Limited-time bonus points on some cards. E.g. American Express Explorer® Credit Card, 85k points.
Platinum Edge is pretty good for every day as it has 3 points/$ for supermarkets and petrol stations + the first year is free and a travel $200 voucher every year.
P.S. First deal post, please be gentle. :)
Referrer: 40,000 Reward Points
Referee gets 200,000 MR points. Referrer gets 150,000 MR points.
im confused. care to give an example?
Even earlier If you booked something below the threshold, it will fortify the balance.
Just the redemption process has changed for all Amex cards.
I’d have to go back and check but pretty sure a recent booking I did in Jan came out to $199 or something just under $200 and I just got a message that by not maxing out the full $200 any extra credit would be forfeited. In my case it was so close I wasn’t fussed. Don’t think there was any issue triggering the credit but…I just had to manually pick it as a payment method when then triggered the warning. Unsure if I was above $200 if they’d default to using credit first.
Yeah so moving forwards, you won't be 'using' the credit. It's not 200 or more. So you won't be reimbursed.
You'll have to spend 200 or more to trigger the reimbursement.
Essentially they want you to spend more.
Fair enough. Pretty rare I’m finding a room on the Amex booking site for under the $200 anyway.
Is this worth it really. I’ve been reading reviews from people using this card and they aren’t positive I have no annual amex credit card and it’s going good with no benefits like 200 dollar voacher. Anyone used or using this card can give me their thoughts and views on this card
Thanks
hmmmm the travel voucher is definitely not worth it if you're trying to make up for the annual fee. I'm struggling to use it before it expires in a few days. the hotel options are very limited and mainly in the capital cities (less regional). with airfares, only few airlines show up in searches. Haven't tried for car rental.
It really depends, on some hotels the travel credit is really competitive and you can't get much cheaper elsewhere, so with this card you want to have a decent use for the travel credit. After that it depends how much you spend at supermarkets in particular. This card is great if you are someone that loves to take advantage of like 15% off TCN cards at Coles or WW that run a couple of times a year or for example this deal https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/755038 as it basically adds 1.5% extra value to each of those (1 point is worth .5c to claim against your card spend).
About half a decade ago, the Platinum Edge travel offer was for 2 VA flights anywhere between any 2 Australian cities. It was great, much easier to book as you didn't have to worry about the cost of the flights. With my most recent one, I meant to cancel after 1 year, but left it for 2 years ended up actually paying the annual fee for 1 year, plus Covid and lockdowns happened and I never got any use out of the travel credit. Personally, I don't think it's worth the annual fee, but definitely worth without. Set a reminder for at least one week before the 1 year to call and cancel.
I got one of the Explorer cards with 250,000 points last year to pay for my wedding and use the points for the honeymoon. The points for the flights worked well, I managed to find a good flight and used the travel credit as well. I managed to find a good hotel using their booking service and had a discount with that too.
But that's really all it's good for. It's very hard to accumulate points, the amount of points we actually got for the wedding was laughable really. 40k + wedding and the points were probably worth less than 200 dollars. You would really need to spend a lot of money every year to get real benefit from the points. It's also not accepted at all places or attracts a higher fee. Just my two cents on it, I've since cancelled the card as I no longer need it.
The higher fee is bs. They've been quite aggressive to get more small businesses to accept it. I believe they can offer 1.5%, which is similar to visa/MasterCard.
Ie, the shop is charging more just cos it's amex.
If you will both
A) use the $200 credit
B) use the card on groceries and petrol to maximise points earning
Then it’s still a competent card and one that even after being nerfed to 50% redeem rate and losing the free flight, is still a pretty good points earner. I consider it worth keeping for the points earning which racks up a fair few Velocity points for me.
They do have both the Velocity Platinum and Express Explorer which are cards I’ve considered moving to or getting in addition to as those both have their own perks and in different areas are also relatively strong points earners. Both cost more per a year but and Platinum Edge has its own advantages over those.
Nope, not worth it now.
The $200 travel credit only has $200 value through Virgin airlines, and only checked baggage fairs (you cant book a light fare).
