The Explorer Credit Card (New AMEX Card!)

[nickomac]

I'm currently on the phone to amex, running through a heap of loops trying to get the card unlinked from ascent

edit: it's linked now

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Thanks for that, have you tried to link it now with ascent since points are posted...that way you get the bonus points AND now earn 2MR ascent points per dollar...
I don't think we have anyone yet who got the bonus points and managed to re-link to ascent , but I could be wrong

People either started off linked- and asked for it to be unlinked, but were told they could not like it again for a certain amount of time.

I am not sure that anyone has even attempted to have it changed back.

People? I think it was one person who was told that after 12 months that they could change back.

Others were told that it was one way and could not be changed back.

I think we all know that Amex CSRs are not always accurate.

 

[Mr_Orange]

Not sure if that will work given Explorer card should be in the Gateway program anyway. Not sure what justification to provide to have them linked to the Ascent account.

Amex generally link all your cards to the programme of the highest tier card. For example, if you have the Platinum Charge Card (Ascent Premium) and you subsequently take out the Platinum Edge (Ascent), the Edge card will accrue points to Ascent Premium.

 

[bbqwer]

I'm currently on the phone to amex, running through a heap of loops trying to get the card unlinked from ascent

edit: it's linked now

I rang last sunday to unlinked from ascent to explorer. Was advised it could take 5-7 working days.

 

[nickomac]

Amex generally link all your cards to the programme of the highest tier card. For example, if you have the Platinum Charge Card (Ascent Premium) and you subsequently take out the Platinum Edge (Ascent), the Edge card will accrue points to Ascent Premium.

that's actually super handy to know!

 

[playbargain]

Further confirmation with unlinking and getting the bonus points. I unlinked last week and spend $1500, bonus points just been posted after the transaction has cleared. Will wait a few days and try my luck to link it back again...

 

[bbqwer]

Further confirmation with unlinking and getting the bonus points. I unlinked last week and spend $1500, bonus points just been posted after the transaction has cleared. Will wait a few days and try my luck to link it back again...

how many days it took to unlink ? mine has been 4 working days and still not unlink yet

 

[playbargain]

how many days it took to unlink ? mine has been 4 working days and still not unlink yet

It was the same day, in fact only took 15mins for the Gateway account to show up under Explorer. But you got to wait over night before you can view the MR account.

 

[unfunkable]

Further confirmation with unlinking and getting the bonus points. I unlinked last week and spend $1500, bonus points just been posted after the transaction has cleared. Will wait a few days and try my luck to link it back again...

Let us know how it goes!

 

[deka2]

I rang last sunday to unlinked from ascent to explorer. Was advised it could take 5-7 working days.

Just off the phone trying to have my card unlinked from Ascent and transferred to Gateway.

Also told 4 to 7 working days.

On more than one occasion the operator pointed out that Gateway earned less points.

Didn't tell them the real reason, in case in jeopardised my chance of the bonus points.

Now i'm not sure whether to use the card before it's unlinked.

 

[imipenam]

If you ring the membership rewards number tel:1300363276, the unlinking might be more efficient IMHO.

If ringing the number on the back of the card, I found those CSRs not very good at dealing with MR issues. One guy just brushed me off when I had trouble adding my MH ff number to my profile ... kept saying it was issue with MH when it wasn't. The last CSR I asked to unlink my Gateway and Ascent actually closed down my Ascent account!!!

Whenever I rang the MR number directly, I found them to be more knowledgeable and efficient.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Now i'm not sure whether to use the card before it's unlinked.

Will not matter.

In my case all new transactions appeared as Gateway Points after a few days.

The un-linking was immediate.

Some pending transactions still went through to Ascent.

 

[Ultan Lankford]

This probably has been asked numerous times but for those with existing Amex cards (Platinum) do you get the points anyway?

 

[unfunkable]

Amex generally link all your cards to the programme of the highest tier card. For example, if you have the Platinum Charge Card (Ascent Premium) and you subsequently take out the Platinum Edge (Ascent), the Edge card will accrue points to Ascent Premium.

