What are your keeper cards?
I have some expenses coming up so of course I need a new MSR. There are no sign-up bonuses that are especially appealing so I'm thinking I should maybe get a "keeper" card -- a lesser sign-up bonus but something that will be valuable over time. I'm over 5/24 so Chase is out and I probably should avoid AmEx as I just got two new AmEx cards last month.
Wow! Tough question since the value of a keeper card is in the eye and travel style of the beholder. I am by no means averse to annual fees so long as that card offers me a particular benefit that I value and is worth the fee to me. So here are mine and why:
CSR - $300 travel credit is something I am going to hit even if I didn’t travel. Tolls trigger it and I drive a lot for work. The 3x I earn on dining and travel more than covers the $55 difference between CSP and CSR as does the number of points I save each year with the UR being worth 1.5 vs 1.25.
Ink+ (no longer available) - This is the work horse of my UR earning due to purchasing gift cards at 5x in office supply stores. CIC would be a comparable card.
Freedom- rotation of 5x UR categories also contributes to the UR stash
CFU - 1.5 UR on everything else. I was wavering between this and another card for non category spend after the SPG value for non category spend was killed.
Disney Visa - I’ve had it since day 1. Can’t cancel it due to age.
Chase
Amazon - Have had that forever and am stuck with it.
Marriott Premier - I will use the free night every year and it is more valuable than the fee to me.
IHG - I have one more unlimited free night coming my way and then will evaluate if future capped free nights are valuable or not. I am pretty sure I will keep it though.
British Airways Visa - offers 10% off BA paid flights which can be stacked with AARP discount. Card holders can get a travel together ticket when spending $30k on it each year. I’ve decided to MS my way to that every other year.
United card - extra 25% on MPX app purchases but more importantly extra award availability for card members.
Amex Blue for business - 2x MR up to $50k in spend. No AF. Most of my non bonus spend is going here now.
SPG biz - the free night is something I will use each year and value of that is more than the fee.
SPG lux - between the $300 property credit and the free night this is also a keeper as I will use those and my use will also surpass the fee.
Hilton Aspire - Diamond status, free weekend night, $250 resort credit, $250 airline credit. My new favorite hotel card!
Club Carlson - 40,000 points every year deposits in the account. This is better than a free night. That benefit is no longer available to new card holders.
Citi AA Platinum - gives you 10% off redeemed airline miles back each year up to 10,000 AA miles. We blow through well over 100k AA miles each year so getting 10k back covers the fee.
BOA premium Travel card - $100 airline credit covers tha AF and I am thinking I may use this one as a potential for variety in the point and miles portfolio.