Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Visa® Credit Card
Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Visa® Credit Card
Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Visa® Credit Card
- 21.24%, 26.24%, or 29.99% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate Regular Purchase APR
- 21.24%, 26.24%, or 29.99% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate Balance Transfer APR
- 29.99% variable based on the Prime Rate Cash Advance APR
At a Glance
The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card provide a lucrative earning platform for travelers who want the freedom to book travel on their terms and not based on a bank's travel portal. The card earns up to 5X points on travel purchases, offers points transfers to leading carriers and hotels, and comes with a slate of tarvel credits and benefits for a modest $95 annual fee.
- Best Benefits
- Rates & Fees
- Why Should You Apply?
- $50 annual airline statement credit
- No foreign transaction fees
- Earn 5X points on hotels, 4X on airlines, and 3X on travel and dining purchases
- Earn 1X points on all other purchases
- Transfer points to leading loyalty programs
- Regular Purchase APR: 21.24%, 26.24%, or 29.99% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate
- Balance Transfer APR: 21.24%, 26.24%, or 29.99% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate
- Balance Transfer Transaction Fee: Introductory fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each balance transfer, whichever is greater, for 120 days from account opening. After that, up to 5% for each balance transfer, with a minimum of $5
- Cash Advance APR: 29.99% variable based on the Prime Rate
- Cash Advance Transaction Fee: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each advance, whichever is greater
- Annual Fee: $95
- Late Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $40
- You already bank with Wells Fargo
- You want a lucrative travel credit card without needing to book in restrictive travel portals
- You don’t want to pay any foreign transaction fees
- You can make use of the $50 annual credit
In-Depth Review: Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Visa® Credit Card
The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Visa® credit card is an exciting travel rewards credit card from Wells Fargo. The card prioritizes points, earning up to 5X points per $1 spent on eligible travel categories, offering a yearly airline statement credit, and introducing points transfers to leading loyalty programs for a $95 annual fee.
Who Can Benefit from the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Visa®?
According to Wells Fargo, the Autograph Journey Visa® is their best travel rewards card yet. It is designed to help cardholders earn points wherever they book travel, allowing them to create unique journeys. Krista Phillips, EVP, Head of Consumer Credit Cards and Enterprise Marketing at Wells Fargo, stated, “Autograph Journey’s highly competitive value proposition with rich rewards lets travelers enjoy more extraordinary adventures more often.”
The Autograph Journey is particularly suitable for regular travelers who prefer a straightforward rewards program that is not tied to a specific loyalty program. The addition of transfer partners enhances the value of this card, as do the generous rewards categories, terms, and points on offer.
How to Get the Card
Availability
Since the Autograph Journey Visa® is a new credit card, there are very specific restrictions on who can apply and where. The new $95 annual fee card will be available in select Wells Fargo branches beginning March 9, 2024, and will be available nationwide online and in‑branch starting March 20, 2024.
Credit Needed
Wells Fargo has strict rules regarding eligibility for its credit card products. To apply for a Wells Fargo credit card, you’ll likely need a FICO Score of 670 or higher, although a score of 700 or higher is better for approval. You’ll need good or excellent credit to qualify for the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Credit Card.
Pre-Qualify Before Applying?
Wells Fargo offers a pre-qualification tool on its website to check if you’ve been pre-selected for one of its credit cards. This process is quick, takes less than a minute, and doesn’t impact your credit score when applying.
However, since the Autograph Journey is initially only available in-branch, this feature is unavailable for first-time applicants.
No Introductory APR
The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Visa® does not provide any promotional periods for new accounts. There are no 0% intro APR periods on purchases or balance transfers with the card.
Travel Benefits
The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Visa® Credit Card exists in a very crowded travel credit card marketplace. Fortunately, the bank has been proactive in designing a basic travel card that packs plenty of value when it comes to travel perks and rewards:
Airfare Statement Credit
Autograph Journey cardholders enjoy a $50 annual statement credit for airfare purchases. This statement credit can help offset the cost of unexpected airline incidentals and fees when using the Autograph Journey Visa® to make purchases with qualifying airlines. This credit requires a minimum purchase of $50 to activate – but given the soaring costs of just about everything, that shouldn’t be too hard to achieve.
Autograph Card Exclusives
An intriguing addition to the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Visa® is the new
live entertainment benefit called Autograph Card Exclusives. This new feature gives all eligible Autograph cardholders (Autograph and Autograph Journey) access to exclusive concerts featuring some of the biggest names in music at small, intimate venues.
Wells Fargo launched the program in November 2023, featuring a performance by Grammy Award-winning group Mumford & Sons for an audience of 1,500 at The Bellwether in Los Angeles.
This feature is similar to competitors’ unique perks, such as EEEEEATSCON access through Chase Sapphire or Citi Entertainment with the Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Card.
