The Explorer Credit Card (New AMEX Card!)

[unfunkable]

Yep you can . Rang the number on the back of card - and the lady did it for me .

 

[imipenam]

Yep you can . Rang the number on the back of card - and the lady did it for me .

When I rang up to arrange mine, I got a lady (maybe Singaporean). She was almost flirting ... "you are only allowed to transfer the credit once a year but if you need anything just ring up and discuss with us. At Amex we can do anything for you that you may need" ... LOL

 

[Finale]

Bought a non Amex travel insurance (travelinsurancedirect) and got 2 points per dollar so looks like 0.5 is for Government only as mentioned in the terms.

 

[peanutz]

I tried to understand what is happening with this card and bonus points for existing Amex card holder. Correct me if I'm wrong, please. I have platinum charge, platinum edge with ascent premium and ascent accounts. I've just received my explorer card which seems to be automatically links to my platinum charge and ascent premium account. If I want 100k bonus points, I have to ring up Amex and ask CSR to unlink my explorer card from the ascent premium, correct? And after I spend $1,500, I should get the bonus points? Then, I can ask Amex CSR to link the Explorer card back to either ascent or ascent premium??

 

[imipenam]

I tried to understand what is happening with this card and bonus points for existing Amex card holder. Correct me if I'm wrong, please. I have platinum charge, platinum edge with ascent premium and ascent accounts. I've just received my explorer card which seems to be automatically links to my platinum charge and ascent premium account. If I want 100k bonus points, I have to ring up Amex and ask CSR to unlink my explorer card from the ascent premium, correct? And after I spend $1,500, I should get the bonus points? Then, I can ask Amex CSR to link the Explorer card back to either ascent or ascent premium??

Hi peanutz, correct, correct, and correct. In my case, it worked to my benefit but may not work for all. Again, my advice is to avoid the Australian AMEX CSRs when you are ringing. Some people have reported that it didn't work out for them, which is a potential risk when unlinking and linking again.

 

[Leroy87]

Total AMEX Membership rewards newbie here - reading back over this thread I think I've got the idea for what I want to do, just wanted to check my facts. I currently don't have any AMEX cards, nor have held any in the last 12 months.

- Apply for the explorer and get 110k gateway points (using a referral link).
- If I then apply for an Edge, I may more get more bonus points (not too bothered with this really) and may get an Ascent rewards account. I should be able to ring up and ensure this second part happens (potentially forgoing any bonus points).

People have been talking about getting the gateway points transferred over to Ascent - is there a cost involved with this? Once linked, does the explorer continue to earn 2pts/$ Ascent, or does it still stockpile into Gateway and require constant shuffling of points around?

If it's possible to shuffle those 110k points into Ascent that would increase their value to me (looking to transfer to KF).

 

[tizey]

1. Yes, apply using a referral link and the bonus is 110k MR Gateway points. (would appreciate a referral if you'd be so kind to use it)

2. I'd say very good chance you'll get the bonus on a Plat Edge as it will open a new MR Ascent account as that is the rewards program for that card.

3. There have been reports of converting the Gateway Account to an Ascent Account (and the Explorer linking direct to Ascent), which then earns at 2 Ascent points/$ ongoing.

That said, I'd be nervous to try and convert my Gateway points to Ascent points as it doesnt seem like something that SHOULD happen, but can happen more depending on who you speak with. Because of this, I see the risk of something going wrong with the conversion from Gateway to Ascent as too high - what if the 110k points are forfeited when converting MR accounts, and they are lost? To me, a certain 75k KF miles is better than the potential of a successful conversion.

I'd be emptying my Gateway account to KF first, then trying to link - much safer.

 

[Sherlockpui]

Another success story here.

Currently holding a platinum edge. I applied for the explorer while holding both DJ amex and platinum edge. Ticked no as existing member and provided driving licence number. Got an SMS telling me to call them to discuss my application. Was told that they found out I am an existing customer and I was not allowed a third card so I had to call and cancel my DJ amex in order to proceed with my application.

Did that and got approved 1 day later. Account not linked to any MR. Started spending, spent $360 with no MR points earned. Called Amex to link my account to Gateway, got a transfer credit of 720 Gateway points. Respent $1500 and got the sign up bonus!

So it doesn't matter whether they catch you lying bout being an existing customer. As long as your MR gateway is brand new you're fine I guess.

 

[Leroy87]

Following my post just above (#726) I've had a bunch of PMs offering to help walk me through the process and offering referral links.

Thanks to the AFF community for being so extremely helpful and may the points keep flowing for all .

 

[ninja-tim]

Anyone having trouble activating the supplementary card? I'm trying to activate my missus card but it's not letting me link it to her account.

