The Amex Explorer is back on the 100K Member Rewards (Gateway) signup bonus. The last time this ran, referrals earned 110K points, but I don't have a referral code. I'm sure those who do will soon be here to help out.
AmEx Explorer: 100K Signup Bonus (Spend $1500 in 3 Months, $395 AF, $400 Travel Credit)
1830
Referral Links
Business Explorer Card: random (4)
Referrer: 40,000 Reward Points
Centurion Personal Charge Card: random (7)
Referee gets 200,000 MR points. Referrer gets 150,000 MR points.
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I'm actually confused which one I should go for.
I do online transactions (overseas payments) and also travel six to eight times in an year.
If you travel 6-8 times a year, I have very little doubt that this is would be an awesome card for you.
I'm even thinking, maybe the Platinum Charge ($1200 p.a.) might be a decent option for you considering you fly that often.. actually maybe not.
Foreign currency transactions are a problem (fees and currency xrate skimming). I use Citibank Plus which is a debit card. I have heard that people use 28 degrees, as a credit card but I know nothing about it. https://www.28degreescard.com.au/
I agree with Illumination about a great card for frequent flyers The Platinum Charge Card for airport lounges etc. It is a 'Keeper' !!
I'd also checkout the ANZ Rewards Travel Adventure card - no foreign transaction fees overseas and it comes with a Virgin return flight and two lounge passes. Make sure you hold out for a Velocity Points deal though!
I'd probably have a look into the complimentary insurances that come with the differing cards and how they're triggered.
The Essential earns 1ppd and can transfer to the same airlines as the Explorer. The no annual fee is definitely a big plus for this card, but if you travel a fair bit, the Explorer offsets your $395 annual fee with a $400 travel credit. If you're spending that money anyway on travel it'll offset the annual fee (well, in my mind it did)
The 100k bonus points are a massive sweetner though!
If you travel in a group of four then the Platinum Charge is worth it for the airport lounge. I have used this many times during transit and has made waiting at the airport more bearable.
You get 2 Priority which allows unlimited access for 4 adults and each pass already cost 499USD.
On top of that you can get elite status in Sheraton, Marriott, Hilton and Shangri-La which should cover late check-out, upgrades and free breakfast.
The fees can be very hefty but you'll find its weight in Platinum if you travel abroad with it.
@nightelves: I agree.
2 X P.Pass membership for Primary Card holder and 1 Supplementary card holder = 4 adults. (Each is plus guest).
Free Virgin domestic lounges for Primary Card holder plus guest and maybe? for all Supplementary card holders plus guest.
Free Amex lounges (Sydney especially good) for Primary Card holder plus guest and maybe? for all Supplementary card holders plus guest.Oh yeah forgot to mention about the Virgin domestic lounge. I believe they don't even check the card when you enter. Could be a benefit to keep long after you have cancel the card.
Great card - lots of value to be had from this one. Wish I could re-apply for it (anyone keen to try that may have previously held this card and cancelled it recently?)
For those who may not know - SPG earn rate on this card is the same as Premium Amex (Platinum Charge). SPG & Marriott provide great value redemption options on its flights and nights packages, which can result in business class travel & excellent accomodation for cheap.
It might be worth having a read of https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/297468 in conjunction with this offer as it may prove valuable to you.
I've heard Amex are clamping down and are enforcing the 18 month rule now
Yes I have read that too, but if you read the terms of the David Jones cards, the requirement to obtain the bonus points is to not have held a David Jones American Express card in last 18months, as opposed to just an American express card, so you can get the explorer bonus, then sign up and get the David Jones American express bonus without relying on luck.
So yeah, can defs get both :)
"Card Members who currently hold or who have previously held any Card product issued by American Express Australia Limited in the preceding 18 month period are ineligible for this offer."
So those of us who got the Platinum Edge last year is ineligible to apply for this offer?
this always makes me sad
That is correct
Anyone know whether they generally follow that term? Is it likely you'd get the points anyway or not?
If you used a referral link you used to still get the signup bonus, but that didn't happen for me when I got my plat edge. Word is they're starting to close that loophole. (I don't mind because I got it for the sustained earn bonus rather than the signup bonus.)
Where would you you this card when most retail POS are only visa/master?
Woolies and Coles do accept AMEX (even paywave) and it will get 2points per dollar..
