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.

 

[miceking]

Out of interest, how long did it take for the bonus points to post after the transaction cleared?

My bonus points were posted at the same time with the cleared transaction.

 

[bbqwer]

Anyone with a platinum edge had the card automatically linked to the edge's ascent program and still got the bonus 100k points? That would be the ideal situation.

Not recommended. It is better to apply as new card from amex website, and do not tick YES ( do you own current amex card ? )

 

[potm]

Does it matter if you tick yes or no?

 

[bbqwer]

Does it matter if you tick yes or no?

If you tick Yes , who knows amex might be able notice you as current amex customers, and you are not eligible for bonus points ? Better tick NO

 

[get me outta here]

They know if you have an existing card and adapt your limit accordingly.

 

[tuvz]

If you tick Yes , who knows amex might be able notice you as current amex customers, and you are not eligible for bonus points ? Better tick NO

Amex have all your info on file already and you have just put the same information in the application...
doesn't matter whether you click yes or no, Amex know if you are an existing card holder

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Business Accelerator. Cancelled Virgin Platinum a month ago and Platinum Edge within the last 18 months.

Is the Business Accelerator a Mileage Reward program?

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Not recommended. It is better to apply as new card from amex website, and do not tick YES ( do you own current amex card ? )

Not sure why you recommend this.

I always tick yes as it makes it more likely you will be approved quicker and I have always gained the sign-on bonus. Ditto for the wife.

If they actually checked they would soon know that you have a card anyway.

 

[Finale]

Is the Business Accelerator a Mileage Reward program?

It is in Ascent program and can transfer to airlines same as Edge.

Not sure why you recommend this.

I always tick yes as it makes it more likely you will be approved quicker and I have always gained the sign-on bonus. Ditto for the wife.

If they actually checked they would soon know that you have a card anyway.

I always ticked yes and got bonus as well. Ticked yes for this card and got an instant approval while income didn't meet the minimum. Bonus posted just fine.

 

[aerotravel]

I ticked 'Yes' when I applied for Velocity Platinum while already owned Platinum Edge and got credited 100k Velocity Points last year.

 

[kko]

Does this card have any foreign transaction and/or currency conversion fees? I can't find any mention of it.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

It is in Ascent program and can transfer to airlines same as Edge.

.

Thanks.

So far the rule at Amex with credit cards seems to be that you get the joining bonus even if you are already in a different awards program. But if in the same that you do not.

So with this being Gateway MR (not ascent), that you will gain the points if you are in say MR or the Velocity Awards sections. I note also that the wording for charge cards has been changed so that charge card and credit card bonii are different.

 

[Finale]

Thanks.

So far the rule at Amex with credit cards seems to be that you get the joining bonus even if you are already in a different awards program. But if in the same that you do

So with this being Gateway MR (not ascent), that you will gain the points if you are in say MR or the Velocity Awards sections. I note also that the wording for charge cards has been changed so that charge card and credit card bonii are different.

I applied for Edge while holding Accelerator and Amex created a second Ascent account for it and I got Edge bonus. Not sure if its because Accelerator being a business card.

 

[aerotravel]

Does this card have any foreign transaction and/or currency conversion fees? I can't find any mention of it.

It's mentioned here: https://www.americanexpress.com/au/content/credit-cards/about-credit-cards/fees/

 

[kko]

It's mentioned here: https://www.americanexpress.com/au/content/credit-cards/about-credit-cards/fees/

Thanks aerotravel.

So since this card is not explicitly mentioned there, I'm assuming it's no different to other Amex cards and attracts 3% fee and double conversion (to USD and then to AUD).

I was hoping that being designated 'explorer' card it would come with none of those fees like some of US Amex cards.

That makes it largely useless for overseas spend in all but extraordinary situations

 

[adelee]

Hi all. Am expecting to receive my card tomorrow, and am planning to meet minimum spend quickly.

I've reported in another thread, that as a recent Velocity Platinum and Platinum Charge holder, I didn't receive the bonus points on the Platinum Edge. I'm assuming this was because both the Charge and the Edge use the Ascent program, but I'm really hoping that being a recent Charge cardholder doesn't also hit my chances of bonus points with the Explorer card.

I've read the comments from those who hold the Velocity Platinum and have reported receiving the bonus points, but if anyone holding the Platinum Charge (Tizey?) has applied for the card and can confirm whether or not bonus points have posted, that would be great (I will of course report back as soon as I have hit the minimum spend).

 

[momad]

Been reading most of the posts.

Was a Velocity Platinum holder before getting the Platinum Charge. When I activated my Plat Charge with Velocity under the same account, I could not access the Platinum Charge benefits (eg. booking platinum travel etc). It was a very buggy web surfing experience.

Therefore, I had to create two separate online accounts - one for Velocity and one for Plat Charge. With a separate online account just for my Plat charge account, I can now access the card's benefits.

With that said, just wondering if you activate your card by creating a separate new online account, would this differentiate both MR and Gateway Membership points and possibly give you a higher chance of getting the bonus points?

I just cancelled my Velocity last week and looking to attempt this as the 2 points per dollar spent is very tempting.

 

[tizey]

I've made $1500+ of transactions to my account, but they were all done Thurs/Fri last week and have not yet 'settled' (they are still pending and so have not yet hit points tally). I'm hoping they hit tomorrow and bonus points show up. Will report back once I know.

Also - I have 3 Amex card logins. One for Velocity. One for Platinum charge. One for Explorer. Hoping this keeps things separate enough to get the bonus on explorer (i got both platinum and velocity bonuses).

 

[aerotravel]

No, unfortunately for Amex AU cards are subject to 3% foreign transaction fee. It's one of my pet peeves that Amex AU hasn't quite caught up with the no foreign transaction fees card. On the other hand, Amex cards are beginning to be accepted in lots of places. I manage to use my Amex cards very often.

 

[albyd]

I think things will start to change as other banks follow ANZ's lead with Travel Adventures and it will be the norm to see no FX fees on premium cards like it is the case in the US. Until then, we're stuck with a poorer deal here in Australia.