Originally Posted by aidanc
Oh yes, as an experienced FT, you will have checked in advance that your cards are going to be valid during your trip, contracted your bank/issuer to make sure that any new cards arrive in time, and finally, mention to them that there may be unusual purchases from NZ for the period of your vacation so the fraud detection systems don't get too excited 
Thanks for your answer.
Actually we have been gone for almost 5 months and had thought about this one card that would expire...we are just using other cards.
It is funny that the bank will see 'tons' of transactions until 11/30 and then none after that [until we arrive back in the states later in Dec].
What I find really intersting is that I have had not even one problem with the card being delclined or with phone calls from early fraud warning overseas where I would get those periodically in the states.