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.

 

[SOPOOR]

A question to the mobile. Phone experts.

As far as I'm aware as PayPal payments for screen insurance is fine


I bought my phone off a reputable. Seller on ebay and paid by PayPal

The tcs say in one tranasction

Does it matter the invoice says $1000

But the payment is 800 since there was 20% off


Anyone had any expeircne with screen insurance

 

[BettyB]

A question to the mobile. Phone experts.

As far as I'm aware as PayPal payments for screen insurance is fine


I bought my phone off a reputable. Seller on ebay and paid by PayPal

The tcs say in one tranasction

Does it matter the invoice says $1000

But the payment is 800 since there was 20% off


Anyone had any expeircne with screen insurance

I didn't think Paypal was OK for this purpose.

 

[SOPOOR]

I didn't think Paypal was OK for this purpose.

i thought I read sonewhere it was fine,
I need to investigate

edit: just spoke to amex, and the underwriting team,
apparently paypal is fine, as long as it comes off the card,

now im not sure how tis going to work in that , for example ,the ivnoice says $1000, but a code was used on ebay that was 20% off, so it was only $800

 

[andye]

Applied for this card online on 20th Oct. I hold multiple other Amex and ticked the existing cardholder box.
Received letter on 23rd saying that I had been knocked back because of problems with my existing accounts.
Called to check why (have never missed a payment and although always keen to take advantage of an offer, dont think I've done anything that would be construed as gaming) and informed likely to be a mistake. Said they would pass on that info to new business.
On phone now, chasing up

 

[SOPOOR]

Applied for this card online on 20th Oct. I hold multiple other Amex and ticked the existing cardholder box.
Received letter on 23rd saying that I had been knocked back because of problems with my existing accounts.
Called to check why (have never missed a payment and although always keen to take advantage of an offer, dont think I've done anything that would be construed as gaming) and informed likely to be a mistake. Said they would pass on that info to new business.
On phone now, chasing up

Have you had any charge backs or forfeited points or account closures before?

 

[andye]

Have you had any charge backs or forfeited points or account closures before?

All clear on that. Worst I've done is put a refund on a different card but that would be less than 2000 points worth.

Had a long hold and told it would be going to manual processing-wait up to 2 weeks

 

[SOPOOR]

All clear on that. Worst I've done is put a refund on a different card but that would be less than 2000 points worth.

Had a long hold and told it would be going to manual processing-wait up to 2 weeks

its very odd, maybe its just lingo for "we felt like rejecting your application cos we were having a bad day"

 

[andye]

its very odd, maybe its just lingo for "we felt like rejecting your application cos we were having a bad day"

Hoping its just that they are deciding if Ill need to close one of my others to accommodate

 

[SOPOOR]

Hoping its just that they are deciding if Ill need to close one of my others to accommodate

Keep us posted

It could help others in the same situation

 

[kylebb]

Applied for this card online on 20th Oct. I hold multiple other Amex and ticked the existing cardholder box.
Received letter on 23rd saying that I had been knocked back because of problems with my existing accounts.
Called to check why (have never missed a payment and although always keen to take advantage of an offer, dont think I've done anything that would be construed as gaming) and informed likely to be a mistake. Said they would pass on that info to new business.
On phone now, chasing up

I got this when applying for WBC Black AMEX (already hold Explorer and Platinum Edge). AMEX didn't seem to know what the issue was but claimed they would request a manual review

I haven't heard anything in the 10 days since

 

[andye]

I called again to see how the manual processing was progressing and was flat-out rejected

Why? I'm not sure

The first answer was that I'd increased the credit limit on my Edge in the last 6 months (I'd actually only transferred some of my Accelerator limit to my Edge in the eWISH glory days)
Second answer was that I had too many cards-explained I was happy to close one-no budging
Also said happy to take down the limit on one or more cards.
Then said I couldn't apply again for 3 months.
Asked who I could escalate to-"already gone to the highest level"
Asked how long I would need to close down one of the cards to increase my chances next time-no sensible response
They then said it wasn't a 3 month embargo but 6

Luckily it was only a "nice to have" card but surprisingly painful considering never missed a payment in 5 years over 4 cards. Maybe I'm costing them too much in travel and statement credits

On the bright side, it looks like they didn't do a formal credit enquiry

 

[goldenhorn]

Ask to link the 2 cards you have because it's too messy to have 2 separate rewards programs. Tell them you want them both linked to the Ascent program as you plan to mostly use your Platinum Edge ( which is a white lie). If you run into a knowledgeable/experienced call centre employee, they will refuse, stating that the 2 cannot be combined as they have different earn rates and different point value systems. Your aim is to keep trying at different times hoping to find an inexperienced Amex employee who permits the link to take place.

