AmEx Explorer: 100,000 Membership Rewards Points (with $4000 Spend in 3 Months) & $400 Travel Credit, $395 Annual Fee

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AmEx Explorer: 100,000 Membership Rewards Points (with $4000 Spend in 3 Months) & $400 Travel Credit, $395 Annual Fee
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theangrywaffle on 08/04/2024 - 19:18 americanexpress.com (1278 clicks)
Last edited 09/04/2024 - 13:53 by 1 other user

Hi everyone!

I've recently been researching which credit card to use as my point accumulation card and I saw this deal. It offers 100,000 membership rewards points which is quite generous. Sometimes the offer shows 50,000, you have to try a few times for the 100,000 offer to appear. I got this offer for myself as I value the flexibility to use any one of the AMEX partners to redeem my points with. Whilst the annual fee is quite high at $395, you receive $400 in travel credit which offsets the cost of the card.

I think this is the best value credit card from AMEX currently since the Qantas bonus sign up points offer seems to have substantially decreased. You can also combine this deal with the 15,000 point deal for adding an additional cardholder. Singapore airlines converts at 3:1 ratio, so 115,000 won't get you too far. However, there are other partner airlines that net you a good return such as Cathay at 2:1.

I personally like the additional security and protection AMEX offers. I use my iPhone without a condom so there's a high likelihood of me cracking my screen (not that I have), it's great to know if I do break my screen, AMEX covers $500 of the cost to change the screen.

I haven't seen this offer on Ozbargain, I hope it's not a duplicate, mods please lmk if it is.

Referral Links

Business Explorer Card: random (3)

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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Financial American Express Credit Card Membership Rewards Reward Points Travel Credit

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Comments

  • freshofftheboat on 08/04/2024 - 19:32
    +4

    Ahhh, the good old days when the sign up bonus for this card was 240k points!

    • theangrywaffle on 08/04/2024 - 19:51

      Looking back at the old offers, I'm extremely jealous. I don't think we'll be seeing those anytime soon however, the platinum card with $1450 annual fee offers roughly that many points, but its a different tier product

  • spiderbite88 on 08/04/2024 - 19:33

    Doesn't look like I can convert to Qantas points
    https://www.americanexpress.com/en-au/rewards/membership-rew…

    • theangrywaffle on 08/04/2024 - 19:49
      +1

      Yep, this isn't the QFF card. Its for membership rewards points which you can convert into air nz, asia miles (cathay), emirates, etihad, hawaiian, malaysian, qatar, singapore, thai, velocity or virgin atlantic.

      I was going to go with QFF but after running the numbers, it seems impossible to actually extract value from their program. There are over 15 million QFF members, competing for 5 million rewards seats. People were expecting qantas to increase the number of rewards seat to meet the demand, but instead they've created a subpar offering with the classic plus. Its what tipped me over the edge to go with the membership rewards instead and seek the best value when hunting for a flight.

    • DingoBlue on 08/04/2024 - 19:56

      That’s weird. Both my gold credit and platinum charge cards can convert to QFF.

  • Rlogarisation on 08/04/2024 - 19:37

    tried multiple times in different browser and even using VPN, but no luck finding 100k points offer. Could anyone else see that offer?

    • john2383 on 08/04/2024 - 19:39

      Checked to see if it was April 1st!

    • theangrywaffle on 08/04/2024 - 19:44

      Hmm interesting, yeh the Amex algo is definitely something interesting. I've been searching up a lot of credit cards, do you reckon the cookies from those websites is triggering the offer (I have no idea how advertising on google works)

    • ashumz on 08/04/2024 - 19:44

      Yup
      New Card Member Offer
      Exclusive Offer
      Receive 100,000 Bonus Membership Rewards® Points
      when you apply online and are approved, and spend $4,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 3 months. T&Cs apply. New American Express Card Members only.
      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 if you don't apply now, taking credit should be considered carefully. Please do not rush your decision.

