k Qantas or VFF points.

 

[Dr Ralph]

As always, depends on what you're aiming to get, but based on current offers I'd go for the 100k VFF points from the Velocity Platinum or else 150k Membership Rewards from Platinum Charge (if you can stomach the annual fee on the latter). Or maybe the combined Westpac Altitude Amex/MC for 120k Qantas or VFF points.

As indicated in #2507, I'm not interested in Velocity points or any airline points. I already have more than enough to last me for the foreseeable future. My intention is to direct the points towards Marriott, Hilton or other hotel schemes, so Velocity Platinum is out.

Platinum Charge is extremely unrealistic with the fee. I'd get minimum benefits from it for the additional cf AMEX Explorer

Will go with the combined Westpac/AMEX card for the Qantas points (saving them for a rainy day). But that still leaves, from what I can see, the Explorer as the best option.

 

[Lemon_Party]

50k points bonus is on the low side for the explorer, so may be worth holding out a little, but just delays the next bonus in another 18 months too!
I like to hold an amex for shop small, cash back offers and a reasonable level of perks. Plus the app/banking is actually user friendly. We alternate between wifes name and my name at the moment and refer each other when 18 months rolls around.
If you aren't chasing airline points the explorer is the one I'd pick.

 

[GSP]

As indicated in #2507, I'm not interested in Velocity points or any airline points. I already have more than enough to last me for the foreseeable future. My intention is to direct the points towards Marriott, Hilton or other hotel schemes, so Velocity Platinum is out.

Platinum Charge is extremely unrealistic with the fee. I'd get minimum benefits from it for the additional cf AMEX Explorer

Will go with the combined Westpac/AMEX card for the Qantas points (saving them for a rainy day). But that still leaves, from what I can see, the Explorer as the best option.

Did you not to the Westpac/Amex when it come out about a year ago, or were you in and out and have served your 12 months?

 

[Dr Ralph]

Did you not to the Westpac/Amex when it come out about a year ago, or were you in and out and have served your 12 months?

Last one I had was Westpac Qantas Black Card. Cancelled in March 2018.

Don't think I ever had the Westpac/Amex combo. Too busy churning others in the mean time.

I've got 2 others to cancel later this month then I'l look at this Westpac/Amex combo and a stand alone Amex at the same time.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Just applied.

Documents wouldn't upload via their website so had to email instead.

Could only add 2 supplementary cards during the application. So will have to add some more once the account is opened.

Anyone have recent experience with this card and can indicate how long to process/receive the cards?

 

[goldenhorn]

Last one I had was Westpac Qantas Black Card. Cancelled in March 2018.

Don't think I ever had the Westpac/Amex combo. Too busy churning others in the mean time.

I've got 2 others to cancel later this month then I'l look at this Westpac/Amex combo and a stand alone Amex at the same time.

@Dr Ralph may I ask, do you hold a card for a minimum amount of time before burning?

I've got a couple of cards I need to cancel, but I only signed up earlier this year and wondering if I should hold them closer to the renewal date before cancelling.

Do you know if it makes a difference to your credit score?