Canceling/Churning Cards
 

I'm not sure where to ask this question. I'm sure its already been answered but I can't find out where. Anyway, I'm coming up on the end of my first year of getting a bunch of credit cards for the bonuses (Citi Bank - 4 cards - between wife and I , SW, Chase Sapphire, SPG - 2 cards) They all expire between now and end of the year and I sure don't want to pay annual fees for all of them. The only ones I'd like to keep are the Chase Sapphire and one of the SPG cards -- However, I wouldn't mind canceling My Chase card and getting a new one in my wife's name --- sure don't want to risk not having any though.
Here are my questions:

1) If I cancel a card that goes to an airlines (SW and Citi - AA) is there any way to keep the account active if I don't fly on one of them in the next year?

2) If I cancel Chase Sapphire or SPG - where do the miles go? Do I have to move all of them to one of their airlines before canceling?

3) How long do I have to wait before re-applying for new cards(churning) so I get a new bonus? Is there a place in FT that speaks to that?

4) Any other advice?

Sorry if this is in the wrong place. I still am a newbie and trying to learn the system here. Thanks for your help!

#1 - You could buy something through the airline's online mall. You can use any credit card and you will earn points.

#2 - Not sure. SPG should be ok because the points are in the hotel system. Chase UR points are a different matter since those are bank points transferrable to partners. Not sure what happens. However if you and wife both have CSP cards and one person cancels they could(and should) transfer any points over to the spuose's card before canceling.

#3 - Please see this thread http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/credi...dit-cards.html

Depending on what credit cards you have, you might want to hold on to them...
Chase is REALLY good about keeping track of sign-up bonuses so there is next to 0% chance of being able to churn a Chase cc.

If you don't want to pay the annual fee on the CSP, you can get it downgraded to just Chase Sapphire. Keep in mind that this will take away your ability to transfer points to partners.

If you have or intend to get the Chase Marriott/Priority Club cards, you could hold on to them, because the free night certificated would more than pay for the annual fee.

[QUOTE=jatink129;19409456]If you don't want to pay the annual fee on the CSP, you can get it downgraded to just Chase Sapphire. Keep in mind that this will take away your ability to transfer points to partners.

[QUOTE]

True, but it should still be possible to transfer UR points to another cardholder, who can do it for you; I have Ink Bold, which would allow us to downgrade CSP before the anniversary, transfer Sapphire UR to Ink.