Hey guys,

So I currently have the Citi AA card and JetBlue Amex. However, starting in August I will be starting weekly intra-California travel. I've opted to perform this travel on WN.

I think at this point, I really should be using a WN credit card to rack up the points. I'm based in SoCal so it's an airline I can use for other domestic travel as well. As for the SPG card - I stayed at several SPG hotels this year, racked up 1,000 points...like the hotels...and if I close the JetBlue Amex, I'll get a new Amex.

My concern is closing the Citi AA card and the JetBlue Amex. I've had those cards since 2012 and 2009 respectively and have credit limits over 10K and 20K respectively. I don't want to keep paying $140* in annual fees, especially if I open the WN and SPG cards, but I well love my credit score and don't want it changing too much!

My JetBlue Amex card's annual fee has actually been waived the past few years because I was active-duty military, but now I'm out and am expecting to pay the fee. I could leave that card open because of the lower fee, and not open the SPG card and close the Citi AA card. This way I can get going on my WN points/rewards...

Obviously this is a personal decision, but any input on how to deal with the closing of cards/credit score issue I'm facing would be appreciated. Thanks!

If you open an additional American Express card account, such as the Starwood Preferred Guest credit card, it will have the same Member Since date as the JetBlue card -and- it will be reported to credit bureaus as if it had been opened in the same year. You can safely close the JetBlue card account, and you will probably be able to transfer some of the credit line to the SPG card. Alternately, you can ask about converting the JetBlue account to a free card such as the Everyday card, or one of the Blue cards.

^^^

I had no clue I could do that. I wonder if opening an SPG card makes fiscal sense period, but assuming it does...that's great to know.

Also, since my Citi AAdvantage card has only been open < 2 years and has a lower credit limit, I could probably stand to simply close that card and open the WN card...

My biggest concern is, as I said before, is the credit score. I'm looking to purchase a house in the next 1-2 years and in the grand scheme the credit score will be more important ($ wise) then the flight rewards.

Another idea: open the SPG card and leave the jetblue card open, you can easily make back more than the $40 annual fee using Amex offers.

You don't need to be military to often avoid paying the Citi AA annual fee. You just need to know about using "retention offers". See here (starting with Wikipost at the top of that thread):

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/credi...all-cards.html

It is also possible that the Amex Blue Cash card is a valid downgrade option. So rather than cancel the Jetblue, you could downgrade to the no annual fee Blue Cash and have access to the Amex offers that way, as well as keeping the credit line open.

Also, for the OP, it's important to understand exactly how credit scores are calculated. If you close a card, it usually remains on your credit report for up to 10 years, so you don't lose age immediately. This thread may be helpful, as it touches on several of the levers in FICO:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/credi...ilization.html

Thanks for the help guys.

So it would seem my plan should be to:

1. Contact Citi and see if I can get a retention offer on my AAdvantage card.
2. Contact AMEX and either go for the SPG card or downgrade to a card w/out an AF.
3. Open a WN Chase card to gain points based on all my WN travel.

This looks good. Remember almost any bank will allow you to downgrade a card. Citi will let you convert to a no AF AA card as well. In general, try not to close credit cards, especially if you only have those two. Your credit score will take a hit.

1. Call Citi and get a retention offer, they're very generous usually. Just be truthful: You will be flying primarily WN for business. You enjoy the Citi AA Card, but have a hard time justifying the annual fee for it.
2. Don't convert your AMEX to an SPG--you won't get the signup bonus. If you elect to get the SPG, apply for it with a fresh application. Once you get it, you can choose whether or not to downgrade or close your JetBlue AMEX.
3. Yes, get the WN card for a nice signup boost.

Also keep in mind: If you do get the SPG and the WN card, in order to get both signup bonuses, you'll have to spend $2K in 3 months for WN, and $5K in 6 months for the SPG.

Is there a reason you're going specifically for the WN card rather than the Sapphire Preferred? The CSP transfers to WN (as well as other airlines) but you'll earn double points for ALL travel (irrespective of airline, and including hotels and parking) rather than just WN tickets. You'll also get double miles on all dining. You'll miss out on the annual bonus from WN, but I suspect you'll more than make up for that with the double points from travel and dining.

Also, unless you have a 50K WN offer in your inbox, the current signup bonus on the CSP is 40K (plus 5K for adding an AU) versus the 25K on the WN card.

That's a very good point. I didn't see the 50K WN offer was gone.

In this case, CSP probably would be the better choice if you don't have a targeted 50K WN offer.

IMO, with respect to the WN cards, the primary official material benefits over the CSP are:

1) the annual bonus points;
2) the points counting as CPQPs directly and 1:1;
3) the TQPs earned for higher spend on the Premier versions.

Periodically, WN chase cardholders are also sent drink coupons.

The CSP has more benefits overall....but many of us have both.

In order get (either part of) the signup bonus for the SPG card, you have to apply "from scratch", and (I think) online. You cannot get any signup bonus by converting from one card to another.

So IMHO you should first decide whether you want the SPG card or not, and if so, just apply for it online. Then separately "contact Amex" about the JetBlue card about either downgrading or just cancelling it.