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.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

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?

It will show up on one or the other and so you will earn points. It will just depend if the linking is complete or not and perhaps on any lags in the system.

 

[glasszon]

Just a quick update on my supplementary card application, after all the effort of convincing an agent to apply for a supplementary card in my own name, the application still gets declined by the new cards team....

After I voice my displeasure they put through another application and ask me to contact the new accounts team so they can decide whether it can be approved, it's fast approaching the point of "not worth it", guess others have more luck than me getting a supplementary card (or 4!) in their own name.

 

[SOPOOR]

Just a quick update on my supplementary card application, after all the effort of convincing an agent to apply for a supplementary card in my own name, the application still gets declined by the new cards team....

After I voice my displeasure they put through another application and ask me to contact the new accounts team so they can decide whether it can be approved, it's fast approaching the point of "not worth it", guess others have more luck than me getting a supplementary card (or 4!) in their own name.

How would a supp card application be rejected unless credit or I'd checks failed

 

[hachoo]

I didn't even know supplementary cards would be subject to that. You're using the same credit limit under the same credit holder. Confused.

 

[daft009]

How would a supp card application be rejected unless credit or I'd checks failed

the supp card being in the main cardholder's name is the issue it was rejected (though has been approved for some).

 

[glasszon]

the supp card being in the main cardholder's name is the issue it was rejected (though has been approved for some).

Bingo, let's see whether I can get it approved this time, probably won't bother with it if they reject it again.

 

[SOPOOR]

well everyone, my first amex card, I made my minimum purchase a few days ago, points credied, am a very happy happy amexer

thank you for everyones help!!
now off to apply for plat edge

 

[fortunately]

hey guys, what you think is the best way to spend 100k of points? I mean can you share how do you spend it?

 

[daft009]

hey guys, what you think is the best way to spend 100k of points? I mean can you share how do you spend it?

depends on what floats your boat really

a guy at work cashed them all in (1000pt = $7.41) and used it to pay car rego. used his travel credit to book a hotel for an upcoming holidays.

I'm in collection phase, will transfer to krisflyer when ready and book a premium economy or business class seats

 

[SOPOOR]

Can someone explain to me

If you have a Explorer first and then get a Plat edge

I've heard conflicting stories
Does the gateway get converted auto magically to Ascent? As I've been told to wait until gateway bonus comes in before linking or applying for edge

 

[annielee]

i guess majority will transfer to KrisFlyer (SQ) to redeem SQ business or first class seats.. which is what im planning to do as well..

hey guys, what you think is the best way to spend 100k of points? I mean can you share how do you spend it?

 

[Jonova]

hey guys, what you think is the best way to spend 100k of points? I mean can you share how do you spend it?

There are many great ways to use the 100k points depending on what you are after. Popular options are premium airline seats with SQ, EY, VA for direct transfers from MR. Transferring to SPG for hotel stays or for other airline points AA, UA, Alaska etc.

I am personally going to transfer my points to SPG and then to Marriott Rewards for the points and hotel stay travel packages. 240,000 MR points = 120,000 AA miles and 7 nights at Category 8 Marriott property.

 

[Dr Ralph]

hey guys, what you think is the best way to spend 100k of points? I mean can you share how do you spend it?

The 'best' way is however those points BEST suit you. No one can say one usage is better than any other usage. What's BEST for the individual is more relevant.

For example, I have some trips to the US coming up in 2017. Flights are already booked using QFF points. So for me the BEST usage is via SPG to book hotels.

 

[theultimateflyer]

New member here...thats for the great post and intel.
Applied for the card over the weekend, got approval SMS this morning. So hopefully should not be long before i get it.

I cancelled a AMEX card 3 weeks back..so fingers crossed on bonus points..thank you everyone for the information shared..that most of the folks are getting bonus points even though..they are not meet the eligibility criteria of new member (or last 18months clause)

Spoke to AMEX Customer care and was informed that the supplementary card bonus offer (5000 points per card) ended on 17th Nov...u can still apply for it but no bonus and they advised its best to wait for supplmentary cards (if i dont urgently need them) bcoz AMEX may put the promotion back again

Any suggestions on meeting the minimum 1500 eligibility spend..a lot of shops/outlets do not accept AMEX or their is a surcharge ?

Thanks everyone again, look forward to learning and contributing back to this great forum.

Cheers
Tuf

 

[Steady]

I cancelled a AMEX card 3 weeks back..so fingers crossed on bonus points..thank you everyone for the information shared..that most of the folks are getting bonus points even though..they are not meet the eligibility criteria of new member (or last 18months clause)

What did you cancel? From what I have seen you will be ok unless it was an Explorer...

Spoke to AMEX Customer care and was informed that the supplementary card bonus offer (5000 points per card) ended on 17th Nov...u can still apply for it but no bonus and they advised its best to wait for supplmentary cards (if i dont urgently need them) bcoz AMEX may put the promotion back again

That's interesting, thanks

 

[daft009]

Any suggestions on meeting the minimum 1500 eligibility spend..a lot of shops/outlets do not accept AMEX or their is a surcharge ?

could buy a woolies/coles gift card or one of those prepaid eftpos/visa cards etc

 

[lovetravellingoz]

hey guys, what you think is the best way to spend 100k of points? I mean can you share how do you spend it?

I note that you are new to the AFF Forum.

My strong advice is to spend the equivalent of a few days, yes that is DAYS, reading past Forum Threads.

This will then allow you to answer your own question, and as you acquire knowledge from reading it will also become clear to you that only you can truly answer your own question as only you know your own circumstances, needs, desires and dreams!

What I can promise you is that if you do invest that time that you will reap vast rewards in how to:
-fly and travel (hotels, cruises, rail etc) for less, a lot less, than buying at:normal" prices
-fly and travel in more comfort
-make and save money
-make your travel dreams come true!

 

[EestiTiger]

The 'best' way is however those points BEST suit you. No one can say one usage is better than any other usage. What's BEST for the individual is more relevant.

For example, I have some trips to the US coming up in 2017. Flights are already booked using QFF points. So for me the BEST usage is via SPG to book hotels.

Yep same here. SPG hotel stay in NYC.

 

[theultimateflyer]

What did you cancel? From what I have seen you will be ok unless it was an Explorer...

No it wasn't an Explorer card. It was an AMEX Gold credit card,got it through the BMW partnership a while back and then when AMEX ended the relationship with BMW..got converted to a standard AMEX Gold card.

Fingers crossed

 

[Steady]

What did you cancel? From what I have seen you will be ok unless it was an Explorer...

No it wasn't an Explorer card. It was an AMEX Gold credit card,got it through the BMW partnership a while back and then when AMEX ended the relationship with BMW..got converted to a standard AMEX Gold card.

Fingers crossed

After you have had a good long read of these threads you will see there is no real need to cross your fingers in your situation. While never guaranteed, it is almost a certainty you will get the points.