Offer ends: 16 Jun 2026
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Offer available to new American Express Card Members only. T&Cs apply.
Card Overview
Key Attributes
Earn
Membership Rewards Points per $1
2 Points
on all purchases except government bodies⁶
1 Point
at government bodies in Australia⁶
Travel Benefits
Travel Credit
$400 travel credit every year²
The Centurion® Lounge
2 The Centurion® Lounge³ entries each year
Travel Insurance
Complimentary Intl. Travel Insurance⁴ (PDS)
Hilton Honors
Complimentary Hilton Honors Silver Status
Points Cap
No
Annual Fee
$395 p.a.
ATO Points
Yes
1 Point per $1
Overseas Transaction Fee
3%
of the converted amount
Interest-free Period
Up to 55 days
Purchase Rate
23.99% p.a.
Cash Advance Rate
N/A
Why Choose This Card
The American Express Explorer card is a great option for many people, as it comes packed with travel perks for a minimal cost. We absolutely love the $400 travel credit, which effectively offsets the entire annual fee.
The card also comes with 2 lounge passes to the Centurion Lounges in Sydney and Melbourne, allowing you to freshen up prior to your international flight.
You’ll also be protected wherever you go, with a great suite of insurances including complimentary international travel insurance.
The American Express Explorer also comes with complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status and access to the Hotel Collection, which can get you a room upgrade, $100 USD room credit and late check out at certain hotels.
All of these perks combined with a fantastic universal earn rate of 2 American Express Membership Rewards points per $1 spent (except at government bodies) makes this card a fantastic option for anyone looking to maximise their credit card value.
This guide references some of the benefits of insurance policies provided with this card. You should read the PDS and obtain independent professional advice before obtaining this product.
Where could 75,000 Membership Rewards Points take you?
You could redeem them for the following:
Fly fancy to Fiji
Fly one-way on Virgin Australia in Business Class from Sydney or Brisbane to Fiji for 71,000 Membership Rewards Points (redemption value calculated on 17 April 2026). Taxes and carrier charges apply**.
Cross the country in comfort
Fly one-way on Virgin Australia between the East Coast and Perth in Business Class for 71,000 Membership Rewards Points (redemption value calculated on 17 April 2026). Taxes and carrier charges apply**.
Extra Benefits
Complimentary Insurance
Smartphone Screen Cover, Trip Cancellation and Amendment Cover⁴, Travel Inconvenience Cover⁴, Public Transport Accident Cover⁴, Personal Baggage, Valuables, Money and Travel Documents Cover⁴, Medical Emergency Expenses Cover⁴ and Personal Accident Cover⁴ (PDS)
Mobile Wallet
Apple Pay, Google Wallet and Samsung Pay
American Express is offering 75,000 Membership Rewards Bonus Points to New Amex Card Members who apply online through the link on this page by 16 June 2026, are approved and spend $4,000 on eligible purchases on your new American Express Explorer® Credit Card within the first 3 months. T&Cs apply. New American Express Card Members only.
The main benefit of the card is that it earns points into the American Express Membership Rewards, which provides flexibility in the frequent flyer and guest programs that you can divert your Membership Rewards Points to, without the high annual fee found with The American Express Platinum Card that caters to the very well-heeled traveller.
The card earn members up to 2 points per dollar spent on purchases6 and the points can either be redeemed for gift cards or can be transferred at a ratio of 2:1 Membership Rewards points into programs such as Velocity and Hilton Honors , 3:1 to programs like KrisFlyer Miles, Asia Miles, and Etihad Guest and others, and 3:2 to Marriott Bonvoy.7
We cover the transfer rates to different programs in more detail further down in the guide.
Digging into the benefits of the American Express Explorer Credit Card
The American Express Explorer Credit Card earns 2 Membership Rewards points6 per dollar on ongoing spend and there is no cap on the points you can earn.
Card Details
| Card | American Express Explorer |
| Loyalty Program | American Express Membership Rewards |
| Points earned from spend | 2 Membership Rewards points earned per $1 on all purchases except government bodies where you will earn 1 point per $1 spent6 |
| Included Insurances | Smartphone Screen Cover Trip Cancellation and Amendment Cover4 Travel Inconvenience Cover4 Public Transport Accident Cover4 Personal Baggage, Valuables, Money and Travel Documents Cover4 Medical Emergency Expenses Cover4 Personal Accident Cover4 (PDS) |
| Overseas transaction fee | 3% of the converted amount |
| Mobile wallet | Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay |
| Annual fee | $395 p.a. |
You will also be granted access to The Centurion® Lounge³ at Sydney or Melbourne twice per year without charge, which is a nice perk for international travellers in Economy or Premium Economy.
The card offers complimentary Silver status to the Hilton Honors program. If you already have the card, you can enrol using this link.
