American Express Explorer Credit Card is another popular Amex credit card in the market. With the offers of a low air mile conversion rate of HK$3/mile and more travel perks, Amex Explorer is seen as one of the top travel credit cards.
What are the special offers on this travel credit card? Is it worth applying? Check out the following blog to find out more!
American Express Explorer Credit Card: Is it worth applying? MoneySmart credit card rating
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| American Express Explorer Card—Is it money smart? | ||
| Overall: ★★★★☆ | ||
| Best for: Earning miles | ||
| Category | Our rating | Explanation |
| Earn rates: Air miles | ★★★★☆ | – HK$4.8/mile for overseas spending – HK$6/mile for local spending – HK$3.6/mile for airlines, selected online, and travelling merchants |
| Earn categories | ★★★★★ | – All spending is eligible for earning Membership Rewards Points at different rates |
| Annual fees and charges | ★★★☆☆ | – HK$1,800 annual fee – First year waiver |
| Accessibility | ★★★☆☆ | – Annual income of HK$300,000 is required |
| Extras/periphery rewards | ★★★★★ | – 8 complimentary access to Plaza Premium Lounge worldwide for both primary and additional Cardmembers – No miles conversion fee – 1 year extra warranty – 10% savings on 4DX, 3D, 2D, and IMAX regular priced movie tickets at Broadway Circuit |
| Welcome offer | ★★★★★ | – Up to HK$20,880 in perks and offers |
Table of contents: American Express Explorer Credit Card review
- AE Explorer Credit Card Ratings
- Amex Explorer Credit Card: American Express Membership Rewards points
- AE Explorer Credit Card: Miles earning rate
- AE Explorer Credit Card: Annual fees and charges
- AE Explorer Credit Card: Accessibility
- AE Explorer Credit Card: Perks
- AE Explorer Credit Card: Welcome offer
- American Express Explorer Card: Eligibility
- Final verdict: AE Explorer Credit Card: Is it good? AE Explorer Credit Card Features
- Frequently asked questions: AE Explorer Credit Card
- Related articles
AE Explorer Credit Card Ratings
The AE Explorer Credit Card offers various benefits and features, including:
- Earn 5 American Express Membership Rewards Points (MR) for every HK$1 spent on an eligible airline, designated travel, or everyday spend (HK$3 = 1 air mile).
- Earn 3.75 American Express MR for every HK$1 equivalent spent in foreign currency (HK$4 = 1 air mile).
- Complimentary access to Plaza Premium Lounges in Asia for main and supplementary cardholders up to 10 times per year.
- 10% off regular-priced 4DX, 3D, 2D, and IMAX movie tickets at Broadway Circuit.
- Complimentary travel insurance.
For more information and the latest promotions, visit MoneySmart.
Amex Explorer Credit Card: American Express Membership Rewards points
The American Express Explorer Credit Card uses a reward programme called “Membership Rewards Points,” which is applicable to other American Express credit cards. You have the option to convert these points into 10 different choices, such as air miles, cash vouchers, or gifts, through the online platform.
The American Express Explorer Credit Card members will earn 3 American Express points for every HK$1 spent locally. For overseas transactions in foreign currency (online or otherwise), members will earn 3.75 American Express points for every HK$1 (or equivalent) spent. And when you shop with selected online merchants, you can earn a higher rate of 5 American Express points per HK$1 spent.
| HK$1 Spent | Amex Membership points earn |
| Local Spending | 3X |
| Overseas Spending | 3.75X |
| Airline, Selected Online, Travelling Merchants | 5X |
Amex Explorer has fairly lenient criteria for earning Membership Rewards points. In fact, you can earn Amex Membership Reward (MR) points whenever you spend with the card, but at varying rates.
Tips: The points do not expire; you can convert them into your desired gift whenever you want.
