American Express Explorer Referrals now live - 110,000 points!

[Blackswan]

With the increase in bonus points from 80,000 to 100,000 membership points, I will throw my link into the ring;

http://amex.com.au/refer/wesleed0nK

You receive the 100,000 points after spending $1,500 in three months. The card costs $395, but you get a $400 Amex travel credit which can be used on flights/accommodation.

For me though, one of it's biggest draw cards is smartphone screen insurance. Buy your phone outright with the card, or pay your postpaid account for three months, and you're covered for two cracked screens a year. Claims are limited to $500 each, with a 10% excess (however, I've been lucky - they never charged me the excess!!) Saved me $188 last week, after I got my phone fixed at the Apple store.

 

[robtemt]

Thanks again. Applying now.

NOTE: This is now up to 100,000 points!

My updated referral link here:

https://www316.americanexpress.com/...&mgmerSource=mgmerHub&MGMURN=AAAFAgUbHxcdDw==

Looks like all of the benefits of the original offering (except the 110,000 points):

100,000 points by using a referral link to sign up (30,000 points for me if you use my referral link and you may get around the 18 month exclusion period by using a referral link).

$400 AMEX travel credit each year.

2 points per dollar.

So many places to transfer your points - like SPG and Velocity.

Still at the $395 annual fee - so cost neutral if you take into account the $400 AMEX travel credit.

Revised offer appears to end May 15, 2017.

 

[Oubline]

Hi everyone

I have this card and have found the option to use points for hotels through Starwood Preferred Guest (or transferring from there to Marriott) to be fantastic. I've got some real bargains, like the Courtyard Hangzhou in China for three nights at a total of 30k Marriott points (transferred from 10k Starwood). In Amex rewards points this cost just 20,000.

So I've found the points from this card can be a real cost-saver and are very flexible. Of course you can also transfer to many airline programs, including AAdvantage through SPG. I found it really easy to redeem the $400 travel credit and so this card is all upside as far as I'm concerned, as this bonus offsets the annual fee of $395.

Disclaimer: If you apply through my referral link I will receive 30k and be extremely grateful! Thank you!

http://amex.com.au/refer/rossgN0v1

 

[robtemt]

Some advice please. So I DIDN'T tick the box for being an Amex cardholder on my application, but I received a letter the same day as my card (card arrived 3 days after submitting my application online with another AFF's referral link) saying "we are already looking out for you" (creepy), "As you're already a Cardmember, we've taken account of your existing American Express lines of credit when assigning the credit limit for your new card".

The card is already listed in my online account.

1) Do I call and ask it to be unlinked (de-linked) from my Ascent Premium Rewards into Gateway? I'm hoping for the bonus as I only have the Plat Charge and not a credit card that I pay a fee for (I dont count the plat reserve) I will probably hit the minimum spend today.

2) Once the points (hopefully) hit the gateway account, I can call and have it re-linked with my Ascent?

 

[foggy]

Some advice please. So I DIDN'T tick the box for being an Amex cardholder on my application, but I received a letter the same day as my card (card arrived 3 days after submitting my application online with another AFF's referral link) saying "we are already looking out for you" (creepy), "As you're already a Cardmember, we've taken account of your existing American Express lines of credit when assigning the credit limit for your new card".

The card is already listed in my online account.

1) Do I call and ask it to be unlinked (de-linked) from my Ascent Premium Rewards into Gateway? I'm hoping for the bonus as I only have the Plat Charge and not a credit card that I pay a fee for (I dont count the plat reserve) I will probably hit the minimum spend today.

2) Once the points (hopefully) hit the gateway account, I can call and have it re-linked with my Ascent?

Yes those are the steps. De-link and go on the gateway program, dothe required spend, then hopefully bonus pts are posted. Then either use the pts (spg) or try your luck at relinking and having the pts transferred back over

 

[billbro]

Popping my referral link back on here given the talk about the 100,000 point offer using a referral link.

I just proposed last week and she said yes, so if anyone wants to help with our honeymoon points accumulation: http://amex.com.au/refer/williwv1m4

I'm sure you are already aware of the benefits if you are reading this thread, but in line with the rules - card cost $395, comes with $400 travel credit that helps net off the annual fee if used prudently. If you use the referral link (mine or any others on here) you are entitled to 100,000 MR points (if you meet the eligibility requirements) and I will receive a 30,000 point bonus.

