Ah - a fellow BA'er pops up in the Amex forum too... (going to be in Scottsdale in a couple of weeks - and can't wait!)..

Anyway, yes, I've tried doing that before and it works in about 50 per cent of places. Then when you are in the middle of nowhere (where I like to be on road trips), you find some gas stations won't simply accept you leaving your card with them while you fill up. They want to know how much you are going to put in first, and then pre-auth the card. Yes, I could simply say pre-auth $100, but it's genuinely not all that easy in some places where the gas attendant isn't as familiar with out-of-towners who can't use their zip code at the pump.

It's about the only place in the world I've experienced grumpy Americans who aren't very friendly - in a handful of gas stations in the back and beyond, when Johnny Foreigner walks in. (Oh, and US airport immigration!) Everywhere else, thoughout the whole country, people are nice as pie. It's one of the reasons I love travelling in the States so much.

I'm going to call Amex this morning as you suggest usagishouse and see what they say about the 00000 idea, or if they have a 100 per cent guarenteed to work option. If they don't, I'll certainly try pressing zerio five times. Sounds like it could be the key...