In addition to mileage redemption, you can also use your points for other purposes, such as offsetting purchase transactions (300 MR/HK$1), booking travel services (150 MR/HK$1), or instantly redeeming points to offset online platform transactions (240 MR/HK$1). You can find more “Pay with Points” details here.
| Offsetting HK$1 transactions | Points Required |
| Cover it with Points: Offset purchase transactions | 300 MR/HK$1 |
| Travel with Points: Booking travel services | 150 MR/HK$1 |
| Shop with Points: Offset online platform transactions with selected merchants | 240 MR/HK$1 |
Cover with Points
With “Cover it with Points,” you can use your American Express points to offset eligible transactions at a rate of 300 points for every HK$1 spent. It’s just one of the many ways you can maximise your everyday experiences with Amex!
Shop with Points
As an AE Cardholder, you have the option to redeem your American Express points for air miles, gifts, cash vouchers, and even designated purchases through the “Shop with Points” programme.
The general conversion rate is 300 points for every HK$1, but some merchants offer an even better conversion rate of 240 points for every HK$1.
Travel with Points
American Express Travel Online is an exclusive travel agency for Amex cardmembers. You can use your Membership Rewards® points to book hotels and car rentals at a rate of 150 points for every HK$1.
Check out the partners where you can redeem your Membership Rewards points:
| Flights | Hotels | Car Hire |
| You can book with any major airline provider, including Cathay Pacific, British Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Emirates, without worrying about blackout dates. | Choose from over 120,000 hotels worldwide. | Enjoy car rental services from Avis and Hertz. |
AE Explorer Credit Card: Miles earning rate
AE Explorer credit card offers a low rate of miles with Amex Membership Rewards points. Note that you would need to exchange Amex Membership points for miles. As of December 2023, 18,000 Membership Rewards points can be redeemed for 1,000 miles, which means 18 Membership Rewards points/mile.
Here is the mileage conversion table for HK$1 spent on different categories:
| HK$1 Spent | Amex Membership points earns | Miles earned |
| Local Spending | 3X | HK$6/mile |
| Overseas Spending | 3.75X | HK$4.8/mile |
| Airline, Selected Online, Travelling Merchants | 5X | HK$3.6/mile |
Earn 1 mile for every HK$3.6 spent on airlines or selected online merchants
When you make eligible transactions with designated online merchants and airlines, you can earn 5X American Express Membership Rewards Points (MR) for every HK$1 spent, which is equivalent to HK$3.6 = 1 mile. (18 Amex Membership points/mile.)
But do note that you would need to enrol in the 5X offer for the year 2024. And you may enrol here.
To earn the 5X Amex Membership points, you can spend on these designated online merchants, which include popular platforms such as
- Amazon,
- Apple,
- Deliveroo,
- Foodpanda,
- Netflix,
- Watson’s Wine,
- AMEX TRAVEL ONLINE
While on travel websites, you can also get 5x Amex Membership points from the following merchants:
- agoda,
- expedia.com.hk,
- Hotels.com,
- Hutchgo.com,
- Kaligo,
- KLOOK,
- Trip.com,
When it comes to airlines, they include the following, but are not limited to them:.
- airasia
- AIR CANADA
- AIR FRANCE
- ANA
- American Airlines
- ASIANA AIRLINES
- BRITISH AIRWAYS
- CATHAY PACIFIC
- CHINA AIRLINES
- CHINA EASTERN
- DELTA
- Emirates
- EVA AIR
- FINNAIR
- JAPAN AIRLINES
- KLM
- KOREAN AIR
- malaysia airlines
- SINGAPORE AIRLINES
- TURKISH AIRLINES
Note that spending on in-flight purchases, travel package bookings, tour groups, or cruise vacations that include airfare, hotel reservations, car rentals, or cruise charges is not eligible for the 5X Membership points scheme.
Earn 1 mile for every HK$6 spent locally and HK$4.8 spent in foreign currency
With the American Express Explorer Credit Card, you’ll be able to earn 3 American Express Membership Rewards Points (MR) for every HK$1 spent on eligible local transactions, which is like getting HK$6/mile.
For foreign currency transactions, you’ll earn an even better rate of 3.75 American Express MR for every HK$1 equivalent spent, equivalent to HK$4.8/mile.
Redeem Miles with no handling fee for 10 participating airlines
Unlike the Standard Chartered Cathay Pacific Credit Card, which only allows you to earn Asia Miles, the American Express Explorer Credit Card allows you to redeem your earned points for air miles in the frequent flyer programmes of 10 participating airlines.
