The Credit Cards With Starting Roster Spots in My Wallet in 2024

I have 7 credit cards. By the end of the quarter, that number may decrease.

I’m a massive fan of the HBO show “Hard Knocks.” If you aren’t familiar, the show’s premise is to highlight the players’ progress during an NFL training camp. Essentially, characters (the players themselves) are categorized as perennial starters, reliable backups, or players “on the bubble” — those who could either earn a roster spot or be cut.

I’m not a football or sports fan — I like the drama — but the method of determining a football team going into gameday is how I approach my roster of credit cards. There are the clear-cut starters, those who get the most playing time, those who are solid backups, and those who, for whatever reason, may be getting a goodbye.

Here’s my current credit card roster and where they stand going into 2024.

Which Cards Are Staying?

My starting roster consists of the following cards:

• Amtrak Guest Rewards^® Preferred Mastercard^®
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
• The World of Hyatt Credit Card

I’ll break down the perks of these cards below, why they maintain starting spots in my wallet, and how my travel plans have benefited from them.

Amtrak Guest Rewards Preferred Card

First up is my most-used card: the Amtrak Guest Rewards Preferred card.

I’ve been vocal about why I value Amtrak points over many other points and miles currencies because I frequently travel along the Northeast Corridor line. But the card has plenty of other benefits, such as:

• 3x points on Amtrak travel, including onboard purchases
• 2x points on dining and travel, including transit and ride-share
• 1x points on all other qualifying purchases
• Round-trip companion coupon upon card anniversary
• 1-class upgrade upon card anniversary
• Station lounge pass upon card anniversary
• 20% rebate on Amtrak onboard food and beverage purchases in the form of a statement credit
• 5% points rebate when you redeem points for Amtrak reward travel
• Earn tier status faster with 1,000 Tier Qualifying Points each time you make $5,000 in qualifying purchases.
• Points don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
• No limit on how many points you can earn as long as your account remains open
• No foreign transaction fees

I earned an elevated 50,000-point bonus when I opened the card in 2022. I’m still earning and burning those points at least once a month on trips between New York City and Washington, D.C. While Upgraded Points does not have a valuation for Amtrak Guest Rewards points, the revenue-based currency can range from about 0.8 to 3 cents per point, making that bonus worth between $400 and $1,500.

The Amtrak Guest Rewards Preferred card has seen perhaps the most action of all my cards since I opened it, and I’ve used it exclusively for Amtrak purchases as well as most of my daily spending, including dining and travel. The rebrand with FNBO also saw new perks, such as 2x points on dining and travel (which includes transit and ride-share), so I can maximize this card for everyday purchases.

I’ve also taken advantage of several perks since opening, such as:

• A companion coupon, which I’ve used for family trips
• A 1-class upgrade, which came in handy when upgrading from Acela business class to Acela first class
• A complimentary single-visit Amtrak station lounge pass, which I used to visit the swanky Amtrak Metropolitan Lounge at Moynihan Train Hall at New York Penn Station

In the past 6 months alone, I’ve earned well over 10,000 Amtrak Guest Rewards points — enough to cover numerous round-trip tickets on the Northeast Regional (and even the Acela) between New York and Washington.

Plus, with a $99 annual fee, it’s among the cheapest in my wallet, so it’s a no-brainer to keep for another year.

Capital One Venture X Card

The Capital One Venture X card is the “it” credit card on the block right now.

I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the card since I opened it. It offers many of the same premium experiences and perks as more expensive credit cards, such as The Platinum Card^® from American Express or the Chase Sapphire Reserve^®, but with a lower $395 annual fee (rates & fees).

The Capital One Venture X card offers the following benefits:

• 10x miles on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
• 5x miles on flights purchased through Capital One Travel
• 2x miles on all other purchases
• $300 annual travel credit on bookings made through Capital One Travel
• Lounge access to Priority Pass lounges, Capital One Lounges, and Plaza Premium Lounges
• 10,000 bonus miles every year, starting on your first anniversary
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee statement credit
• Complimentary Hertz President’s Circle status (through December 31, 2024)
• Cell phone insurance
• Add authorized users for no additional annual fee (rates & fees)
• No foreign transaction fees (rates & fees)
• Rental car insurance
• Travel protections
• Extended warranty coverage

When I first opened the card, I received the elevated 100,000-mile welcome offer (no longer available) after meeting the minimum spending requirement. Those points were handy for a Singapore Suites first-class flight I booked between Frankfurt (FRA) and New York (JFK). That trip cost over 143,000 points, which I transferred from Capital One over to KrisFlyer.

While this card doesn’t get as much play anymore, I’m still finding some use for it. For starters, I’m still using the Priority Pass benefit for all of my airport lounge needs, and with my Global Entry membership coming up for renewal this year, the statement credit will wipe that charge.

