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.

 

[Steady]

Newbie here. And I'm still learning. But all the above talk about accounts deleted and points missing has me worried.

Are the points being not credited because they already are an existing amex customer? I thought having a gateway and separate Explorer is fine. Or is happening only when you have them merged?

I currently have an Explorer only and was in the process of doing the whole edge thing as well. And now getting worreid

I think we are talking two different things. The MR accounts were successfully separated, the bonus points have been awarded, the issue was on trying to re link the accounts

 

[SOPOOR]

I think we are talking two different things. The MR accounts were successfully separated, the bonus points have been awarded, the issue was on trying to re link the accounts

But didn't he lose the points when successfully linked?

Is linking seen as Abad thing or breach of terms or did he just get unlucky

 

[Tuffie]

But didn't he lose the points when successfully linked?

Yes, sign up bonus + referrals + purchased reward points, all gone. So even if I were not awarded bonus, they've still taken a whole lot more too.

 

[SOPOOR]

Yes, sign up bonus + referrals + purchased reward points, all gone. So even if I were not awarded bonus, they've still taken a whole lot more too.

Omg. That can't be right?

Surely just a system boo boo?

 

[lang_13]

that is awful to hear. sounds like the delinking/linking is not worth the risk in pursuing. My explorer came with Gateway program. Tried a couple of times to link it to Edge ascent program (got card after Explorer), but was told they were different tiers. Don't think I will persist.

 

[Steady]

My understanding is that the accent points transfer at a better rate then Gateway points - that is why people are trying re link the accounts to make their points worth more.

Those who have been successful have been lucky. There is a reason people call after hours to get an off shore operator

 

[unfunkable]

Yes, that is the only advantage to linking as far as I can see...points are worth 25% more..or is it 33%...bad math is bad

 

[Tuffie]

Omg. That can't be right?

Surely just a system boo boo?

Well that's how it is right now. I don't intend on leaving it like this, and will still call daily to see this resolved/escalated/cancellation. I do have a few arguments; i.e. I enquired to re-link, but never requested or accepted the terms for linking, if it were not possible then I should have my accounts as they were (restored) and the disappearance of all points - not just bonus.

I'll keep you's updated. And let us know if anyone else has had better luck.

 

[Steady]

Well that's how it is right now. I don't intend on leaving it like this, and will still call daily to see this resolved/escalated/cancellation. I do have a few arguments; i.e. I enquired to re-link, but never requested or accepted the terms for linking, if it were not possible then I should have my accounts as they were (restored) and the disappearance of all points - not just bonus.

I'll keep you's updated. And let us know if anyone else has had better luck.

Do you know if you were talking to an Australian operator? I wonder if the issues are a result of different procedures being followed.

Do you recall what day and time of day you called?

 

[Tuffie]

Do you know if you were talking to an Australian operator? I wonder if the issues are a result of different procedures being followed.

Do you recall what day and time of day you called?

All the calls initially were like 11PM late at night. After the incident, I just call whenever ... damage is done.

 

[SOPOOR]

what is so bad for against the terms and conditions that linking is no good,

or is it the delinking and then the linking thats triggering the cancellations

i currently only have gateway and explorer, im going to apply for edge and to link it,

I sincerely hope it will work for me

 

[hachoo]

Yes, that is the only advantage to linking as far as I can see...points are worth 25% more..or is it 33%...bad math is bad

But there are no disadvantages to not linking it after getting the bonus points because the earn rates with the cards are the same, you get 33% more points by going with the Ascent program though. Seems worth it for the effort if you can avoid the isolated issues for the long term.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Yes, sign up bonus + referrals + purchased reward points, all gone. So even if I were not awarded bonus, they've still taken a whole lot more too.

Ok. My advice is to keep all further calls "friendly" as the worse case scenario if you maintain polite and friendly communications is that Amex should re-instate the points gained from referrals and from spend as you are entitled to these.

The re-instatement of the sign-on bonus is more problematic as strictly speaking it is something which they do not have to let you have.

I think that it is important that we remember that when we play these games of seeking to exploit loopholes, glitches and the like that it will not always end well. Sometimes you strike out.


PS When Amex moves points etc it does not always happen quickly. I tend to allow a week before calling and drawing attention to any issue, and myself, as often it resolves itself. As much as possible avoid having a "human"look at anything whenever you are taking advantage of the system or glitch etc. The more humans that look at it, the more likely that a flag will be raised.

 

[SOPOOR]

so is the problem due to the fact that the bonus shouldnt be given because he already is an amex customer?

or the linking/unlinking,
this is what is confusing me

 

[imipenam]

Well that's how it is right now. I don't intend on leaving it like this, and will still call daily to see this resolved/escalated/cancellation. I do have a few arguments; i.e. I enquired to re-link, but never requested or accepted the terms for linking, if it were not possible then I should have my accounts as they were (restored) and the disappearance of all points - not just bonus.

