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.

 

[illumination]

I have just had a read through every single comment in this post (all 134 pages) over the span of a few days. I did this for my own interest and also to learn about the intricacies of how people have been using this card. It was also partially out of fear of being criticised, as billbro did, for "not reading every single comment in this thread". I also did it because I was trying to see if anyone else has experienced what I am about to go through in terms of my intentions of this card.

What a read. Here are my observations/opinions on the billbro incident:

• People were unnecessarily hostile to billbro who asked a question and was told to "read a few pages - you won't have to look far to find your answer". It's not that this is not true - it's just that as he himself said, he's asking a question which someone probably has the answer to which can be answered in a more efficient way than trawling through 120 pages. I am fortunate enough to now have access to a wiki which ironically only came about because of that discussion and was made by him himself.
• On the point above, I didn't understand the need for such hostility when the question was asked in such an innocent way. Sometimes you get clowns who demand an answer as if you owe them something. billbro simply asked and as he said, if you didn't want to answer, you didn't have to and no one would've cared (including himself) - as long as I guess, one person answered him
• There were plenty other people that I saw asking repeated questions throughout the pages. Some, in fact, gave off a more expectant attitude than him, yet they didn't get any flak.
• I am a regular on another forum where plenty of people ask plenty of repeat questions. I only find it is necessary to berate them if it was something they missed in the title and if they ask in a demanding way (but as stated above, you could always simply choose to ignore them and not reply)

On the card and the deal itself, it has been an extremely entertaining read with plenty of good anecdotal experiences shared by the members here.

Here are my questions that I have from myself.

I have a Plat Edge and Velocity Platinum. I intend to cancel the Plat Edge and get the Explorer (i.e. keep the Velocity Plat). My primary concern is actually around my points balance on the Plat Edge. I wish to retain this balance but will not be able to unless I use it all up. I have looked into transferring the points to another MR Ascent member, but there is a limit of 50k per calendar year and this does not suit me as I have more than that.
I considered having the MR Ascent points convered to MR Gateway, but I'm literally taking a downgrade so decided this wouldn't be worth it.
I then thought, maybe I can convert to MR Gateway, and some time in the future convert MR Gateway to MR Ascent by re-applying for the Plat Edge or another card in the future which is part of the MR Ascent program.
I have also considered warehousing the points in SPG, but as I will be transferring at a rate of 2:1 which can then be converted 1:1 to the airlines that I am most likely to transfer to, it doesn't make sense to do that either.

I've fully got my head around how to structure, relink/unlink to obtain the bonus - my primary concern here is actually around my MR Ascent points balance.

In this scenario, I can't see this working for me at all so I don't think I will go ahead with applying for the Explorer to replace my Plat Edge. Does anyone have any other ideas for me?

The other one is for my friend - currently holds what was previously known as the BMW Gold AMEX which actually earns into MR Gateway. He is also intending to apply for the Explorer for the points, but I don't imagine this would work. I can see there was one reference in the past 134 pages of someone who cancelled it a few weeks before applying for the Explorer with the intention of getting the bonus points. I wonder whether he got the points? I don't imagine he would've, seeing as he previously had a MR Gateway account. Maybe I'll PM him to find out what happened as it seems he has not commented back to share the outcome!... although I can't find his comment anymore =/ damnit.

Also the wiki indicates the person who lost their points after linking Gateway back to Ascent after obtaining the bonus points lost their points. This has now been resolved! I can't edit the wiki so I hope somebody else can

 

[Steady]

I'm having trouble with mine

I haven't paid the annual fee

I see my credit but when I check out the option to use the travel credit isn't there.
The demo video they have shows it.
But mine doesnt

I suspect it is because you haven't paid the annual fee yet. I had to re login to the Amex travel page even though I was logged into my account, but then it had my name and credit displayed at the top and when at the checkout it showed I had it and simply selected it to use it.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Question:

I'm having trouble with mine

Answer:

I haven't paid the annual fee

 

[potm]

@ illumination I would reccomend you cancel the velocity and not the edge. When you have the explorer earning 2 ascent points a dollar, you don't need the velocity anyway. That's 2.3 velocity points per dollar with the regular 15% bonus.

