The Explorer Credit Card (New AMEX Card!)

They have such a wide range of options they must get good data on what customers prioritize and how rational they really are when comparing options.

It's a pretty clear statement that a $400 travel credit isn't worth $400, anyway. Some ammunition for my next card renewal "negotiations".
 
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Effectively 1.5pts/$ spent (as in Gateway and not Ascent) and excluding government purchases which would be at 0.375pts/$ spent.

I would still go with the Edge (if you neglect the sign on bonus) at half the fee and the free VA flight.
 
Note:

4 Gateway Membership Rewardspoints = 3 Airline RewardPartner points

So the 100K sign on gains 75K Krisflyer points.
 
Interesting offering given general spend is effectively 1.33 'normal' MR at the gateway conversion rate.
Might be getting a little cynical but since when do Amex credit cards look like charge cards?
Essential looks 'like' the Platinum charge card;
Explorer looks like a 'darker' (Centurion ...Cough)charge card.
Is this intentional?
There's always been a clear design distinction between credit (large centurion) and charge (small centurion in the middle).
 
albyd said:
Interesting offering given general spend is effectively 1.33 'normal' MR at the gateway conversion rate.
Might be getting a little cynical but since when do Amex credit cards look like charge cards?
Essential looks 'like' the Platinum charge card;
Explorer looks like a 'darker' (Centurion ...Cough)charge card.
Is this intentional?
There's always been a clear design distinction between credit (large centurion) and charge (small centurion in the middle).
Click to expand...

I'm guessing that they want it to look like a "premium" card if they're charging $395/year
 
Given its a different rewards program to the velocity amex and the platinum charge, do you reckon a new sign up would be eligible for the 100k bonus points sign up?

Also - any consideration as to referral program? Thinking this is our next step for me + SO.
 
albyd said:
Interesting offering given general spend is effectively 1.33 'normal' MR at the gateway conversion rate.
Might be getting a little cynical but since when do Amex credit cards look like charge cards?
Essential looks 'like' the Platinum charge card;
Explorer looks like a 'darker' (Centurion ...Cough)charge card.
Is this intentional?
There's always been a clear design distinction between credit (large centurion) and charge (small centurion in the middle).
Click to expand...

The style seems to be in keeping with the other Gateway Rewards card, the Essentials Credit Card.

I thought it was 4 gateway points = 3 airline points, so effectively 1.5 per $? Maybe I'm reading it wrong. The terms and conditions also say you can transfer points between rewards programs for a fee of $5 per 1,000.
 
lovetravellingoz said:
Note:

4 Gateway Membership Rewardspoints = 3 Airline RewardPartner points

So the 100K sign on gains 75K Krisflyer points.
Click to expand...

What are people's thoughts on whether applying for this card while holding another Membership Rewards account/card (e.g. Edge or Charge) would convert the Gateway MR points to Ascent or Ascent Premium MR points?

I'm thinking similar to how people had their Ascent balances converted to Ascent Premium when they got the Platinum Charge...
 
Seems pretty good. I've been shopping less and less at supermarkets, and hardly ever buy petrol so the 1.5 (true) pts/$ seems more attractive to me.

In fact, most of my spend is at restaurants but can't justify $1,200 for the Platinum Charge.
 
decs said:
What are people's thoughts on whether applying for this card while holding another Membership Rewards account/card (e.g. Edge or Charge) would convert the Gateway MR points to Ascent or Ascent Premium MR points?

I'm thinking similar to how people had their Ascent balances converted to Ascent Premium when they got the Platinum Charge...
Click to expand...

I'd say it's unlikely as Gateway converts at a different rate, whereas the two Ascent are of the same 'flavour'.

I'm considering this card to replace my Velocity Platinum (which I only got for the sign up bonus anyway).
 
bismarck said:
Seems pretty good. I've been shopping less and less at supermarkets, and hardly ever buy petrol so the 1.5 (true) pts/$ seems more attractive to me.

In fact, most of my spend is at restaurants but can't justify $1,200 for the Platinum Charge.
Click to expand...
I completely agree. Having a very hard time justifying renewing my Charge and this seems the best miles-earner for general spend since Citi and Westpac have both devalued.

As someone who highly values CX AM and SQ KF currencies, this one is still a winner at *only* 1.5ppd.
 
Plutonus said:
I'd say it's unlikely as Gateway converts at a different rate, whereas the two Ascent are of the same 'flavour'.

I'm considering this card to replace my Velocity Platinum (which I only got for the sign up bonus anyway).
Click to expand...
I see merit to this. At first I was disappointed, however thinking about it this could be a win-win. If we are wrong, and they do merge the MR Gateway points with MR Ascent points, they are worth 33% more. OTOH, if we are correct, then signing up via a referral might still trigger the 100k bonus MR Gateway points!

Now to decide whether to wait for a referral link and go for the bonus, or request a product change to try protect from more hard pulls to my credit file and avoid another cc fee...
 
I wonder if there's a referral offer that gives even more points? Seems like it's on the same line of cards as the free essentials card. Anyone have one and can check if they can make a referral for this explorer card.

Even 75k krisflyer points and $400 travel credit is pretty good for $395. I already have a Charge, Reserve and Edge though so I don't think I can get another card.
 
Damn I have to cancel one of my existing cards to proceed with the application. Which one should I let go, the Velocity or the Qantas card? Hmmm
 
If you plan to keep the points and benefits and then churn this one, it may not matter which you cancel as you could go back to the one you just cancelled and try for another sign on bonus when you apply for that recently cancelled card as you will have cancelled this one.
 
Based on what I have seen, this is a pretty good card, and is what people have been asking for: earning 1.5 points per dollar spent for most things. Sure there is the $395 annual fee but it is compensated by the $400 travel credit. Whilst some people may not use it, AFFers will definitely use it to the max.
 

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