Link the card to paypal, and use paypal to pay for online shopping or bills
Also use Paypal with Amex linked via Aust Post Bill Pay online to pay bills using Amex.
would it still incur currency transaction fee when purchasing from overseas through this way, say Amazon?
Really? Not sure what state you are in but i've been in Sydney and Melbourne quite alot and pretty much 80% of the shops have Amex. Some of them may charge surcharge for amex. But i've noticed there is less and less shops which charge the amex surcharge.
There are a lot of retailers out there that accept it now. They have an offer for retailers wherebt if you tale up their payment system, you get reduced fee . If they rejected this and wanted to take it up in the future, the fee is substantially more
Forgot what the rates were
most grocery stores (woolies/coles/etc.) as well as petrol stations accept it which is where i gain most points. I would say 75% of places overall accept it. and as others have said, online shopping is great for accumulating points
Why is this always a comment, where the hell are people spending??
Increasingly I'm finding visa/mc spend decreasing. There's still a bit of cash only places though.
Noob question,: I already have comm bank credit card…. Should I go for amex essential? Any upside?
Yes, having an amex gets you access to amex offers like shop small etc. Awesome offers
I personally think so. If you have an AmEx card from CommBank, you will be able to get the signup bonus.
They didn't specify in the terms and conditions, but can the missus sign up if she was a supplementary card holder?
EDIT: will she be entitled to the bonus points?
Was going to ask the same question.
Yes she can. Supplementary cardholder is just a supplementary so they are not considered to be an "actual" cardholder (so to speak)
Certainly can. Have done this with 2 x AMEX cards before. I'm also a supplementary holder on one of here cards and vids versa (for use with all the awesome AMEX offers)
Just received my 80K from the NAB rewards offer, considering this one too.
I would say go for it. It's a great card and if you need any more convincing I'm happy to help you cross over to the Amex side. :)
Another thing to remember - during the shop small promotion last year, Amex was offering a 20% bonus on redeeming gateway points for statement credits.
100k points should be a almost $1200 statement credits.
Statement credits re only worth 0.7c per point (or in amex' words "1,000 points = $7 credit) so 100,000 points is worth $700 statement credits. Or $840 with the bonus. Not the best value redemption offer, but better than some - but the best if you value cold hard cash or are sick of flights and gift vouchers :)
Great card, I have with together with the edge as well. Have linked the rewards program, so now earning 2KF/$1 :D. Standard is 1.5KF/$1
can you give us a little more details here about linking the 2 rewards?
I have both cardsThere's a detailed wiki for exactly this at the top of the Amex Explorer card thread on Australian frequent flyer forums - plus about a million posts in that thread, but the wiki covers most of the key points
Yeah have a read of the wiki there.
The only thing I'll add is, have patience. Took me 6 phone calls to get someone who said they would look into it and check with their supervisor. Get their name too!
The others said no or yes but I'd lose my existing points balance, to these guys just say thanks for your help and you're not interested and cya later.
Once logged it took 5 days then my explorer balance went to 0, on the 6th morning it appeared under the edge and all sweet since!
@daft009:
thanks guys - found the wiki and studied a 10 or so pages.
Will give that a go. What time did you call Daft009?@DvD:
Mine took me two goes to get them linked. First time I called ~6am AEDT midweek and was told it wasn't possible. Second time was ~6:30pm on a Friday afternoon which worked.
Most people reported decent success on a Saturday night though I believe
@DvD:
I tried at 3-5am mostly but no luck.
The one that worked was around 4.30pm on a Wednesday Arvo on 16/03 so very recent!@DvD:
Also a key thing to note that once it's linked then your travel credit will disappear. you will need to call Amex CS again to get it reinstated.
This loophole is closed, isn't it? I tried many time and the rep told me that it is no longer an option to change the reward program on The Explorer card.
When is the last time you tried? AFAIK it was never a real "option"
Hi illunimation,
By the way, can I ask you for an advice? I have both of the Edge and the Explorer and thiking to cancel one since I just want to keep one as the main card.
I travel 3-4 times a year mostly international flights. I am a high spender and spending a lot of transactions in AUD on oversea merchants, not just super market and fuel (the edge get 3 pts).
Which card should I keep for the daily use and aud on overseas merchants? Thanks in advance.
