Card Promotions Amex Explorer Credit Card: 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.

 

[albyd]

I bought my current iPhone with my explorer. Am likely to cancel it after the MR devaluation goes through in April and put 100% of my spending through Platinum Charge. If I need to claim on the screen insurance, does my Explorer still need to remain open or can I rely on the feature with my Charge card even though I didn’t buy it with that card?

 

[andye]

I bought my current iPhone with my explorer. Am likely to cancel it after the MR devaluation goes through in April and put 100% of my spending through Platinum Charge. If I need to claim on the screen insurance, does my Explorer still need to remain open or can I rely on the feature with my Charge card even though I didn’t buy it with that card?

Not sure but if you pay the a monthly bill with the Charge that would cover it

 

[SeaWolf]

If I need to claim on the screen insurance, does my Explorer still need to remain open or can I rely on the feature with my Charge card even though I didn’t buy it with that card?

You'll need to keep that card specifically open. From the Insurance T&Cs:

Cover will terminate at the earlier of the following:
• cancellation of the American Express Explorer® Credit Card; or
• termination of the Master Policy.

https://web.aexp-static.com/content/dam/amex/au/staticassets/pdf/explorer-insurance-tncs.pdf

 

[albyd]

Thanks for the heads up. Looks like I’ll need to keep Explorer open until I upgrade my iPhone. Am quite happy with my X not thinking of upgrading until there’s a 5G model or Apple wows me with a new release in 2019. I buy my iPhones outright rather than on contract for maximum flexibility then choose my carrier with most making you sign up for 12 month SIM only plans in any event.

Thanks again for the link to the T&C document Seawolf. I’ve just been looking at section K. Appears to cover SIM Only plans that are contracts (rather than a month to month proposition) and says:
Smartphones utilising Your SIM Only Plan are restricted to a maximum age of three (3) years.

I’ll do some further research over the coming months and see whether switching payment method to the Platinum Charge in April will mean I’m covered under its cover.

 

[Ken1]

I bought my current iPhone with my explorer. Am likely to cancel it after the MR devaluation goes through in April and put 100% of my spending through Platinum Charge. If I need to claim on the screen insurance, does my Explorer still need to remain open or can I rely on the feature with my Charge card even though I didn’t buy it with that card?

Do you have a companion Platinum Reserve card with your Charge card? If so, you may be covered by switching your monthly payments to the Reserve card if you didn't buy the phone outright on the Explorer card but are paying a monthly bill on a plan. The letter I received for the Platinum Reserve card says: "Smartphone Screen Insurance - Accidentally smashed your smartphone screen? We'll reimburse you the cost of the screen repair up to $500 for two events a year, when you purchase your phone outright or pay your monthly phone bill with your American Express Platinum Reserve Credit Card." Even the wording "or pay your monthly phone bill" doesn't specifically state that you have to have the phone on a plan so it could be worth you contacting Amex to clarify if you switch your monthly phone bill to the Reserve if you would continue to be covered.

Edit to add: I've just checked the benefits of the charge card and smartphone screen insurance is listed for that too, which I hadn't realised until now but the wording is different to the Reserve regarding monthly payments.
The Platinum Card
"Your Platinum Insurance includes Smartphone Screen Insurance, which provides cover for up to $500 when you pay for your smartphone with your Platinum Card, either outright or on a monthly contract. You can be reimbursed for the cost of the screen repair up to $500 for two events a year. A 10% excess applies to the claimed amount. Waiting periods may apply."

 

[Sae]

Hi guys,

Been reading with enthusiasm about transferring gateway points to the ascent program.

Have a question about the process on creating the platonum card. Do you specify that you are already a member or a new customer?

Cheers

 

[daft009]

Hi guys,

Been reading with enthusiasm about transferring gateway points to the ascent program.

Have a question about the process on creating the platonum card. Do you specify that you are already a member or a new customer?

Cheers

Which cards do you have right now? And which one are you interested in adding? Platinum or platinum edge?

 

[daft009]

So Im thinking of making use of the screen insurance. However my outright handset was only $220ish, bought online but paid for on the explorer. Not a very popular phone in Australia (sharp S2 aquos). It's a Sim only plan under my business also paid on the explorer.

Another guy online with the same phone bought the screen himself (AliExpress) and got the shop to repair it as no one could find the parts...

What's the best you reckon?

 

[daft009]

how to co

So Im thinking of making use of the screen insurance. However my outright handset was only $220ish, bought online but paid for on the explorer. Not a very popular phone in Australia (sharp S2 aquos). It's a Sim only plan under my business also paid on the explorer.

Another guy online with the same phone bought the screen himself (AliExpress) and got the shop to repair it as no one could find the parts...

What's the best you reckon?

so anyone else in the same boat, yes it *should* be okay and just submit both invoices as part of the claim. T&Cs do not state that it has to be all on one invoice.
ensure the parts receipt says "lcd/display" as only that part will be covered & of course the labour component from the repair shop

 

[Kimster]

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

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.

Similar to above, I have been trying to link them up and guess had tried about 6 times so far to no avail.

Reading through the forum, thought will give another push and rang on the weekend afterhours. The lovely lady did not blink an eyelid and linked the accounts. Had close to 600K points on Gateway which were duly transferred. Great outcome and stoked with it.

 

[cvmceg]

Similar to above, I have been trying to link them up and guess had tried about 6 times so far to no avail.

Reading through the forum, thought will give another push and rang on the weekend afterhours. The lovely lady did not blink an eyelid and linked the accounts. Had close to 600K points on Gateway which were duly transferred. Great outcome and stoked with it.

HUACA strikes again!

 

[yld200]

Finally got around to applying for the Edge a few weeks ago and after a few transactions to show 'activity' I decided to give Amex a call to link my Gateway point to the Ascent program.

Called up yesterday around 4pm Melb time and got straight through to an operator who sounded like he was based in the Philippines, explained that I wanted to link the two into one because it was easier to manage etc and he said 'yep no problems, it's great that you want to maximize the usage of your points and I've done that for you'. Easy peasy!

Have logged in this morning and my 200k has been transferred. Thanks AFF!

 

[Sae]

Which cards do you have right now? And which one are you interested in adding? Platinum or platinum edge?

Currently have the explorer and looking at the edge.

Cheets

 

[daft009]

Just apply for the edge. Once you get it, call too get linked

 

[Sae]

Just apply for the edge. Once you get it, call too get linked

Do i specify that I already have an explorer card on the application or apply as a new customer?

 

[daft009]

Doesn't matter

 

[Dr Ralph]

Do i specify that I already have an explorer card on the application or apply as a new customer?

They already know whether you state yes or no.

 

[cvmceg]

Received my Explorer on 100k deal, partner applied with my referral link so we will figure out a way to halve the 30k bonus. Happy days

 

[WendyFFF]

Pts haul 280k pts, 100k signup + 180k refer 6 friends.

Weird thing the cap is 200k (or thats what the T&C/e-mail says) which means 6.666666666666666+ referrals

In US they raised the friend refer cap to 400k maybe it's just a leftover "forgot to update" or glitch some kind in the system not sure if I would have got over 200k from ref's.

 

[Duffa]

Received my Explorer on 100k deal, partner applied with my referral link so we will figure out a way to halve the 30k bonus. Happy days

Anyone still have a link to the 100k bonus promotion or has it dropped back to 50k?