 

[illumination]

@ illumination I would reccomend you cancel the velocity and not the edge. When you have the explorer earning 2 ascent points a dollar, you don't need the velocity anyway. That's 2.3 velocity points per dollar with the regular 15% bonus.

I objectively acknowledge and know that Plat Edge > Velocity Platinum. However, here is why I wish to keep the Velocity Platinum (or to put it another way, why I am willing to forego the Platinum edge):

• Mrs illumination has the Platinum Edge, so I technically still have access to the benefits of a Platinum Edge card
  3pts/$ at restaurants is really high, the only other way I can get this is the Platinum Charge ($1200 p.a.) or Platinum Reserve (not available to general public - only available as companion card to Platinum Charge). Although this is 3 Velocity pts/$ as opposed to MR Ascent points, I still value Velocity pts.
• 2x entry to Sydney Intl Airport AMEX lounge per calendar year - I quite enjoy this perk
• The only direct-issued AMEX with a free VA domestic flight remaining - although not as good as the Platinum Edge flight, I can still probably get ~$300 value out of it
• A unique(ly good) travel insurance perk where you do not have a requirement to:
  • ​Spend a minimum amount
  • Start the trip in Australia
  • Book a return trip

If Mrs illumination didn't have the Plat Edge, then I would probably choose to forego the Velocity Platinum instead - so that is probably the most important factor of the above.

 

[potm]

Then there is only one way you can keep the ascent points if you cancel the edge. That's to get the charge card and get the edge linked to the ascent premium program. Then you can get the explorer and get the bonus points in ascent and then get it linked to ascent premium after. You won't be able to get the reserve companion card though.

 

[JessicaTam]

Confirming when you can see it in your account, it is easy to use online

Thanks Steady et al for the clarification.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Then there is only one way you can keep the ascent points if you cancel the edge. That's to get the charge card and get the edge linked to the ascent premium program. Then you can get the explorer and get the bonus points in ascent and then get it linked to ascent premium after. You won't be able to get the reserve companion card though.

Sounds correct to me.

But with not much time left it may not be possible to get the Charge Card and cancel the Rdge before the offer for the Exploer expires.

You might just have to hope that the Explorer deal gets extended, or resurrected.

 

[Hammando]

Explorer card is best when paired with the Platinum Edge, perhaps get your wife to apply for the Velocity Platinum and cancel her Edge.

 

[Ken1]

Has anyone else received a Woolworths offer on their Explorer card? I noticed today a "Woolworths Welcome Offer" which I have activated - Spend $30 or more, get $10 back. Available in-store and online. Valid until 30/04/17.

I also have an additional Explorer card in my name but that one doesn't have the offer available so it's only for the primary card. I know there's been mention here of having supplementary cards so you can use more offers so I don't know how often that offers are available on supplementary cards as well as the primary card. On my primary Explorer card I also see offers for TGI Fridays and Jo Malone London Online but they are also not showing on my supplementary card, which shows no offers currently available. I haven't set up an account for my Wife's supplementary cards yet to see if she has any offers.

My Platinum Charge card has quite a few offers, for TGI Fridays, Shoes & Sox, Osmen, Jo Malone London Online, Malaysia Airlines, Country Road, Giorgio Armani, Calamity and Swiss Concept but not for Woolworths. My Platinum Reserve card has offers for TGI Fridays, Shoes & Sox, Osmen and Jo Malone London Online but not the others listed for the Charge, nor Woolworths.

I'll be interested in hearing the experiences of others with offers from Amex, with both primary and supplementary cards. Do others have the same offers as me at the moment, or are they varied and targeted?

