American Express Membership Rewards - End of fee free Travelers Cheques

I was on the phone with American Express today and my CSR notified me that the last day you will be able to purchase travelers cheques without the fee is December 31, 2008.

I can't remember all the restrictions (I think you can only buy $1000 every 14 days I think though), but buy all the fee free travelers cheques you need before time runs out!

Speak up if you hear otherwise!

It would be helpful if you mentioned the type of American Express card that you have, Green, Gold, Platinum, Centurion or one of the credit cards -and- the country in which it was issued.

I dont use them anyway.

This was for both my Starwood Personal and my Starwood business.

For those of us with a place that issues right near our work or home, this is something that should not be overlooked. Use it while you can!

There are many financial institutions that offer fee free TCs to account holders. Last time I looked, this included World Savings (now Wachovia), many credit unions, and AAA offices to members.

But thanks to OP for pointing out this loss of service for at least some Amex card holders (a service I didn't even know was around).

I do wonder what is behind this. Is it the decline in the use of TCs? Or, something else?

I do wonder what is behind this.

My guess...

http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=696497

There are many financial institutions that offer fee free TCs to account holders. Last time I looked, this included World Savings (now Wachovia), many credit unions, and AAA offices to members.

But thanks to OP for pointing out this loss of service for at least some Amex card holders (a service I didn't even know was around).

I do wonder what is behind this. Is it the decline in the use of TCs? Or, something else?

AAA discontinued TCs in favor of Travel Money/Prepaid card.

There are many financial institutions that offer fee free TCs to account holders. Last time I looked, this included World Savings (now Wachovia), many credit unions, and AAA offices to members.
It's true you may be able to get TCs from various place without fees. I doubt those places you had mentioned allow you to put the charges to the credit cards (sort of like buying money orders). Read the thread mia referenced to then you'll know why.

Or are you saying you not only get fee free TCs from them but also use credit cards (instead of checks, or cash equivalent) for the TC purchases?

Or are you saying you not only get fee free TCs from them but also use credit cards (instead of checks, or cash equivalent) for the TC purchases?
AAA used to sell fee-free TCs with the AAA Visa, though I don't know if they do any more. TCs have pretty much been supplanted by ATMs anyway.

AAA used to sell fee-free TCs with the AAA Visa, though I don't know if they do any more. TCs have pretty much been supplanted by ATMs anyway.
Other than the ATMs accessibility, I think most, if not all, TCs purchases don't allow you to use credit cards no more. That's point I was trying to make.

Similar to the money orders from AAA, visabuxx, CitiCash and the Visa gift cards from "what's the name of the bank that went under" deals that were widely discussed years ago. All of them were dead due to the "popular" demands. ;)

I'm confused. I just called AMX (customer service number on my Delta Platinum) though I have other AMX cards including "real" Platinum. Agent put me on hold for quite a while, but said there was no information about fees being charged after December 31st. She also said that one could buy $3500 in travelers checks every 7 days. The representative did indicate that when the checks are put on one's AMX card, it is treated as a cash advance, and there is a 3% fee. I assume if you pay by check, there is no fee. I know that sometimes the forum knows more than the agents do, but does anybody have further information?

Stranger by the minute. I called customer service on the Platinum card and they said they heard that fee-free checks were available through December 31, 2008, but had no information about what fees might be after that date. They told me to call my Travel Service Office location, which I just did. They had no information about fees being imposed, but said they would look into it and call me back.

AAA used to sell fee-free TCs with the AAA Visa, though I don't know if they do any more. TCs have pretty much been supplanted by ATMs anyway.

AAA discontinued TCs in favor of Travel Money/Prepaid card.

I think it was last July/Aug they AAA stopped TC all together (at least Mid-Atlantic AAA).

I was on the phone with American Express today and my CSR notified me that the last day you will be able to purchase travelers cheques without the fee is December 31, 2008.

I can't remember all the restrictions (I think you can only buy $1000 every 14 days I think though), but buy all the fee free travelers cheques you need before time runs out!

Speak up if you hear otherwise!

Bummer...

Doubtful I'll be able to get gold on SPG next year :(

Well, it was nice while it lasted.

For the record, I found it to be $1000 per card per 7 days.