I just remember she's got 2 log in accounts, one for a supp card for plat charge and one as primary card for velocity. How do I get them to merge the accounts? Is there any way of doing it online? I only ask because the wife isn't here with me to call and she hates calling up because I sign her up for these and doesn't want to deal with any of the problems if she can help it.

 

[adelee]

Anyone having trouble activating the supplementary card? I'm trying to activate my missus card but it's not letting me link it to her account.

I just remember she's got 2 log in accounts, one for a supp card for plat charge and one as primary card for velocity. How do I get them to merge the accounts? Is there any way of doing it online? I only ask because the wife isn't here with me to call and she hates calling up because I sign her up for these and doesn't want to deal with any of the problems if she can help it.

Hi, you could try the AMEX online chat functionality, or email them via the online mailbox. I use that all the time in relation to my husband's account (he is the same - he lets me sign him up but doesn't want to deal with any of it).

 

[decs]

Anyone having trouble activating the supplementary card? I'm trying to activate my missus card but it's not letting me link it to her account.

I just remember she's got 2 log in accounts, one for a supp card for plat charge and one as primary card for velocity. How do I get them to merge the accounts? Is there any way of doing it online? I only ask because the wife isn't here with me to call and she hates calling up because I sign her up for these and doesn't want to deal with any of the problems if she can help it.

I have just done this for my accounts so can confirm it is easy to do yourself online. Login on a desktop browser (as opposed to phone browser or app). Then under card management, there should be an option to unlink from online services. Once unlinked you can login to another account of yours and again in the card management menu there will be a link of the nature of "Add a card to online services". Simply add the card just removed from your other account.

This will work as long as the names on the cards are identical. I had them misspell my name on a supp and couldn't do anything but create a new account.

Also, no worries with points accounts or anything being lost; even my secure messages came across.

 

[fairbasa]

I want to use a family member's points who doesn't live at the same address. Has anyone found a nice way of transferring the sign-on bonus to someone other than changing address and waiting the 30 days via SPG?

Looks like the 'best' way I could dig up was to transfer MR>SPG>Marriott, combining points from two accounts to book a Marriott award, then cancelling the award to leave them all in one account. Messy.

 

[tizey]

Apparently you can transfer MR Gateway points to another member, 50k per calendar year as per http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ansfer-krisflyer-miles-78974.html#post1531754

I'm hoping this is the case (waiting on member to provide feedback on how he went) - 50k now, 50k in Jan = just about all consolidated into one account to warehouse nicely.

 

[fortunately]

just got a message that my application has been approved
do you know how I can contact them to deliver my card to my workplace instead my home address? They are not responding to my emails.

 

[Ultan Lankford]

So I am after reading the last 15 pages. Lots of people mentioning unlinking from Gateway and linking to ascent. This is good for earning points but is it also good for transferring points to other programs like Qantas Frequent Flyer? Can you do this?

Also, I have mentioned before, I have Amex Platinum Charger card and Amex Platinum Reserve (not activated yet). In theory one is not allowed the bonus points but in practice I hear that people get them anyway. Can people testify to this?
I am mostly interested in Qantas FF points, can I transfer these points over to the program?

 

[potm]

As long as you get them to create a gateway program for you, you'll get the bonus points. To transfer to QFF you'll then need to get it linked to the charge ascent premium program. There's also a qantas ultimate card that gives over 100k qantas points at the moment.

 

[Ultan Lankford]

As long as you get them to create a gateway program for you, you'll get the bonus points. To transfer to QFF you'll then need to get it linked to the charge ascent premium program. There's also a qantas ultimate card that gives over 100k qantas points at the moment.

OK, sweet! Yea, I heard about that. Could be greedy but may give that a go after! lol

 

[potm]

For those who managed to relink their accounts. Did your $400 travel remain?
When I unlinked my account the travel credit disappeared, I had to call up to get them to manually add it again.
I'm afraid that if I get it unlinked again, the travel credit will once again disappear.

 

[imipenam]

For those who managed to relink their accounts. Did your $400 travel remain?
When I unlinked my account the travel credit disappeared, I had to call up to get them to manually add it again.
I'm afraid that if I get it unlinked again, the travel credit will once again disappear.

When I first unlinked, I think it was there. After relinking, it disappeared - my post previously where I rang up and the CSR said my programs shouldn't be linked but she never called me back. Since then, my accounts are still linked and the travel credit reappeared two weeks after my phone call (just after my first statement was paid - not sure if coincidental).

It currently shows when I go to my online MR account ... go to membership rewards page and click on 'my redemptions'. My free flight with platinum edge is also listed there. Others have reported that you can ring up Amex travel to redeem even if it doesn't appear on your account.