Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Visa Card assessment: High-tier journey rewards for a mid-tier annual payment

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa® Card Overview

Card sort: Travel, Hotel, Airline

The Wells Fargo Autograph^SM Journey Visa® Card presents important worth to frequent vacationers, providing a robust welcome bonus and standout rewards charges on travel-related purchases, in addition to on eating. It additionally comes with a handful of beneficial perks, together with an annual airfare assertion credit score and journey protections, that may assist offset the cardboard’s $95 annual payment. 

With the Autograph Journey, launched in March 2024, Wells Fargo additionally added a factors switch program—although it should take a while to be on par with extra established journey rewards applications when it comes to the variety of companions out there. Importantly, factors switch at a 1:1 charge to most companions, and could be redeemed for money again at a price of 1 cent every.

The issuer additionally made its switch companions out there to cardholders of the no-annual-fee Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card upon launching the Autograph Journey. That’s nice information for patrons who don’t wish to pay the large sibling card’s annual payment and people who might wish to carry each playing cards, as the fundamental Autograph is extra rewarding in classes comparable to fuel, transit and streaming.

Right here’s what it’s good to know concerning the Autograph Journey Visa Card earlier than you apply.

Who’s the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa® Card good for? 

The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Visa Card could be a nice match for frequent vacationers who spend lots on inns, airfare, and different travel-related purchases. Particularly, it excels should you’re a traveler who doesn’t wish to be tied to reserving journey by way of a card issuer’s portal for the most effective rewards charges—incomes 5X factors on inns and 4X factors on airways with out being tied to a portal make this card a best choice for many who worth flexibility. 

It may be a strong selection for foodies who wish to earn a aggressive rewards charge on eating purchases. And, with no international transaction payment, the Autograph Journey is a positive selection for paying the test whether or not you’re at a restaurant at house or overseas.

Who shouldn’t get the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa® Card? 

The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey is probably not an excellent match for individuals who don’t regularly journey or wish to earn bonus rewards on extra on a regular basis spending classes—for instance, should you’re searching for a card that rewards fuel or grocery purchases. You might also select to skip it should you want an easier rewards construction that provides a excessive flat rewards charge on your entire spending.

Lastly, bear in mind that should you’ve opened a Wells Fargo bank card account up to now six months, the financial institution might reject your software to open an Autograph Journey card.

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa® Card: Find out how to earn rewards

As a brand new cardholder, you’ll earn 60,000 bonus rewards factors after spending $4,000 within the first 3 months. In comparison with different mid-tier journey rewards bank cards, that isn’t probably the most beneficiant provide, but it surely’s nonetheless a strong $600 in worth at minimal. 

You’ll additionally earn 5X factors on inns, 4X factors on airways, 3X factors on different journey and eating, and 1X factors on different purchases. Purchases within the journey class embrace timeshare and auto leases, cruise traces, journey businesses, low cost journey websites, and campgrounds. Observe that some VRBO purchases might not qualify.

A number of different common journey playing cards provide related rewards charges on inns and airfare, however many require you to make use of the cardboard issuer’s proprietary journey portal to earn their most charges. The one card we’re conscious of that provides a greater rewards charge on common journey purchases is the U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card, which grants 4 factors per greenback spent on journey. 

However, whereas the Altitude Join has a robust rewards program—5X factors on pay as you go inns and automobile leases booked straight within the Altitude Rewards Middle, 4X on journey and at fuel stations and EV charging stations, 2X at grocery shops and on grocery supply, eating and streaming providers, 1X on different purchases—you’re not in a position to switch these factors to journey companions. 

Find out how to redeem Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa® Card rewards 

The cardboard presents versatile redemption choices, permitting you to make use of your factors to e-book journey, request assertion credit, purchase reward playing cards, and even store on-line with PayPal. Every possibility offers you a redemption charge of 1 cent per level, supplying you with the flexibleness to make use of your rewards nevertheless you would like. Another journey playing cards provide diminished redemption values for non-travel redemptions.