Personally I'd only recommend cancelling a card if you need to - such as maybe due to the AMEX imposed limit of 2 Credit Cards per individual, or due to having too high a credit limit which might be affecting your ability to obtain another loan.
If yo do insist on cancelling one though, I'd imagine the Explorer would overall be better the card to keep, unless you spend a lot at supermarkets every year.
I also feel that given you've mentioned that you travel 3-4 times/year on international flights, I assume you might transit via Sydney once or twice which wold mean you can use the Sydney International Airport AMEX lounge which the Explorer gives you access to (twice per calendar year).
Neither of these two cards are "good" for overseas merchants though. If you spend a lot on overseas transactions as well, ANZ Travel Adventures is probably the best for that ($225 annual fee) - and also comes with a free domestic flight (which must be booked in the name of the cardholder, and booked 60 days in advance).
Other alternatives for overseas expenditure:
- 28 Degrees
- Bankwest Zero Platinum Mastercard
- Coles Mastercard
- Citibank Plus (Debit Card)
Of which the best is probably the Bankwest Zero Platinum.
Questions about those? Feel free to ask lol
Thanks so much for your advice, much appreciated.
I got all the no international fee cards including the ANZ Travel Adventures. However, my main card is BankWest World MasterCard (I think I told you this a year ago on a similar topic) for overseas spending.
As you know that ANZ is dropping the AMEX card (I am using ANZ Black FF Card for my daily use and foreign merchants in AUD), so that's is why I am looking for an alternative card and will cancel the ANZ Black FF card when they de-activate my Amex card.
I don't spend a lot at supermarkets every year, just a normal spending. But, I spend a lot on online shopping mostly in AUD (if it is other currencies, then I'll use the other no international fee cards) and accepted Amex merchants.
I only linked on 16/03.
Had explorer since launch and got the edge on 8/03.Started ringing over a week or so from 10/03.
Best card in the market for the average person. Great to see the 100k bonus back again. It's awesome that it includes the 2x AMEX lounge entries per calendar year too!
Some useful information about the $400 Travel Credit that I've learnt:
- Useable via AMEX Travel only (either online or via phone)
- Can be used on: Flights, Car Hire, Hotel, Cruises as well, I believe?
- Must be used in one transaction - remaining balance is forfeited
- Non-refundable - so try to book on something you know you won't change!
- AMEX Travel search engine doesn't seem to include some of the more popular budget carriers that we'd fly from Australia: Tiger, Jetstar, Scoot, AirAsia
- Uncertain whether the $400 Travel Credit on the Explorer can be combined with the $200 Travel Credit of the Platinum edge
- Can be used on anyone (i.e. you could technically sell it)
- Available to use after you pay your first annual fee (I think)
- Credit does not rollover to subsequent years if unused
Additional information about the card and the bonus points:
- T&Cs exclude anyone who currently holds a direct issued AMEX Consumer Credit Card, or has held a direct issued AMEX Consumer Credit Card in the last 18 months
- Bank-issued AMEX cards by NAB, Commonwealth Bank, ANZ, Westpac are not considered "direct issued", i.e. you can definitel get the bonus
- This also means if you hold a Business AMEX card but not a Consumer Credit Card, you are eligible for the bonus.
- Most notably, AMEX changed the fine print of the bonus points T&Cs last year for these bonuses to only exclude those who have held the same "type" of card. This means if you hold a Charge card but not an AMEX Credit Card, then you would still be eligible for the bonus of this card because it is a Credit Card
- Although the T&Cs exclude you from the bonus if you "violate" the first T&C, it seems that it is possible to get the bonus. It requires you to not hold any other direct issued AMEX that earns into the same Rewards program (i.e. Membership Rewards). This includes: AMEX Platinum Charge, AMEX Platinum Edge, AMEX Essentials
- If you do hold a Platinum Charge or a Platinum Edge, and therefore have a Membership Rewards account, the Explorer earns into Membership Rewards Gateway whilst the Platinum Charge earns into Membership Rewards Ascent Premium and the Platinum Edge earns into Membership Rewards Ascent. Upon applying for the Explorer, the card may automatically link you to your other Rewards Program
- The key difference between the 3 programs: Gateway transfers to the major airlines at a rate of 4:3. Ascent transfers at a rate of 1:1. Ascent Premium also transfers at 1:1, but includes Qantas as an option.