    • FrugalDealSeeker on 09/04/2024 - 16:22

      If it helps try going through iSelect as per this.

  • ashumz on 08/04/2024 - 19:44

    Whats better, this or the Qantas? Im not fussed about Q in the slightest

    • theangrywaffle on 08/04/2024 - 19:55
      +3

      I'll paste my reply to one of the users above "I was going to go with QFF but after running the numbers, it seems impossible to actually extract value from their program. There are over 15 million QFF members, competing for 5 million rewards seats. People were expecting qantas to increase the number of rewards seat to meet the demand, but instead they've created a subpar offering with the classic plus. Its what tipped me over the edge to go with the membership rewards instead and seek the best value when hunting for a flight."

      On top of that, I'd like to add that having options provides an inherent value over being stuck with a certain frequent flyer program. I'm sure if I was extremely bothered and had nothing else to do with my time after work, I would try and value that option using a quasi black scholes model but I do enough excel at work to not bother with it.

      • ashumz on 08/04/2024 - 19:59

        Ill take that as a Yes for Explorer.

  • dasher86 on 08/04/2024 - 19:55

    Seems to tick all my boxes except international transaction fees.

    • theangrywaffle on 08/04/2024 - 20:01

      I think there was a citi card that offered fee free for international transactions but I can't seem to find it anymore. Some people highly recommend that you have 2 maybe 3 (depending on if you run a business) credit cards. One of them should be rewards oriented and the other for international travel (no fees for int). Fair enough though, the fees are a bit over the top at 3% I think? The maximum value you would get from the points are just over 2 cents when used in the most ideal scenario.

      • nubix on 08/04/2024 - 21:08

        some citi credit cards used to come with a companion Diner's Club which had no international fees but they've pretty much left Australia

      • dasher86 on 08/04/2024 - 21:27

        Yes, I used to have the citi companion diners card.
        And I also have a 28 degrees

        I was hoping to finally get rid of my 28 degrees with something premium and higher points earn.

        Keeping the citi for now while there is no annual fee.

  • runamuck on 08/04/2024 - 20:13
    +1

    All churners will be rejected.

    • nightelves on 08/04/2024 - 20:23

      I can agree to that.

    • gareth886 on 09/04/2024 - 15:16

      I agree with this. Both my partner and I have been rejected. The only reason I can think of is the amount of credit cards we've opened and closed over the past 24 months. Amex is the only company that we've had an issue with.

  • john2383 on 08/04/2024 - 20:16
    +2

    It finally worked for me in the end. Also used someones referral code.
    Thanks OP
    Now we wait

    • GregFiona on 08/04/2024 - 21:47
      +1

      Does the referral code give you extra points apart from the 100K?

      • john2383 on 09/04/2024 - 11:50

        It says the following in the original post under referrals:

        "Explorer Credit Card: random (281)
        Referrer: 40,000-60,000 Reward Points
        Referee: 50,000 Reward Points"

        • Balthraka on 09/04/2024 - 14:31

          I doubt that stacks with the 100k though… @john2383, did you get confirmation you'd receive 150k?

          Makes it a much better deal if so!

          • GregFiona on 09/04/2024 - 19:38

            @Balthraka: I clicked on the referral link and I got 100K instead of the 50K. So, I don’t think it stacks up but it might help those who only get 50K when applying without referral

            • Balthraka on 09/04/2024 - 20:16
              +1

              @GregFiona: Thanks.

              Yeah. Good to get it to 100k.
              Really hoping to get near the old days of 200+. Haha.

  • meowmeowmeow on 08/04/2024 - 21:59

    Do they nornally conditionally approve instantly or is the we'll get back to you in 5-10 business days the normal response?

    • FrugalDealSeeker on 09/04/2024 - 16:25

      A year ago first they said we'll get back to you, then called me in 15 minutes to say my partner's (now wife's) identity could not be verified for an additional card holder, when I asked them to remove her they approved instantly, didn't even ask for income statements or any other documentation.

