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.

 

[imipenam]

Happy to report the following: -
1. Applied and approved for Explorer card. Also have the edge.
2. Noticed both cards were linked to MR ascent. Rang up to unlink prior to receiving card.
3. Had problems with adding MH ff membership to edge (MR Ascent) ... rang Amex. Whilst trying to fix the problem, CSR (with an American accent) made a passing comment that I could have both cards linked to MR ascent if I wanted to, since I may have the same problem linking MH ff to MR Gateway too. Told her I would consider it later.
3. Spent appropriate amount and received 100k bonus to MR gateway.
4. Had same problem adding MH ff membership to Explorer (MR Gateway) ... rang Amex. Got CSR in Sydney. Agreed to try to fix issue. Asked him if I could link both cards to make it easier .. said not possible.
5. Wrote to Amex via secure email asking if possible to link both MR programs ... reply was NO.
6. Waited till Saturday night, rang Amex again. Got CSR with an American accent. "Of course we can link both cards to Ascent" Put me on hold for 10 mins. Thought, Oh ****! I am gonna lose my bonus points. CSR came back "Noticed you have significant amount of points in both accounts. I can proceed to link them if you like. It needs to be done manually and I will call you on Monday afternoon to follow up"
7. Fast forward to Monday 5pm. Missed call on mobile. Logged onto AMEX and VOILA both cards combined to MR Ascent with points added together (without losing any).

Lessons learnt ... Not all CSRs know that the MR can be linked - most will say no. Perhaps try to call A/H in order to get an American CSR as they seem to know better. Call the MR contact number 1300 363 276 rather than the number on the back of the card (They are not as good with MR related issues). There is potential risk of losing the bonus points but didn't happen in my case.

I hope this helps.

 

[nightelves]

Wait so let me get this straight. You got 100k points credited to your Ascent account instead of gateway while still earning 2pts per $1 spend?

 

[imipenam]

Wait so let me get this straight. You got 100k points credited to your Ascent account instead of gateway while still earning 2pts per $1 spend?

Exactly right!

100k first credited to Gateway then manually transferred to Ascent after my request to link both accounts. Now earning 2 Ascent points per dollar on the Explorer. Big fan of Amex now - never thought I would be.

 

[jj92]

Has anyone who has current Edge received the bonus? I remember getting bonus on Edge despite holding another card at same time

edit: seems unlinking is the go

 

[bismarck]

Has anyone who has current Edge received the bonus? I remember getting bonus on Edge despite holding another card at same time

edit: seems unlinking is the go

Many have reported in this thread.

 

[mrtupperware]

Which card do you use to get 2 PPD with the Explorer? The Platinum Edge is 1 PPD on most spend?

[EDIT: Got it, Explorer]

So to clarify:

1. I have the Explorer, bonus points received
2. I should now apply for the Platinum Edge
3. Once received, call the A/H and ask them to link my Gateway to to Ascent

Explorer will remain on 2 PPD but Ascent points.

Is this correct?

 

[imipenam]

Which card do you use to get 2 PPD with the Explorer? The Platinum Edge is 1 PPD on most spend?

[EDIT: Got it, Explorer]

Explorer card (by itself) earns 2 MR Gateway PPD which converts 4:3 ff miles .... so 1.5 miles per dollar.

Now that I have linked my Explorer card to MR Ascent ... I effectively received 100k Ascent bonus points and earn 2 MR Ascent PPD ... which converts 1:1 ... so 2 miles per dollar.


Edge earns 3PPD @ supermarkets, and Explorer 2PPD for other spend (except charges that only attract 0.5 PPD such as government +\- utilities) - best point earning combo on the market

 

[imipenam]

Which card do you use to get 2 PPD with the Explorer? The Platinum Edge is 1 PPD on most spend?

[EDIT: Got it, Explorer]

So to clarify:

1. I have the Explorer, bonus points received
2. I should now apply for the Platinum Edge
3. Once received, call the A/H and ask them to link my Gateway to to Ascent

Explorer will remain on 2 PPD but Ascent points.

Is this correct?

Theorectically yes, if you receive both the cards unlinked initially BUT ... most of us started with the Edge, then applied for the Explorer ... therefore need both the MR programs unlinked to get the bonus points for Explorer.

