Feb 12, 2016, 8:56 am
Last edit by: beltway
This is the general 2016-2019 thread for weighing the relative merits
of keeping, downgrading, or canceling Chase-issued credit cards.
Post-2019 discussion continues in this thread.
of keeping, downgrading, or canceling Chase-issued credit cards.
Post-2019 discussion continues in this thread.
What's the main reason people product change (PC)?
The benefits offered by a particular card, might suit you better than the card you are holding. Many people, unable to qualify for a new Chase Sapphire Reserve application, upgraded from the Sapphire Preferred to the Sapphire Reserve, because the benefits of the CSR's cash reimbursements made the annual fee a nominal difference the first year. And vice versa- the onerous $450 yearly fee of the CSR makes an appealing case to downgrade to the Sapphire Preferred, and eventually to the no-fee Sapphire or a Freedom card.
Many people product change to avoid the annual fees on the premium versions of the card. Keeping the card open, via a product change, keeps the account open. This allows you to retain the seasoned account, and the banking relationship that the older card has established with Chase.
Why not just cancel the card and be done with it?
This may be the right choice for you, but others want some of the card benefits without having to reapply. Also, Chase has become very restrictive for new card applicants. For Chase cards, you must wait 24- 48 months since the last time you received a bonus before reapplying. Please see the threads on the individual cards for updated overlay rules.
An additional (and more stringent) overlay is the infamous 5/24 rule, which Chase instituted in May 2016 as a counter-measure against churning, or, as they refer to it, "Serial Starters." The 5/24 rule is that you won't be eligible for most Chase card products if you've opened more than 5 credit cards in 24 months. For more on this and other application-related issues, see the current "Applying for Chase Credit Cards " Master thread.
Finally, canceling certain cards--those earning Chase Ultimate Rewards--may deprive you of the ability to exchange UR for miles/points in air & hotel programs. See Ultimate Rewards transfer partners, times & rules.
Is there any way I can keep a card without paying the annual fee?
See Chase Retention Bonuses: June 2015-Present
Are there any restrictions on product changes?
Product changes are only allowed within the same card "family," and are not permitted between business and personal cards. Also, Chase cites the federal CARD Act to deny product changes on any account less that one year old.
Will a product change count as a new card?
No, you will keep your same card number, "opened on" date, credit line, automatic payment arrangements, etc. A product change does not count against Chase's 5/24 limitations on new cards.
Will I get a signup bonus when I change?
No, product changes do not result in point bonuses. Signup bonuses are reserved for new applicants only. For the complete list of public sign up offers, check the Chase sitemap here: https://creditcards.chase.com/sitemap
Is there a place I can look to compare cards?
Go here: https://creditcards.chase.com/credit...D=177087865887
Click: All cards
Place a checkmark in the Compare box for up to three cards.
Click: Compare cards...and you should see a side-by-side display.
I've figured out what I want to switch to. How do I product change my card?
Call the number on the back of your card.
Product changes for the Ultimate Reward Business and Personal Card Family
The UR family of cards includes the Chase Ink business cards, the Freedom Unlimited, the Freedom Card, and the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Reserve and Sapphire.
The Slate (personal) card is also available to downgrade to. It has no annual fee and does not earn any type of reward points. It offers a low fee (currently 0% for the first 60 days) balance transfers and APR.
Personal Cards
- Freedom: 5X points in rotating quarterly categories up to $1500 spend per quarter. If you max out the $1500 every quarter, it totals 7500 UR per quarter, or 30,000 UR per year.
- Freedom Unlimited: 1.5X for all spending, no bonus categories. $20,000 in spend would net 30,000 UR per year.
- Sapphire Reserve: $450 annual fee, $300 annual travel credit, 3X points for travel and dining. Books travel through the UR portal for 1.5 per dollar. Lounge access and other goodies. See the thread here for details.
