MilesBuzz! - Ameritrade v. ETrade v. TD Waterhouse: they all give miles. Advice?

I would like to open an account with a broker to buy a few stocks. From what I've read, for those who make only a few trades per quarter, TD Waterhouse is the most expensive, Ameritrade slightly less than E-Trade.

I think Ameritrade gives UA and DL miles, TD Waterhouse gives AA miles, and nobody gives miles for NW, CO, US, Midwest Express, or Alaska's programs.

Q-1. If I'm wrong and you can get miles for NW, CO, US, YX, or AS, please post.

Q-2. Any poor experiences with any of these 3 brokers?

I have some experience with Ameritrade and it's ok. I don't have a personal account with them so I believe I still can get miles with them for opening a new personal account.

For starters:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum1/HTML/007805.html

Etrade gives NW miles...

http://www.nwa.com/freqfly/earn/credi.shtml#etrade

Etrade claims to give Delta miles too, but wont' give me the 30,000 miles it promised to me. Poor customer service in other areas too, in my opinion. Avoid them.

i heard in WSJ a while back that AMERITRADE was their best pick out of them all.
I agree with WSJ.

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If speed is not your thing, distance may as well be. Enjoy and embrace it all!

I've opened three accounts at one time or another to earn miles; Schwab (earned AA via AOLAAdvantage via last year's promo), TDWaterhouse (AA) and Ameritrade (UA). Ameritrade and Schwab are definitely easier to use than TDWaterhouse's online system.

I'd rate OLB customer service as follows:

Schwab
Ameritrade
Etrade
Waterhouse

I like Ameritrade site (especially now that they've incorporated Datek's Streamer) the best- but that is in part a personal preference thing.

Waterhouse only gives sign up bonus miles to “new” customer. I had a Waterhouse account 10 years ago and when I signed up last year, they wouldn't give any sign up bonus because of the old account.

Etrade uses the same excuse, but doesnt' tell you until 8 months after you open the second account.

I have had an account with Ameritrade before they gave points and I like them. They are cheap and effective and I just prefer navigating their site. Drawback is you can't write checks from the account like with ETRADE.

I was very disappointed with E*Trade when I tried them about 2 years ago and I would not recommend them to others.

I too would not recommend e-trade at all,
at best I consider them a shady operation. They did soemething which consider fraudulent with my account and sold position without my permission. The matter is going to mediation.

Mike

Please be careful with all of them. Please see my posting where Scwab never gave me miles they not already promised but even told me that it was done.

Best-

Where is your post about Schwab? I'd like more info-I don't recall Schwab giving miles for several years, but if they do, I'd like to learn more.

I would stay away from Waterhouse -- their customer service is really poor and they do not follow through with the bonus miles they promise customers. Take a look at: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum71/HTML/006387.html

Ameritrade does have check writing available but you have to ask for it. There is a special form entitled "The Ameritrade Access Account - Checking Authorization Form". Just complete it and send/fax it to them and they will send you a check book with 9 checks. Additional check books are $5.00 for 9 more checks.

Mountain Trader: my post was in this section, then the moderator moved it into American Airlines. The Schwab promo was a year ago-we never received the points-even after their rep telling me it was done. Since then Mr Charles Schwab is not even answering my letters.

I considered etrade's tactics as fraudulent when they wouldn't give me miles for a balance transfer after sending me a flyer offering me miles for such a transfer. I closed my account with them and I would never recommend them to anyone.

I've had a Waterhouse account for years and I think they are OK, but I don't have any mileage related activities with them.

All in all, I think investment opportunities are an area where mileage opportunities should not influence your decisions.