The $300 travel credit is also a big reason I’ve kept the card open, given how easy it is to use. That credit came in handy during a trip to Stockholm last October, covering a 1-night stay at the 5-star Hotel Diplomat. Cash rates during that week hovered around $400 per night, so the credit knocked down the total price to around $120 — a steal for one of the best hotels in Stockholm.

I also used the Hertz President’s Circle benefit a ton last year, so I’m looking forward to taking advantage of it through the end of the year. During a late 2023 trip to Virginia, the status came in handy when there were few cars available at the airport. My President’s Circle benefit allowed me to move to the front of the line, ensure guaranteed availability, and receive a 1-class upgrade to a sports car.

Finally, the competitive unlimited 2x miles on all other purchases means earning hundreds, if not thousands, of miles per month on everyday spending, even though it isn’t my primary card.

Bottom Line:

Capital One offers various transfer partners. Most transfer partners offer a 1:1 rate, including Air Canada, Avianca, and Turkish Airlines. Capital One is also the only program to transfer to ALL – Accor Live Limitless at a ratio of 2:1.

World of Hyatt Card

With a decent $95 annual fee, the World of Hyatt card has been a reliable card for me and one of the easiest ways to earn more than 100,000 World of Hyatt points in a year. Plus, it offers perks, including upgrades and club access.

The World of Hyatt card offers:

• Up to 9x points total for Hyatt stays: 4x bonus points at Hyatt hotels and 5x base points from Hyatt as a World of Hyatt member
• 2x points at restaurants, on airline tickets purchased directly from the airline, local transit, ride-shares, and fitness clubs and gym memberships
• 1x points on all other purchases
• 1 Free Night Award for each cardmember anniversary (Categories 1 to 4)
• A second free night award when you spend $15,000 on the card
• World of Hyatt Discoverist status
• 5 automatic elite night credits each year
• 2 elite night credits for every $5,000 spent on the card
• DoorDash DashPass subscription
• No foreign transaction fees
• Purchase protection
• Trip cancellation, interruption, and luggage insurance

World of Hyatt’s points are extremely valuable, and with my Explorist status, I focus much of my spending (aside from Amtrak) on the program. Hyatt makes it easy to earn points through its credit card — up to 9x points total for Hyatt stays.

As I’m trying to qualify for top-tier Globalist through February 2025, the 5 automatic elite night credits each year and the 2 elite night credits for every $5,000 spent have come in handy. They have incentivized me to spend on the card over others in my wallet.

And if those perks weren’t enough, the Free Night Awards (up to Category 4) each card anniversary and after spending $15,000 have proven to be extremely valuable. The certificate can be used at any Category 1 through Category 4 Hyatt property in the world, which includes luxury hotels such as:

• Andaz Mexico City Condesa (Category 4)
• Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel & Residences Emirates Pearl (Category 4)
• Hyatt Regency Paris Étoile (Category 4)
• Park Hyatt Siem Reap (Category 3)

The World of Hyatt card doesn’t get used as much as my other cards, but I put all of my hotel purchases on this card. However, what keeps this card in my wallet is the frequent promotions Hyatt offers its cardholders.

For instance, Hyatt recently announced its newest Bonus Journeys promo — 3,000 bonus points for every 3 qualifying nights at a Hyatt hotel worldwide. However, cardholders get another bonus on top of that: an additional 1,000 points every 3 nights, up to 7,000 bonus points. That’s enough to keep it in my wallet for another year.

The Reliable Backup Credit Card in My Wallet

You always need a backup. While this card doesn’t get as much play as my starter cards, it provides impeccable coverage (that’s a football term) and is a solid rotational card.

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

I opened the Chase Sapphire Preferred card when I got serious about earning points and miles. It offers many perks for getting started in points and miles and is considered the go-to card for beginners and experts alike.

The card offers:

• 5x points on all travel booked via Chase Travel
• 5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
• 5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
• 3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services
• 2x points on all other travel worldwide
• $50 annual credit on hotel stays booked through Chase Travel
• 6 months of complimentary Instacart+ (activate by July 31, 2024), plus up to $15 in statement credits each quarter through July 2024
• 10% annual bonus points
• No foreign transaction fees
• 1:1 points transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Travel and car rental insurance

My Chase Sapphire Preferred card doesn’t get much daily usage, as I mostly use Ultimate Rewards points for Hyatt, but I still get value from the card. Specifically, as a frequent online shopper, I’ve taken advantage of the card’s 6-month complimentary Instacart+ perk and the $15 quarterly credit, which I used just last week to purchase dog food at PetSmart.

And while the $50 annual Ultimate Rewards hotel credit might not seem like much, it can be used to erase the charges for a cheap hotel stay. With the low annual fee, it’s easy to justify keeping the Chase Sapphire Preferred card around for another year.

The Credit Cards on the Bubble

Finally, the cards most at risk of not making my final roster are the Amex Platinum card and the American Express^® Green Card.