I'm going to give this a go.
Going to sign up to explorer (will be my 2nd amex issued card- first is a velocity)
Get my points, transfer them out or use them.
Sign up to plat edge, and see if I can accrue 2MR ASCENT points /$1 spent on the explorer. My monthly spend via work and personal will benefit from the extra .5 points/dollar

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I'm going to give this a go.
Going to sign up to explorer (will be my 2nd amex issued card- first is a velocity)
Get my points, transfer them out or use them.
Sign up to plat edge, and see if I can accrue 2MR ASCENT points /$1 spent on the explorer. My monthly spend via work and personal will benefit from the extra .5 points/dollar

Well if they were going to link the Gateway MR to the Ascent MR program, you would be better off not using the Gateway points in advance as they would instantly become worth one third more.

 

[Steady]

Well if they were going to link the Gateway MR to the Ascent MR program, you would be better off not using the Gateway points in advance as they would instantly become worth one third more.

So I am holding only one Amex - the Explorer. I cancelled a velocity platinum about 8 months ago and ready for another Amex signup now. I have not had any other Amex cards.

My signup bonus Gateway MR points are sitting in the account, what card options do I have to make these points more valuable? I don't think I can justify the $1200 for the Charge, does that just leave the Edge?

 

[imipenam]

So I am holding only one Amex - the Explorer. I cancelled a velocity platinum about 8 months ago and ready for another Amex signup now. I have not had any other Amex cards.

My signup bonus Gateway MR points are sitting in the account, what card options do I have to make these points more valuable? I don't think I can justify the $1200 for the Charge, does that just leave the Edge?

Edge and Explorer is probably the best combo in terms of point earning ability and cost. You get a domestic flight every year with edge. If you apply through certain professional organisations e.g. CPA, Engineer, Drs etc you also get discounted annual fees. Combine your return ticket and the Explorer's travel credit ... you get a nice weekend away. You can wait till the end of one membership year for the edge and claim two return tickets (One for current and one for next year).

 

[imipenam]

After reading all your posts (with thanks), my impulsive trigger finger took over my common sense (or lack of) and applied. I was risking a rejection as this was my third cc within 6 months, in addition to the refinance of my home loan to include an owner occupied and investment property loan. I dare not think what my Veda score was before and after this application (can only imagine how bad it is now!). So ... I got approved instantly online and will see what deal I get from Amex (also have a platinum edge and ticked the yes box on application). Hopefully will get the bonus points which will get me at least a one business class ticket to Asia next March.

Bonus points posted this morning ... Happy Monday. I did have to ring up to unlink the Explorer from Ascent even before I received my card.

I have since been asked by an Amex CSR if I wanted to link both program together when ringing to ask about a totally unrelated question (So I don't think there is a 12 month waiting period). If the relinking is not manual then the process may just work in our favour

 

[adelee]

Just a quick reminder to those rushing to change from Gateway to Ascent, that the conversion rate to SPG is the same across all AMEX MR schemes (1 MR point converts to 0.5 SPG point), so this represents particularly good value for Gateway. IMO, SPG transfers represent particularly good value at the moment with the announcement of SPG / Marriott merger (convert 1 SPG point to 3 Marriott points, then use to purchase outstanding value Hotel + Airline miles packages with AAdvantage and United points: Flight and Hotel Packages | Marriott Hotel Packages

In a nutshell, my husband and I managed to convert 200,000 Gateway MR points to 300,000 Marriott points. 270,000 Marriott points bought us 7 nights in a category 5 hotel (easily $2,500 + value, depending on what property you choose), plus 144,000 AAdvantage miles as Marriott is currently running a 20% bonus offer on the 120,000 base points (the miles alone have almost been obtained at the Gateway 0.75 rate for direct airline partners!).

The residual 30,000 Marriott points will get us 3 x nights accommodation at Category 2 property the AC La Rioja: https://www.marriott.com.au/hotels/travel/rjllo-ac-hotel-la-rioja/ on our trip to Spain next year.

Of course, in the long term, will try to link back to Ascent if I can as I may look to purchase AsiaMiles down the track.

 

[michaelangelo]

I asked previously if booking travel through Amex would give the same options and prices as using a search aggregator, such as Skyscanner. I used my Explorer travel credit yesterday and the flights I wanted on Singapore were about $45 more expensive than the best option on Skyscanner. The cheapest options on Skyscanner (a mix of Air Asia and Scoot) were also nowhere to be seen.

Not a huge deal (I rationalised it as 100k points for $45 since I was taking these flights anyway), but may be of interest to some.