 

[Dr Ralph]

Has anyone else received a Woolworths offer on their Explorer card? I noticed today a "Woolworths Welcome Offer" which I have activated - Spend $30 or more, get $10 back. Available in-store and online. Valid until 30/04/17.

This is a common welcome offer that goes to most people.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

• Mrs illumination has the Platinum Edge, so I technically still have access to the benefits of a Platinum Edge card
• A unique(ly good) travel insurance perk where you do not have a requirement to:
  • ​Spend a minimum amount
  • Start the trip in Australia
  • Book a return trip

.

You may wish to check with the insurers that you as a Supp Card would be covered. And not that you do need to pay for the flight with the card or Velocity Points to activate the TI.

https://www.aexp-static.com/intl/au/campaigns/velocity/pdfs/pds_platbenefits.pdf

1. ELIGIBILITY & ACTIVATION OF INSURANCE BENEFITS
Important: In order to be eligible for the complimentary insurancebenefits, You must first purchase the full fare for a Trip, or an EligibleItem, on the American Express Velocity Platinum Card Account. See thetable below for details about when You are eligible for cover:

ACTIVATION OF TRAVEL INSURANCE COVER:
Cover is effective when You pay the full fare for a Trip on theAmerican Express Velocity Platinum Card Account or with VelocityPoints.

An American Express Velocity Platinum Card Account Primary CardMember travelling on a flight booked as part of the ComplimentaryVirgin Australia Domestic Economy Return Flight benefit or BusinessClass Companion Fare benefit.

Important: Supplementary Card Members are not covered for TravelInsurance benefits (see table on page 5). If you are a SupplementaryCard Member or a Supplementary Card Member is travelling with Youon a Trip, You should consider whether these benefits provide adequatecover. The Supplementary Card Member may need to take out aseperate travel insurance policy.

 

[albyd]

@Illumination, I had a variation on your situation. This is how I'm navigating it.
Cancelled my Edge card to make way for the explorer. Kept Reserve as haven't used this year's flight/travel credit.
Re-assigned edge limit to Reserve.
Cancelled Edge so could get Explorer.
Told I can reinstate Edge within 90 days without a new application. Will then cancel Reserve and resurrect Edge.
I'm confident this will work for me. If not, I'm happy with Explorer 2 points earn on more categories than 3 points just for supermarket spend on Edge.
Our situations differ slightly. Might be worth investigating 'temporarily' cancelling Velocity Platinum then 'changing your mind' within 90 days and cancelling Edge once Explorer is safely within Ascent (assuming that you're considering it and Amex don't shut the gate on conversions from gateway to Ascent by then).
YMMV.

 

[potm]

Canceling the edge will move the explorer back to gateway even if it was linked to ascent.

 

[albyd]

I had the Platinum charge card which makes the difference.
In this case, keeping Edge will keep Ascent points alive and if the merge with gateway is successful, then have Ascent and can then cancel Edge. It's not without its risks - particularly if merge doesn't work.

 

[potm]

That will keep the current points in ascent but they will become gateway after the edge is cancelled.

 

[albyd]

Ok that's the missing bit then. Should work with me as I have Ascent Premium card at the end of all this but not for @Illimination. Glad you pointed that out potm. Thought explorer would stay in Ascent.

 

[potm]

In fact they would all be lost in the first instant until they get manually restored once the gateway program is set up for the explorer.

 

[hachoo]

Has anyone else received a Woolworths offer on their Explorer card? I noticed today a "Woolworths Welcome Offer" which I have activated - Spend $30 or more, get $10 back. Available in-store and online. Valid until 30/04/17.

I also got that offer. Could purchase a $88 EFTPOS card and get a nice $10er back.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

If I was to open a card in a few months time that was on the ascent program will I still be able to link my Explorer card to it?

Well as this will be new ground and we need some test cases to say yes or no. Current data would suggest yes, but also remember that this is something that is not "officially"endorsed or promoted.