Switch companions

Alternatively, you possibly can switch your rewards to a handful of companions beginning April 4, 2024, together with:

• Alternative Privileges
• Air France-KLM Flying Blue
• Avianca LifeMiles
• British Airways Government Membership
• Aer Lingus AerClub
• Iberia Plus

For many companions, you’ll get a switch ratio of 1:1, that means that 1,000 Wells Fargo rewards factors will get you 1,000 factors or miles with the associate loyalty program. The one exception is Alternative Privileges, which supplies you a 1:2 ratio—1,000 Wells Fargo rewards factors will get you 2,000 Alternative Privileges factors.

With solely a handful of choices and no home airways, although, this checklist can’t but compete with different rewards applications with transferable factors, comparable to American Categorical Membership Rewards, Chase Final Rewards, and Capital One Miles. Nonetheless, Wells Fargo expects so as to add extra companions all year long.

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa® Card charges and charges

• Annual payment: $95
• International transaction payment: None

Further advantages

• Airfare credit score: The cardboard presents a $50 annual assertion credit score for
  airfare purchases with the cardboard. You may e-book airfare with any airline, however there’s a $50 minimal transaction requirement. Flights booked by way of third events, comparable to Expedia, aren’t eligible.
• Autograph card exclusives: Cardholders can get unique entry to live shows with big-name artists in small venues. You may study upcoming occasions on the Wells Fargo Entertainment page.
• Mobile phone safety: You may stand up to $1,000 in protection in opposition to injury, theft, or involuntary or unintended loss whenever you use your card to pay your cellphone invoice. There’s a $25 deductible per declare, in addition to a most of two claims and $2,000 in protection per 12-month interval.
• Journey cancellation and interruption insurance coverage: In case your journey is canceled or lower quick as a result of a coated cause—examples embrace damage, loss of life, or sickness of a coated traveler or member of the family, jury obligation, and lively navy orders—you possibly can obtain as much as $15,000 in reimbursements for non-refundable journey bills per traveler. Protection maxes out at $20,000 per 12-month interval.
  
• Misplaced baggage reimbursement: If you happen to, your partner or home associate, or youngsters lose a bag as a result of theft or misdirection by a typical service, you possibly can obtain as much as $3,000 in whole reimbursements per journey for lacking gadgets.
• Auto rental collision injury waiver: You’ll stand up to $50,000 in protection for injury and theft of your rental automobile should you use your card to pay for the rental and decline the rental company’s collision protection. Protection is secondary to your main auto insurance coverage coverage should you’re touring throughout the U.S.
• Journey accident insurance coverage: If you happen to expertise a loss, comparable to a loss of life or dismemberment, whereas in transit throughout your journey, you can stand up to $1 million in protection—most protection relies on the severity of the loss.

Bank cards just like Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa® Card

If you happen to’re unsure whether or not the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Visa Card is the proper match, listed here are two different journey card choices you could want to think about as a substitute.

Chase Sapphire Most well-liked^® Card vs. Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa® Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card could possibly be an excellent match for individuals who need extra on a regular basis bonus rewards classes and the potential for elevated journey redemption worth. 

The cardboard presents 60,000 bonus factors after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening, plus 5x factors on journey bought by way of Chase Final Rewards® (excluding lodge purchases that qualify for the $50 Annual Final Rewards Resort Credit score) (2x factors on journey purchases), 3x factors on eating, together with eligible supply providers, takeout, and eating out, 3x factors on choose streaming providers and on-line grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Goal and wholesale golf equipment), and 1x factors on different purchases. 

Chase Final Rewards is likely one of the hottest, longstanding versatile rewards applications available on the market. To some extent, whether or not the Sapphire Most well-liked or Autograph Journey is the proper card for you’ll depend upon how a lot you’re keen to be reliant on Chase’s portal to maximise your earnings on journey purchases. 

