BDO AmEx Explorer: A Review
The new American Express Explorer credit card lets the avid traveler earn miles faster at a rate of PHP 40.00 per mile.
What’s the BDO American Express Explorer Credit Card?
Spend-to-Miles Ratio: PHP 40.00 per mile
Annual Fee: PHP 4,000.00 (principal cardholder) | PHP 2,000.00 (supplementary cardholder)
Automatic annual fee waiver for an annual spend of PHP 450,000.00. 2,000 Bonus Membership Rewards Points for an annual spend of PHP 600,000.00
Lounge Access: RED BY DUFRY (6-month complimentary membership)
Airlines Partner: 6 Frequent Flyer Program Partners plus 2 Frequent Guest Program Partners
Note: BDO’s American Express Explorer uses this catalog, different from the 2023 Incentivo catalog for other AmEx cards. Based from there, it seems like the Explorer is a strictly miles/hotel credit card so make sure this is what you’re after. Lastly, like the American Express Platinum, users are automatically enrolled into the Frequent Traveler Option for MR redemption.
Why did I get it?
First, it has better spend to miles ratio than their Platinum credit card (PHP 45.00 per mile). If BDO does decide to bring back their multiplier promos, then it’s going to be even better! Given my current arsenal of credit cards, I’ll be using this for non-online (EW KF World Mastercard), non-dining (BDO Diners Club, Citi Prestige), and non-retail-shopping (Citi Prestige) transactions. Of course, participating in promos will take precedence over my usage I shared above.
Next, as a travel card, it also offers a wide range of travel-related insurance/protection which you can see below.
It also comes with purchase protection wherein “your retail purchases are insured from theft, loss or damage within 30 days from purchase for up to PHP50,000 per occurrence or max of PHP 250,000.00 per year”.
You can also avail of discounts when booking hotels (Booking.com) and cars (Sixt and Rentalcars.com). For Sixt, you also get to enjoy immediate access to Gold status.
Where’s the Lounge Access!?
Unlike other travel credit cards, the American Express Explorer credit card doesn’t offer free lounge access. It does, however, offer a complimentary 1-year Gold level membership to RED BY DUFRY, which is partnered with DragonPass (same partner as Citibank PremierMiles). Access to DragonPass lounges will cost $20.00 while access to other partner lounges will get you up to 20% discount. As a Gold member, you also get up to 7% discount on select Duty Free Stores.
While this may be underwhelming and disappointing, even the AmEx Platinum credit card only offers free lounge access to local lounges so it’s not really a deal breaker for me since I have other travel credit cards.
Note: I think I’ll do another write-up for RED BY DUFRY since there’s a lot of info to unload.
How did I apply for it?
Just in case you already have an existing AmEx credit card and you want to apply for it, insist to the customer service/card services representative that you know of others having more than 1 AmEx branded credit-card. Apparently, they will dissuade you from getting 2 cards under the same payment network because you won’t able able to maximize the rewards and benefits.
January 14, 2023, 11:00 pm: Since I already have an existing credit card with BDO, I applied for the American Express Explorer as an additional card.
January 18 – 20: I re-submitted my application, one via call, and another via email. Had multiple back-and-forth calls with customer services and card services to finalize my application.
January 25: Account verification officer called to confirm a few things. She also asked for my preferred delivery address. Hopefully I got approved!
January 27: Received an SMS that my application was indeed approved last January 25. Unfortunately, delivery is between 3 – 4 weeks. Hopefully it gets here earlier.
January 30: Received another SMS that BDO’s messenger will be delivering my card in 3-5 banking days.
January 31: Received the card! Wow, great job BDO.
The card actually looks great in person. It’s sleek, glossy, and… light. I secretly wish it was metal! Unfortunately, the sticky residue at the back isn’t easy to remove, so minus points for that BDO!
Anyway, for now, I’ve decided to keep both the AmEx Platinum and Explorer since it’s too early to tell which between them has better promos. Going forward though, I’ll be using the Explorer over Platinum for miles accumulation.
Note 1: Apply now until May 31, 2023 for their Welcome Offer!
Note 2: Since the card is new, I’ll be updating this post with more of my thoughts in the succeeding days/months.