 

[somebodyhere]

Some advice please. So I DIDN'T tick the box for being an Amex cardholder on my application, but I received a letter the same day as my card (card arrived 3 days after submitting my application online with another AFF's referral link) saying "we are already looking out for you" (creepy), "As you're already a Cardmember, we've taken account of your existing American Express lines of credit when assigning the credit limit for your new card".

Keen to find out if you got the points?

Did the card show up under your online account even before you activated the card? Someone else said you could create a new username when you activate the card so it doesn't get linked to your already existing (Ascent) login.

 

[robtemt]

I didn't look to be honest, if it was linked before activation.

I've already given the referral link to one friend, and have received the 30K Points, and I've received the annual travel credit, and I spent $1800 an hour after activation.

I am assuming I'm not getting the points. I'll try to call at o-dark-thirty and argue my way through it, but not holding my breath. Worst case, I'll transfer the points to KF, use the travel credit to make a new hotel booking for next month and cancel an existing, and then cancel the card and not pay the annual fee.

 

[somebodyhere]

I didn't look to be honest, if it was linked before activation.

Did you nominate the same username when you activated the card? Usually it asks whether you already have a username.

 

[robtemt]

I signed in to my normal Amex online account, like I said, I didn't look at what I was doing (signing into Amex is muscle memory).

Did you nominate the same username when you activated the card? Usually it asks whether you already have a username.

 

[somebodyhere]

I signed in to my normal Amex online account, like I said, I didn't look at what I was doing (signing into Amex is muscle memory).

Hmm OK, thanks for sharing your experience!

 

[peanutz]

Dear good people,

I'm hoping you could help using my referral link: http://amex.com.au/refer/natthbESCv

Note:

You will receive 100,000 Membership Rewards points if you are approved for an American Express ExplorerTM Card by 15 May 2017 and spend $1,500 in the first 3 months of Card Membership.
I'll receive 30,000 Membership Rewards points for each friend approved for a Card using my referral link.

Thank you very much.

 

[JessicaTam]

[mod hat]
Posts with referral links not detailing the information required have been deleted. Again!
[/mod hat]

 

[lang_13]

Hi all,

Here is my link, would appreciate anybody using it to apply!

http://amex.com.au/refer/J02ie

Earn 2 Gateway reward points (equivalent to 1.5 velocity/krisflyer points ) spent per $1 (excl govt bodies - 0.5 gateway points per $. Although keep an eye out as some can be paid using Paypal via Postbillpay for the full earn rate).

Can be redeemed for : Asia Miles, Emirates Skywards, Etihad Guest, Malaysian Airlines Enrich, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, THAI Royal Orchid Plus, Velocity Frequent Flyer or Air New Zealand Airpoints

Includes $400 travel credit, frequent amex statement credits, 2 American Express
Airport Lounge entries and smartphone screen insurance which more than cover the $395 annual fee.

Successful applicants will receive 100,000 gateway points after $1,500 spend within 3 months. (new amex card-holders, or card cancelled >18months previously)
As referrer I receive 30,000 points.

 

[LordGarlic]

As you can see the american explorer card is highly recommended by a lot of AFF members. This includes the linking of the gateway program to the ascent program.

Annual fee is $395 and it is offset by the travel credit of $400 provided by Amex. The travel credit can be used to book flights and accommodations. The explorer card also provides you with travel insurance and screen insurance for your mobile phone.

As I have been zipping in and out of Australia frequently due to frequent hospitalisation of my ailing sick dad, the bonus points of 30,000 which I would received will significantly reduce my cost of travelling to see my Dad when I redeem the flight by points.

You will receive 100,000 points when you use my referral link to sign up the Amex Explorer card by spending $1,500 within the first 3 months of the card approval.

http://amex.com.au/refer/bengkcblHw

 

[Oubline]

It's possible to get so much value from the 100k point you receive with this card.

I have this card and have found the option to use points for hotels through Starwood Preferred Guest (or transferring from there to Marriott) to be fantastic. I've got some real bargains, like the Courtyard Hangzhou in China for three nights at a total of 30k Marriott points (transferred from 10k Starwood). In Amex rewards points this cost just 20,000.

So I've found the points from this card can be a real cost-saver and are very flexible. Of course you can also transfer to many airline programs, including AAdvantage through SPG. I found it really easy to redeem the $400 travel credit and so this card is all upside as far as I'm concerned, as this bonus offsets the annual fee of $395.

