Review: American Express Explorer credit card

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The information provided on this page is purely factual and general in nature. You should seek independent advice and consider your own personal circumstances before applying for any financial product.

Notes

The Good

• Earn up to 1.5 FF points per $1
• Choice of 8 frequent flyer schemes
• 50,000 bonus MRG points for new AMEX customers

The Bad

• There’s still a 3% international transaction fee

Added Value

• Get a $400 travel credit each and every year

Introduction

Pairing 50,000 bonus Membership Rewards Gateway points with cool extras like a $400 travel voucher each year and access to American Express airport lounges, the American Express Explorer credit card certainly packs a punch.

You can also collect up to 1.5 airline frequent flyer points per dollar spent in your choice of eight airline loyalty schemes including Virgin Australia Velocity and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, and there’s even insurance cover if you accidentally manage to shatter your smartphone screen.

American Express Explorer credit card: fast facts

• Grade/tier: Black
• Card type: American Express
• Loyalty program: Membership Rewards Gateway (MRG)
• MRG points earned per dollar (government providers): 0.5
• MRG points earned per dollar (everywhere else): 2
• 2 MRG points = 1.5 frequent flyer points with: Virgin Australia Velocity, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, Emirates Skywards, Etihad Guest, Malaysia Airlines Enrich, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer and Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus
• 2 MRG points = $0.015 Air New Zealand Airpoints Dollars
• Points capping: Uncapped
• Supported tech: Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Android Pay

Fees, charges and interest:

• Annual fee: $395
• Supplementary cardholder fee: $0
• Interest rate on purchases: 20.74% p.a.
• Interest-free days on purchases: Up to 55
• Interest rate on cash advances: N/A
• International transaction fee: 3.0%
• Minimum income requirement: $65,000 p.a.
• Minimum credit limit: $3,000

Earning points for free flights:

Regardless of how much you spend, cardholders receive a $400 travel credit each year which you can use towards flights, hotels or other travel-related bookings when those travel arrangements are made by American Express.

That practically makes the card ‘free’ for anybody who normally spends on travel, because although you’re paying a $395 annual fee to hold the card, you’re immediately getting that value back – and more – in your travel credit.

Further, new cardholders who apply, are approved and spend at least $3,000 on the card within the first three months will pocket 50,000 Membership Rewards Gateway points, equal to 37,500 frequent flyer points with Virgin Australia, Singapore Airlines and the others.

You’ll also earn the equivalent of 1.5 airline frequent flyer points per dollar spent on the card at most merchants (uncapped), although payments to government bodies like the Australian Taxation Office and Australia Post earn a lower 0.375 airline frequent flyer points per dollar.

Airport lounge access:

You’re invited to visit American Express airport lounges in Australia twice per year, with further visits available for purchase at $55. These can be found in the international departures area of Sydney and Melbourne airports.

Complimentary insurance coverage:

Cardholders are given a range of travel insurance options spanning medical, trip cancellation, baggage issues, flight delays and more, activated when purchasing a return trip on your card or using Membership Rewards points to directly book the same.

However, you may not be covered when booking trips using actual airline frequent flyer points, so read the PDS and make sure the cover suits your needs before relying on its protection.

Also thrown in is ‘smartphone screen insurance’ should you accidentally break the same and have paid for the phone or your monthly contract on your AMEX Explorer card.

For good measure, purchase and refund protection covers are also included.

American Express Explorer credit card: the verdict

All things considered, this is a very solid credit card for travellers and higher spenders, but even if you don’t get away too often, the card still pays for itself through its $400 travel credit after you’ve paid a $395 annual fee.

In other words, what you’re paying in annual fees, you’re getting back in flights and hotel stays, and then some.

We’re also happy to see a frequent flyer sign-on bonus and airport lounge options, but for such a travel-centric card, we’d hoped to find a lower international transaction fee than AMEX’s standard 3% rate.

There’s also no way to earn Qantas Frequent Flyer points on the American Express Explorer card, but with great partners like Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer and Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, you’re certainly not short of options.

Disclaimer

Executive Traveller may receive a commission when you apply for these credit cards via our links.

The information provided on this page is purely factual and general in nature. You should seek independent advice and consider your own personal circumstances before applying for any financial product.

Chris C.

A former contributor to Executive Traveller, Chris lives by the motto that a journey of a thousand miles begins not just with a single step, but also a strong latte, a theatre ticket, and later in the day, a good gin and tonic.