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.

 

[Finale]

Nope. It says We're sorry, but the Account you entered is not eligible for this referral program.
Might have to wait a bit I guess or my account is screwed up.

 

[alexy23]

I'm getting that for my AMEX bus plat, which a week before that it was working fine. I'm guessing it means there isn't a referral program for the cards you have. I'm sure we'll see a referral for this card just gotta hold on.

 

[adelee]

When I receive my Explorer card, I will ring up customer service to see what the situation is with referrals / whether a link can be generated.

 

[Mr_Orange]

If I have Plat Charge, Reserve and Edge, I would have to bin one of the Reserve or Edge in order to scoop this new card wouldn't I?

 

[albyd]

That's right I'm thinking will bin my reserve. Platinum edge is too valuable to give up. Plat charge already has the same bonus categories as the reserve so an easy decision.

 

[Mr_Orange]

That's right I'm thinking will bin my reserve. Platinum edge is too valuable to give up. Plat charge already has the same bonus categories as the reserve so an easy decision.

Indeed. I have already booked my free flight from the Reserve and since it is free with the Plat Charge, there is really nothing to lose for me. I wonder if the annual fee can be refunded for this new card after scooping the bonus points, using the travel credit and then cancelling in order to swap back to the Reserve?

 

[nightelves]

Why would you want the reserve when this gives good ppd?

 

[TomVexille]

Indeed. I have already booked my free flight from the Reserve and since it is free with the Plat Charge, there is really nothing to lose for me. I wonder if the annual fee can be refunded for this new card after scooping the bonus points, using the travel credit and then cancelling in order to swap back to the Reserve?

I didn't think the Reserve was availiable to new customers anymore. At least it's not on the website.

 

[Mr_Orange]

I didn't think the Reserve was availiable to new customers anymore. At least it's not on the website.

It isn't. I'm a Plat Charge card holder so can have the Reserve as a companion card, as I currently do. I could close it down, get this card and use the benefits and then close the Explorer and get the Reserve back. In theory!!

 

[albyd]

Unless you're exceeding you 300k MR caps in the charge and need the reserve to keep earning bonus points for dining and travel, outside of the free flight, I'm tempted to just switch to the explorer with the higher effective earn across all categories. Come to think of it, might do an audit to see if I need the charge outside of SPG 'gold' membership.

 

[Mr_Orange]

Unless you're exceeding you 300k MR caps in the charge and need the reserve to keep earning bonus points for dining and travel, outside of the free flight, I'm tempted to just switch to the explorer with the higher effective earn across all categories. Come to think of it, might do an audit to see if I need the charge outside of SPG 'gold' membership.

The downside to that is the Explorer comes with an annual fee whereas the Reserve does not. Not sure if Amex would waive the Explorer fee for Plat Charge card holders as they do the for the Reserve.

 

[albyd]

I've asked and they won't at this stage

 

[bismarck]

Pretty hard to see an extra $800 in value for the Plat Charge over the Explorer. Maybe if you spent a whole lot of money at restaurants? Or really really wanted to transfer to Qantas?

 

[johnny_yh2000]

Plat charge still has the perk of unlimited priority pass and Hilton gold that explorer doesn't have

 

[glasszon]

My take on this card vs Plat charge:

Explorer:
Much cheaper annual fee, arguably the entire annual fee is offset by the travel credit.
Flat earn rate, more useful than Plat charge unless you spend a lot on the bonus categories (restaurants, flights etc).
One of the best earn card, especially post RBA changes.

Plat charge:
Charge card, so it doesn't count against you in future credit applications.
Can transfer to a wider range of airlines/hotels.
Free flight (if you get the reserve companion card)
Status with a large amount of hotels/car hire companies
Unlimited Priority Pass + virgin lounge access

Everyone have to draw their own conclusion, for me I rather save $800 and buy a Qantas club through work if necessary for lounge access (which is tax deductible....)

 

[alexy23]

A little O/T but I asked my account manager about whether or not I can get the Plat Reserve with my AMEX Business Plat. He mentioned I can and gave me a PDF application for the "The American Express® Platinum Reserve Credit Card".

Is this card eligible for the free flight? Any more detail on this?

What other perks does the Platinum Reserve Credit have specifically (point earn etc) can't seem to find much and he didn't really know either? Trying to weigh up applying for the Reserve card ($0 fee) vs Explorer Card ($400 fee).

 

[Mr_Orange]

A little O/T but I asked my account manager about whether or not I can get the Plat Reserve with my AMEX Business Plat. He mentioned I can and gave me a PDF application for the "The American Express® Platinum Reserve Credit Card".

Is this card eligible for the free flight? Any more detail on this?

What other perks does the Platinum Reserve Credit have specifically (point earn etc) can't seem to find much and he didn't really know either? Trying to weigh up applying for the Reserve card ($0 fee) vs Explorer Card ($400 fee).

Reserve has the same points earn structure as the Plat Charge card. Free flights is as per: https://www.americanexpress.com/australia/campaigns/platinum_reserve/destination_guide.shtml.

 

[alexy23]

Sydney to (Queenstown/Perth/Ayers Rock/Hamilton Is.), did I read that right? If so not a bad deal.

Anybody know of the limit of reserve cards I can have - i.e. one for me and one for Mrs? Not bad considering I already pay an annual fee.

Clearly I'd apply for the Explorer though first to get the bonus points.

 

[Mr_Orange]

Sydney to (Queenstown/Perth/Ayers Rock/Hamilton Is.), did I read that right? If so not a bad deal.

Anybody know of the limit of reserve cards I can have - i.e. one for me and one for Mrs? Not bad considering I already pay an annual fee.

Clearly I'd apply for the Explorer though first to get the bonus points.

You can get a supplementary Reserve for your +1.

 

[kamchatsky]

Plat charge still has the perk of unlimited priority pass and Hilton gold that explorer doesn't have

For Hilton Gold you can always apply for Macquarie Hilton HHonors Credit Card which right now is no annual fee at all (until 30 Sept):

Hilton HHonors Platinum Credit Card | Earn Points | Macquarie

So $800 extra for Priority Pass is a bit steep IMO especially you can join PP directly for USD$399.