[smm2000]

Giving cash back creates wrong incentives and you sign up different audience than if you offer airline miles. Airline miles are in demand for people who travel often (affluent) in comparison to people who wants to get $150 after signing up for cc (poor).

That said there are offers to get cash for signing up. Some time ago First Republic Bank was giving $300 for cc sign up for Google employees (aka rich people).

[thaumasiotes]

Airline miles are cash back. They're just a larger hassle under a different name.

[rightbyte]

I guess kickback is the proper term?

[arcticbull]

Rebate is the term haha