- This is both a good and bad thing. You will earn into a higher Rewards Program (because Ascent Premium > Ascent > Gateway), but it also means you won't get your bonus, as a new Rewards account is not being opened up.
- Anecdotal reports indicate you can call up to have the accounts de-linked, thus creating a brand new Membership Rewards Gateway account which will allow you to earn the bonus points. This generally does not seem to be too difficult to do.
- Anecdotal reports indicate you can call up to have the accounts re-linked, i.e. the Explorer getting re-linked to Membership Rewards Ascent (Premium) and earning you more valuable points. This appears to be very dependent on your luck (i.e. the operator) as to whether they will do this for you.
- This "loophole" may have been closed towards the end of January 2017, however, this is yet to be confirmed
- If you have successfully obtained the bonus points, you should see the bonus points appear as soon as your transaction pushing you over the $1500 is cleared
Source of half of the information above: comments on Australian Frequent Flyer Forum
Can you confirm or cite source:
"Most notably, AMEX changed the fine print of the bonus points T&Cs last year for these bonuses to only exclude those who have held the same "type" of card. This means if you hold a Charge card but not an AMEX Credit Card, then you would still be eligible for the bonus of this card because it is a Credit Card"As I had a second read of the T&C's which states:
Offer only available to new American Express Card Members who apply online by 15 May 2017, are approved and spend $1,500 on their new Card in the first 3 months from the Card approval date. Card Members who currently hold or who have previously held any Card product issued by American Express Australia Limited in the preceding 18 month period are ineligible for this offer.
From my interpretation it does not distinguish charge cards and credit cards but I am happy to be wrong as I currently hold the Charge Card. In any case, I will give them a call and report back after work.
My source is from memory reading an article on Point Hacks last year.
I'm not 100% on there being a differentiation between Business cards and Consumer cards, but I'm 100% on the difference between Credit Cards and Charge Cards.
Good write up. So people like me who have the essential card but interested to apply for the explorer are screwed regarding the bonus points either way?
I believe so, yes - i.e. won't be able to get the bonus points
Thanks for the confirmation:(
I have a David Jones AMEX card, could I still get these points? I guess DJ card is a "direct issued" card.
Definitely is a direct issued card, but you'll probably be able to get away with getting the bonus points, seeing as it's going to be opening up a brand new rewards program for you (i.e. different to the DJs AMEX Card)
I can confirm I got the bonus points whilst owning a DJ's card.
I just cancelled my Platinum Edge card today as I saw no value in keeping this card anymore. I'm going to wait a few weeks and sign up for this Explorer card, what are the chances that I'll get the bonus points? lol
can you make multiple purchases from the site in one transaction? Eg $100 experience + $300 hotel = $400??
For clarity, you cannot combine Amex Travel credits. For example consecutive Hotel nights would have to be booked separately if wanting to use more than 1 travel credit.
My ANZ black just finished up and I need another one but I think I'll hold our for something better.
Does anyone know of any cards currently available where you get points and the 1st year fee waived?
I've looked and couldn't anything, mind you I had a 'man look'To be honest, I would say this is the best value card out there in the market with the bonus points.
If it weren't for the bonus points, it would still be an awesome card to have and would be one of the few cards that is probably worth the annual fee, but there would be better "short-term" Credit Cards you could apply for that would offer you better value.
Sounds like a great card.
For me though I've got a heap of qantas points already so will be flying qantas next holiday and my partner works for a hotel so we get cheap rooms at any IHG hotel so the travel money isn't as appealing to me.Fair enough.
The travel credit can also be used on car hire, flights and "experiences" in addition to hotels..
.. in addition, you could probably sell it on Ozbargain for $300 if you really had no use, which would leave you with an effective $100 annual fee?
but there would be better "short-term" Credit Cards you could apply for that would offer you better value.
I'm actually struggling to think of which short-term cards are better now, actually. This seems to be the winner from a short-term and long-term point of view..
I just saw that NAB one from a comment above, thanks!
Westpac the fee is only waived if you're a customer already (I think)
Westpac currently have an offer for 50K QFF points and first year annual fee waived.
anyone applied the Amex card within 18 months cancellation time, also got the sign up point?
