The Explorer Credit Card (New AMEX Card!)

[BriarFlyer]

Agree their flight and hotel deal is the best value from Marriott at the moment if you can stretch to the required points and fit a 7 night stay into your travel plans. I was considering changing our plans and flights to make it work, but in the end went with a simple redemption for 5 nights.

I have enough pts for the 5-night deal, which suits our travel plans, but mulling over whether to change plans to 7 nights for the extra value. I don't have quite enough points for my preferred hotel. Question: can you, at some point in the transfer process, combine family accounts?

 

[Irishbazz]

Also, when you merge you programs, the gateway $400 credit will disappear.
You can de link to make it re appear, but it's a pain in the cough. A member here said they could get it manually added, but I don't think I have seen anyone post that that has actually happened.

Just call Amex and have them manually reset the credit to show at the booking confirmation screen, when you want to book. Its just a glitch in their system.The credit should have nothing to do with linking, as it's purpose is to offset the annual fee.Happy to be corrected, if I am mistaken? I didn't have to de-link to have it show up.

 

[Irishbazz]

I have enough pts for the 5-night deal, which suits our travel plans, but mulling over whether to change plans to 7 nights for the extra value. I don't have quite enough points for my preferred hotel. Question: can you, at some point in the transfer process, combine family accounts?

Yes, you can combine/transfer MR points between family, same MR program (Free, mixed you pay), but will take a few weeks possibly. Or you can combine family points in SPG prior to transfer to Marriott. Minimum 30 day membership account held before this is allowed. Or buy Starpoints for $35/1000 and transfer to Marriott. March may have a bonus option for buying Starpoints if you can wait take the chance?

 

[BriarFlyer]

Yes, you can combine/transfer MR points between family, same MR program (Free, mixed you pay), but will take a few weeks possibly. Or you can combine family points in SPG prior to transfer to Marriott. Minimum 30 day membership account held before this is allowed. Or buy Starpoints for $35/1000 and transfer to Marriott. March may have a bonus option for buying Starpoints if you can wait take the chance?

Thanks ever so much, Irishbazz. Our trip isn't until September so I have some time to get this together.

 

[unfunkable]

Just call Amex and have them manually reset the credit to show at the booking confirmation screen, when you want to book. Its just a glitch in their system.The credit should have nothing to do with linking, as it's purpose is to offset the annual fee.Happy to be corrected, if I am mistaken? I didn't have to de-link to have it show up.

Thanks I'll try that if my de-link doesn't happen in a week or so...It's all on record why I need to de-link and I might just happen to spend another $1500 at the same time...cough.

 

[annielee]

just called again for additional card, and the answer is NO !.. not on this card, the csr mentioned only few cards are allowed additional card and Explorer is not in the list..

 

[albyd]

Sounds like it's the luck of the draw with the CSR you get. Was told the same before I applied then saw post on AFF it was possible and called up and they were only too happy to help.

 

[Steady]

just called again for additional card, and the answer is NO !.. not on this card, the csr mentioned only few cards are allowed additional card and Explorer is not in the list..

Sounds like it's the luck of the draw with the CSR you get. Was told the same before I applied then saw post on AFF it was possible and called up and they were only too happy to help.

I have an account card on my Explorer- had it about 5 weeks

 

[annielee]

maybe will try to call again few weeks time, not in the rush to get one now..

I have an account card on my Explorer- had it about 5 weeks

 

[nightelves]

That's very strange got offered supplmentary card when I signed up for Explorer but refused as I'm waiting for the 5k bonus when adding supplementaries.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Sounds like it's the luck of the draw with the CSR you get. Was told the same before I applied then saw post on AFF it was possible and called up and they were only too happy to help.

The good thing about this is that you can keep calling back till you get an answer that you are happy with

Within limits of course. But in this particular case those those limits are yet to be rigidly defined.

 

[annielee]

agreed will wait for the 5k supplementary promotion and try again..

The good thing about this is that you can keep calling back till you get an answer that you are happy with

Within limits of course. But in this particular case those those limits are yet to be rigidly defined.

 

[Dr Ralph]

just called again for additional card, and the answer is NO !.. not on this card, the csr mentioned only few cards are allowed additional card and Explorer is not in the list..

Keep trying. I have 4 additional cards.

 

[SOPOOR]

guys, i just called up amex to add a few supp cards

I got told that to hold on, the 5k bonus might come back very soon!

lets hope so

 

[nightelves]

guys, i just called up amex to add a few supp cards

I got told that to hold on, the 5k bonus might come back very soon!

lets hope so

Did they give you a time frame? I'm also holding out for that as well

Got offered to merge program to Ascent Premium but refuse as I don't believe I will be keeping this card for long because of the high annual fees and points will revert back to Gateway afterwards if the Platinum Charge card gets cancelled.

 

[ap_member]

That's great news about bringing back the supplementary bonus; I was thinking about applying for another supplementary card but I'll wait.

 

[SOPOOR]

Did they give you a time frame? I'm also holding out for that as well

Got offered to merge program to Ascent Premium but refuse as I don't believe I will be keeping this card for long because of the high annual fees and points will revert back to Gateway afterwards if the Platinum Charge card gets cancelled.

she didnt say but I got the vibe that it was "I cant tell you officially but im hinting unofficialy!"


anyway, I got a call from amex today asking for ids for all the supp card applicants which surprised me, was hoping they didnt as I didnt want to gothrough the hassle of getting ids from family memebers


however when I told them they were all immediate family, she said thats fine, were satisfied, they will be out in the mail

 

[NoName]

guys, i just called up amex to add a few supp cards

I got told that to hold on, the 5k bonus might come back very soon!

lets hope so

This news news makes me happy. Hope it's correct. Might have to hold onto our cards for another month or so before cancelling just in case.

 

[annielee]

that's really different response, when they calledme, i told the CSR i dont have my mom's ID with me, and they insist on checking that before approving it !

she didnt say but I got the vibe that it was "I cant tell you officially but im hinting unofficialy!"

anyway, I got a call from amex today asking for ids for all the supp card applicants which surprised me, was hoping they didnt as I didnt want to gothrough the hassle of getting ids from family memebers


however when I told them they were all immediate family, she said thats fine, were satisfied, they will be out in the mail

 

[B0RDEX]

It really depends on what sort of account you'll ended up getting. If they are on Gateway (Explorer) and Ascent (Edge) you are fine. Proceed with spending the minimum amount and you'll get the bonus points.

Things get tricky when you had the both cards on the Ascent. Details on the wiki page, call to delink, met the spend requirement and both bonus points should post. To relink it back, mix result but still doable.

For the travel credit, you'll get both and they are on separate account. I was told that I couldn't combine both together and use it as one credit.

Thanks for the reply, much appreciated... What about the transfer of points from Gateway to Ascent? I read the Wiki page before posting, it didn't seem clear there.

The Explorer arrived today, so if I activate it and meet the minimum spend I'll get the 80k points on the Gateway program. That's all well and good. I applied for the Plat Edge just to get into the Ascent program for the better redemption rates, thinking once I had that I could transfer the 80k Gateway points from the Explorer over to the Ascent program, but someone else has said that's not possible - but I can't seem to find a definitive answer? Does anyone know about that?