The American Express Explorer Card is offering 50,000 Bonus Membership Rewards Points when you apply online, are approved, and spend $4,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 3 months. T&Cs apply. New Card Members only.
To get this offer, head to the American Express website via the button below.
Plus, each year, receive a $400 American Express Travel credit, valid for spending on accommodation, flights or car hire.
Or, read on to discover why this card deserves pride of place in your wallet
American Express Explorer: What’s to love?
In addition to 50,000 bonus Membership Rewards Points, the popular American Express Explorer Credit Card delivers a range of travel, lifestyle, and money-saving perks.
At the top of the list is the $400 annual American Express Travel credit, Smartphone Screen Cover, and the ability to score a $100 USD property credit and room upgrades through a VIP Hotel Benefits program.
Plus, when it’s time to travel internationally again, take advantage of lounge entries, complimentary Travel Insurance, elite hotel status, and so much more.
Read on to discover key card benefits, with more information and a mobile-friendly application form available on the American Express website here.
What are 50,000 Membership Rewards Points worth?
Membership Rewards Points can be transferred to multiple leading airline and hotel programs, used to pay for purchases, or redeemed for gift cards online.
50,000 Membership Rewards points are equal to 25,000 frequent flyer points in programs such as Qatar Privilege Club, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles and Virgin Australia’s Velocity.
Alternatively, you could use 50,000 Membership Rewards Points for $250 in value when you choose to pay off your card account statement or in gift cards with leading brands.
The leading airlines you can transfer points to include:
- Virgin Australia’s Velocity Frequent Flyer
- Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
- Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
- Emirates Skywards
- Qatar Airways Privilege Club
- Etihad Guest
- Hawaiian Airways
- Malaysian Airlines Enrich
- Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus
As a flexible rewards program, Amex Membership Rewards allows you to earn points now and decide what to do with them at a later date. As long as your account is in good standing, your Membership Rewards Points don’t expire.
Amex says that the 50,000 Membership Rewards Points will be awarded within 8 – 10 weeks of the minimum spend being met.
Enjoy a $400 Amex Travel Credit each year
Each year, the American Express Explorer delivers a $400 travel credit. It’s valid for use at American Express Travel, a dedicated travel booking platform for Card Members.
This flexible credit can easily be redeemed for flights, hotels and rental car bookings.
Looking to book domestic flights? Use your credit to book major Australian airlines including Qantas, Virgin Australia, Jetstar and even Rex (including most sale fares). Plus, where applicable, you’ll earn Status Credits and Points on fares booked with your Travel Credit.
You can also choose to use the credit to book a stay at properties that participate in The Hotel Collection (offering benefits like a $100 hotel credit and room upgrade subject to availability) using Pay with Points.
The $400 Travel Credit can be easily accessed from inside your Card Member account. You can use it to book travel for yourself, for someone else or for multiple people. Choose economy or business class fares, for one way or return journeys – it’s all up to you.
You will need to use your annual $400 Travel Credit on a single travel booking of $400 or more on your eligible Card, made through American Express Travel Online. Your booking will be charged in full to your American Express Explorer Credit Card and American Express will then credit $400 to your Account within 3 business days but may take up to 30 days. You will still receive your $400 Travel Credit each year, and your Travel Credit anniversary will remain the same.
Want to learn more about how it works? Read our Guide to using the $400 Amex Travel Credit.
If you travel just once per year and can make use of the $400 Amex Travel Credit, you’ll effectively offset the $395 annual card fee.
Earn piles of Points on your spend
The American Express Explorer Credit Card delivers a very high flat earn rate of 2 Membership Rewards Points for each $1 spent, wherever you choose to make your purchase. The only exception here is for spend with Government Bodies, where you’ll earn 1 Point per $1 spent.
There’s no spending cap, ever, and no limit to how many points you can earn each month or each year.