Amex Platinum Card

First up is the Amex Platinum card. Let me say that this card truly is a beast. It offers:

• Access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges upon enrollment, Plaza Premium Lounges, and more
• 5x points on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
• 5x points on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com
• Annual and monthly statement credits upon enrollment (airline credit, Uber Cash credit, Saks Fifth Avenue credit, digital entertainment credit, prepaid hotel credit on eligible stays, Walmart+ credit, CLEAR Plus credit, and Equinox credit)
• TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee statement credit
• Access to American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts
• Access to Amex International Airline Program
• No foreign transaction fees (rates & fees)

There’s lots to love about the Amex Platinum card — particularly the lounge access, statement credits, and the hotel elite status.

Having Priority Pass, Centurion Lounge, and Delta Sky Club (when flying Delta) lounge access has been a dream as a frequent traveler. Virtually everywhere on the globe, I have access to a quiet place to eat, lounge, sleep, and shower before a long flight.

The Amex International Airline Program is also one of my favorite perks. The program allows travelers to save on premium international airfare on select airlines when booking through American Express. This feature has allowed me to book flights such as New York (JFK) to Rome (FCO) on KLM for just $1,200 round-trip in business class.

I’ve been on the fence for years about canceling my Amex Platinum card, and I think I’m finally there. While the benefits are fantastic, the exorbitant annual fee has become harder to justify. And that’s primarily because of cards such as the Capital One Venture X card that offer similar perks (particularly lounge access and travel credits) at a lower price.

The Amex Platinum card has been a staple in my wallet for nearly a decade now, but like most things, it may be time to move on.

Amex Green Card

The Amex Green card is a decent all-around travel rewards card and is considered my “OG” card, as it was the first rewards card I opened after graduating college. Over the years, Amex has increased its appeal, adding 3x earnings on travel, transit, and dining, statements for lounge credits, and more.

The Amex Green card offers 3x points at restaurants worldwide and on all eligible travel and transit purchases, up to $189 in statement credits per year toward a CLEAR Plus membership, up to $100 in statement credits per year on LoungeBuddy purchases, and no foreign transaction fees (which I value as a frequent international traveler).

I’ve primarily kept this card open for its age history on my credit report, but I don’t get much value out of it. That’s because I receive many of the same benefits (such as the CLEAR Plus membership and lounge access) on other cards.

While the annual fee isn’t the highest at $150, it’s hard to justify keeping the card open when there are others that see much more action in my wallet.

The Replacements

If the above cards don’t make the final roster at the end of the month, there are several cards I’m considering to take their places.

Chase Sapphire Reserve Card

I mentioned earlier how I plan to keep the Chase Sapphire Preferred card around for another year. However, if I don’t, it will be for a simple reason — a product change to the Chase Sapphire Reserve card.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card has similar offerings as many premium cards: an annual travel credit, Priority Pass Select membership, TSA PreCheck or Global Entry statement credits, and more. However, what’s enticing about the Chase Sapphire Reserve card is the access to the Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club lounges. I’m spoiled by airport lounges by being based in New York, but the Chase Sapphire Lounges are in a league of their own.

I toured the New York-LaGuardia (LGA) lounge and was blown away by the offerings: restaurant-worthy dining and drink options, ample seating, wellness rooms — and even reservation-only suites. While the $550 annual fee is steep, it’s less expensive than the Amex Platinum card — and the Chase Sapphire Lounges are completely worth it.

Citi Premier^® Card

I have transferable points with most of the major points programs — Chase, Amex, and Capital One — but one that has eluded me is Citi ThankYou Rewards. There are compelling reasons to open a credit card that earns ThankYou Points, such as the variety of transfer partners that cover the 3 major airline alliances: Oneworld, SkyTeam, and Star Alliance.

I’ve been eyeing the Citi Premier card. This card offers:

• 3x points at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel, and hotel purchases
• Annual hotel savings benefit
• Access to Citi transfer partners
• No foreign transaction fees

The 3x points on daily spending, such as dining and travel, could make this card an easy favorite. And with a $95 annual fee, the card wouldn’t incur a big financial hit.

Final Thoughts

Each travel rewards card in my wallet offers something unique, from lounge access to elevated earnings on travel to hotel status. That makes it difficult to say goodbye to certain cards over others or open new cards that could replace existing cards.

There are other ways to keep some cards open if you’re on the fence, such as downgrading to a less expensive one. Those considering bidding farewell to certain cards should be aware of some downsides, such as a potential impact on their credit score.

When considering opening new cards, cardholders should also be aware of the Chase 5/24 rule, where that issuer will not approve you for any of its cards if you have already opened 5 or more credit card accounts in the last 24 months.

If you’re having trouble organizing your wallet, try thinking about your cards the way coaches think about their roster: clear-cut starters, reliable backups, and on-the-bubble cards with potential.

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Enrollment required through Capital One website or mobile app. Upon enrollment, eligible cardholders will remain at upgraded status level through December 31, 2024. Please note, enrolling through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (e.g. at Hertz.com) will not automatically detect a cardholder as being eligible for the program and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status tier. Additional terms apply.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.