However, if you are starting with Explorer followed by the Edge, I am guessing you may or may not receive a bonus for the Edge card depending on how Amex deal with your MR program(s) when you get the Edge.

 

[unfunkable]

Just reading the points earn on this card unlike some other Amex cards can I confirm:
" Certain transactions will earn 0.5 points per dollar with Merchants classified as; "government", including the Australian Taxation Office, the Australian Postal Corporation (Australia Post), federal/state and local government bodies."

So everything else is 2PPD? Like insurance, and telephone bills? If I link this card to paypal would paypal stuff earn 2PPD? cheers

edit: most of the other cards are 0.5 PPD on utilities, insurance (except those issued by American Express), telecommunication providers and government bodies.

 

[nightelves]

What if you have the charge card but not the Explorer or the Edge would this still work?

 

[imipenam]

Just reading the points earn on this card unlike some other Amex cards can I confirm:
" Certain transactions will earn 0.5 points per dollar with Merchants classified as; "government", including the Australian Taxation Office, the Australian Postal Corporation (Australia Post), federal/state and local government bodies."

So everything else is 2PPD? Like insurance, and telephone bills? If I link this card to paypal would paypal stuff earn 2PPD? cheers

edit: most of the other cards are 0.5 PPD on utilities, insurance (except those issued by American Express), telecommunication providers and government bodies.

Yes you are right! Thanks for correcting my earlier post. I avoid using the card for goverment charges/utilities/etc unless paypal is accepted.

 

[unfunkable]

This card will pay for all my works insurance, bills etc...2PPD is so strong!

 

[imipenam]

What if you have the charge card but not the Explorer or the Edge would this still work?

Should do ... same principles apply.

 

[imipenam]

This card will pay for all my works insurance, bills etc...2PPD is so strong!

Postbillpay also accepts paypal thus Explorer @ 2PPD

 

[nightelves]

So basically if you have the Edge, Charge and Explorer all linked to the Ascent rewards card then you are basically set.

 

[LordGarlic]

I thought the maximum cards you are allowed with amex is 2?

 

[cjd600]

I thought the maximum cards you are allowed with amex is 2?

2 credit cards, I think.
that doesn't count charge cards

 

[imipenam]

So basically if you have the Edge, Charge and Explorer all linked to the Ascent rewards card then you are basically set.

Should be able to link to Premium Ascent if you have the Charge

 

[oh_lol]

I think I'm going blind, I can't see whether my AMEX cards are linked to Gateway or Ascent?

 

[Redrob123]

Happy to report the following: -
1. Applied and approved for Explorer card. Also have the edge.
2. Noticed both cards were linked to MR ascent. Rang up to unlink prior to receiving card.
3. Had problems with adding MH ff membership to edge (MR Ascent) ... rang Amex. Whilst trying to fix the problem, CSR (with an American accent) made a passing comment that I could have both cards linked to MR ascent if I wanted to, since I may have the same problem linking MH ff to MR Gateway too. Told her I would consider it later.
3. Spent appropriate amount and received 100k bonus to MR gateway.
4. Had same problem adding MH ff membership to Explorer (MR Gateway) ... rang Amex. Got CSR in Sydney. Agreed to try to fix issue. Asked him if I could link both cards to make it easier .. said not possible.
5. Wrote to Amex via secure email asking if possible to link both MR programs ... reply was NO.
6. Waited till Saturday night, rang Amex again. Got CSR with an American accent. "Of course we can link both cards to Ascent" Put me on hold for 10 mins. Thought, Oh ****! I am gonna lose my bonus points. CSR came back "Noticed you have significant amount of points in both accounts. I can proceed to link them if you like. It needs to be done manually and I will call you on Monday afternoon to follow up"
7. Fast forward to Monday 5pm. Missed call on mobile. Logged onto AMEX and VOILA both cards combined to MR Ascent with points added together (without losing any).

Lessons learnt ... Not all CSRs know that the MR can be linked - most will say no. Perhaps try to call A/H in order to get an American CSR as they seem to know better. Call the MR contact number 1300 363 276 rather than the number on the back of the card (They are not as good with MR related issues). There is potential risk of losing the bonus points but didn't happen in my case.

I hope this helps.

Thanks so much for all this info. Quick,question - how long after Explorer approval were you able to see Gateway account set up. FYI I have plat edge already so MR already set up.