I review every card (and I have...a lot)...at least annually if not semi annually. I've kept some no AF cards for decades, and I'll "always" (or since I began churning) have a CSR or CSP so I can transfer URs to Hyatt (my favorite hotel chain) and at least an Amex Delta Platinum or Reserve (for free bags, mostly and to earn/keep status). The nice thing, as someone mentioned, is you can product change expensive cards after a year...so a CSR to a CSP or a freedom is an acceptable play. With Amex, I've gone back and forth between Delta Platinum and Reserve many, many times. So the answer is...it depends on the card and the benefits it provides
to me. I value Hyatt and Delta loyalty status so I'm likely going to keep a Delta Reserve and the Hyatt personal and business so they can assist me in earning status. I was able to get the Hilton Aspire card without an AF (it was an oops promotion) and although I did get more than its regular AF worth from the card, still cancelled it at the 1 year mark because I've discovered Hilton isn't the hotel brand for me. This is why it's important to know (and maybe put in writing) what's important to you in a credit card, short/long term travel goals, etc.
I will encourage you to NEVER cancel an American Express card before you've had it for 366 days-Amex can be both petty and spiteful and if you want to preserve the relationship with them, then wait until day 366 and/or when the annual fee posts (if you cancel the card after that they'll credit the annual fee).
As for the chase travel portal- as
@Albort and
@Psychodisney said, booking through the Chase travel portal is using an OTA (online
travel agency) and if your travel has any hiccups then you'll be at the mercy of them to change your travel/return your URs. The one and only time I used it, DD and I were flying to Scotland and there was a freak summer storm that essentially shut down the East Coast airports, delaying our flights from ATL to JFK to EDI...I lost about 100,000 URs because the hold time on the phone was 3 hours-got through, then they hung up on me and I was back on hold for 4 hours before we had to board the flight-and never spoke to a person who could resolve our issues. So that was an expensive, painful lesson that stuck-I'd rather deal with an airline/hotel v. through a 3rd party who couldn't care less about me (not that Marriott does either, lol, but Hyatt and Delta pretend to
).