The minimum redemption amount is 18,000 points, and there are no handling fees. The conversion time can range from as quick as 48 hours to up to 10 days.
The participating airlines include:
- Asia Miles,
- British Airways Executive Club,
- Emirates Skywards,
- Malaysia Airlines Enrich,
- Finnair Plus,
- EVA Air Infinity MileageLands,
- Qantas Frequent Flyer,
- Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, and
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.
AE Explorer Credit Card: Annual fees and charges
AE Explorer Card has an annual fee for the first year. After that, you are required to pay HK$1,800 for the annual fee. You can also enjoy the annual fee waiver when you spend HK$150,000 with the credit card annually.
| Annual Principal Fee | HK$1800 (first-year annual fee waiver) |
| Supplementary Annual Fee | N/A |
| Annual Interest Rate | Retail Purchase APR: 35.96% |
| Late Payment Fees | 5% of the outstanding minimum payment due (The maximum late payment fee is HK$350, and the minimum late payment fee is HK$300.) |
| Minimum Monthly Repayment | The highest of the following three amounts: (i) 1.5% of the outstanding principal plus 100% of finance charges, interest, fees (including the annual membership fee), and all other applicable charges; (ii) 4% of your outstanding balance; or (iii) HK$300, plus any overdue minimum payments and any amount exceeding your credit limit. |
| Foreign Currency Transaction Fee | 2% |
| Foreign Check Fee | 2% |
| Cash Advance Transaction Fee | 3.5% of the cash amount, or minimum HK$100 |
| Overlimit Fee | HK$180 |
Note that there is a 2% foreign currency transaction fee whenever you pay in foreign currency.
AE Explorer Credit Card: Accessibility
The AE Explorer credit card requires applicants to have an annual income of HK$300,000. However, there have been reports of some applicants who do not meet the annual income requirement but are still able to obtain the card. It might be worth a trial.
AE Explorer Credit Card: Perks
The AE Explorer card doesn’t fall behind when it comes to credit card perks. It offers 8 complimentary access to Plaza Premium Lounge worldwide for both primary and additional Cardmembers, a zero-mile conversion fee, a 1-year extra warranty for shopping, and 10% savings on 4DX, 3D, 2D, and IMAX regular-priced movie tickets at Broadway Circuit.
Travel-related benefits
While the American Express Explorer Credit Card offers several travel-related perks,.
8 complimentary Plaza Premium Lounge visits per year
Cardholders and supplementary cardholders can enjoy up to 8 complimentary visits per year to Plaza Premium Lounges in Asia, which can be shared by the main card holders and the subsidiary card holders.
Free travel insurance coverage up to HK$3,500,000
Additionally, when you fully pay for your overseas travel expenses with the American Express Explorer Credit Card, you can receive travel accident coverage of up to HK$3,500,000 and travel delay coverage of up to HK$10,000 per year.
Shopping protection
You can confidently use your American Express Explorer Credit Card knowing that the card has you covered. Amex Explorer provides protection against fraud and faulty goods and even offers coverage if you change your mind.
Online Fraud Protection Guarantee: Shop online with your card and you won’t be held responsible for any fraudulent charge.
No Worries Guarantee Programme
- Return Guarantee Protection Plan
- 45-Day Cover
- Extended warranty protection
- Price Protection Plan
Using the AE Explorer Card’s purchase of Apple products (including the iPhone, iPad, etc.) will effectively extend the warranty for an additional year. Why is it called “effectively”? It’s because Apple does not provide an additional year of warranty.
Instead, if there are any issues in the second year, you can claim the repair fee from Chubb (the insurance provider that AE helps cardholders purchase).
Broadway cinemas offer
You can enjoy regular-priced tickets for Hong Kong Broadway cinemas in 3D, 2D, and IMAX formats, and the best part is that you’ll get a fantastic 10% discount. How awesome is that? Enjoy your movie night with the Amex Explorer Credit Card.
AE Explorer Credit Card: Welcome offer
AE Explorer welcomes you with a generous return of up to 71,000 miles! As long as you don’t hold an AE Explorer card within 12 months, you can enjoy this offer.
