How We Rate Our Cards Advertiser Disclosure
Annual Fee
$95
Regular APR
21.24%, 26.24%, or 29.99% variable
Intro Bonus
Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months
60,000 bonus points
Credit Score
Credit ranges are derived from FICO® Score 8, which is one of many different types of credit scores. If you apply for a credit card, the lender may use a different credit score when considering your application for credit.
Good – Excellent
Wells Fargo’s new travel rewards card earns up to 5X points on travel-related purchases.
Expert Take: The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa® Card is an excellent choice for travelers who want to maximize rewards on travel purchases booked directly with airlines, hotels and other providers. While it has an annual fee, the $50 annual flight credit covers more than half of the cost. It also includes complimentary travel protections and cell phone insurance to cover unexpected situations.
Pros
- Earns up to 5X points on travel-related purchases
- $50 annual flight credit with a minimum $50 airline purchase
- Flexible rewards redemptions include transfers to airline and hotel partners
Cons
- Missing bonus categories on everyday purchases, like gas and groceries
- Does not include an intro APR offer on purchases or balance transfers
- Current list of transfer partners is smaller than competitors
Vault’s Viewpoint on Wells Fargo’s Autograph Journey Card
As competitors like Chase, Amex and Capital One gained legions of loyal followers, Wells Fargo missed out on the growth because of its meager credit card lineup. With the introduction of the Autograph Journey credit card and transferable points, Wells Fargo is taking a huge step forward.
The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card is designed with travelers in mind by earning 5X points on hotels, 4X points on airlines and 3X points on dining and all other travel purchases. With the introduction of transferable points, cardholders can redeem for cash back, travel, gift cards and more or transfer points to a growing list of Wells Fargo airline and hotel partners. Plus, it includes a $50 annual statement credit toward airline purchases. Travelers are also covered with an array of travel protections and cell phone insurance in case something goes wrong.
About the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Travel Credit Card
The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey credit card builds upon the success of the original Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card, as it also earns flexible points but with a focus on travel and dining purchases.
With the Autograph Journey, you’ll earn up to 5X points on travel-related purchases and an unlimited 3X points on dining worldwide. The card includes an annual flight credit that’s good on any airline, without having to choose an airline ahead of time. When you book trips with the Autograph Journey Card, you’ll receive valuable travel benefits to protect your trip, like rental car protection, trip cancellation/interruption protection, lost baggage reimbursem*nt and more. Your cell phone is also covered up to $1,000, up to two times per 12-month period, when you pay the bill with your Autograph Journey Card (subject to a $25 deductible).
As a new cardholder, you can earn 60,000 bonus points by spending at least $4,000 on purchases within the first three months. These points are worth $600 toward travel and have numerous redemption options, including booking flights and hotels, getting cash back or buying gift cards. Wells Fargo also introduced transfer partners in April 2024, so you can transfer points to airlines and hotels to book award reservations worth potentially even more.
| Annual fee | $95 |
| Welcome bonus | 60,000 points after spending $4,000 within three months |
| Earning power | 5X points on hotels4X points on airlines3X points on restaurants and other travel purchases1X points on other purchases |
| Foreign transaction fees | None |
| Other benefits | $50 annual airline creditTravel protectionsCell phone insuranceVisa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection benefitsAccess to Autograph Card Exclusives |
Benefits of the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card
In this Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card review, you’ll learn about the card’s numerous benefits and how they can improve your travel experience.
Earning Power
People who love to travel can maximize their rewards with the Autograph Journey Card. This card’s bonus categories target the areas where travelers spend the most—flights, hotels, dining and other travel purchases.
Flexible Redemptions and Transfer Partners
The points earned from the Autograph Journey credit card have multiple redemption options. You can redeem them as a credit to your Wells Fargo credit card statement, as a deposit to your Wells Fargo bank account or to reduce your Wells Fargo mortgage balance. Points can be used to pay for online shopping or to buy gift cards. You can also book travel through Wells Fargo.
As of April 2024, Wells Fargo introduced hotel and airline transfer partners. The initial partners include:
- Choice Privileges®
- Air France-KLM Flying Blue
- Avianca LifeMiles
- British Airways Executive Club
- Aer Lingus AerClub
- Iberia Plus
Wells Fargo plans to expand this lineup to offer even more transfer opportunities to cardholders.
$50 Annual Airline Credit
Each year, you’ll receive a statement credit of $50 when you make an airline purchase of $50 or more. Unlike some airline credits, these can be used to buy airfare as well—and you don’t have to choose an airline ahead of time. Qualifying purchases include airfare, upgrades, checked baggage, change fees and more. So, whether you’re booking a flight or paying for a fee related to a flight you’re taking, this annual airline credit has your back.
Travel Protections
The best-laid travel plans can easily go astray when your flight is canceled, your bag is lost or something happens to your rental car. Your trip is covered when you use the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Visa to book your reservations. Trip cancellation and interruption protection covers you up to $15,000 for lodging, flights and activities when your trip is canceled or interrupted for a covered reason.
If your checked or carry-on luggage is lost or stolen during transit, you’re covered for up to $3,000 per trip. Additionally, your rental car is protected against damage or theft with secondary rental car insurance. The card also comes with up to $1,000,000 in travel accident insurance, travel and emergency services assistance, roadside dispatch and more.
Cell phone Insurance
When you pay your cell phone bill with the Autograph Journey Card, you’re covered for up to $1,000 in cell phone insurance (up to two claims per 12-month period). This coverage protects you against damage, theft or loss, and it requires a simple $25 deductible.
Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection
As a Visa Signature credit card, this Wells Fargo credit card includes access to the Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection. Book a stay at one of the participating hotels to receive benefits similar to those who have elite status. Benefits include the best available rate guarantee, complimentary room upgrade (when available), complimentary breakfast for two, VIP guest status, late checkout upon request (when available) and a $25 food and beverage credit. Select hotels offer additional perks like a free hotel night, resort credits and more.
Autograph Card Exclusives
Eligible Wells Fargo cardholders also have access to Autograph Card Exclusives. These live, intimate events feature a limited number of tickets available exclusively to cardholders to purchase. Events occur throughout the U.S., and available artists and experiences change during the year.
Who Is the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card Best For?
The Autograph Journey from Wells Fargo is best for travelers who want to maximize rewards on travel purchases. This card’s bonus categories center around travel and dining, and it doesn’t require cardholders to book through the bank’s travel portal to earn maximum rewards. This card allows you to book directly with airlines, hotels and other travel providers to earn credit card rewards and perks from the loyalty programs.
While the card has a $95 annual fee, it is offset by its yearly $50 credit toward airline purchases. Simply book flights of $50 or more to automatically receive the statement credit on your next bill. The card’s complimentary travel protections and cell phone insurance also provide peace of mind for frequent travelers and people whose cell phone is an indispensable part of their daily lives.
Travelers who want to earn flexible rewards points that can transfer to airline and hotel loyalty programs will also be excited about this new Wells Fargo credit card. The Autograph Journey launches with five airline partners and one hotel partner. While this total is smaller than competing brands, Wells Fargo is working to expand its list of transfer partners, and more brands will be added throughout the year.
Who Should Consider an Alternative to the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card?
While the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey has much to offer, it may not be the right card for every traveler. Wells Fargo intends to add more transfer partners over time, but some consumers may not want to wait that long or roll the dice that new partners will be among their preferred brands. Consumers who want access to a greater array of transfer partners should look at alternatives from Chase, Citi, Capital One or American Express, since each of those programs has 14 or more partners to choose from.
Having access to TSA PreCheck or Global Entry while traveling is a huge timesaver. The Autograph Journey credit card does not offer reimbursem*nt for these Trusted Traveler application fees. Some travel credit cards at the same price point, like the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card or the United℠ Explorer Card (whose benefit also applies to the NEXUS program), include reimbursem*nt once every four years.
How Does the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card Stack Up to Its Competitors?
Before applying for the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card, compare it to these popular travel credit cards to decide which one is best for your wallet.
Wells Fargo Autograph Journey vs Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is a solid travel credit card that earns Ultimate Rewards points. With this card, you’ll earn 5X points on travel when booking through Chase Travel and 2X points on other travel purchases, such as when purchasing directly with the airline, hotel or other provider. The Autograph Journey doesn’t require you to book through its portal to earn its top rewards rates and earns 50% more points on all other travel purchases. The Sapphire Preferred also earns 3X points on dining, select streaming services and on online groceries (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs), while the Autograph Journey earns 3X points only on dining.
When you redeem Ultimate Rewards points, you’ll get 25% more value when booking travel through Chase Travel. This extra value means you’ll redeem fewer points than booking similar travel through Wells Fargo. There are also 14 Chase airline and hotel partners, which is nearly three times as many options, and it features well-known domestic brands like United, Southwest, Hyatt and Marriott.
Wells Fargo Autograph Journey vs. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
With the Capital One Venture Rewards Card, you’ll earn an unlimited 2X miles on every purchase and 5X miles on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel. While it doesn’t offer the same earning power as the Autograph Journey, the Venture Card offers a solid rewards rate on every purchase, which is ideal for people who don’t want to remember which categories offer extra rewards. The card also includes up to $100 reimbursem*nt for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership application fees and complimentary Hertz Five Star elite status, which the Autograph Journey cannot match.
Capital One miles can be redeemed for cash back, travel, gift cards and more. Cardholders can also get statement credits for purchases made in the previous 90 days. Further, Capital One offers more than 15 airline and hotel transfer partners, which is three times as many options as Wells Fargo. The card does not charge foreign transaction fees, and it includes auto rental collision damage waiver and extended warranty protection on eligible purchases made with your card.
Wells Fargo Autograph Journey vs. Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card
For people who want to earn Wells Fargo credit card points but don’t want to pay an annual fee, the Wells Fargo Autograph Card is a solid choice. This card earns an unlimited 3X points on travel, gas, restaurants, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans. These bonus categories are an excellent way to maximize common spending categories, and many of these household categories aren’t available from the Autograph Journey Card.
Additionally, the no-annual-fee Autograph card includes an introductory APR offer on purchases, which the Autograph Journey doesn’t offer. If you need extra time to pay off your purchases without incurring interest charges, the Wells Fargo Autograph Card is the best option. This card includes many of the same protections as the $95 annual fee Autograph Journey, and its points also can be redeemed for cash back, gift cards and more or transferred to airline and hotel partners.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Credit Score Do You Need for a Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card?
For the best approval odds, you should have good to excellent credit when applying for the Autograph Journey Card. A good FICO credit score ranges from 670 to 739, while very good to exceptional FICO credit score start at 740 and above. If your credit score is below these levels, take steps to improve your score before applying.
How Much Are 60,000 Wells Fargo Points Worth?
At the most basic level, Wells Fargo points are worth 1 cent each toward travel, cash back, gift cards and more. This means that the 60,000 welcome bonus points from the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card are worth $600. With the introduction of transfer partners, you may receive even higher value when transferring points to book award flights or hotel rooms.
Does the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card Have Lounge Access?
No, the Autograph Journey does not include lounge access. To receive airport lounge access, typically, you’ll need to get a premium credit card for travel with an annual fee that likely ranges $395 or higher. Premium travel credit cards are best for frequent travelers who can justify paying such a high annual fee.
