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.

 

[mmchow]

Hi all, first post so be gentle please!

Applied and approved for both the Explorer and the Plat Edge card on Friday (both using referral links from aff). I've never done the points thing before so have no existing points accounts ff/rewards/otherwise, and I'm a bit confused on the whole linking/delinking thing despite a lot of reading.

I applied for the Explorer for the 80k sign up points, which I understand are the Gateway rewards, and the Plat Edge to get into the Ascent program for the better redemption of 1:1 to airline miles, rather than the 4:3... I was hoping it would be a simple transfer of the 80k reward points from the Gateway program to the Ascent program if I was in both, but after all this reading it appears that's not possible - is that correct?

I'm yet to receive either card yet obviously, but after reading the last few pages in this thread I'm starting to worry they might put me straight into the Ascent program due to also getting the Plat Edge, and therefore I will end up not getting the 80k bonus points from the Explorer... Is anyone able to confirm?

Apologies mods if this isn't the best thread to post in, still finding my way around.

ETA: One more question - I'm sure there's T&Cs or fine print to prevent it, but can the two travel credits be combined/used in the same transaction? Or will I only get one travel credit, and if so, will it be there $400 or the $200? Did the Explorer app first if it matters.

It really depends on what sort of account you'll ended up getting. If they are on Gateway (Explorer) and Ascent (Edge) you are fine. Proceed with spending the minimum amount and you'll get the bonus points.

Things get tricky when you had the both cards on the Ascent. Details on the wiki page, call to delink, met the spend requirement and both bonus points should post. To relink it back, mix result but still doable.

For the travel credit, you'll get both and they are on separate account. I was told that I couldn't combine both together and use it as one credit.

 

[BriarFlyer]

Agree their flight and hotel deal is the best value from Marriott at the moment if you can stretch to the required points and fit a 7 night stay into your travel plans. I was considering changing our plans and flights to make it work, but in the end went with a simple redemption for 5 nights.

I have enough pts for the 5-night deal, which suits our travel plans, but mulling over whether to change plans to 7 nights for the extra value. I don't have quite enough points for my preferred hotel. Question: can you, at some point in the transfer process, combine family accounts?

 

[Irishbazz]

Also, when you merge you programs, the gateway $400 credit will disappear.
You can de link to make it re appear, but it's a pain in the cough. A member here said they could get it manually added, but I don't think I have seen anyone post that that has actually happened.

Just call Amex and have them manually reset the credit to show at the booking confirmation screen, when you want to book. Its just a glitch in their system.The credit should have nothing to do with linking, as it's purpose is to offset the annual fee.Happy to be corrected, if I am mistaken? I didn't have to de-link to have it show up.

 

[Irishbazz]

I have enough pts for the 5-night deal, which suits our travel plans, but mulling over whether to change plans to 7 nights for the extra value. I don't have quite enough points for my preferred hotel. Question: can you, at some point in the transfer process, combine family accounts?

Yes, you can combine/transfer MR points between family, same MR program (Free, mixed you pay), but will take a few weeks possibly. Or you can combine family points in SPG prior to transfer to Marriott. Minimum 30 day membership account held before this is allowed. Or buy Starpoints for $35/1000 and transfer to Marriott. March may have a bonus option for buying Starpoints if you can wait take the chance?

 

[BriarFlyer]

Yes, you can combine/transfer MR points between family, same MR program (Free, mixed you pay), but will take a few weeks possibly. Or you can combine family points in SPG prior to transfer to Marriott. Minimum 30 day membership account held before this is allowed. Or buy Starpoints for $35/1000 and transfer to Marriott. March may have a bonus option for buying Starpoints if you can wait take the chance?

Thanks ever so much, Irishbazz. Our trip isn't until September so I have some time to get this together.

 

[unfunkable]

Just call Amex and have them manually reset the credit to show at the booking confirmation screen, when you want to book. Its just a glitch in their system.The credit should have nothing to do with linking, as it's purpose is to offset the annual fee.Happy to be corrected, if I am mistaken? I didn't have to de-link to have it show up.