- Sapphire Preferred: $95 annual fee, 2X points for travel & dining
- For discussion specific to the Sapphire Preferred Card, see Chase Sapphire Preferred - Keep, Downgrade, or Cancel?
- Sapphire: Not available to new applicants. Available as a product downgrade/change only, must tier down from the Sapphire Reserve to Sapphire Preferred to Sapphire or Freedom cards. No annual fee. Some Customer Service Reps are citing that the original product (i.e., the CSR), must be held for one year before downgrading. Please provide data points in the thread if this happens to you.
Business Cards
- Ink Plus: $95 annual fee, 5X office supplies, 5X cellular/landline/cable; 2X gas and hotels
- Ink Preferred: 3x on travel, shipping, internet/phone/cable, & some online advertising.
- Ink Cash: No annual fee, 5X office supplies, 5X cellular/landline/cable; 2X gas and restaurants
If you still have a legacy Ink Classic or Ink Bold business card, neither of which is available for new signups, you can product change to one of the other Ink cards.
Considerations for downgrading/upgrading:
Can I combine my UR points?
Yes, UR can be combined freely across the cardholder's own personal and business accounts.
What about transfering my UR to another person's Chase UR account? To their air/hotel partner account?
With restrictions, UR from a personal card can be transferred to a person living at the same address. Business cards allow transfer to owners of the company listed as authorized users.
However, be warned that there are transfer restrictions. Unauthorized transfers have resulted in shut-downs. Review the Chase T&C for details before planning a transfer. For discussion, see http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/chase...-accounts.html.
The Freedom cards, no-fee Ink Cash, and no-fee Sapphire cards do not allow UR transfer to airline/hotel partners. If you are downgrading from a premium UR card and will only have no-fee cards left, it may be prudent to transfer your points to the partner of your choice beforehand.
I know I can use UR to pay for travel directly (as opposed to transfering points into a travel partner program). Do the Chase UR cards differ on this?
Only the Sapphire Reserve books travel on the UR portal for 1.5. So you can stack your card bonus opportunities when your UR points are combined into your CSR account and used for booking travel. If, for instance, you earned 5x on your Ink Plus on your phone bill, and combine those 5x Ink earned points into your CSR's UR account, you'll now get an additional .5 in value when you redeem them on the travel portal.
Product Changes for United Airlines Cards
There are options to downgrade or upgrade UA cards.
- United Mileage Plus Card- no annual fee, 1 UA mile per $2 in spend
- United Mileage Plus Explorer Card- $95 annual fee, 1 mile per dollar earning, additional award inventory on UA, free checked bag, 25% bonus on the shopping portal.
- United Plus Club Card- $450 annual fee, 1.5 miles per $1, many additional premium card benefits
- Business Cards for the Mileage Plus and Club Card give you a choice to upgrade or downgrade between those two.
Southwest Airlines Cards
The difference here is a nominal $30/3000 points per year.
Personal cards
- Plus Card- $69 annual fee, 3000 bonus points upon renewal
- Premiere Card- $99 annual fee, 6000 bonus points upon renewal
Chase Product Change/Card Conversion: Downgrade, Upgrade, Keep or Cancel? (2016-2019)
Oct 25, 2018, 5:12 am
#886
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: AMS (SEA, JNB)
Programs: Mucci Reperateur des Coeurs Brises
Posts: 4,107
I am looking to cancel my current Chase British Airways VISA card because I do not use it enough to justify the $95 fee and the benefits are virtually nonexistent IMHO compared to other cards these days. I have been looking at the Chase Sapphire Reserve as a replacement.
The Wiki states "Product changes are only allowed within the same card "family," and are not permitted between business and personal cards."
Does that mean I cannot use a "product change" feature to change my current BA VISA to a Chase Sapphire Reserved? I am not sure how "family" is defined in the Wiki. Thanks for any help.
The Wiki states "Product changes are only allowed within the same card "family," and are not permitted between business and personal cards."