Yep
thanks, ha. so i can do a try then. i cancelled my card about 9 months ago :)
You need to navigate it in a particular way though. I've elaborated just above your comment lol
@illumination: ha, sorry, i think you commands just in when i am doing the reply :) missed. i got it now. thanks again
@su27km:
Just to clear it up, I too have a platinum edge and would prefer to cancel that and have this instead. Doing so will enable me to get the bonus points too because my platinum edge is linked to accent rewards?I believe so. However there's been some that have reported that they did not get the points. Best strategy I would adopt would be:
- Wait until you have a large amount to spend right away.
- Sign up for the credit card using a referral link.
- Make spend on the card and wait about a week to see if points get credited.
- If no points get credited then cancel card and ask for the annual fee back.
Hope that helps.
@nightelves:
That's a pretty good method, thanks!I also have a gold card which is supposedly linked to gateway rewards, so would probably make more sense to cancel that since explorer uses gateway and edge uses ascent. But cancel the explorer whether I get the points or not and just keep the edge.
@nightelves: I tried to go through all your helpful comments but for Platinum Edge holders, am I correct you would suggest the following:
1) Apply for the card via a referral link.
2) Check if the accounts are linked by logging in to your American Express account online. If so, go to 3). If not, go to 4)
3) Ring AmEx to de-link the cards, thus creating a new Membership Rewards Gateway account for your new card.
4) Start spending, after reaching $1,500, wait a week and see if points have hit your Membership Rewards Gateway account.
5) If your points have not been credited, ring AmEx to clarify and if points cannot be credited, cancel the card and ask for a pro-rata refund of the annual fee.Exactly as you mentioned. When you first sign up with the Explorer it'll be linked to the Ascent program for some weird reason. If it is then ask them to de-link (easy part).
Then spend the $1500. If point hits. Success!
Next part call up Amex CS and get them to link the two programs together (hard). This will require calling up a few times until someone know what you're talking about. Best time to attempt this is early morning or late afteroon.
@nightelves:
Further to your suggestion, what if someone who applies and gets the points after spending $1,500 straight away and then transfers points and then cancels the card within a week of opening, would this avoid the annual fee?I suppose that's possible but this card in my opinion is a keeper. Tell me where would you get 2pt/$1 spend on everyday purchases including bills that support Amex.
@nightelves:
The majority of my Amex shopping is done at supermarkets with my Edge Plat, so find the 3pt/$1 more handy.@nightelves:
Hmm good point as that's only 0.5pt/$1 for utilities/telecom etcI'll have a good think and bugger the plat edge off instead.
If you get ridof the Platinum Edge the your Explorer points will revert back to Gateway which mean you'll only earn 1.5pts/$1 spend.
Uhm one card if already fee free atm and the other is $395. How are you saying you have to pay two cards?
@nightelves:
I got the plat edge in July/Aug last year with no fee for the first year, so will need to pay the fee on the anniversary date this year in 3-4 months time.Cancel and reapply again OR call up Amex and threaten to cancel and see if they can waive the annual fee for you. You'll definitely want to keep the Platinum Edge when the Cole Mastercard offer comes around.
@FeZZa21: Although I might add - AMEX aren't known for waiving fees. They're not for offering retention points instead, which is still good though. It's probably not as good as the annual fee and of course depends on how many points they offer, but is always enough for me to be happy to keep the card.
@nightelves:
Alright I'll check if they'll do anything with the fee or points when it comes to cancelling.You mean the Coles Mastercard? I already have that too, what's the significance of that?
Ever seen this offer
https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/290123 and this offer
https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/293290
People have been known to smash out 1000s of points just from these promo with the Platinum Edge paying 3pts/$1 spend and 4pts if you're local champion
I'm guessing you haven't been in the points earning game that long to realise the amount of points you've been missing out on.
Just to give you an idea last promo one person in another forum got 220 of those Visa 1 giftcard.
To do the maths on that:
220 x 2000 woolworths points = 440,000pts
Every 2000 woolworths points = 870 Qantas points
220 x 870 = 191,400 Qantas points
Amex Platinum Edge points = 220 x 105 x 3 = 69,3000That's how you earn points.
@nightelves:
wow, mind blown there!so someone spent $22,000 on 220x$100 visa prepaid cards? for what period? I'd only buy maybe 10-15 max in 12 months.
As soon as you like, points will usually post as soon as the final transaction of the minimum spend clears from pending