[QUOTE=Dreps;10255787]I'm confused. I just called AMX (customer service number on my Delta Platinum) though I have other AMX cards including "real" Platinum. Agent put me on hold for quite a while, but said there was no information about fees being charged after December 31st. She also said that one could buy $3500 in travelers checks every 7 days. The representative did indicate that when the checks are put on one's AMX card, it is treated as a cash advance, and there is a 3% fee. I assume if you pay by check, there is no fee. I know that sometimes the forum knows more than the agents do, but does anybody have further information?

I have a Delta Platinum card and have been buying TC's on a weekly basis, for the last two years.

Some agents tell you it is a cash advance, NOT TRUE, it shows up on the bill as a regular purchase. The maximum purchase is $3500 every 8 days. If you have a regular American Express Platinum card it is $10.000 every 15 days.
Buisness cards let you purchase $1000 every 8 days. There are no fees to charge TC's to your card.

I have a Delta Platinum card and have been buying TC's on a weekly basis, for the last two years.

Some agents tell you it is a cash advance, NOT TRUE, it shows up on the bill as a regular purchase. The maximum purchase is $3500 every 8 days. If you have a regular American Express Platinum card it is $10.000 every 15 days.
Buisness cards let you purchase $1000 every 8 days. There are no fees to charge TC's to your card.

There is an extensive thread in MilesBuzz detailing the purchase of AMEX TCs and over there it basically tells you that the max is $1000 per week per card account. Is it different for you since it's a Platinum? Or, is it really more than $1000 per week for all AMEX cardholders?

There is an extensive thread in MilesBuzz detailing the purchase of AMEX TCs and over there it basically tells you that the max is $1000 per week per card account. Is it different for you since it's a Platinum? Or, is it really more than $1000 per week for all AMEX cardholders?
The T&Cs also say that purchasing travelers cheques does not count towards MR miles for charge card holders, but that is not true either. My nearest AMEX office has a sign up that says $2000 per 14 days, but that limit doesn't seem to apply to all cardholders.

I have a Delta Platinum card and my maximum is $3500. I was informed by an Amex supervisor that the Amex Platinum card can charge $10,000 every two weeks. It seems that the Platinum cards have larger privileges.

Initially when I was told about the TC's by a friend, I was told it was $1000 per month. I decided to test the system and twice was allowed to charge $10.000 the it was cut back to $3500. The best thing to do is try to see how much they will allow you to charge.

There has been a change in the rules and a form has to be filled out stating the pupose of the purchase. The rule is coming from the government checking on how cash moves.

FYI I am about to travel through SEA on my Delta miles without having flown one mile. Rest my case.

The T&Cs also say that purchasing travelers cheques does not count towards MR miles for charge card holders, but that is not true either. My nearest AMEX office has a sign up that says $2000 per 14 days, but that limit doesn't seem to apply to all cardholders.

So, you're saying that purchasing TCs does earn you MR points? I don't have an amex that earns MR points (I have spg), but my dad has one and I'm sure he would love to earn 'extra' points.

Also with regard to the limit, to which cardholders does the $2000 per 14 days not apply?

Thanks in advance?

So, you're saying that purchasing TCs does earn you MR points? I don't have an amex that earns MR points (I have spg), but my dad has one and I'm sure he would love to earn 'extra' points.

Also with regard to the limit, to which cardholders does the $2000 per 14 days not apply?

Thanks in advance?

The way I understood it, is that only the affinity points cards (i.e. SPG, Hilton, Delta, etc) earned points on the TC's. Cashbacks (i.e. blue, costco) and MR cards don't earn points on the TC's -- in fact it even says so in the 'terms and conditions' on the application page(s) for these at the AMEX website.

For those affinity cards (the ones that actually do earn points on TC's), it seems to be you can only get $1000 every 7 days (I in fact go every Tuesday).

Perhaps some offices in different states have made it $2000 every 14 days, but, that has not been my experience. Where I get my TC's the agents definitely assert it's $1000/7 days (for my SPG card anyway). In the other thread those with the Hilton and Delta card seem to be saying the same thing. If anyone with those cards has 'actually experienced' something different, then that would be interesting information.

I would also be interested in this information, since the poster above made it sound like he does earn MR points for TC purchases. And also it sounds like there are different limits for different cards at different offices. Anyone who can tell fellow FTers what their factual experiences have been (including name of card, how much was purchased w/in how many days, and in which city), I'm sure it would be appreciated.