Does that mean I cannot use a "product change" feature to change my current BA VISA to a Chase Sapphire Reserved? I am not sure how "family" is defined in the Wiki. Thanks for any help.
Oct 25, 2018, 7:08 am
#887
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: DFW
Programs: AA 1M
Posts: 31,474
That is a personal to personal so should be possible.
Oct 25, 2018, 7:17 am
#888
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
Family refers to the rewards program. Changes are permitted between the various cards that earn Ultimate Rewards: Freedom, Unlimited, Sapphire, Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve, but I expect that a BA card can only be converted to another BA card or (perhaps) another card earning Avios (IB or EI). I would not expect a BA card to be converted to a card earning Ultimate Rewards, but it's free to ask them.
Oct 25, 2018, 11:05 pm
#889
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Intermountain West
Programs: Too many to list
Posts: 12,082
I am looking to cancel my current Chase British Airways VISA card because I do not use it enough to justify the $95 fee and the benefits are virtually nonexistent IMHO compared to other cards these days. I have been looking at the Chase Sapphire Reserve as a replacement.
The Wiki states "Product changes are only allowed within the same card "family," and are not permitted between business and personal cards."
Does that mean I cannot use a "product change" feature to change my current BA VISA to a Chase Sapphire Reserved? I am not sure how "family" is defined in the Wiki. Thanks for any help.
The Wiki states "Product changes are only allowed within the same card "family," and are not permitted between business and personal cards."
Does that mean I cannot use a "product change" feature to change my current BA VISA to a Chase Sapphire Reserved? I am not sure how "family" is defined in the Wiki. Thanks for any help.
Oct 26, 2018, 7:34 am
#890
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,857
Yes. The cutoff date between full and pro-rated refund has changed. It used to be 60 days from AF posting date. It's now ~42 days from the closing date of the statement that lists the AF. I say "~42" because this is based on anecdotal evidence as well as reports from Chase reps.
Oct 26, 2018, 2:41 pm
#891
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: CHS
Programs: Delta, AA, BA, United, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Honors Diamond, SPG Marriott Gold, Sixt Platinum
Posts: 1,142
Ink Plus to Chase Ink Preferred, No
We just called to PC my wife’s old Chase Ink Plus to the Chase Ink Preferred. The phone rep seemed willing, but in the end said the card was not eligible for a PC to Anything.
I changed my Ink plus to the Ink Preferred about six months ago with no problem. Has something changed, or might her account be in the dog house for too much time at Office Depot. Wondering if we should HUCA, or wait awhile. Since it’s Dear Wife’s account, I’m only going to get her to call when the moon is in the right phase.
I changed my Ink plus to the Ink Preferred about six months ago with no problem. Has something changed, or might her account be in the dog house for too much time at Office Depot. Wondering if we should HUCA, or wait awhile. Since it’s Dear Wife’s account, I’m only going to get her to call when the moon is in the right phase.
Oct 26, 2018, 2:55 pm
#892
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
Oct 26, 2018, 4:25 pm
#893
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: CHS
Programs: Delta, AA, BA, United, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Honors Diamond, SPG Marriott Gold, Sixt Platinum
Posts: 1,142
Oct 27, 2018, 10:32 am
#894
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: BAY AREA
Posts: 1,125
I PCd Chase freedom to CSR in July this year cause I needed to use card for Travel and is up the UR. My annual fee is due on Nov 2. Since Amex updated their gold reward structure, I'm thinking about going back to Chase freedom. I already have Chase ink business card that I can use to transfer points to travel partners. I also used up my UR points and got 300 travel credit. Besides being unethical to downgrade back after using the credit, would this be a negative affect with Chase? I've had this acct since 97. I really don't mind if they take back the 300 credit. All my charges will be on Amex Gold and BofA travel card. 🤷🏻.♂️
Oct 29, 2018, 10:14 am
#895
Moderator: Travel Buzz
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Sunny San Diego
Posts: 3,099
We just called to PC my wife’s old Chase Ink Plus to the Chase Ink Preferred. The phone rep seemed willing, but in the end said the card was not eligible for a PC to Anything.