There is also a business version of the American Express Explorer Credit Card.
Earning points with the American Express Explorer Credit Card
The card belongs to the American Express Membership Rewards program for points earn and redemption.
The headline points earn rate on spend is 2 Membership Rewards points per dollar6, which can be transferred to over 10 major airline programs and hotel programs.7
Effective Frequent Flyer Program Point Earn Rates
| Frequent Flyer / Hotel Program | Points earned from spend |
|---|---|
| Velocity Frequent Flyer | Up to 1 point / $ |
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer | Up to 0.66 mile / $ |
| Cathay Pacific Asia Miles | Up to 0.66 mile / $ |
These are the key programs for those who want to learn how to get the most value from their frequent flyer points. There is great value to be had for different reasons from each of these programs, Velocity (for Business Class travel on Virgin Australia), KrisFlyer (premium cabin travel on Singapore Airlines) and Asia Miles (great for long-haul premium cabin redemptions on oneworld airlines such as Cathay Pacific and Qantas).7
| American Express Membership Rewards Partners | Transfer Rates |
|---|---|
| Velocity Frequent Flyer | 2 Membership Rewards Points = 1 frequent flyer point |
| Cathay Asia Miles Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer British Airways Avios Etihad Guest Malaysian Airlines Enrich Qatar Privilege Club Virgin Atlantic Flying Club | 3 Membership Rewards Points = 1 frequent flyer point |
| Emirates Skywards | 4 Membership Rewards Points = 1 Skywards points |
| Marriott Bonvoy | 3 Membership Rewards Points = 2 Marriott points |
| Hilton Honors | 2 Membership Rewards Points = 1 Honors point |
| Air New Zealand Airpoints | 200 Membership Rewards Points = 1 Airpoints |
| Helloworld American Express Travel Online Ticketmaster | 20,000 Membership Rewards Points = $100 travel reward |
| Everyday Rewards | 5 Membership Rewards Points = 4 Everyday Rewards Points |
You’ll also earn the full points on the Explorer Credit Card for utilities and bills, unlike some other cards American Express offers. This means you’ll get full points on telecommunications and utilities, but not on government charges, such as the ATO and Australia Post.
$400 annual Travel Credit with American Express Travel
American Express Travel is the travel booking service that Amex offers to most of its Card Members for either preferential rates or bonus points.
As a Card Member, the $400 annual Travel Credit2 appears in your account on the Amex Travel website and can be redeemed for flights (excluding low-cost carriers), hotels, and car rentals.
In addition, you may also use the credit to book a stay at properties under The Hotel Collection5 using Pay with Points.
The great thing about the Travel Credit, by comparison to a free flight or hotel benefit that some other cards offer, is that it is flexible. Prefer to pay for Business or First Class? You can use the credit to offset these costs.
A point to be aware of, however, is that the credit is generally non-refundable if you decide to cancel your booking. Therefore, make sure to use your credit on a travel booking with a high degree of certainty that it will go ahead.
The credit is renewed yearly after your annual fee is charged, but does not always exactly align with the statement period when the fee is charged.
If you make even just one trip a year where you can use the credit, the $400 Travel Credit2 is as good as cash and helps to offset the $395 annual fee of the card—just remember the restrictions around having to book through Amex Travel, and that it’s non-refundable.
Note: You will need to use your annual $400 Travel Credit2 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. Click here for the full Terms & Conditions.
Get a room upgrade and US$100 hotel credit at high-end hotels
Explorer Credit Card Members can now enjoy special benefits at properties part of The Hotel Collection.5 Every time you book two consecutive nights stay or more at one of these properties with your American Express Explorer Credit Card, you will receive:
- Up to US$100 hotel credit to spend on qualifying dining, spa and resort activities
- Complimentary room upgrade at check-in, when available
Included Insurances
There are a number of insurances available through the American Express Explorer Credit Card. These include:
- Smartphone Screen Cover: up to $500 of screen repairs if you accidentally break your smartphone screen, with a 10% claim excess
- Medical Emergency Expenses Cover: up to $2,500,000 towards medical treatment4
- Travel Cancellation and Amendment Cover: up to $30,000 in the event that your travel is cancelled for specific reasons4
- Baggage, Money and Documentation Cover: up to $10,000 to cover loss or damage to baggage, money or documents4
- Travel Inconvenience Insurance: up to $500 if your flight departure is delayed for four hours or more4
One example of the coverage included—the Travel Insurance has a similar car rental ‘Loss Damage Waiver’ cover as its big brother, the $1,450 p.a. American Express Platinum Card, just with a slightly lower total vehicle value cover of $100,000.
The Smartphone Screen Cover is activated regardless of whether you hold a contract for the phone or whether you purchased the phone outright.
