Other creative ways of getting frequent flier miles with a FF creditcard, and getting initial sign-on bonuses quicker?

In article ,
SMS wrote:

You can still buy American Express travelers checks with an American
Express card, and they will be treated as purchases, not cash advances,
but only if you buy them at an American Express-owned travel center.

Don't they charge you a 1% fee when you buy travelers checks?

Not if you buy them with an American Express credit card (e.g.,
Starwood, Hilton, Delta, maybe even the Costco reward card, but
not bank-issued cards like the new Citibank AmEx) at an American
Express-owned travel center. Make sure about the latter, because there
are a lot of independent agents with an AX shingle. There is a list
of company-owned travel centers on the AmEx website; unfortunately,
none are close to where I live.

Folks have been doing this for years to rack up free miles:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=696497

VS wrote:
In article ,
SMS wrote:

You can still buy American Express travelers checks with an American
Express card, and they will be treated as purchases, not cash advances,
but only if you buy them at an American Express-owned travel center.
Don't they charge you a 1% fee when you buy travelers checks?

Not if you buy them with an American Express credit card (e.g.,
Starwood, Hilton, Delta, maybe even the Costco reward card, but
not bank-issued cards like the new Citibank AmEx) at an American
Express-owned travel center. Make sure about the latter, because there
are a lot of independent agents with an AX shingle. There is a list
of company-owned travel centers on the AmEx website; unfortunately,
none are close to where I live.

Interesting. Unfortunately the closest office is about 40 miles away,
but if I find myself in San Francisco on a week day then I'll stop by
and do this.

Thanks again for all the great tips.

In message mrtravel wrote:

Of course they might find it weird if you keep cashing them in at the
same Amex office.

You can drop them into your bank's nearest ATM too, all without needing
to waste time with a human.

TC's are as useful as they once were.

Did you mean "aren't as useful"? I've given up on using them entirely,
not even all hotels will take them at this point, nearly as bad as money
orders.

DevilsPGD wrote:

In message mrtravel wrote:


Of course they might find it weird if you keep cashing them in at the
same Amex office.


You can drop them into your bank's nearest ATM too, all without needing
to waste time with a human.


TC's are as useful as they once were.


Did you mean "aren't as useful"? I've given up on using them entirely,
not even all hotels will take them at this point, nearly as bad as money
orders.

Yes, I meant they aren't as useful. After all the recipient has to worry
about counterfeits and other handling issues. Credit and debits cards
are just easier to handle.

In message mrtravel
wrote:

Yes, I meant they aren't as useful. After all the recipient has to worry
about counterfeits and other handling issues. Credit and debits cards
are just easier to handle.

Okay good, just making sure. I've never had an issue cashing one at a
bank, but other then that, I wouldn't rely on 'em at this point, and
definitely wouldn't accept one as payment.

DevilsPGD wrote:
In message mrtravel wrote:

Of course they might find it weird if you keep cashing them in at the
same Amex office.

You can drop them into your bank's nearest ATM too, all without needing
to waste time with a human.

TC's are as useful as they once were.

Did you mean "aren't as useful"? I've given up on using them entirely,
not even all hotels will take them at this point, nearly as bad as money
orders.

I mistakenly brought some on trip to Russia. They were extremely
difficult to cash. Actually I never cashed any, I had enough $US to
exchange for the few things worth buying, and I brought them all home.
But I remember the group having to make a special stop at a bank that
would exchange the TCs.

I remember when AAA sold Thomas Cook traveler's checks. Those were even
more difficult to cash, even in the U.S..

I guess prior to credit cards traveler's checks were somewhat useful,
but they were always more of way for Amex to get interest free loans
from consumers.