Receive 100,000 Membership Rewards® Bonus Points when you apply online by 30 January 2017, are approved and spend $1,500 on your Card within the first 2 months of Card Membership. Card comes with a $395 annual fee and minimum income requirement of $65,000.
Other key highlights:
* $400 travel credit for American Express Travel (book flights, car hire and hotels online - I've found AMEX competitive when compared to other major online travel booking engines) - (offsets the $395 annual fee)
* The usual suite of insurances are provided, including Smartphone Screen Insurance when you pay for your phone / contract with AMEX (for up to $500 repairs).
* 2 x invites to the AMEX Sydney International lounge
* You'll earn 2 Membership Rewards points per $1 spent on all purchases except government bodies in Australia where you will earn 0.5 points per $1 spend.
Membership Rewards ‘Gateway’ differs from the ‘Ascent’ and ‘Ascent Premium’ programs found on cards like the AMEX Platinum Edge (https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/261537) and the Platinum Card (https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/259759), in that the credit card points you earn are converted into airline frequent flyer points at a 4:3 rate, rather than 1:1. 100,000 MR Gateway bonus is equal to 82,500 frequent flyer points that can be transferred to 8 airline partners - Virgin Australia, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Etihad, Malaysia Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways.
I can confirm that I recently had the Explorer card credit points to my Ascent premium (Platinum Charge card). I called Amex this Monday to unlink the accounts so my Explorer card is then crediting straight to Gateway account. Spent $1500 straight away because I knew I only had 4 more days till my 2 months was up to get the 100K Gateway points bonus. Glad to say this morning I have 100K in my Gateway account. This was the whole of the last 2 months contemplating if it was worth risking unlinking. In my case - it was.