Spring cleaning: The cards TPG staffers are keeping, canceling and downgrading
This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page.
A year into the pandemic, The Points Guy staff are like everyone else: Taking a hard look at the cards in their wallets.
More than a year ago, we shared the one credit card we couldn’t live without. Since then, a lot has changed, so I polled my colleagues to see what changes they’ve made with their credit card strategies. Here’s what I found out.
New to The Points Guy? Sign up for our daily newsletter and check out our beginner’s guide.
In This Post
Ariana Arghandewal, points and miles editor
I’m downgrading my Citi Prestige® Card to the Citi Premier® Card (and canceling my existing Premier card). Every year I go back and forth on whether to do this, but it finally made sense. I will probably eliminate my Korean Air SkyPass Visa Credit card when the annual fee posts (in May). I may also downgrade my Chase Sapphire Preferred Card later this year. The goal is to downsize from two wallets to one.
The information for the Citi Prestige card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Related: I hardly use my Chase Sapphire Preferred — here’s why I still keep it
Juan Ruiz, credit cards editor
I recently canceled my American Express® Green Card, with its $150 annual fee (see rates and fees). It’s now uncompetitive in contrast to many of Amex’s other cards that I have my eye on. I got it for the welcome offer and the Away $100 credit when I was in the market for new luggage. Now that it’s canceled, it opens up a new slot (I currently have six) in my quest to add another Amex card to my credit card portfolio.
The information for the Amex Green card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Related: Which is the best American Express credit card for you in 2021?
Andrew Kunesh, senior cards and loyalty reporter
I just canceled my Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card last month. These days, I’m not heading to the West Coast often enough to make use of the annual companion certificate. I also seem to earn MVP status every year through partner flights, so the benefits don’t justify the card’s $75 annual fee anymore.
Related: Everything you need to know about Alaska’s partnership with Oneworld
Victoria Walker, senior travel reporter
I’ve already canceled my Barclaycard AAdvantage® Aviator™ Red World Elite Mastercard® and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express with its $595 annual fee (see rates and fees). I’m also strongly considering canceling my Chase Sapphire Preferred.
I never used the Aviator Red and the Business Platinum is useless without the Global Access membership WeWork benefit, which ended in 2020. I was only into Chase points for the Hyatt transfers, but I just got the World of Hyatt credit card. The information for the Aviator Red card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Related: Why I won’t keep my Chase Sapphire Preferred after the first year
Becca Manheimer, director of marketing and communications
I have a whole spreadsheet to track my cards, their benefits and annual fees. I downgraded and closed the following cards:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred to the Chase Freedom Unlimited
- Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card to the Hilton Honors American Express Card
- Citi Prestige to the Citi® Double Cash Card
- AAdvantage® Aviator® Mastercard® (no longer open to new applications) canceled
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card canceled
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express canceled
- Marriott Bonvoy American Express® Card (no longer open to new applications) canceled; I kept the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card
Mitchell Stoutin, senior director
I got the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card in the days of the now-ended 10x miles/Hotels.com deal for the weekly trips to Austin, Texas, that I booked myself and was reimbursed. I still have a ton of points sitting on the Venture card. I plan to cancel that card once I redeem those miles.
I just signed up for the World of Hyatt Credit Card, getting in the hotel game a bit. My wife just got the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card. We’re in two-player mode now that the baby is turning two, so doubling up on companion fares makes sense.
Related: Two-player mode: Credit card strategies for couples
Zach Honig, editor-at-large
I’ll be honest — I feel like I’ve hit my limit for the moment. I have more than two dozen cards, so I’m definitely not leaving many opportunities on the table. But I feel like managing what I have has almost become something of a second job, especially with all of American Express’s credits. It’s been great, don’t get me wrong, but I’m not actively looking to add any more cards right away.
Related: Yes, I have 19 credit cards; here’s why
Featured photo by Altin Osmanaj/Shutterstock
Sign-up Successful!
Welcome to The Points Guy!
Earn 90,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card in the first three months of card membership. Offer ends 11/10/2021.
With Status Boost™, earn 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, up to two times per year getting you closer to Medallion Status. Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels, 2X Miles at restaurants and at U.S. supermarkets and earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases. Terms Apply.
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months. Offer expires 11/10/2021.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. *Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $75 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓®.
- Enjoy an exclusive rate of $39 per person per visit to enter the Delta Sky Club® for you and up to two guests when traveling on a Delta flight.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.