Thanks I'll try that if my de-link doesn't happen in a week or so...It's all on record why I need to de-link and I might just happen to spend another $1500 at the same time...cough.

 

[annielee]

just called again for additional card, and the answer is NO !.. not on this card, the csr mentioned only few cards are allowed additional card and Explorer is not in the list..

 

[albyd]

Sounds like it's the luck of the draw with the CSR you get. Was told the same before I applied then saw post on AFF it was possible and called up and they were only too happy to help.

 

[Steady]

just called again for additional card, and the answer is NO !.. not on this card, the csr mentioned only few cards are allowed additional card and Explorer is not in the list..

Sounds like it's the luck of the draw with the CSR you get. Was told the same before I applied then saw post on AFF it was possible and called up and they were only too happy to help.

I have an account card on my Explorer- had it about 5 weeks

 

[annielee]

maybe will try to call again few weeks time, not in the rush to get one now..

I have an account card on my Explorer- had it about 5 weeks

 

[nightelves]

That's very strange got offered supplmentary card when I signed up for Explorer but refused as I'm waiting for the 5k bonus when adding supplementaries.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Sounds like it's the luck of the draw with the CSR you get. Was told the same before I applied then saw post on AFF it was possible and called up and they were only too happy to help.

The good thing about this is that you can keep calling back till you get an answer that you are happy with

Within limits of course. But in this particular case those those limits are yet to be rigidly defined.

 

[annielee]

agreed will wait for the 5k supplementary promotion and try again..

The good thing about this is that you can keep calling back till you get an answer that you are happy with

Within limits of course. But in this particular case those those limits are yet to be rigidly defined.

 

[Dr Ralph]

just called again for additional card, and the answer is NO !.. not on this card, the csr mentioned only few cards are allowed additional card and Explorer is not in the list..

Keep trying. I have 4 additional cards.

 

[SOPOOR]

guys, i just called up amex to add a few supp cards

I got told that to hold on, the 5k bonus might come back very soon!

lets hope so

 

[nightelves]

guys, i just called up amex to add a few supp cards

I got told that to hold on, the 5k bonus might come back very soon!

lets hope so

Did they give you a time frame? I'm also holding out for that as well

Got offered to merge program to Ascent Premium but refuse as I don't believe I will be keeping this card for long because of the high annual fees and points will revert back to Gateway afterwards if the Platinum Charge card gets cancelled.

 

[ap_member]

That's great news about bringing back the supplementary bonus; I was thinking about applying for another supplementary card but I'll wait.

 

[SOPOOR]

Did they give you a time frame? I'm also holding out for that as well

Got offered to merge program to Ascent Premium but refuse as I don't believe I will be keeping this card for long because of the high annual fees and points will revert back to Gateway afterwards if the Platinum Charge card gets cancelled.

she didnt say but I got the vibe that it was "I cant tell you officially but im hinting unofficialy!"


anyway, I got a call from amex today asking for ids for all the supp card applicants which surprised me, was hoping they didnt as I didnt want to gothrough the hassle of getting ids from family memebers


however when I told them they were all immediate family, she said thats fine, were satisfied, they will be out in the mail

 

[NoName]

guys, i just called up amex to add a few supp cards

I got told that to hold on, the 5k bonus might come back very soon!

lets hope so

This news news makes me happy. Hope it's correct. Might have to hold onto our cards for another month or so before cancelling just in case.

 

[annielee]

that's really different response, when they calledme, i told the CSR i dont have my mom's ID with me, and they insist on checking that before approving it !

she didnt say but I got the vibe that it was "I cant tell you officially but im hinting unofficialy!"

anyway, I got a call from amex today asking for ids for all the supp card applicants which surprised me, was hoping they didnt as I didnt want to gothrough the hassle of getting ids from family memebers


however when I told them they were all immediate family, she said thats fine, were satisfied, they will be out in the mail