As a result of the Delta mileage promotions, I got one of the Gold Delta AMEX cards early this year. A few months later, I used it to pay a fairly large hotel bill in Anchorage. I checked out without difficulty, but half an hour later, a $22 charge in a souvenir shop required merchant call-in. Because it was a new card, I wasn't unhappy about this, though I questioned why they let the large hotel bill go through, but flagged the $22. (perhaps the high-fraud problem someone mentioned was the reason). But over the next few days, several charges required call-in. A few weeks later, I went to Florida (I have a rough life, obviously) and used the AMEX/Delta card a few times. Merchant call-in was needed twice, and once I was literally called out of a dolphin swim because a call-in was necessary. The merchant asked ME to call AMEX. They said the merchant had to call. The merchant said I'd have to use a different card. I did, and went back to the swim unhappy with both the merchant and AMEX. Most of these have occurred while travelling, only one occurred while at home (for an $80 purchase at Circuit City!).

I haven't yet cancelled the AMEX card, but will do so soon. The low teaser interest rate has run out, and I'll probably go back to Discover....A pity, I would rather use the AMEX card, had even considered upgrading to Platinum till I heard of all the problems using the companion ticket. But being called out of the dolphin swim was a killer!

Mike