During the welcome period, you can earn 9X points for foreign currency transactions, which is equivalent to HK$2/mile. With this welcome offer, you can earn up to 71,000 miles, making it ideal for individuals with significant expenses!
| Types of Welcome Offers | Bonus | Requirement |
| First Transaction Bonus | 1,000 Miles | Make the 1st transaction after issuance |
| Welcome Bonus | 6,000 Miles | Spend HK$7,000 within 3 months |
| Foreign Currencies Spending Bonus | 40,000 Miles | Enjoy 9X MR points within 3 months (HK$2/mile) |
| Local Spending Bonus | 24,000 Miles | Enjoy 4X MR points within 3 months (HK$4.5/mile) |
| Total Welcome Offer | 71,000 Miles/ HK$4,260 rewards | Spend on a specific category to earn the welcome miles offer within 3 months. |
American Express Explorer Card: Eligibility
To apply for the Amex Explorer Card, there is an annual income requirement of HK$300,000. As long as you meet the following criteria, you are eligible to apply for the card:
- You are 18 years of age or older.
- You are a resident or citizen of Hong Kong or Macau.
- You have an annual income of HK$300,000.
When applying for the Amex Platinum Card, you will receive 1 primary card and 2 complementary supplementary cards.
Final verdict: AE Explorer Credit Card: Is it good? AE Explorer Credit Card Features
The AE Explorer Credit Card is suitable for travel enthusiasts who frequently make transactions with designated online merchants and want to earn miles for flight redemption.
Advantages of AE Explorer Credit Card
- With the AE Explorer Credit Card, you can earn 5 American Express Membership Rewards points for every HK$1 spent on designated airlines, travel, e-commerce platforms, food delivery, and leisure and entertainment platforms. This is equivalent to HK$3.6/mile.
- The accumulated points can be redeemed for flight miles, cash vouchers, or gifts from 10 partner airlines without any handling fee. The options are diverse, and there is no expiration date.
- Among mileage credit cards, the AE Explorer Credit Card offers the highest basic spending rebate, and even bill payments are eligible for rebates.
- In addition, cardholders can enjoy free access to global Plaza Premium Lounges 8 times a year and a 10% discount on regular-priced tickets for 4DX, 3D, 2D, and IMAX movies at Hong Kong Broadway Cinemas throughout the year.
Disadvantages of the AE Explorer Credit Card
- The number of merchants accepting AE cards in the market is limited, and its popularity is not as high as that of Visa and Mastercard.
- Furthermore, for regular spending at non-designated merchants, the rebate rate is only HK$6/mile, which is relatively low. For foreign currency spending, you can earn HK$4.8/mile, but a 2% handling fee is charged for each transaction, slightly higher than other credit cards (usually 1.95%).
Is it worth applying? Absolutely. With its card perks and miles redemption, the Amex Explorer card has established itself as a strong contender among other travel credit cards.
For more information and the latest promotions, visit MoneySmart.
Frequently asked questions: AE Explorer Credit Card
Does the AE Explorer Credit Card have an annual fee?
The AE Explorer Card offers a waived annual fee for the first year. Subsequently, the annual fee is HK$1,800, but you can call to inquire about waiver options when renewing the card.
What is the minimum income requirement for the AE Explorer Credit Card?
The minimum income requirement is HK$300,000, but the approval criteria are lenient. You can still try even if you don’t meet the income requirement. Many people have been approved despite not meeting it.
Why might an application for an AE Explorer Card be rejected?
Generally, if you earn HK$300,000, your card application should be approved. However, American Express only allows a maximum of 3 credit cards (excluding the AE Platinum Charge Card). So, if you already have 4 of the following cards, your application for the AE Explorer Card may be rejected.
Are there any restrictions on the number of visits to lounges with the AE Explorer Card?
AE Explorer cardholders get 8 lounge visits per year.
What can I do with AE Explorer Card points?
AE Explorer points can be used to redeem cash, convert to different mileage programmemes or hotel programme points, and purchase travel products.
Can AE Explorer Card points be used for Travel with Points?
AE Explorer credit card points can be used for Travel with Points to pay for hotel bookings, flights, and car rentals.
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