Credit Card Offers Amex Explorer: 50,000 bonus Amex points

crossbow · Feb 1, 2017

billbro said:
Did you get your card successfully linked/de-linked?

Not yet. I requested to de-link exactly a week ago to Australian agent who said it would take 3~5 days. Tonight I just pointed out to this agent that it had passed 5 days and still wasn't done. She confirmed she could see the request was pending, and offered to send an email to back office team to expedite.

I will report if/when it's successful.

mokuni · Feb 1, 2017

Hi, been reading this thread as its going to be affecting me shortly. I understand that the loophole may no longer be there. Would someone be able to confirm which loophole this is;

1.) Had previous Ascent, signed up for Explorer (which automatically reverted Explorer to Ascent program), attempt to unlink explorer to gateway, spend $1500, Pocket 110000 points. Loophole is specific to earning the bonus, even after having a previously held Amex or;

2.) 110000 points in gateway, Also have Ascent, call to CSR to link gateway to Ascent. Loophole is specific to transferring Gateway points to Ascent thus pocketing the conversion?

Im currently in the second scenario, thinking about getting a Platinum Edge. I already have got the bonus from earlier (even though i had an Amex Qantas card). If the closed loophole is 2.), I may think other wise.

Thanks guys in advance, always a fan of this forum.

bullz74 · Feb 1, 2017

mokuni said:
Hi, been reading this thread as its going to be affecting me shortly. I understand that the loophole may no longer be there. Would someone be able to confirm which loophole this is;

1.) Had previous Ascent, signed up for Explorer (which automatically reverted Explorer to Ascent program), attempt to unlink explorer to gateway, spend $1500, Pocket 110000 points. Loophole is specific to earning the bonus, even after having a previously held Amex or;

2.) 110000 points in gateway, Also have Ascent, call to CSR to link gateway to Ascent. Loophole is specific to transferring Gateway points to Ascent thus pocking the conversion?

Im currently in the second scenario, thinking about getting a Platinum Edge. I already have got the bonus from earlier (even though i had an Amex Qantas card). If the closed loophole is 2.), I may think other wise.

Thanks guys in advance, always a fan of this forum.

I did the unlink->bonus point->relinking thing last week with no dramas. The gateway points do need to be redeemed and cannot be converted to ascent. For those of you who are waiting for this process, I've had both my unlink and linking process occur instantly so this can be done if you spoke to the right person. Definitely find the US agents to be better in this regard.

mokuni · Feb 1, 2017

bullz74 said:
I did the unlink->bonus point->relinking thing last week with no dramas. The gateway points do need to be redeemed and cannot be converted to ascent.

So are you saying the loop hole really is the ability to "earn" Ascent rewards, on an existing Gateway card? The points earned during Gateway (including 110K and what Ive sent so far) remains in Gateway as is?

If so I think that was my problem. I assumed that once the Explorer card gets pointed to Ascent, the points follow.

That might still be ok then I suppose. Im assuming that if I signed up to a new Platinum Edge, my Explorer (and platinum edge) may get linked to Ascent then?

bullz74 · Feb 1, 2017

mokuni said:
So are you saying the loop hole really is the ability to "earn" Ascent rewards, on an existing Gateway card? The points earned during Gateway (including 110K and what Ive sent so far) remains in Gateway as is?

If so I think that was my problem. I assumed that once the Explorer card gets pointed to Ascent, the points follow.

That might still be ok then I suppose. Im assuming that if I signed up to a new Platinum Edge, my Explorer (and platinum edge) may get linked to Ascent then?

Yes exactly what you said there. The big draw at the moment is the effective 2pts/$ earn. I don't know if your explorer will automatically link to the ascent so you may need to call up and speak to a CSR to link it for you.

unfunkable · Feb 1, 2017

Ok
I don't think anybody has done this, only because it seems in the last few days AMEX have really cracked onto the linking and delinking of account's it seems.
My better 1/2 just applied for explorer last week. She already has a plat edge, so we expect it to come linked to the ascent program.

We expect a uphill battle to de-link, get points, then re link, SO:

Another route is to, cancel plat edge - making the program revert to gateway, make the spend, get the points, then apply for another plat edge or plat charge, then re-linking...

I'll post back with result's eventually.

avante · Feb 1, 2017

Quick update: Received my Explorer on Friday and the account was set up as linked to Ascent. Spoke to the Manila Call Centre and they agreed to delink. I've spent about $400 as at yesterday and this morning the account was still not delinked so I called them again and they said they'd get to it in 24 hours. I just had a look and they're indeed delinked now. Gateway showing up as 0 points, and the points transaction shows nothing. Hopefully this will update soon. Looking forward to the 110k points. Also referred two of my friends so hopefully this will post soon as well (as they applied before the accounts were delinked - checked Ascent and nothing related to Explorer there).

I'll keep everyone posted.

maccaisking · Feb 1, 2017

unfunkable said:
Ok
I don't think anybody has done this, only because it seems in the last few days AMEX have really cracked onto the linking and delinking of account's it seems.
My better 1/2 just applied for explorer last week. She already has a plat edge, so we expect it to come linked to the ascent program.

We expect a uphill battle to de-link, get points, then re link, SO:

Another route is to, cancel plat edge - making the program revert to gateway, make the spend, get the points, then apply for another plat edge or plat charge, then re-linking...

I'll post back with result's eventually.

I had a similar thought. Mine (my wife's) cards came unlinked - she had Explorer before Plat Edge. If unable to link and transfer points to Ascent, my plan is to transfer out points at 4:3 (still getting 82,500 for the sign up bonus) cancel the Explorer after using the travel credit, and then reapply hoping it would come linked, as most who had auto linking had reported having Plat Edge first.