I'll keep you's updated. And let us know if anyone else has had better luck.

if possible, try calling after 9pm Sat or Sun. All the best!

 

[Ken1]

This person here a few days back was also unsuccessful in linking them together. I await to see if he has his points removed to-

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....edit-card-new-amex-77925-115.html#post1575339

I await to see if anyone else over the past few days have had success in re linking,

I received an email from Amex late today telling me a payment I had made has been received and when I logged in to check I saw that my Explorer card is now showing to view points under the Charge card and now all points are showing in Ascent Premium so they have been relinked! All of the Gateway points, including the bonus points, have been transferred as an adjustment. It's taken a week since the phone call and I was told then that it would take 3 to 5 working days and that they would then let me know. I was going to wait another week before calling back if nothing had happened so it's a pleasant surprise and a relief to see the Explorer card linked to my Ascent Premium account again.

 

[Ken1]

Ok. My advice is to keep all further calls "friendly" as the worse case scenario if you maintain polite and friendly communications is that Amex should re-instate the points gained from referrals and from spend as you are entitled to these.

The re-instatement of the sign-on bonus is more problematic as strictly speaking it is something which they do not have to let you have.

I think that it is important that we remember that when we play these games of seeking to exploit loopholes, glitches and the like that it will not always end well. Sometimes you strike out.


PS When Amex moves points etc it does not always happen quickly. I tend to allow a week before calling and drawing attention to any issue, and myself, as often it resolves itself. As much as possible avoid having a "human"look at anything whenever you are taking advantage of the system or glitch etc. The more humans that look at it, the more likely that a flag will be raised.

Tuffie, I agree with this approach to keep all calls "friendly" when asking to re-instate the points gained from referrals and from spend. You mentioned that you already have an Edge card - how long have you had that? If you've had that for a while, or also any other Amex cards previously, mention how long you've been a loyal Amex customer and ask for their assistance in solving this problem. Good luck - I hope you're successful!

 

[anat0l]

Just to be clear, let's say you have an Edge + Explorer or Reserve + Explorer, which are both initially linked to Ascent.

Call Amex, get the Explorer unlinked, and as it does so (without further prompting the agent), the Explorer gets put onto the Gateway program.

Now, as I understand it, if you use the Explorer, you'll earn points into the Gateway program. And, if you use the other card, you'll earn points into the Ascent program.

That is, once you call to unlink the Explorer, it's not as if when you spend on the Edge/Reserve, you'll earn into the Gateway program as well, or worse, nothing at all?


Now if you have Gateway points once you decide to re-link the Explorer to Ascent (I assume you call and ask, "Could you please link my Explorer to my Ascent Membership Rewards program?"), what happens to the Gateway points? Do they remain there as Gateway points, even though there are no cards linked to it? Do they "convert" to Ascent, and if so, how? (If it was a 1:1 conversion, that'd be nuts as your effective value goes up, despite being risky...)

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Just to be clear, let's say you have an Edge + Explorer or Reserve + Explorer, which are both initially linked to Ascent.

Call Amex, get the Explorer unlinked, and as it does so (without further prompting the agent), the Explorer gets put onto the Gateway program.

Now, as I understand it, if you use the Explorer, you'll earn points into the Gateway program. And, if you use the other card, you'll earn points into the Ascent program.

Yes

That is, once you call to unlink the Explorer, it's not as if when you spend on the Edge/Reserve, you'll earn into the Gateway program as well, or worse, nothing at all?

You will only earn points in one program ata time from any one transaction. Not points in both programs concurrently.

Now if you have Gateway points once you decide to re-link the Explorer to Ascent (I assume you call and ask, "Could you please link my Explorer to my Ascent Membership Rewards program?"), what happens to the Gateway points? Do they remain there as Gateway points, even though there are no cards linked to it? Do they "convert" to Ascent, and if so, how? (If it was a 1:1 conversion, that'd be nuts as your effective value goes up, despite being risky...)

There is a lucky dip here. Some people have had 1;1. Others have been told that you have to transfer out points first. One person very recently has reported losing all points (see above- however Amex systems sometimes take a little while to sort themselves out and so that may have been a glitch and so time will tell on this report).

 

[anat0l]

You will only earn points in one program ata time from any one transaction. Not points in both programs concurrently.

I realise that you can't "double dip" on a transaction and earn both Ascent and Gateway, but what I mean is that once you unlink the Explorer from Ascent, what happens if you spend on the Edge/Reserve (which is supposedly still linked to Ascent)? Do you earn Ascent points as normal, do you earn into Gateway, or do you earn nothing?