Similar conditions apply to the travel insurances. As an example, you will need to pay for the travel expenses on your card, with Amex Travel Credit, or with your Membership Rewards points to be covered.
Terms, conditions, cover limits and exclusions apply (such as a maximum age limit of 79 when travel is purchased and a pre-existing medical condition(s) exclusion).
You can read the PDS for the insurance benefits of the Explorer Credit Card here.
This guide references some of the benefits of insurance policies provided with this card. You should read the PDS and obtain independent professional advice before obtaining this product.
American Express Plan It
American Express launched ‘Plan It’ in mid-2020, which allows cardholders to create instalment plans that allow for equal payments to be distributed over a 3, 6 or 12 month payment period. There is a monthly fixed fee to access this feature, with up to 10 Plan It plans with a minimum of $150 balance able to be created.
Mobile wallet integration
American Express Cards work with Apple Pay®, Google Wallet™ and Samsung Pay, meaning you can use this card on your smartphone for easier payments.
Read the Point Hacks guide to using Apple Pay or for using Google Wallet and Samsung Pay, including instructions on how to add your American Express card to those services.
With this feature set up, it means you could still use your NFC-enabled phone to make purchases with your American Express account, even if your physical card is lost or stolen and pending replacement.
Considering this card for Business-related transactions?
American Express offer a range of both business and consumer charge and credit cards. They do permit business transactions to be made on personal cards, unlike some other banks, but you might find some of the other business-focused benefits of the business cards to be appealing or more appropriate.
So – if you’re a sole trader or a business looking to earn points with your business spend – this card would still work for that purpose.
There’s a full list of business and personal consumer American Express cards which might be suitable for earning points from business-related transactions here.
Summing Up
This is a very compelling card proposition from American Express for those looking to access the Membership Rewards Program at a mid-level annual cost.
Each year, the $395 annual fee is more than rebated by the $400 Travel Credit2, with the main consideration being that you’ll need to use it by booking through Amex Travel.
When it comes to earning points, this card could work well for people whose spend is not focused on the bonus categories found with other Amex-issued cards, such as supermarkets and fuel as with the American Express Platinum Edge Card.
The lack of bonus categories, but with a good effective frequent flyer point earn rate, means that it’s simple to consider just how many points you might be earning and whether the card will work for you.
All up, this is a card tailored to those looking for simplicity: Good points earn from your spending, a wide range of points transfer partners, a large travel credit, insurance coverage, and The Centurion® Lounge3 visits at Sydney and Melbourne Airports.
75,000 Membership Rewards Points¹ plus $400 annual Travel Credit with the American Express Explorer Credit Card was last modified: April 24th, 2026 by
Eligibility Criteria
These are the minimum requirements to be eligible to apply for this Card. Other additional eligibility criteria, such as proof of income, will generally be required later on.
-
Be aged 18 years or over
-
Be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or hold a long-term visa
-
Have a good credit history and no payment defaults
-
To be eligible for the bonus offer, you must not hold, or have held, any American Express Card issued in Australia in the past 18 months
Terms and Conditions
1. Bonus & Eligibility
75,000 Bonus Membership Rewards® Points are only available to new American Express Card Members who apply online by 16 June 2026, are approved and spend $4,000 or more on eligible purchases on your new Card in the first 3 months from the Card approval date. Eligible purchases do not include Card fees and charges, for example annual fees, interest, late payment, cash advances, balance transfers, traveller’s cheques and foreign currency conversion. Please allow 8-10 weeks for the bonus points to be credited to your Account after the spend criteria has been met. Card Members who currently hold or who have previously held any Card product issued by American Express Australia Limited in the past 18 months are ineligible for this offer. The American Express Explorer® Credit Card has an Annual Card Fee of $395. This advertised offer is not applicable or valid in conjunction with any other advertised or promotional offer.
2. Travel Credit
If your Card has a Travel Credit benefit, the Primary Card Member is eligible for an annual Travel Credit, subject to the full Travel Credit Terms and Conditions at amex.com.au/explorer-travelcreditterms. The Travel Credit can be redeemed through American Express Travel Online on a single eligible travel booking by selecting the Travel Credit when you checkout. To redeem the Travel Credit, the full value of the Travel Credit (or more) must be charged to the eligible Primary Card. Eligible travel includes flights, hotels and car hire when you prepay in advance. The Travel Credit can be used for 365 days from the benefit anniversary date and cannot be used past the expiration date. To check the expiration date of your Travel Credit if you have not already redeemed it, please visit americanexpress.com.au/travel; log in and click ‘Travel Credit’. If your booking is cancelled, and your Travel Credit has already been used and associated statement credit applied to your account, you will forfeit your annual Travel Credit benefit and American Express may reverse the statement credits issued. You need to be able to spend on the Card to access the Travel Credit benefit and it should be credited to your Card Account within 3 business days but may take up to 30 days. Your account must be in good standing and you must have paid the annual fee and minimum payment by the due date. If you cancel your Card, change your rewards program or Card type, you will no longer be eligible for the Travel Credit.
