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While much of the current marketing focus of credit card companies is on seeking and servicing corporate clients, it's easy to forget that for the actual road warrior, that little piece of plastic is an essential part of traveling. Credit card products differ-American Express and Diners Club are charge cards, with the full balance due every month; Visa and MasterCard allow revolving lines of credit; Air Travel Card is good only for airline tickets-but what they all have in common is convenience. Not just in allowing for quick, simple transactions but in special assistance behind the scenes as well.

Ironically, getting cash-the very thing credit cards were designed to replace-is one of the services-most in demand by travelers. The major cards can all be used in thousands of automatic teller machines around the world. American Express allows members to cash up to $ 1,000 (a percentage in local currency. the balance in traveler's checks) in 120 countries: cardmembers can also get $50 in cash at participating airline ticket counters if they have an AmEx card, a personal check and a valid airline ticket. Diners Club cardholders can receive no-fee Citicorp traveler's checks at all Citibank branches worldwide.

When you're in a pickle and even cash won't save the day, the major cards also offer a host of emergency services: replacing lost cards as well as essential travel documents, such as tickets, visas and passports. With 24-hour, toll-free hot lines, the credit card company will act as travel counselor as well, to help in cases when a corporate travel agent can't. Emergency services also include referrals to local doctors, dentists and lawyers, and, in dire circumstances, airlifts for medical or political reasons can be-arranged.

Another standard benefit of using plastic for business travel is insurance. When travel and car rental services are charged on your credit card you're covered for everything from injury to accidents to death. (Declining costly collision insurance offered by car rental companies can save travelers-and corporations-huge sums of money.) Depending on the card, checked baggage, cancellations and other services may be covered.

As competition among vendors intensifies, benefits to cardholders are increasing, sometimes in interesting ways. For example, Diners Club's Club Rewards program allows travelers to accumulate points every time they charge a corporate expense on a Diners Club card. Points can then be redeemed for a wide range-of products and services-frequent flier miles, frequent hotel-guest and frequent car-renter points, discounts on leisure travel packages and gifts. Read the fine print that comes with the bill each month for special programs card may offer. By J. Molyneaux, a New York-based freelance writer who specializes in travel.