Upon arrival in Buenos Aires after 20 hours of travel, I STUPIDLY failed to retrieve my bank card from the ATM at the airport. I realized this several hours later. I won't go into it completely, but the card was never found. I immediately notified Chase and nothing "untoward" occurred.

Now the AX part. I was basically screwed for cash. Chase was not going to get me a card quickly, let alone to Buenos Aires.

Then I remembered, American Express says they will cash a check. So I make my way to THE BIGGEST AND BUSIEST American Express office that I have ever seen. It is located in Plaza San Martin.

There were about 100 people in line, BUT there was a Platinum line!!! I waited about 2 minutes. So I walk up to the lady behind the window thinking they would give me $500.00 cash. If you did not already know, that amount goes very far in BA. The nice lady discreetly turns the screen to me and points to the number $10,000.00 and says that I am authorized this amount. I was stunned to say the least. She was so discreet and professional, just pointing to the screen without saying the amount. I said thank you and that $650.00 would be fine. So I wrote a Chase check for $650.00 and was off with my cash. So far no fee from AX has been levied on my account. My Conspiracy Complex still refuses to believe this and is waiting for the monthly statement to produce a hefty fee. The nice lady assured me that this would not happen. Chase however charged me $15.00.

I must add to this story my experience last year in Prague, where the Europecar that we had rented in Munich was vandalized. I used my AX card when renting. Long story short, when Europecar charged my account for the repaires, AX simply requested that I fax them the police report, and viola, the charges were credited. Never to be seen again.

These experiences, added to the countless hours my other half and I spend in airline clubrooms during the year, drinking their wine and eating their food, and the $1200.00 in Home Depot gift certificates that I cashed in this year, justify the fee to me.

Call me silly and sentimental, but I think I like having American Express as my friend when I am out of country.

Jade ( not so "jaded" today )