The Explorer Credit Card (New AMEX Card!)

[lovetravellingoz]

I'm in quite similar circumstances and got approved for a $17.5k limit (of which I only took $10k).

I must admit that I am a little curious as to the low limits that some are going for as I see this card as a "keeper"and not a "churner". One that is ideal to have in ones armoury so that one can pounce on any Point Running Opportunities when they present.

As this card earns at 2 Ascent Points per $, which means say 2 KF points per $, it is for me my highest earning card for most non-supermarket/gift card spend. Add to that the $400 travel credit and cashbacks and you have a card that makes you money in excess of its fee as well as being a points maximiser.

So for myself it is now my preferred card for such spend and so I will be channeling every $ I can through it (Or at least will be once my current triple NAB Point offer finishes on 24th Jan) including it being linked to PayPal (which counters some on the Gov 0.5 earn if direct). Naturally Gov spend will be on PayPal or other cards, and for Churning Cards one has to put through the qualifying spend. But with this card emerging at the same time as the banks have devalued the transfer rates to Krisflyer (For me a Krisflyer point is a lot more valuable AND much easy to redeem in the pointy end thana QFF point)

So for my earn/burn maximisation and spend patterns this is now a crucial card and a low monthly limit would get in the way of point maximization. I have upped what they assigned to $25K.

Being part of a couple, one of us will continue to hold it going forward. So no need for two high limits.


Currently I have 3 "keeper" cards: Explorer, Edge and Free for life Citibank Signature. Apart from maximising points, the cards are effectively free. Other cards come and go as "çhurner" cards.

As part of a couple I could churn the Explorer as long as one of us holds it. The Edge however is needed as a Points Warehouse, in addition to its ability to earn 3 points per $ on certain types of spend. This warehouse is only likely to grow as a chunk of spend has now been swapped from the Westpac Black to the Explorer.

 

[ajd]

I must admit that I am a little curious as to the low limits that some are going for as I see this card as a "keeper"and not a "churner". One that is ideal to have in ones armoury so that one can pounce on any Point Running Opportunities when they present.

Agreed! Though in my circumstances I don't regard my $10k limit as low... it's fun seeing people on this forum whose definition of "low spending" on a credit card is approximately my entire salary...

 

[Jaian]

After delinking my Explorer on day 1 (Friday), and spending the $1500 immediately, the bonus points posted this morning. Time to relink my Ascent Premium account to the card!

 

[unfunkable]

I must admit that I am a little curious as to the low limits that some are going for as I see this card as a "keeper"and not a "churner". One that is ideal to have in ones armoury so that one can pounce on any Point Running Opportunities when they present.

For me anyway, unless they fix the ascent earned on explorer or a more bigger earner comes out this is a definite keeper for me. I'm lucky to have work spend of up to 40k a month through this...love it.
I'd like them to increase my limit so I can put through more work spend!

 

[foggy]

anyone remember if you get the message of 5-10 working days after application, do they contact you via sms,call or email?

 

[Dr Ralph]

anyone remember if you get the message of 5-10 working days after application, do they contact you via sms,call or email?

No notification is common.

 

[ajd]

anyone remember if you get the message of 5-10 working days after application, do they contact you via sms,call or email?

I got a phone call.

 

[Ken1]

anyone remember if you get the message of 5-10 working days after application, do they contact you via sms,call or email?

I received an SMS a few hours after I submitted the application saying "Thank you for your American Express Card application. Please call 1300 557 743 (M-F, 9am to 5.30pm EST) to discuss your application with Ref# ....."

I called them and after they checked on a few things, mainly that I also had a David Jones card that I forgot I had since I hadn't used it for many years and I told him I don't want it any more, I was told that my application had been approved and I received an SMS confirmation of the approval while I was still speaking to him. I didn't receive any emails. I applied on Thursday December 22 and received the cards for myself and my Wife on Wednesday December 28 so it only took 6 days, and considering that the Monday and Tuesday were public holidays I'm impressed with how quickly they arrived.

When I applied for a different card back in March I received a text message asking me to call the same number, so that is the direct number for new accounts.

 

[SOPOOR]

im really hoping that my appplication goes through, i seem to have rotten luck in these sorts of things? most people look at my figures and cant seem to work out why. and obviously they wont tell you why

peole on here have been syaing that veda scores arent that important,
nor incomes are verfiied,
so I wonder what is actually the main factors for applications? especially for first timers

 

[Aeolus]

Noticed that my Explorer automatically linked itself to my existing Gold Amex's MR points. Does anyone know if I need to de-link for the bonus to trigger? Appreciate any advice on this. Thanks.

