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.

 

[Dr Ralph]

I have one supplementary in my own name on the Explorer.

I'd try the old hang up and try again.

Agree. You're entitled to 4 supplementary cards. Having them in your own name is common.

 

[glasszon]

Agree. You're entitled to 4 supplementary cards. Having them in your own name is common.

Thanks everyone, it might just be a case I got a "bad" agent, she sounded like I had two heads when I requested to have 4 supplementary cards in my own name! :shock: She went off to confirm with another agent and they both said supplementary cards must be issued in different names (ie. to 4 different people) and cannot be the main card holder.

Will call back in a few hours, let's see whether I have more luck with another team from a different timezone.

Edit: Furthermore, she said supplementary cards in the name of the main account holder are possible for a charge card, but not credit cards.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Edit: Furthermore, she said supplementary cards in the name of the main account holder are possible for a charge card, but not credit cards.

Clearly this is wrong. Suggest you follow the advice i gave via PM.

 

[albyd]

of the main account holder are possible for a charge card, but not credit cards.

This is what I was told previously but they agreed to give me an 'a/c' card for my new explorer. Just depends on who you speak to. Some operators are more cluey/helpful than others.

 

[glasszon]

Clearly this is wrong. Suggest you follow the advice i gave via PM.

Thanks Ralph, will do. I was trying to reply to your PM but your mailbox is full

 

[Dr Ralph]

Thanks Ralph, will do. I was trying to reply to your PM but your mailbox is full

No problems. Its now empty.

 

[fent6]

Has anyone who currently holds an AMEX issued card (and has an Ascent or Ascent premium account) not been given the bonus points after opening a gateway? I currently have an Edge card, and cancelled my Platinum charge two weeks ago (so now I just have an Ascent account).

I'm seriously considering applying for this card, but just wanted to see if anyone did not get the bonus points.

 

[potm]

From all the reports on this thread and experience from my friends, nobody has been unsuccessful yet in getting the bonus points when a new gateway account has been created. Ymmv though.

 

[glasszon]

No problems. Its now empty.

An update on the supplementary card, I finally managed to convince an agent to issue me 1 supplementary card in my own name..., seems really a case of which agent you get will determine how many they will put through for you, will try harder later to argue for more supplementary cards.:evil:

Anyone tried just applying for supplementary cards online? Might do it that way to avoid having to keep calling back and trying to locate a good agent.

 

[Ken1]

An update on the supplementary card, I finally managed to convince an agent to issue me 1 supplementary card in my own name..., seems really a case of which agent you get will determine how many they will put through for you, will try harder later to argue for more supplementary cards.:evil:

Anyone tried just applying for supplementary cards online? Might do it that way to avoid having to keep calling back and trying to locate a good agent.

Do you know where the agent who issued the supplementary card in your name was based? I'm wondering if it's better to try for an Aussie, Philippines or US based agent, depending on the time I call.

 

[bbqwer]

An update on the supplementary card, I finally managed to convince an agent to issue me 1 supplementary card in my own name..., seems really a case of which agent you get will determine how many they will put through for you, will try harder later to argue for more supplementary cards.:evil:

Anyone tried just applying for supplementary cards online? Might do it that way to avoid having to keep calling back and trying to locate a good agent.

Yes you can apply supplementary cards online - Login into your amex account online, choose add supplementary card, as soon as you pick explorer card ( you will see message asking you to call number at the back of the card ), What you need to do is to pick amex platinum edge ( I did this for all 4 supps card ), and fill all required information, and submit it.

You will receive amex explorer supps card in the next 4-5 working days.

Cheers

 

[Ken1]

I should receive my Explorer card in the next week or so. I currently have Platinum Charge and Platinum Reserve cards so should find that my Explorer will be linked to my Ascent Premium MR account. I know that after I receive the card I have to call up and ask for the Explorer card to be linked to a new Gateway account. After spending over $1500 I should then receive the bonus points.

I've read here that when wanting to re-link back to Ascent it's best to call after hours on a weekend to hopefully get the U.S. call centre. Has anyone not been able to have the Gateway account merged to Ascent, even if you have had to call several times before finding an Agent who will do it for you? Also, when initially asking to have a Gateway account set up for the Explorer card has anyone had a problem with them doing that, or been asked why you want to do that?

