The Explorer Credit Card (New AMEX Card!)

[jackthomas]

Just applied to upgrade another non AMEX card last week, regretting it now! Will apply for this card before the 100k bonus ends, and cancel my David Jones card...

 

[leyy]

This looks like the best AMEX card now in town!

1.5 pts per dollar is excellent for (AM/SQ)

This is better than Centurion and Plat charge earn rate lol.

Centurion and Plat holders may not be too happy!

 

[Haplo]

Has anyone ask Amex if the new card can be a companion card for Plat Charge, and also I wonder if you can use the $300 credit on charge with the $400 credit on this one on the same booking.

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Does post office count as government? I thought government means like ATO?

Yep, post office is among that. Same with city councils and ATO too.

 

[Moopere]

Whats the conversion rate to the airlines does anyone know? I'm completely unfamiliar with the Gateway version of MR. The devil is often in the details as I learned way back when the David Jones Amex card and their special version of MR first appeared.

Granted, the card looks fine, visually, my mrs will want one just for that reason alone hehe. I'm more conservative though. Is everyone mostly excited about the 100K points and the $400 travel credit?

I've just paid $365 for the annual on the Velocity Amex, getting harder to justify that as converting the 'free' flight to a flexi (for SC's and whatnot) given the circa $130 Amex fee for cancel/rebook together with what must be deep deep discounts from VA on the transcon flights is only reaping me about $150-200 in value. Could doubtless use the 400$ travel credit to simply book a flexi direct instead of the whole book-cancel-rebook thing we try to do with the free flight and save an aweful lot of stress and bother.

 

[Plutonus]

Whats the conversion rate to the airlines does anyone know?

It is 4:3, effective 1.5 per $.

 

[leyy]

I will be applying for one of these.

The Citi Prestige and Explorer AMEX will be a deadly/best combo after the Westpac devaluations.

1 pt per dollar for Visa and 1.5 pt per dollar for AMEX (after conversion to airline points)

 

[albyd]

Curious regarding the "gateway" program... I have platinum edge and essential, that essential earns points into the same balance pool as they edge at 1:1. Wonder if that might end up happening here?

That's an interesting point as all my cards are crediting to ascent premium. Wonder if this one could be set up the same way. Then your 100K sign up becomes 100k of 'real' MR points.

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Whats the conversion rate to the airlines does anyone know? I'm completely unfamiliar with the Gateway version of MR. The devil is often in the details as I learned way back when the David Jones Amex card and their special version of MR first appeared.

4:3 instead of 1:1 as others have noted (Emirates is already 4:3 from Ascent so that's the same). Also, transfers to Virgin Atlantic, QFF, SPG and HH aren't possible from Gateway.

 

[staniac]

Can anyone confirm the conversion rate of gateway points to gift cards? Since gateway points have a lower rate to ascent for airline transfer, does that apply to gift cards as well or are they the same?


From what I have seen, it doesnt seem to. On the rewards membership site, it says that these are the points required for a westfield voucher
$100 = 13.5k points
$250 = 32.5k
$500 = 62.5k
$1000 = 115k


That would mean the 100k bonus points equals $750 in gift cards?

 

[smartblaa]

American Express Explorer [Black] - 100,000 MR*

Just saw this announced today.
https://www.americanexpress.com/au/content/credit-cards/explorer-credit-card/
AMEX launches new American Express Explorer credit card - Australian Business Traveller

Key Facts:
- $395 per annum
- $400 travel credit
- 100,000* Membership Rewards Points
- Earn rate 2MR/$1 [Government bodies is 0.5MR/$1]
- Smartphone Screen / Travel / Buyers Protection Insurances

*Don't get too excited about this figure, apparently this will be as part of a "Membership Rewards Gateway Program".
This from the outset appears to be similar to a devalued membership rewards program. [4:3]
For example 100,000 of these MR will transfer to 75,000 velocity, krisflyer etc.


My questions to AFFers out there:
- Do you think this represents good value?
- Who's game enough as an existing member to apply?

T&C except: Card Members who currently hold or who have previously held any other Consumer Credit Card product issued by American Express Australia Limited in the preceding 18 month period are ineligible for this offer.

 

[bismarck]

Has anyone checked if a referral link will yield a larger sign up bonus?

 

[bismarck]

Re: American Express Explorer [Black] - 100,000 MR*

Already being discussed here.

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ards/explorer-credit-card-new-amex-77925.html

 

[M@rcoPolo]

This looks like the best AMEX card now in town!

1.5 pts per dollar is excellent for (AM/SQ)

This is better than Centurion and Plat charge earn rate lol.

Centurion and Plat holders may not be too happy!

Yep - not happy Jane! (Platinum Charge holder here) :evil:

 

[adelee]

Has anyone checked if a referral link will yield a larger sign up bonus?

As it is a new card there are no referrals available as yet, I don't think. May need to wait until someone actually receives the card and can register online.

 

[Steady]

Has anyone checked if a referral link will yield a larger sign up bonus?

I signed up for this today - not immediately approved but don't expect not to be.

As soon as it comes through I will see if a referral can be generated.

 

[potm]

Someone with an essentials card may be able to generate a referral link since they are in the same line of cards.

 

[adelee]

Someone with an essentials card may be able to generate a referral link since they are in the same line of cards.

I've had a look at a couple of essentials card links to see if I could find something. Usually the cards in the same line (e.g. Platinum Edge for Platinum Charge) appear down the bottom left of the referral link page, but there are no other cards displaying there. However, would be good to get confirmation from anyone with an Essential.

 

[burmans]

Amex seem to put a lot of weight on your existing relationship with them, based on what I've read here and other places regarding approval.

Well one of the basic principles behind Comprehensive Credit Reporting is the importance of payment history (ie paying on time) and length of credit history in assessment for credit. If you look at how the American credit bureaus these two can have a much greater influence than the factors the Australian credit bureaus hold (except if you have defaults on file).

Of course Amex only knows how good you are at paying off its own cards but they are far from alone in putting more weight on your history with them than credit bureau info

 

[kamchatsky]

Another interesting feature of this card is the Car Hire Damage Cover. It covers up to $100000.

https://www.amexmore.com.au/explorer/service

https://web.aexp-static.com/au/content/pdf/explorer-insurance-tncs.pdf

Cover
We will pay any amounts You are responsible for under the RentalAgreement, including the Deductible if loss is incurred during aCovered Rental Trip, as a result of accidental damage, fire, vandalism,theft or loss of use of the Rental Vehicle. This will apply whetherYou are responsible or not for the accident.
We will pay You up to:
1. $100,000; or
2. the value of the Rental Vehicle; or3. the value of the claim;
whichever is the lesser.
We will pay the above in respect of any one (1) accident oroccurrence and a maximum two (2) claims per three hundred andsixty-five (365) days.