Travel hacking question - Cancel cards to apply for them again in the future?

[lampstache]

Should I cancel the cards I used for travel hacking to be able to apply for them again in the future to reap the rewards again? A few of the cards have no annual fees and I can keep them forever, but then I lose out on the ability to gain those rewards again the future, right?

My credit is strong and have no plans to make giant purchases in the next 12 months so I'm not worried about the short term credit hit. We've travel hacked with great success in the last year with a completely paid for honeymoon trip to Cancun, a family trip to FL, and an upcoming babymoon trip to NYC.

Would love to hear what other travel hackers have done.

[exige]

PC them to no fee cards

[Valhalla]

I earned Companion Pass this year after getting my first new travel card in a decade, the Southwest premier card.  I didn't go out of my way to earn it, just happened by chance with their 60k sign up promo in June.  I have a Southwest business visa card and was thinking of getting rid of that since they are getting more strict about what you can put on the business card (they say due to business regulations), so I got the personal card with plans to get rid of the business card.

Ironic thing is I can't even make use of my Companion Pass much because most of my family / friends still work 9-5, kids in school, etc.  So I'll be traveling solo most of the time anyway.

While I have Global Entry / TSA pre-check, I wouldn't go out of my way to sign up for travel cards / game the system.  If I tried I could really make rewards, but it's not worth the hassle for me personally.  The bonuses would be an insignificant of my income / expenditure, and not worth my time personally.

If it's worth it to you, go for it.

[Catbert]

Just be sure you understand the rules before you cancel them. For example, with Citi you can't get a bonus if you have gotten or cancelled  a card earning the same type of points within the last 24 months.  So with Citi cancelling a card resets your 24 months for that or similar card.  Amex is "one and done" so no reason to cancel a no-fee card with them
since you can't get another bonus on their cards.

Also never cancel your oldest or close to oldest card.