 

[glasszon]

Yes you can apply supplementary cards online - Login into your amex account online, choose add supplementary card, as soon as you pick explorer card ( you will see message asking you to call number at the back of the card ), What you need to do is to pick amex platinum edge ( I did this for all 4 supps card ), and fill all required information, and submit it.

You will receive amex explorer supps card in the next 4-5 working days.

Cheers

Just to confirm, you put in the supplementary card as Plat Edge to bypass the online restrictions but they still give you the explorer supplementary card?

Also, was those supplementary cards all in your own name? I had no issues trying to get supplementary cards for others, the biggest roadblock is trying to get 4 supplementary cards issued under my own name.

 

[glasszon]

Do you know where the agent who issued the supplementary card in your name was based? I'm wondering if it's better to try for an Aussie, Philippines or US based agent, depending on the time I call.

She was based in Philippines (if it helps), are you trying to get a supplementary card issued in your own name as well?

 

[Ken1]

She was based in Philippines (if it helps), are you trying to get a supplementary card issued in your own name as well?

Yes. I have already applied for a supplementary card for my Wife when I applied online for the card and I hope to then get additional supplementary cards for myself and my wife, so I can separate purchases made for business expenses.

 

[bbqwer]

Just to confirm, you put in the supplementary card as Plat Edge to bypass the online restrictions but they still give you the explorer supplementary card?

Also, was those supplementary cards all in your own name? I had no issues trying to get supplementary cards for others, the biggest roadblock is trying to get 4 supplementary cards issued under my own name.

yes you will get explorer card, but make sure you login from amex explorer account.


2 in my name, 2 wife names. When putting in my name, I put slightly different. for example: Robert Hendrik ( Not real name ), You can try put Robert Hendri


A little bit of tweak and it works for me.


NB: Wife and I had total 4 primary amex ( 2 explorer 2 EDGE ) + 16 supps ( taking benefit of amex promo ).

 

[glasszon]

yes you will get explorer card, but make sure you login from amex explorer account.


2 in my name, 2 wife names. When putting in my name, I put slightly different. for example: Robert Hendrik ( Not real name ), You can try put Robert Hendri


A little bit of tweak and it works for me.


NB: Wife and I had total 4 primary amex ( 2 explorer 2 EDGE ) + 16 supps ( taking benefit of amex promo ).

Makes sense, will give it a try. Given I have a middle name an easy way would be to just cut off the middle name and make variations around my middle name, certainly beats calling Amex all day and hopes to speak to the right agent!

 

[koconder]

Just to confirm, you put in the supplementary card as Plat Edge to bypass the online restrictions but they still give you the explorer supplementary card?

Also, was those supplementary cards all in your own name? I had no issues trying to get supplementary cards for others, the biggest roadblock is trying to get 4 supplementary cards issued under my own name.

I got the Explorer, but not sure if i should apply for the Edge or the Plat Charge. Number of people here have been sucsessfull in gaining bonuses etc, not sure how best to use this card with the other amex cards (esp. with the additional supermarket bonuses earn rates etc.)

 

[mmchow]

I got the Explorer, but not sure if i should apply for the Edge or the Plat Charge. Number of people here have been sucsessfull in gaining bonuses etc, not sure how best to use this card with the other amex cards (esp. with the additional supermarket bonuses earn rates etc.)

Edge and Plat are in the Ascent/ Ascent Premium MR category so an application of either card will trigger the bonus points. You'll have to weigh out the pro/cons of both cards as they differ significantly. By opening one of the account below and merging your Explorer to the Ascent, you are earning 2points/$1 into the Ascent program. There are referral links where you can pick up additional points.
Edge - $195 annual fees, good earn on supermarket (3/$1), 9 airline transfer partners + various hotel partners, $200 travel credit (post March 2016)
Charge - $1200 annual fees, good earn on restaurant (3/$1), 10 airline transfer partners + various hotel partners, $300 travel credit, comp elite tier hotel, lounge access, access to AMEX Fine Hotel for additional benefit.

 

[Hammando]

Plat Charge is a lot more expensive but a great card if you travel a lot, but with the Explorer earn rate it is harder to justify the annual fee beyond the first year.