 

[mmchow]

Noticed that my Explorer automatically linked itself to my existing Gold Amex's MR points. Does anyone know if I need to de-link for the bonus to trigger? Appreciate any advice on this. Thanks.

Yes to delink Aeolus. You need the Gateway MR to get the bonus points assuming your gold is in the Ascent MR.

 

[Aeolus]

Yes to delink Aeolus. You need the Gateway MR to get the bonus points assuming your gold is in the Ascent MR.

Many thanks. Have de-linked and thanked Amex for being proactive (best call centre to deal with), which in this case did not help at all. Logged back in straight after the call and Explorer now showing zero! Can't believe I was actually happy to see zero reward points on any account but there you go, there's always a first in everything. :mrgreen: This was the most painless application as well - approved online and card appeared in 5 days and referrer got his bonus the same day I was approved. If only other banks / credit card companies could be as efficient!

 

[BettyB]

Yes you can apply supplementary cards online - Login into your amex account online, choose add supplementary card, as soon as you pick explorer card ( you will see message asking you to call number at the back of the card ), What you need to do is to pick amex platinum edge ( I did this for all 4 supps card ), and fill all required information, and submit it.

You will receive amex explorer supps card in the next 4-5 working days.

Cheers

Tried this tonight. Hopefully it works and I get the cards

 

[Aeolus]

Tried this tonight. Hopefully it works and I get the cards

I enquired tonight and was told the 5K bonus for supplementary card is no longer valid? Can someone confirm this?

 

[Dr Ralph]

I enquired tonight and was told the 5K bonus for supplementary card is no longer valid? Can someone confirm this?

Confirmed.

 

[billmurray]

So i just got this card.

My phone has a cracked screen so i will use their phone screen coverage - but i need to wait 3months i believe until i can claim.

Can anyone confirm that in order to meet the insurance requirements that i pay my monthly phone bill on the new Amex card, would they consider paying the bill via Paypal as the same thing? Or would i need to pay the 3 monthly bills with the Amex card directly?

 

[Ken1]

When I received my Explorer cards last week I requested Supplementary cards for our Son, as well as for each of us so we'd have two cards each. I was told that for myself and my Wife it's a separate request they submit for "Additional Cards" rather than as a Supplementary. I received our two additional cards today. Our original cards just had our initials and I requested that the additional cards have our full name, which they do, so we can easily differentiate between them. Our Son's card hasn't arrived yet but it's listed under my account as a Supplementary along with my additional card and my Wife's two cards so it should arrive in the next day or two.

I've just phoned the Membership Rewards number and asked to have the Explorer de-linked from the Ascent Premium. It was after 7pm so I spoke to someone who would have been in the Philippines office. That was done easily. She didn't ask why I wanted to de-link but just told me that I would not be able to transfer to Qantas and I said that's okay. She said that it has already been done and that I should see it online straight away but that it could take up to 24 hours. When I now log in to view My Points I'm getting an error screen
"We're sorry... [SIZE=-1]The American Express Online Services system has not properly responded to your request.If you were attempting to view Billing Details, the system may be unable to return all of your charges at one time. please use your browser's back button, and press the "Additional Cards" button to view your charges one card at a time.If the problem persists, please contact American Express Customer Services. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you."
[/SIZE]
Has anyone else had problems logging in to Membership Rewards straight after the de-link? At least now when I look at the cards on the Account screen the Explorer shows 0 points rather than "Please view your points balance under xx_-22004" so it looks like it's happening properly.
[h=3][/h]

 

[Pele]

Gday

Moderators can you please get a wiki set up for this thread. 1,000 posts is way too many for someone to read through.

Thanks.

Pele.

 

[Holysmoke]

For those that managed to relink Gateway and Ascent after the bonus points have posted, do the cards show up together in one account login or do they stay in their separate accounts but the Explorer now belonging to the Ascent program enabling Ascent redemptions?

 

[mmchow]

For those that managed to relink Gateway and Ascent after the bonus points have posted, do the cards show up together in one account login or do they stay in their separate accounts but the Explorer now belonging to the Ascent program enabling Ascent redemptions?

Showing up as separate account with the Gateway point balance referring to my Ascent MR. Yes to Ascent MR redemption.