美國航空頒發的金卡、以及美國政府頒發的綠卡，張張都攸關大家在美國的生活。它們就如同深藏不露的礦泉水，讓不肖之徒伺機正中我們飛安的要害，又如同免費提供的行李牌，幫地勤人員千里尋回我們失散的骨肉。在這鳳凰花開、四面驪歌的時節，您是否也在金綠之間猶豫不決呢？與其腳踏兩條船，不如把雞蛋集中以便管理。為方便您睿智的抉擇，記者謹將兩卡的十二優劣點整理如下。

The gold card issued by American Airlines and the green card issued by the American government are each an integral part of our American lives. They are as powerful as the hidden water bottles that strip us of flight safety; they are as handy as the free luggage tags that unite us with abducted children. In this season of blooming Delonix regia and booming Auld Lang Syne, are you also hesitating to choose between gold and green? Decide wisely which basket to put your eggs in, with the help of this 12-point summary of the two cards’ pros and cons.

美國航空金卡 American Airlines gold card		美國政府綠卡 American government green card
✗	其實是塑膠的 Actually plastic	✗	其實是白色的 Actually white
✓	使用 Helvetica 字體印製，中性無襯線 Typeset using Helvetica, a neutral sans-serif typeface	✗	使用 Arial 字體印製，仿製沒水準 Typeset using Arial, a cheap knock-off typeface
✗	附送精美彩色印刷《新會員指南》一本，十二頁無索引 Comes with a guide for new members printed in 12 pages of fine color but without index	✓	附送精美彩色印刷《新移民指南》一本，一百頁附索引 Comes with a guide for new immigrants printed in 100 pages of fine color and with index
✓	有搭機、住宿、購物等多種參加方式 Qualify in a variety of ways: flights, accommodations, shopping, etc.	✓	有就業、依親、投資等多種參加方式 Qualify in a variety of ways: employment, family, investment, etc.
✓	接受會員挑戰，三個月衝刺後拿到身份 Get it in 3 months when you enter a Membership Challenge	✗	要求補送證據，三個月期限後失去身份 Lose it in 3 months when you receive a Request for Evidence
✓	快速通過出境安全檢查 Avoid long security lines at departure	✓	快速通過入境邊防檢查 Avoid long immigration lines at arrival
✓	選位、客服優先 Priority for seats and customer service	▵	謀職、徵兵優先 Priority for jobs and military service
✓	每飛行萬哩，可在網上免費獲取升級證 Earn complimentary upgrades online every 10,000 miles	✓	每居留兩年，可在網上付費申請回美證 Apply for reentry permits online every 2 years
✓	旅館、租車公司等合作夥伴提供優待 Special offers on hotels and cars from partner companies	✓	國家、過境機場等合作夥伴提供優待 Special offers on transit and visas from partner countries
✓	票選傑出空服人員 Vote for great flight attendants	✓	票選傑出校務委員 Vote for great school board members
✓	一年換一張新卡 Renew every year	✓	十年換一張新卡 Renew every decade
✓	在貴賓室裡靜待登機 Lounge while waiting for your flight	✓	在移民監裡靜待入籍 Lounge while waiting for your naturalization