If you apply through my referral link I will receive 30k and be extremely grateful! Thank you!

http://amex.com.au/refer/rossgN0v1

 

[Aumelle]

Good news, I was able to get the 100,000 bonus points as an existing AmEx card holder (Plat Edge). I had to ring up though. Here's how I did it (I applied 2 weeks ago or so so after when it apparently became harder to get the bonus points):

1) Apply for the card via a referral link (mine is here). There's a good chance you'll see the offer with at the top right of the screen a LOGOUT button. Make a screenshot of this (just in case) since it shows that AmEx knows who you are and serving you up an offer for 100,000 bonus points. If they were to deny your points, that's great leverage to have!
2) Create a new American Express user profile online for the new card (don't use your existing login).
3) Check if the accounts are linked by logging in to your new American Express account online. If so, go to 4). If not, go to 5).
4) Ring AmEx to de-link the cards, thus creating a new Membership Rewards Gateway account for your new card.
5) Start spending, after reaching $1,500, wait a few days until all pending payments have cleared and see if points have hit your Membership Rewards Gateway account.
6) If your points have not been credited (as in my case), ring AmEx to ask for the points. If they question your eligibility (they didn't with me, they said they could see I was eligible), refer to the screenshot you have on file. In my case, the points were then added manually and only took 4 hours or so to show up in my account.
7) When you get your points, ring back again to re-link your Explorer to your Ascent membership (where appplicable) if you prefer to earn points at a 1:1 airline redemption rate for certain airlines.
8) Also ask them to combine your 2 logins in order for both cards and points to show up together while using the app!

I spent a fair bit of time researching all of this so would be grateful if you could use my referral link: http://amex.com.au/refer/mellesHzBV
Happy to help with specific questions via a PM as well.

 

[blueythecat]

Good news, I was able to get the 100,000 bonus points as an existing AmEx card holder (Plat Edge). Here's how I did it (I applied 2 weeks ago or so so after when it apparently became harder to get the bonus points).....

Very interesting, well done and thanks for sharing. I take it from your post that you had to ring up to get the points - I think you are the first person I've ever heard of who has been credited the points by calling up. Nice work!

 

[Aumelle]

Very interesting, well done and thanks for sharing. I take it from your post that you had to ring up to get the points

That's correct! Have clarified that now in my earlier post. Thanks.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

. Make a screenshot of this (just in case) since it shows that AmEx knows who you are and serving you up an offer for 100,000 bonus points. If they were to deny your points, that's great leverage to have!
.

Sorry, but this statement is wrong and is poor advice that will not help anyone, and certainly did not help the writer as they did not even use it. It will provide NO leverage and if anyone quoted it it would just highlight to Amex that the applicant was not entitled to the sign on bonus. Instead if you strike out hang up and call again later and trya different CSR. Definitely do not flag it with Amex that you are not entitled.

6) If your points have not been credited (as in my case), ring AmEx to ask for the points. If they question your eligibility (they didn't with me, they said they could see I was eligible), refer to the screenshot you have on file. In my case, the points were then added manually and only took 4 hours or so to show up in my account. .

Again this is poor advice. The screenshot would only prove that you were ineligible and that you had the means to know that you were ineligible.

If one is chasing something that one is not entitled to. One should not try an argue the Terms of the offer unless they support your case.



The Amex referral offer is quite clear in its terms and the referral page where the sign on bonus indicates that Clause 1. of the offer needs to be met. One requirement being to not have been an Amex Cardmember for 18 months prior.

1. Bonus & Eligibility. 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


My advice should you call as a person who had a previous Amex trying to claim the the sign-on bonus is to play dumb and 1/ DO NOT mention that you were aware of the Terms and 2/ DO NOT draw their attention to the fact that you had an Amex in the 18 months prior.

You may then be lucky to gain a CSR that gives you the sign-on bonus despite not being entitled to it. IF you draw their attention to you being not entitled to it then you will guarantee that you will not get it. This is the HUCA Stratgey that has proven to be successful time and time again for many issues including promos, bookings etc.

By all means if someone now applies and the bonus does not post and wants to chase the sign-on bonus, try calling to gain the points. Also hang up and call again if you strike out. But do not be surprised if you are not successful.