American Express Explorer Credit Card - 100,000 Bonus MR + $400 Travel Credit ($395 Annual Fee)

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Uzb9811 on 15/11/2018 - 08:36 americanexpress.com (2866 clicks)
Last edited 21/12/2018 - 09:52 by 1 other user

Currently this deal has only been updated for referral links and the main Explorer application page still refers to a 50k bonus. This should be updated soon. The page you see when you access a referral link refers to a 100,000 sign-on bonus when you spend $1,500 within 3 months.

The offer has been updated now on the normal Explorer application page for all applications, whether or not a referral link is used. The only difference with you using a referral link is that the Ozbargainer referrer will also receive some points.

Receive 100,000 bonus Membership Rewards points in the American Express Gateway program when you apply for a new American Express Explorer card and spend $1,500 within 3 months.

To be eligible for the bonus points, you must be a new Amex card member which means that you do not hold another Amex and have not held one in the last 18 months. Bank-issued Amexes do not count for this purpose.

Each MR point in the Gateway program converts to 0.75 points in the Virgin Australia Velocity, Cathay Pacific, Etihad, Emirates or Singapore Airlines Krisflyer programs.

Benefits:

$400 Travel Credit every year to use on flights, hotels, experiences or car hire booked online with American Express Travel. You can use this credit to book travel for anyone you choose.

Earn up to 2 Membership Rewards points for every $1 spent on eligible purchases.

Smartphone Screen Insurance for up to $500 for screen repairs to your smartphone when you pay for your phone or contract with your card.

Travel insurance, buyers advantage, purchase protection, and refund protection.

2 entries per year to the American Express Lounge at Sydney International (Kingsford Smith) Airport T1, or at the Melbourne Airport International Terminal.

0% p.a. on balance transfers for the first 12 months — A one-off credit plan establishment fee of 1% applies to any balances transferred.

The $400 travel credit more than offsets the $395 annual fee.

As mentioned by hellohello123, there are some changes coming in April 2019 across this and other Amex cards: (https://www.ausbt.com.au/american-express-overhauls-credit-c…). The most significant change is a decrease in the rate that Membership Rewards points convert to frequent flyer points from 0.75 points per Membership Rewards point to 0.5 points.

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  dealer453 on 06/01/2019 - 16:27

  If I sign up tomorrow and spend the 1500$ in 2 weeks, do you think I will get the 100k bonus before April 15?

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    Uzb9811 on 06/01/2019 - 17:56

    +1

    Yes! You will get the 100k bonus as soon as the $1,500 is reached (and the transactions clears on your account). Amex is very quick to award the bonus points.

    See spiff's comment above for an example. Cheers

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      dealer453 on 06/01/2019 - 19:15

      Thanks! Although on the T&C it says "8 to 10 weeks", so it would be around 2 months plus the time to get the card and spend the 1.5k. It's tight…

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      dealer453 on 06/01/2019 - 19:23

      A lof of people including long time members are dropping their credit cards because of this points rate decrease. Maybe it's not the right time to join amex.
      https://www.ausbt.com.au/american-express-to-cut-credit-card… (check comments)

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        Uzb9811 on 06/01/2019 - 19:30

        My personal strategy would be to sign up, get bonus points and redeem them before the April changes. So in that sense I actually think now is a good time to join, while the current earn and conversion rates still apply.

        But the upcoming changes are disappointing, I agree.

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          Peck on 07/01/2019 - 11:04

          @Uzb9811: Before rushing to redeem, remember to ring them.
          Depending on the Amex Card, they might double your points already accumulated before April 15, maintaining the redemption value of your accumulation.
          In that case there will be no rush to redeem your points.
          I rang them and they will now double my points, however my card is Amex Platinum Charge Card.
          https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/429963#comment-6806311
          It is worth a phone call. They have excellent phone customer service.

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  padman on 07/01/2019 - 22:21

  Looks like they've changed the requirements from "household income of $65k" to "personal income of $65k"

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  Ameowzon on 11/01/2019 - 17:07

  About the American Express Lounge at Melbourne Airport International Terminal, if I was to travel with my wife and two kids (under 4s), will all of us be able to enter the lounge, or is it just the card holder, or can I just let my wife in? Any tips to use such service?

  Thanks!

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    Uzb9811 on 11/01/2019 - 17:21

    Children 2-17 get complimentary entrance, but you and your wife would use up one of the invites each. You get two lounge invites, so yes, you, your wife and kids could visit the lounge with this card (one time).

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      Ameowzon on 11/01/2019 - 17:22

      Awesome news, thanks!

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  Ameowzon on 16/01/2019 - 19:22

  Spent $3k thinking that I need to spend $3k, and got the 100k points the following day. I've not even cleared the $3k. It's recognised as "Welcome Bonus".

  Now, should I be converting it to Velocity FF? 4 MR = 3 Velocity FF

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    Uzb9811 on 16/01/2019 - 19:45

    That’s great, yeah you only needed to spend $1,500. The points do tend to post instantly. It’s a tough call between the two.

    Krisflyer is innately more valuable because of the lower taxes and the lower points amount required but 75k Krisflyer miles by themselves won’t necessarily get get you far, unless you plan to earn more. Krisflyer miles also expire 3 years after whenever you transfer them, no matter what.

    Velocity is definitely a solid choice!

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