Thank you so much for these instructions!

I just called AMEX (Sat afternoon, Sydney time) and got a fantastic manager in the Sydney office.

He linked my Explorer and Plat Edge cards, so all points are going to the one Ascent program now. AND, he's transferring my 192,500 Gateway points to the Ascent program too. Said it should all be completed y Monday afternoon so will check then. Woo hoo!

 

[Pointy Bird]

Thank you so much for these instructions!

I just called AMEX (Sat afternoon, Sydney time) and got a fantastic manager in the Sydney office.

He linked my Explorer and Plat Edge cards, so all points are going to the one Ascent program now. AND, he's transferring my 192,500 Gateway points to the Ascent program too. Said it should all be completed y Monday afternoon so will check then. Woo hoo!

Pleasure.
This remains the most efficient way to earn points on Amex and is well worth the effort required for setting it up.

Long may it last...

 

[SOPOOR]

Pleasure.
This remains the most efficient way to earn points on Amex and is well worth the effort required for setting it up.

Long may it last...

Ice always wondered if when they are training staff, they encourage staff to link accounts. Or its a hush hush thibg. Given that some staff simply refuse

 

[Bell21]

My experience is that it's not a hush thing - I've had multiple chats with reps about this and I'm yet to come across one that made it difficult, so it's interesting that this isn't everyone's experience. I had a Plat charge card and got an Edge card and found they automatically linked my accounts without asking. Possibly, my experience is somewhat different though, as other than 2 cards just mentioned, I don't want any of my cards linked, as I prefer to manually transfer points every few months, which just requires a call and a few days for points to transfer.

 

[scullkr]

Pleasure.
This remains the most efficient way to earn points on Amex and is well worth the effort required for setting it up.

Long may it last...

Thank you too! I finally had a succesful attempt after reading your post today.

In the end I was going to use the upcoming devaluation as ammo to combine and transfer but it seemed the operator I got had no issues with it and its gone ahead with a similar balance being transferred. It makes up for the lack of retention offer this year.

My previous attempts included:
1.No, they cannot be combined at all
2. We can combine your online account login for convenience but there will still be two different programmes
3. It can be done, but you need to transfer out your Gateway first
4. I don't know what those previous operators were on about- its not really an issue at all

Very odd how inconsistant they can be but cheers again for the help and advice.

 

[nubbie]

A question to the mobile. Phone experts.

As far as I'm aware as PayPal payments for screen insurance is fine


I bought my phone off a reputable. Seller on ebay and paid by PayPal

The tcs say in one tranasction

Does it matter the invoice says $1000

But the payment is 800 since there was 20% off


Anyone had any expeircne with screen insurance

Not the screen insurance, but I purchased a lense on ebay with the 20% off and claimed insurance on it after dropping it no problem.

 

[Coops1]

Question re Amex referral bonus. Have the Platinum Edge and creating a referral for somebody who will apply for the Explorer card, which has a 100k bonus at the moment. Any idea what referral bonuses will be given...if any?

 

[theblank]

I called again to see how the manual processing was progressing and was flat-out rejected
Why? I'm not sure

My take on this. from my experience as a lender/approver, is that this is just a credit card in the day and age of mass scale approval processes, and you are just a number.

AMEX probably operates on a high level of efficiency and low level of maintenance. Which means they are not interested in discussing, reviewing or arguing about it, because in the time it takes to do all of that for one applicant, they could have made 10 other credit decisions.

And they will rarely tell you why you were specifically declined so that you dont have any opportunity to deceptively manipulate your details to get it through next time.

In a bank, 20+ years ago you could have convinced your bank branch contact to sign off on a credit card application or increase by whatever means, including getting him smashed at the bar after Rotary nights. (very effective relationship building). Sadly this stuff doesnt happen today unless you are borrowing amounts like $1M and then some.

I worked for a bank, not AMEX, but I am fairly confident I am pretty close to the mark.

 

[nightelves]

Question re Amex referral bonus. Have the Platinum Edge and creating a referral for somebody who will apply for the Explorer card, which has a 100k bonus at the moment. Any idea what referral bonuses will be given...if any?

No bonus will be given since you only have the Edge and not the Explorer. If you have the Explorer then you’ll get 30k.