FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - question about churning

Dec 14, 2012 | 8:39 pm

#22

mnscout

Join Date: Dec 2003

Location: Brooklyn, NY, United States

Programs: AA, BA, UA, Spirit, Delta, PC Plat, SPG Gold, HHonors Diamond, Club Carlson Gold, Marriott Gold

Posts: 1,735

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tr60

I am a bit confused and have few questions as I have been churning for only a bit more than 1 year. Sorry for this long message. But you guys offer great help. I have learned everything from reading the forum before finally joining.

I have cancelled only one so far. However, I am about cancel some:
-Got Amex SPG and Amex SPG Business: I got the 30K bonus for each after meeting the minimum spend on both. I am thinking of cancelling the Amex SPG business before the 1 year anniversary so that I can re-apply after 12 months from closure. I thought that the account has to be closed for 12 months before I am eligible for the bonus again.
-Got the Amex Hilton with 40 K bonus only

(could not get Amex give me the extra 25K) and will be upgrading to surpass soon.
-Got Chase Marriott with the 70K bonus (50K + 20K when I called in customer service). I am thinking of cancelling it also so that I can re-apply after 1 year.
-Got the Chase Priority with the 80K bonus (60K +20K after I sent a message through the website. I am thinking of cancelling it also so that I can re-apply after 1 year.
-Got the Chase Freedom with $300 cash back after first use. I am thinking of cancelling it also so that I can re-apply after 1 year.
-Got the Chase continental prior to the merger (got the 30 K bonus) and closed it almost a year ago.
-Got the Amex business, working on meeting the $10K spending to get the 75K bonus
-I cancelled the Amex Gold that I had for a very long time (probably that was a mistake) after getting the Amex business. I will re-apply in 12 month year to get the 25K bonus (and then cancel the Amex Business).
Cards on my list to churn: Amex Delta, Amex Delta business, upgrade to Surpass, then all the Citi cards AA and hotels.

I have been monitoring closely my credit score (still in the 700s) and never carry a balance on the card.
If the card has no annual fee, I can have multiple cards for the exact same type (2 or 3 Amex hilton and 2 or 3 Freedom cards as they don't have annual fees)?
In the case of Citi, we have to close the account for 90 days before re-applying?
Should I be cancelling per the above?

Thanks for your advice.

A low Priority card annual fee gives you a free night at any IC. Wouldn't close it.

What are the benefits of closing all those accounts? If you want to avoid an annual fee and/or hope to get back on the wagon in 12 months, then go for it. It appears to be a valid strategy for Amex SPG, at least until/unless they change their T&C language again. With Chase that has way more goodies than Amex and City combined, I wouldn't close a card without getting another one from them. In any case, when you do close a card transfer your available credit to other cards.

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