As a seasoned traveler, I’m always on the lookout for new credit cards that fit my lifestyle — especially when they fill gaps in my wallet. While a hefty welcome bonus is (obviously) appealing, there’s so much more to picking a great travel card.
And recently, I added a terrific card to my portfolio.
Here’s why I applied for the new Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card (see rates and fees) — plus how I’m thinking about using the card’s welcome bonus once it hits my account.
Read more: Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card review
A new transferable currency
Earlier this year, Wells Fargo officially burst onto the scene of transferable credit card currencies. We’d known it was coming since December 2023, but when the Autograph Journey Card launched, it marked the first time that Wells Fargo customers gained access to airline and hotel transfer partners with one of its own cards. When used strategically, transfers can allow you to get incredible value from your points and miles by leveraging sweet spots in the partner programs.
But even if you’re not ready to learn about these optimization opportunities, there’s another key feature of the Wells Fargo Rewards program (and a reason to get the Autograph Journey Card): You can use the rewards easily at a value of 1 cent each to offset charges on the card.
Other issuers peg different values to their rewards currencies depending on the redemption type. In some cases, this drops the value of each point or mile to 0.7 cents or even 0.5 cents.
Not Wells Fargo.
Each direct redemption with Wells Fargo Rewards results in a value of 1 cent per point. You can use your points as credits on eligible accounts or to offset eligible purchases on the card. You can opt for gift cards, travel, merchandise or even online shopping via PayPal, all at the same rate of 1 cent per point.
I usually lean toward transfer partners when redeeming my points, but it’s awesome to have the flexibility to cover purchases or book travel without worrying about getting poor value from my rewards.
Earning rates
Another appealing feature of the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card is its valuable set of earning rates. When I use my card, I earn:
- 5 points per dollar spent on hotel purchases
- 4 points per dollar spent on airline purchases
- 3 points per dollar spent on other travel purchases
- 3 points per dollar spent on restaurant purchases
- 1 point per dollar spent on other purchases
Given Wells Fargo’s transfer partners, you could think of this as earning 5 British Airways Avios per dollar spent at hotels or 4 Avianca LifeMiles per dollar spent on airfare, assuming you ultimately transfer your points to those programs.
The best part of the top two categories is that there’s no requirement to book through a specific portal or site. Many other rewards cards increasingly force you to book through the issuer to access elevated rates — but I can go directly to my preferred hotels and airlines with the Autograph Journey Card.
The card also incurs no foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees), which made it a perfect companion for a recent trip to the Mediterranean.
Added perks (and discounts)
But the card doesn’t just include terrific rewards. You’ll also unlock an array of additional perks and have access to targeted discounts through My Wells Fargo Deals.
For example, you’ll receive a $50 annual statement credit with a $50 minimum airline purchase. Unlike with other popular cards, this doesn’t apply to a single airline, and it’s not limited to certain types of extra fees. Just make at least $50 in purchases with airlines and you’ll get a $50 credit applied to the card.
Shortly after I was approved for the card, I needed to book a flight for a summer trip. I had an existing credit with that airline that covered part of the ticket, but I had $97.20 left to pay. I charged this to my Autograph Journey Card, and two days later, I had $50 credited to my account (note that it could take one or two billing periods for this credit to appear).
I also earned 4 points per dollar spent on this purchase.
Another nice surprise came quickly after the card arrived. That’s when I was able to access my online account — and the My Wells Fargo Deals page. Many popular merchants offer discounts on purchases when you activate offers and use the card. In fact, I was able to earn statement credits worth a total of $58.17 on three transactions I was already making during my first month of card membership. These transactions included two hotel stays and a Lyft ride. I earned the statement credits just by activating the offers and paying with my Autograph Journey Card.
When you add in the $50 statement credit, I’ve already more than covered the card’s $95 annual fee in benefits (see rates and fees) in less than two months—and without going out of my way to do so.
In addition, the card carries a number of benefits when shopping or traveling. These include:
- Cellphone protection: If you charge your monthly wireless bill to the card, you’ll enjoy up to $1,000 per claim in reimbursement (up to $2,000 every 12 months) to repair or replace your phone if it’s damaged or stolen (subject to a $25 deductible).
- Trip cancellation and interruption coverage: If you charge a common carrier ticket to your card, use rewards or use a combination of the two, you’re eligible for reimbursement for nonrefundable trip expenses if you need to cancel or interrupt your trip for a covered reason (up to $15,000 per covered traveler, per trip and a $20,000 maximum per 12-month period, per account).
- Auto rental collision damage waiver: You can be reimbursed up to $50,000 for theft or damage to your rental car when you use your Autograph Journey Card (or your rewards) and decline the car rental company’s insurance. This coverage is even primary outside the U.S., meaning you won’t need to first submit a claim to any other insurance provider.
While I hope I’ll never need to use any of these coverage benefits, it’s great to know that they’re available if things go wrong during a trip.
Getting and using the 60,000 bonus points
Of course, a key reason why I opted to get the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card is the welcome bonus. If you apply (and are approved) for the card, you can earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months. This was a relatively easy spending threshold to hit, requiring an average of just $1,333.33 per month over the first three months.
So, how do I plan on using that bonus?
Not surprisingly, I’m already exploring point transfer options with Wells Fargo’s solid slate of airline and hotel partners. While award travel prices will naturally ebb and flow over time, the current redemptions I found include:
- Transferring to British Airways Executive Club to book nonstop American Airlines flights: Since I’m based close to Miami, I have a lot of great options for visiting the Caribbean, Central America and South America. For example, I could book round-trip flights to Belize over a long weekend in January 2025 for just 22,000 Avios plus $98.40 in taxes and fees. The welcome bonus plus the points I’ll earn from spending on the card means I could book this itinerary for me, my wife and my daughter.
- Transferring to Iberia Plus to book a nonstop, off-peak, business-class flight: Another terrific redemption option from Miami International Airport (MIA) is a business-class flight to Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) for 42,500 Avios. I have booked this flight multiple times using Avios, and it remains one of the most cost-effective ways to get from the U.S. to Europe in a lie-flat seat.
- Transferring to Air France-KLM Flying Blue to book a business-class flight: Air France and KLM offer several itineraries from the U.S. to Europe. Business-class seats on one of these routes start at just 50,000 miles, making the Flying Blue program a terrific way to book a flight that would otherwise cost thousands of dollars.
These options don’t even factor in all of the points I’ve earned (and will continue to earn) via spending on my card. By the time the year is out, my Wells Fargo Rewards points balance may be approaching six figures.
Regardless of how I ultimately redeem these points, one thing is certain: This new pot of transferable points is really going to help my future vacation planning.
Bottom line
As TPG’s senior editorial director, I always find new credit card launches exciting, as they present new ways to meet the rewards travel wants and needs of the TPG community.
But the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card is more than just a new card on the market. It represents a brand-new opportunity to earn transferable rewards with a slew of added perks to sweeten the deal even further.
I’ve been thrilled with the earning rates and discounts I’ve already received. The points I’ve earned (plus my 60,000-point welcome bonus) will be a major help in booking my family’s upcoming trips.
If you’re looking for a great new travel credit card with a low annual fee and flexible redemption options, you really can’t go wrong with the Autograph Journey Card.