I changed my Ink plus to the Ink Preferred about six months ago with no problem. Has something changed, or might her account be in the dog house for too much time at Office Depot. Wondering if we should HUCA, or wait awhile. Since it’s Dear Wife’s account, I’m only going to get her to call when the moon is in the right phase.
I changed my Ink plus to the Ink Preferred about six months ago with no problem. Has something changed, or might her account be in the dog house for too much time at Office Depot. Wondering if we should HUCA, or wait awhile. Since it’s Dear Wife’s account, I’m only going to get her to call when the moon is in the right phase.
I recently PC'ed an old Ink Bold that had been changed out a year or so ago to a Preferred, and now, last week, to an Unlimited. There were no hitches at all. Perhaps you could get the wife to authorize you to speak to the rep, and just try again. Call on the weekdays to help assure you get a domestic rep, since the outsourced reps seem to be more scripted.
Oct 30, 2018, 7:42 pm
#896
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: CHS
Programs: DL Diamond, WN A-List, Marriott Platinum Elite, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 685
I'm considering upgrading from the Sapphire Prefered to the Sapphire Reserve, any idea how long it takes for the approval to hit the account, i.e. how quickly should I expect to book Ultimate Rewards travel at a rate of 1.5 cents instead of 1.25?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Oct 31, 2018, 4:45 am
#897
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Sunny AZ
Programs: HH Diamond, Sixt Platinum, IHG Spire Ambassador, Marriott/SPG Gold .....
Posts: 3,213
last time I did it I sent a PM and all was done the next day
Oct 31, 2018, 8:05 am
#898
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,857
Assuming you've had your Preferred for at least 1 year, this should be a quick product change via phone call (can't product change via SM any longer). You should see the change reflected in your online account within minutes or hours, not days.
Oct 31, 2018, 9:22 am
#899
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: CHS
Programs: DL Diamond, WN A-List, Marriott Platinum Elite, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 685
Thanks! Yep, actually called in this morning to upgrade and within about minute of hanging up the icon on the website portal had already changed to the Reserve and the points were already redeemable at 1.5 cents each.
Nov 2, 2018, 11:51 am
#900
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 185
Do I get the same value?
I appreciate if anyone in the know can help me with my question.
I have a Chase Sapphire Plus, an Ink Plus and an Ink Preferred. I have a decent amount of UR points earned and they are pooled in a one account.
I don't really use the Sapphire card these days because I put travel related expenses on my wife's Reserve card. And I am thinking of downgrading/product changing (I am not sure which term suites better) the Sapphire to a Freedom Unlimited so that I could avoid an annual fee. I know the Freedom Unlimited earns UR points. But my question is, do UR points I have earned so far and I will after changing to the Freedom Unlimited somehow devalue the UR points? I guess the UP points can be transferred to Chase's partners with the same value with and without the Sapphire Preferred. I am right? I am aware I can book flights directly with Chase's travel portal. Do I get the same value with the UR points with and without the Sapphire Preferred?
Thank you for your help in advance!
Michaelmorio
I have a Chase Sapphire Plus, an Ink Plus and an Ink Preferred. I have a decent amount of UR points earned and they are pooled in a one account.
I don't really use the Sapphire card these days because I put travel related expenses on my wife's Reserve card. And I am thinking of downgrading/product changing (I am not sure which term suites better) the Sapphire to a Freedom Unlimited so that I could avoid an annual fee. I know the Freedom Unlimited earns UR points. But my question is, do UR points I have earned so far and I will after changing to the Freedom Unlimited somehow devalue the UR points? I guess the UP points can be transferred to Chase's partners with the same value with and without the Sapphire Preferred. I am right? I am aware I can book flights directly with Chase's travel portal. Do I get the same value with the UR points with and without the Sapphire Preferred?
Thank you for your help in advance!
Michaelmorio