I (she) will spend the rest of the week trying to have points transferred to Ascent first, try transferring them and then linking second, but this was the third option. Will be interested to see your results if you get to it before me.

anat0l · Feb 1, 2017

I have two people who are pending approvals on their applications. They applied on the 29th and haven't received follow up calls for extra info, so notwithstanding a last minute rush of apps, it is taking a while.

However I'm getting nervous about these recent developments. One applicant has a Reserve linked to Ascent (default); the other has only had a Virgin Platinum before. I'm hoping the latter will be OK; the former I am more scared, particularly as she will need to make the call and may not know how to handle the operator if things get difficult.

That said, if both of them spend up and don't get the bonus, I'm hoping that the sleeve card they'll have left is to cancel their card within the first month without having used their travel credit, for a full refund / no need to pay the annual fee.

For me, I've got my signup bonus but I might lay low for now and not consider relinking to Ascent. I want to keep my Reserve and its balance safe; the opportunity for some extra points earn (not with the existing Gateway balance, which won't transfer to Ascent) doesn't seem worth the risk.

anat0l · Feb 1, 2017

Guess one thing of note: I suppose if my referred applicants cancel their cards, Amex will reverse my referral bonuses for them?

Steady · Feb 1, 2017

anat0l said:
Guess one thing of note: I suppose if my referred applicants cancel their cards, Amex will reverse my referral bonuses for them?

That's an interesting question - I have not seen discussed. I suspect you would not loose them if there was any spend

crossbow · Feb 1, 2017

bullz74 said:
I did the unlink->bonus point->relinking thing last week with no dramas. The gateway points do need to be redeemed and cannot be converted to ascent. For those of you who are waiting for this process, I've had both my unlink and linking process occur instantly so this can be done if you spoke to the right person. Definitely find the US agents to be better in this regard.

Could I ask, what time of day did you call to get US agent? Phone number on the back of the card or some other phone number? Did you get request processed on the first call each time?

If I get the bonus I'm planning to redeem out of Gateway immediately, just need the unlinking done.

psi999 · Feb 1, 2017

anat0l said:
One applicant has a Reserve linked to Ascent (default); the other has only had a Virgin Platinum before. I'm hoping the latter will be OK; the former I am more scared, particularly as she will need to make the call and may not know how to handle the operator if things get difficult.

I currently hold a Platinum edge (Ascent) - my new explorer arrived and activated last Friday, pre linked to the gateway program. So your friend may be lucky and not have to make that phone call.

Spend limit hit over weekend and 110,000MR posted this morning. I'm not going to bother risking the house to link over to accent with the bonus points. Will probably give it a crack sometime down the track once current points have been used.

Platinum edge was declared on the application - and i cancelled my Velocity amex 3 days before applying for the explorer. I love amex

djkelly69 · Feb 1, 2017

maccaisking said:
I (she) will spend the rest of the week trying to have points transferred to Ascent first, try transferring them and then linking second, but this was the third option. Will be interested to see your results if you get to it before me.

Will be keen to hear results from you as well. I only have Explorer and looking to apply for Plat-Edge shortly.

Currently have about 135k Gateway points which I would really like to get to Ascent.

SOPOOR · Feb 1, 2017

All these problems people are having.
Would the same be happening if you have a Explorer.
And then get a Plat edge and then to link??

lovetravellingoz · Feb 1, 2017

Amex have definitely changed their tack.

Daughter had just recently put through her application (unfortunately she had procrastinated) and Amex have just called specifically to ask while she was approved, did she still want the card as she would not get the sign-on bonus as she already had an Edge and was an existing customer.

crossbow · Feb 1, 2017

If they never get around to unlinking from Ascent, I may miss out on bonus but at least my Explorer will earn 2pts/$ into Ascent. So not the worst outcome.

I figure with my typical annual Amex spend, the extra redemption value from Ascent means it will take about 3 years to match the value of what the bonus would have been worth in Gateway.

Those who got the bonus and linked back to Ascent with their bonus transferred are lucky, but I'll still be happy with the card.

bullz74 · Feb 1, 2017

crossbow said:
Could I ask, what time of day did you call to get US agent? Phone number on the back of the card or some other phone number? Did you get request processed on the first call each time?

If I get the bonus I'm planning to redeem out of Gateway immediately, just need the unlinking done.

I would imagine unlinking would definitely be easier than relinking. I had mine done on Australua day morning by a local sounding CSR. Had relinking done by an extremely cheerful US CSR on saturday arfternoon.

bullz74 · Feb 1, 2017

crossbow said:
Those who got the bonus and linked back to Ascent with their bonus transferred are lucky, but I'll still be happy with the card.

Indeed, I suppose there's no guarantee that amex wont unlink or 'tweak' these accounts in the future so it's definitely worth getting into while you still can.

crossbow · Feb 1, 2017

An update... checked just now. Explorer now linked to Gateway. Platinum Edge shows NO rewards at all in the account summary. AND my full points balance (only a few thousand) was transferred from Ascent to Gateway?? Not quite what I wanted.

When viewing rewards statement, I do have the option to switch between the two rewards accounts, so the two rewards programs are still there, just Platinum Edge doesn't seem to be linked to any rewards from the main account summary.

Any ideas on what has happened? Should I wait a day or two to see if it gets sorted, or call them up to clarify?

Credit Card Offers Amex Explorer: 50,000 bonus Amex points

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