Redemption choices with the Sapphire Most well-liked are versatile, however you’ll get 25% extra worth (that means 1.25 cents per level) whenever you use factors to e-book journey by way of Chase. You can even switch your rewards to 14 airline and lodge loyalty applications at a 1:1 ratio. Companions comparable to United Airways and Hyatt Motels may make the Sapphire Most well-liked extra interesting than the Journey within the quick time period.

The cardboard additionally presents as much as $50 in annual assertion credit towards lodge stays booked by way of Chase, which helps recoup the price of the $95 annual payment.

Capital One Enterprise Rewards Credit score Card vs. Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa® Card

If you happen to’re on the lookout for higher rewards on your entire non-bonus-category purchases, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a strong selection. The cardboard presents 5x miles on inns and rental vehicles booked by way of Capital One Journey and 2x miles on each buy. You’ll additionally earn 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases inside 3 months from account opening—that’s value $750 in journey. 

You may redeem your miles for journey by way of the Capital One Journey portal or by reserving by yourself with an eligible journey supplier and requesting an announcement credit score. Alternatively, you possibly can switch your rewards to effectively over a dozen airline and lodge loyalty applications (although some provide subpar switch ratios). 

The cardboard additionally comes with Hertz 5 Star standing, which helps you to skip the rental counter and get entry to extra automobiles, and an software payment credit score of as much as a $100 credit score for International Entry or TSA PreCheck®. It prices a $95 annual payment.

Is the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa® Card best for you?

It’s plain the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Visa Card shook up the journey bank card scene when it launched in March 2024. The flexibleness to get rewarded for journey generously, whether or not you’re reserving it straight with the airline or lodge, and even by way of a reduction journey website, is big. Many issuers maintain the most effective rewards charges for bookings made by way of their very own portals. 

So, should you’re a frequent traveler with a whole lot of out-of-pocket journey bills who likes with the ability to e-book journey nevertheless you need, the Autograph Journey could be a good way to maximise your rewards. The eating rewards can even add worth for foodies who get pleasure from consuming out whereas touring and at house. Plus, with the ability to redeem rewards for money again at 1 cent per level means you possibly can all the time get a strong base worth out of your factors even should you resolve to not switch them. 

If you happen to’re on the lookout for rewards on different on a regular basis spending along with journey, nevertheless, you could wish to think about different journey bank cards. Alternatively, you possibly can pair the Autograph Journey with the no-annual-fee Autograph Visa to benefit from extra on a regular basis bonus rewards. 

As with all bank card, take time to fastidiously think about your entire choices and select the most effective card for you primarily based in your spending habits and have preferences.

Incessantly requested questions

What credit score rating is required for the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa® Card?

Wells Fargo doesn’t disclose a minimal credit score rating requirement, but it surely does usually goal customers with good or wonderful credit score scores. In response to FICO, an excellent credit score rating is 670 or larger. 

Observe that the cardboard issuer will think about different components along with your credit score rating, comparable to your earnings, credit score historical past, and different money owed, to find out your eligibility. 

What’s the credit score restrict for Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa® Card?

If authorised, your credit score restrict might be decided primarily based on a lot of components, comparable to your credit score rating and historical past, earnings, and different debt. The cardboard issuer will affirm your credit score restrict upon approval.

What’s the finest Wells Fargo journey bank card?

The Autograph Journey Visa Card is arguably the most effective Wells Fargo journey bank card as a result of incomes excessive rewards charges on journey nevertheless you e-book and its annual airfare credit score. 

Nonetheless, the issuer additionally presents co-branded bank cards with the lodge model Alternative Motels, and you can too earn strong rewards on journey purchases with the Wells Fargo Autograph Visa Card. And, Wells Fargo points the Bilt Mastercard, a well-liked journey card that earns rewards on hire and lets cardholders switch factors to airline and lodge companions together with American Airways. 

Please observe that card particulars are correct as of the publish date, however are topic to vary at any time on the discretion of the issuer. Please contact the cardboard issuer to confirm charges, charges, and advantages earlier than making use of.