    • theangrywaffle on 10/04/2024 - 14:12
      +1

      I got approved within 2 days, card arrived 2 days later (4 days total)

      • GregFiona on 10/04/2024 - 19:36

        I got approved the next day, waiting for the cards to arrive

        • meowmeowmeow on 10/04/2024 - 21:45

          Aw I applied on Monday night and haven't heard back yet. Hopefully soon!

          • GregFiona on 18/04/2024 - 20:42

            @meowmeowmeow: Auslost returned the cards “unable to deliver” 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️

  • hoyanikon on 08/04/2024 - 22:02

    Isn't the amex velocity platinum better? At least 100k velocity points compared to 50k points for this after conversion

    • meowmeowmeow on 09/04/2024 - 08:38

      Depends - it's more velocity points but i don't have any use for the free domestic flight, so prefer the $400 credit to use on hotels.

      • bigbargainsmall on 26/04/2024 - 12:44

        So you can only use velocity points on domestic flights? (new to points sorry)

        • meowmeowmeow on 26/04/2024 - 13:08

          You can use them for domestic and international. What i was saying is that the amex velocity platinum comes with the benefit of a free domestic flight instead of a $400 travel voucher, and the travel voucher suited my needs better

  • gareth886 on 09/04/2024 - 15:12

    Just a heads-up for the Credit Card Churners - Amex appear to be auto declining (within 5 days) applications that have a lot of credit cards opened in the last 12 months.

    My partner and I have both been rejected by Amex recently despite having no issues with any other credit card applications in the last 3 years. Our credit rating is excellent and we haven't had any changes in our financial situation. The only think I can attribute it to is the churning for points.

    • rogsamsy on 09/04/2024 - 15:50

      Define ‘a lot’.

      • FrugalDealSeeker on 09/04/2024 - 16:29

        a new credit card being consistently opened/ closed every 3-4 months over 2 years.

    • FrugalDealSeeker on 09/04/2024 - 16:32

      The only think I can attribute it to is the churning for points.

      Not necessarily as I was declined even a credit limit increase as well despite having a perfect repayment history, a mortgage <20% salary and an 800+ credit score. They've just become stricter like ANZ.

    • meowmeowmeow on 15/04/2024 - 17:50

      Got declined also, got a letter in the post today to tell me. Not sure why they didn't just send an email. Usually churn 2 to 3 cards a year so I guess same situation. Annoying thing is, I was actually planning to keep the Amex long term. Guess not lol!

  • bag23 on 10/04/2024 - 10:03

    Can anybody see 100K points. Tried multiple times can only see 50K. Even tried going through iselect and still see 50K.

    • theangrywaffle on 10/04/2024 - 14:11

      I just googled now and can still see 100k points

    • GregFiona on 12/04/2024 - 03:14

      have you tried the referral links above?

      • bag23 on 12/04/2024 - 09:27

        yep - 50k only

  • Ani1996 on 11/04/2024 - 18:43

    Does anybody know if I can claim this if I have already claimed amex qantas ultimate bonus points recently. Or do you have to wait 18 months after closing an old amex bonus points CC before applying for any new bonus point CC?

    • theangrywaffle on 11/04/2024 - 20:48
      +1

      I don't think you can claim it, pretty sure its for new amex accounts only and you'd have to close your account and wait 18 months for it

      • GregFiona on 12/04/2024 - 03:16

        only(?) exclusion David Jones Amex holders as DJ is moving to Latitude

  • penguinswillrise on 18/04/2024 - 08:57

    This or 110k velocity via Citi premier points hack deal?

  • roninxt on 20/04/2024 - 22:06

    I have another Amex card unfortunately, so even if I try the referral link I won't get the points?

  • niiko on 21/04/2024 - 14:31

    Yeah, rejected me too. I apply 2-3 credit cards per year.

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