All other airlines are cheaper to book direct (around 10% cheaper than Amex travel).
Hotels are limited and more expensive. I paid $300 odd to use up the credit for 2 nights at $40 per night more expensive. But 5 nights was actually $200 more. So the credit for a 5 night booking basically had a $0 value. The extra kicker, booking with the hotel direct gave free breakfast, so missed out on that.
Lastly, there used to be excellent statement credit offers and shop small promos. Both have completely fizzed lately.
Love the platinum edge…. Highly reccomended
Why?
It's cheap (free for the first year or $200 profit if you use it) and I think it has the highest earning rate @ 3pts/$ on supermarkets and petrol pumps. It might be perfect for you if e.g. you and your partner both drive for work and/or spend heaps on groceries at Colesworths (note: some petrol pumps and supermarkets like Aldi aren't eligible).
What's the points value in comparison to Flybuys? I get 2pts/$ for $100/year. Accounting for 1pt/$ on free card, i reach break-even at approx $1300 spend per month. How does that stack against Amex?
@freewhere: No idea on the points to payback ratio myself, but I generally consider the travel credit ($200 via Amex travel site) as close enough to breaking even once used anyhow.
@Smigit: Fair enough, I did a quick search and seems amex points sit at about 65c, which is about 20% better than Flybuys, but with 3x points on Groceries & petrol only + $399 annual cost, it seems flybuys is safer and better value.
@freewhere: Just noting annual cost for Platinum Edge is $195, which is why I see the $200 travel credit as close to break even.
@Smigit: Thx for correction @Smigit that definitely tips the equation. Mind sharing where that $200 travel credit can be used? Is it limited to certain retailers?
@freewhere: It’s booking via the Amex travel site which you can get to from the Amex page. I’ve only ever used it for hotel bookings but think it can be used in car hire etc as well as flights.
Generally you are a bit more limited in number of places compared to some other booking sites and prices aren’t always the best, but I’ve always found something.
Doesnt show up the bonus points when clicked on the deal?
Only shows the standard first year fee waiver and $200 travel
It's a bit of hit or miss. For me it shows through Chrome on PC but doesn't show through phone or even incognito. Try a different browser.
DJs will be ending their relationship with Amex soon so this will be the only card with a 3 point earn on petrol and supermarkets.
I was actually looking to apply for DJ one (for some reason, I think the black one looked cooler than platinum), but I couldn't find it, so I'm going with this one. I'll use it with Westpac Altitude to get 2pts/$ on everything else like David Jones, Myer, THE ICONIC, Uber Eats, etc.
DJ Amex is the Amex you can have while you dont have an Amex. Ie. While you wait 18 months to be eligible for sign up bonuses again, you can still hold a DJ Amex. But, its not great, and last time I looked it was $99 annual fee.
DJ Amex
iswas the Amex you can have while you dont have an Amex.
I think it has been discontinued for now.
American Express and David Jones are currently reviewing the application process for the David Jones American Express Cards and are not accepting new applications for these products at this time. We are working to resume applications as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience.
DJs (and Amex?) got in trouble for "forcing" DJ customers to sign-up thinking they had to sign-up or they couldn't access various discounts and that it was advertised as a loyalty program card rather than a normal credit card/finance service, so I believe that has been the catalyst.
$140 cashback from Cashrewards.
this looks like it still works? Link certainly live.
Yeah, mate it's a bit of a hit or miss. For me, the Explorer link is working but now the Platinum Edge is no longer working. In my experience, if you click on an ad, it usually has that offer, e.g.:
Receive 85,000 Bonus Membership Rewards® Points
when you apply, are approved, and spend $4,000 on eligible purchases for your new Card within the first 3 months. T&Cs apply. New Card Members only1. Offer subject to change without notice.
Please note that this offer may not be available or change if you return later or use a different device. Whilst this offer may disappear, taking credit should be considered carefully. Please do not rush your decision.
Just a heads up, Amex credit has changed how it works.
I believe you are charged the first 200 (or more) and you'll be reimbursed the 200.
This means you can't pay <200 as it won't trigger the reimbursement. Forces you to pay more essentially.