Points Transfer Rates
The American Express Explorer Card unlocks transfers to a range of airline and hotel rewards programs at the following rates:
| Airline partner | Redemption rate |
|---|---|
| Velocity Frequent Flyer | 2 Membership Rewards points = 1 Velocity Point |
| Qatar Airways Privilege Club | 2 Membership Rewards points = 1 Avios |
| Cathay Pacific Asia Miles | 2 Membership Rewards points = 1 Asia Mile |
| Etihad Guest | 2 Membership Rewards points = 1 Etihad Guest Mile |
| Hawaiian Airlines | 2 Membership Rewards points = 1 Hawaiian Mile |
| Malaysia Airlines | 2 Membership Rewards points = 1 Enrich Mile |
| Thai Royal Orchid Plus | 2 Membership Rewards points = 1 Royal Orchid Plus Mile |
| Singapore KrisFlyer | 3 Membership Rewards points = 1 KrisFlyer Mile |
| Emirates Skywards | 3 Membership Rewards points = 1 Skywards Mile |
| Air New Zealand | 200 Membership Rewards points = 1 Airpoints Dollar |
| Hotel partner | Redemption rate |
|---|---|
| Marriott Bonvoy | 3 Membership Rewards points = 2 Marriott Points |
| Hilton Honors | 2 Membership Rewards points = 1 Honors Point |
Save money with a suite of included insurances
Paying with your Card unlocks a suite of complimentary insurances. These products could come in handy, whether you’re at home, travelling domestically or once it’s time to fly overseas again.
Smartphone Screen Cover
Access to complimentary Smartphone Screen Cover could help to cover costly and inevitable phone screen breakages. You’ll get up to $500 off screen repairs if you accidentally break your smartphone screen, with a 10% claim excess.
In order to activate the smartphone screen cover, you need to be paying your smartphone contract or phone on your American Express Explorer Card. A maximum of 2 claims per twelve months applies.
Domestic and International Travel Insurances
A range of travel insurances provides protection for you, your partner, and your dependent children when you book travel at home or overseas with your American Express Explorer credit card. There are a number of products on offer, and they include:
- Trip Cancellation and Amendment Cover: up to $30,000 in the event that your travel is cancelled for specific reasons
- Baggage, Money and Documentation Cover: up to $10,000 to cover loss or damage to baggage, money or documents
- Medical Emergency Expenses Cover: up to $2,500,000 towards medical treatment
- Travel Inconvenience Insurance: up to $500 if your flight departure is delayed for four hours or more
In order to activate the travel insurance products, you’ll need to have paid for a portion of the travel expenses either with your card, with your Amex Travel Credit, or with Membership Rewards Points.
Before taking up any of these insurance products, and to find out more information about coverage requirements, you should refer to the PDS for further information to ensure they meet your needs.
Get $100 in hotel credits and a room upgrade
The American Express Explorer Credit Card unlocks exclusive perks with The Hotel Collection, an accommodation booking portal that features more than 600 hotels and resorts in over 30 countries worldwide, including numerous properties in Australia.
Simply book two consecutive nights’ stay to enjoy a hotel credit of up to US$100 and a room upgrade, (when available) at properties part of The Hotel Collection.
Whether you’re looking for a staycation or a domestic getaway, this benefit could add significant value.
Have a hankering for elite hotel status? The American Express Explorer also offers complimentary Silver status to the Hilton Honors program.
Save time and money with even more benefits
As a premium rewards card, the American Express Explorer also unlocks plenty of other perks designed to save you significant time and money. These include:
- Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, and Google Pay compatible – use your card with your phone for easier payments
- Two entries each year to The Centurion® Lounge at Sydney and Melbourne International Airports
- The ability to arrange up to four additional cards for family members at no charge, helping you to rack up more points for rewards
- Access to Amex Offers, where you can unlock popular ‘Spend and Save’ promotions that reward you with a credit on your account when you spend at specific merchants
- Exclusive access to music, theatre and film events with Amex Experiences
You can access the Key Fact Sheet for the American Express Explorer Credit Card here
American Express Explorer Credit Card annual fee
The cost to hold the American Express Explorer Card is $395 each year. By using the annual $400 Amex Travel Credit, you’ll fully offset the charge of holding this card each and every year.
A 23.99% p.a. interest rate on purchases applies.
American Express Explorer Credit Card eligibility
To apply for this card, you’ll need to be able to report no history of bad debt or payment default. You must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident or hold a long-term visa. Long-term means 12 months or more and does not include a student visa.
The offer of 50,000 Bonus Membership Rewards Points is available when you apply online, are approved, and spend $4,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 3 months. T&Cs apply. New Card Members only.
If you are an additional cardholder on someone else’s account, or if you are a previous and existing bank-issued American Express companion cardholder, you are eligible for this offer.
Don’t miss 50,000 bonus points. Plus, enjoy a $400 Travel Credit each year.
The secure, mobile-friendly application form takes less than 10 minutes to complete and Amex may be able to give you a response in less than 60 seconds.