I have had a gold/platinum AE card since 1983. Not a single missed payment in 26 years and just made an $18,000 payment to zero out my balance this month. My reward? They just eliminated my flexible payment plan AND charged me a $395 Platinum membership fee so I could sit in executive lounges at airports. Whatever AE once was, they are now no more than a bait-and-switch scam. I downgraded to "green," saved $300 and put the AE card in a drawer from which it will NEVER emerge. I would have cancelled the account, but that only hurts my excellent credit history. I no longer need the ego boost of a colored piece of plastic.