3. The Centurion® Lounge
Entry into The Centurion® Lounge is governed by the full Terms and Conditions available at amex.com.au/airportlounge. All entrants must adhere to the General Conditions of Entry. American Express Explorer Card Members are entitled to a total of two (2) entries into The Centurion® Lounges in Australia per calendar year (1 January to 31 December). Complimentary access is available for the Card Member’s children 17 years and younger. Card Members wishing to bring additional guests may be subject to a charge that is to be processed on the Card Member’s American Express Card.
4. Insurance
The insurance on American Express Cards is subject to terms, conditions and exclusions (such as maximum age limits, pre-existing medical conditions and cover limits). You must use your American Express Explorer Credit Card to pay for your trip in order to be covered under the travel insurance and pay for eligible items for those items to be covered under the retail insurance benefits. It is important you read the American Express Explorer Credit Card Insurance Terms and Conditions and consider whether the insurance is right for you. We do not provide advice about the insurance or whether it is appropriate for your objectives, financial situation or needs. This insurance is underwritten by Chubb Insurance Australia Limited (ABN 23 001 642 020, AFSL No. 239687) under a group policy of insurance held by American Express Australia Limited (ABN 92 108 952 085, AFSL No. 291313). Access to this insurance is provided solely by reason of the statutory operation of section 48 of the Insurance Contracts Act 1984 (Cth). Card Members are not a party to the group policy, do not have an agreement with Chubb and cannot vary or cancel the cover. American Express is not the insurer, does not guarantee or hold the rights under the group policy on trust for Card Members and does not act on behalf of Chubb or as its agent. American Express is not an Authorised Representative (under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth)) of Chubb.
5. The Hotel Collection
The Hotel Collection (THC) benefits are available for new bookings of two consecutive nights or more, with participating properties, made through Platinum Travel Service, Centurion Travel Service or American Express Travel Online. Bookings are valid only for eligible Card Members of the following American Express Cards: American Express® Rewards Advantage Card, American Express® Explorer Credit Card, American Express® Platinum Reserve Credit Card, American Express® Gold Card, American Express® Gold Business Card, American Express® Business Gold Plus Card, American Express® Platinum Card, American Express® Platinum Business Card and American Express® Centurion Card. Excludes Gold Credit Card Members who are not also Australian Rewards Advantage, Gold or Platinum Charge Card Members. Bookings must be made using an eligible Card and must be paid using that Card, or another American Express® Card, in the eligible Card Member’s name, and that Card Member must be travelling on the itinerary booked to be eligible for benefits described. Noon check-in, late check-out and the room upgrade are subject to availability; certain room categories are not eligible for upgrade. The type of US$100 credit and additional amenity (if applicable) varies by property; the US$100 credit will be applied to eligible charges up to US$100. To receive the US$100 credit, the eligible spend must be charged to your hotel room. The US$100 credit will be applied at check-out. Advance reservations are recommended for certain credits. Benefit restrictions vary by property. Benefits are applied per room, per stay (with a three-room limit per stay). Back-to-back stays booked by a single Card Member, Card Members staying in the same room or Card Members traveling in the same party within a 24-hour period at the same property are considered one stay and are ineligible for additional THC benefits (“Prohibited Action”). American Express and the Property reserve the right to modify or revoke the THC benefits at any time without notice if we or they determine, in our or their sole discretion, that you have engaged in a Prohibited Action, or have engaged in abuse, misuse, or gaming in connection with your THC benefits. Benefits cannot be redeemed for cash and are not combinable with other offers unless indicated. Benefits must be used during the stay booked. Any credits applicable are applied at check-out in US Dollars or the local currency equivalent. Benefits, participating properties, and availability and amenities at those properties are subject to change. To be eligible for THC program benefits, your eligible Card Account must not be cancelled. For additional information, call the number on the back of your Card.
6. Membership Rewards Program
Subject to the Terms and Conditions of the Membership Rewards program available here. You will earn 1 point per dollar spent with Merchants classified as ‘government’, including the Australian Taxation Office, the Australian Postal Corporation (Australia Post), Federal/State and Local Government bodies, including where you use a payment account, payment aggregator, services of a third party or online retailers that sell goods for another merchant.
7. Partner Programs
Subject to the Terms and Conditions of the Membership Rewards Gateway program available at membershiprewards.com.au. You must be a member of the airline partner program, joining fees may apply and points transferred will be subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable airline partner program.
Offer available to new American Express Card Members only. T&Cs apply.