HELP! I MUST Cancel One of These Cards

[@MrBryantAustin]

Keep both! You're getting value from both of them and have been able to use the credits and free nights on each card.

[@ScottLeRay]

They just might be my best option. But I gotta get rid of some of these annual fees.

[@CesarJoel]

Keep that Hilton Aspire 👑 is by far the best hotel card in the game.

[@ScottLeRay]

I agree. But even with my traveling situation I mentioned, you think I should keep that one?

[@CesarJoel]

@@ScottLeRay yeah, a lot easier to justify and get positive value. 14 nights is a good amount of Hilton stays.

[@biancas808]

Great video. I’m interested in going to Tanzania and Namibia myself. But, it seems like the Marriott card will be more beneficial for you. Specifically for your travels in Africa since it has a larger footprint. Have you thought about downgrading to the Surpass? You can cash out the quarterly $50 credit by getting a gift card and using those for your hotel stays. May be a bit more tedious, but can be beneficial.

[@ScottLeRay]

Thanks. You'll love both Tanzania and Namibia. I'm actually going back to Tanzania in May. Yes, I've thought about downgrading to the Surpass...but if I can't get those free room upgrades, then I'm not sure if I would want to go that route. Hard decision.

[@ranktank45]

You can still get them at gold. Honestly internationally you should still see decent success with upgrades even at gold.

[@De_Guatemala]

Hotel cards with AFN are usually keepers. I have received more and better upgrades as a Marriott Platinum than as a Hilton Diamond. I have the Ritz-Carlton card and the AMEX Marriott business, mainly for Alaska and Hawaii trips.

[@ScottLeRay]

Usually I get more upgrades with Hilton, but this year it's been different.

[@nubianpwr]

I too have found the Marriott Platinum status is just worth more

[@Cooooles]

Are you close to lifetime platinum? Could be worth keeping for a couple years if you’re not sure you can hit it organically

[@ScottLeRay]

No, unfortunately I'm not.

[@aaronbinner5693]

I’ve heard mixed from different people. But I would 100% cancel the aspire. I’ve been upgraded a total of twice in 4 years holding this card. Granted most of my travel is domestic, I’ve stayed at many higher end properties and have been told there is no upgrades with no people in sight. The food and beverage credit also is a hassle most times if you travel with more than 1 person. I’ve very rarely have this experience with Marriotts.

[@ScottLeRay]

Good info! Thanks for sharing

[@chadpennycuff]

I’d cancel both and kept the plat for Status, lounges and all the perks that easily offset the $695 AF.

[@ScottLeRay]

Wow. Good one!

[@Elricky124]

Keep Hilton Aspire, Sapphire Reserved and Altitude Reserve unless you value Marriott more, keep the Brilliant and also add the American Airlines in addition the already recommended ones if you value AA perks.

[@ScottLeRay]

🫡

[@DreLBrown529]

New design, increased annual fee ($195), and no more Priority Pass for the Hilton Honors Business. The ability to use my 10 complementary .Priority Pass access as guest passes was one of the things I found useful and really liked about this card. Now that they have taken away this Priority Pass benefit, i’m definitely canceling this card.

[@ScottLeRay]

If it no longer brings you value, I totally understand. Especially after that annual fee raise.

[@Leoprieto74]

If I needed to cancel 2 cards out of those 6 premium travel cards I would cancel first the US Bank Altitude Reserve and then the Citi Prestige. The Sapphire Reserve, Marriott Brilliant, and Hilton Aspire I will keep them till death do us part. The Citi AAdvantage Executive will try to keep it as long as I can. Happy Friday 🍻

[@ScottLeRay]

Till death do us part!!!!

[@DCGEMINI202]

The altitude reserve is one of the best cards though. Way better then the AA card

[@Leoprieto74]

@@DCGEMINI202 Access to Admiral Club Lounges is important for me. This is the main reason I have the Citi AA Executive.

[@DCGEMINI202]

@@Leoprieto74 AA lounges aren’t that nice of a lounge when compared to delta, centurion, Virgin Atlantic, plaza premium etc lounges The altitude reserve gives you around 300 towards United flights. Thats just as good as the csr

[@Leoprieto74]

@@DCGEMINI202 I agree with you about the Admiral Club not being too nice. However, AA is upgrading (remodeling) their lounges. I have been to a couple of the new ones and they are really nice.

[@phoenixfats1190]

The brilliant is a keep or cancel card (bevy doesnt count imo). The hilton card can be downgraded to no annual fee. I would suggest downgrading the cards that will get less use. No need to cancel.

[@ScottLeRay]

Thanks for the feedback

[@PointsBlankTravel]

Great video Scott! Solid comparison.

[@ScottLeRay]

Thanks fam

[@ranktank45]

You could keep the aspire and downgrade the brilliant to the $95 Marriott card with amex. You can't apply for it new but you can product change into it. Also since you already have 20 nights stayed plus the 25 you get from the brilliant you are close to platinum any way. so another 5 nights will get you over the hump and keep your benefits.

[@ScottLeRay]

Great points!!!!

[@jimmyjames6492]

Tough one. AMEX Hilton Aspire is 🥇🥇🥇 BUT - considering your travel and that Marriott is more widely available in Africa it probably makes more sense to keep the AMEX Bonvoy Brilliant 😢😢😢 Thanks for the info + video

[@ScottLeRay]

Thanks Jimmy. Going to be tough.

[@nubianpwr]

I too have traveled in Africa several times, and for my $$ it's Marriot Bonvoy Brilliant all the way. It costs more, but you get more. Having both cards, I value the Marriot Platinum status above Hilton Diamond - not even a close race😄 The range of properties, upgrades, and customer support is better with Marriott. In the US, Diamond is a joke. Great content👍🏾

[@ScottLeRay]

Thanks for the insight!

[@WhiteoutSnowy]

I would keep the brilliant since I like food lol ( $25 monthly food credits )

[@ScottLeRay]

Lol. I'm a big foodie too.

[@islandsunshine5971]

Great video keep the hilton aspire cance marriott

[@ScottLeRay]

Thanks

[@kura_bot]

Seems like you should keep the Aspire between those two so that is what I am voting for

[@ScottLeRay]

Thanks Kura

[@seanly274]

Keep the Hilton Aspire! Diamond status goes far overseas

[@ScottLeRay]

Ain't that the truth

[@DCGEMINI202]

Easy decision, Trash the brilliant card and keep the aspire. How long u been in the credit card game? Just found ur channel. Not to many military people making these type of videos

[@ScottLeRay]

What's up fam. You would trash the Brilliant considering the part I discussed at the end of the video about my future travel? But to answer your question, I've been in the points and miles game about 7 or 8 years now if I had to guess.

[@DCGEMINI202]

@@ScottLeRay yea man. You could always use your CSR to book a marriott. Yea you’ll lose status but the aspire offers way to much to get ride of first. The $400 in the United club perk the aspire offers can help pay for the flight alone. The brilliant can’t do that

[@Xavier_ID.]

Keep Aspire 👍🏼👍🏼

[@ScottLeRay]

Thanks Xavier