Other Travel Benefits
The Autograph Journey offers several additional travel benefits, including:
- No foreign transaction fees
- Secondary auto rental collision damage waiver
- Up to $1 million in travel accident insurance
- Up to $1,000 in cell phone protection (with a $25 deductible)
- Up to $3,000 in lost baggage reimbursement
- Up to $15,000 in trip cancellation and interruption insurance
How to Earn Rewards
Welcome Offer
The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa® has a super-sized welcome bonus that easily trumps its no annual fee sibling, the Wells Fargo Autograph Card. New cardholders earn 60,000 bonus rewards points after spending $4,000 in the first three months. That welcome bonus is triple that of the basic Autograph, making it a lucrative offer to consider.
Earn Unlimited Points
Like the Autograph, the Journey prioritizes points, giving cardholders lucrative rewards with nearly every purchase. The card offers unlimited points in the following bonus categories:
- 5X points on hotels,
- 4X points on airlines,
- 3X points on other travel and dining, and
- 1X points on other purchases.
There are no point caps, although points will expire. Go Far Rewards points expire at the end of the 60th month after they are earned. This means Wells Fargo Rewards expire after five years.
The 5X points on hotels and airlines are exceptional, thanks to the broadness of the official terms. Bookings made directly with the hotel or airline qualify for those 5X/4X bonus rewards, meaning you won’t be stuck booking through a credit card travel portal. Additionally, this loose definition of “hotels” and “airlines” means you can stack the rewards with your hotel loyalty points or frequent flyer miles and enjoy even greater value!
How to Redeem Rewards
Autograph Journey Visa cardholders can redeem Wells Fargo Rewards Points for several eligible available options, including:
- Travel: You can use your Wells Fargo Rewards Points to book flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, and vacation packages through the Wells Fargo Go Far Rewards portal. There are no blackout dates or seat restrictions for flights, and you can use your points to cover the entire cost of your trip.
- Cash Redemption: You can redeem your points for cash back as a deposit to your Wells Fargo savings or checking account or as a statement credit to your Wells Fargo credit card.
- Gift Cards: You can redeem your points for gift cards from a variety of popular retailers and restaurants.
- Merchandise: Through the Wells Fargo Rewards portal, you can use your points to shop for merchandise, including electronics, home goods, fashion items, and more.
- Charitable Donations: If you’re feeling generous, you can donate your points to charitable organizations through the Go Far Rewards portal.
- Digital Rewards: You can also use your points to redeem for digital rewards such as e-books, movies, and music downloads.
The number of points required for redemption varies depending on the option chosen.
Points Transfer Partners
The Autograph Journey Visa® is the first exclusive Wells Fargo credit card to provide the opportunity to transfer points to leading hotel loyalty and airline frequent flyer programs. Launching April 4, 2024, Autograph Journey cardholders can transfer their Wells Fargo Rewards points as miles, points, or credits to participating partner loyalty programs:
- Choice Privileges®
- Air France‑KLM Flying Blue
- Avianca Lifemiles
- Avios (British Airways Executive Club, AerClub, and Iberia Plus)
Wells Fargo Rewards points transfer at a one-to-one rate (1:1) except for Choice Privileges, which transfers at a one-to-two rate (1:2).
While the initial list of transfer partners leaves something to be desired, adding any transfer options is great news for Wells Fargo customers who want maximum value for their rewards. Previously, only the Bilt Mastercard offered transfer partners choices. Expect more transfer partners in the coming months.
Other Card Benefits
Other notable features of the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Visa Signature Card include:
- Wells Fargo Control Toweraccess via the mobile app
- Contactless payment and EMV chip technology
- Mobile wallet compatibility with Apple Pay, Google Pay, and more
- Voice Verificationand 2-step Verification at sign-on
Visa Signature Benefits
Autograph Journey cardholders also enjoy a slew of essential security benefits, protections, and enhancements courtesy of the Visa Signature payment network. Visa Signature provides an enhanced level of service over Visa Traditional – the baseline of Visa protections. This means that Autograph cardholders can expect the following Visa protections and benefits:
| Zero Fraud Liability | Cardholder Inquiry Services | Emergency Card Replacement | Luxury Hotel Collection | Extended Warranty Coverage |
| Roadside Dispatch | Lost/Stolen Card Reporting | ID Navigator from Norton | Travel & Emergency Assistance |
Comparison
| Wells Fargo Autograph Journey | Chase Sapphire Preferred | Capital One® Savor® Rewards | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $95 | $95 | $95 |
| Rewards | Earn 5X points on hotels, 4X on airlines, 3X on travel and dining, and 1X on all other purchases | Earn 5X on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 2X on all other travel purchases, 3X on dining, 3X on groceries and streaming services, and 1X on all other purchases | Earn unlimited 4% back on dining & entertainment, plus 3% back on groceries, and 1% on all other purchases |
| Credits | $50 airline | $95 | $95 |
| Foreign transaction fee | None | None | None |
WF Autograph Comparison
| Wells Fargo Autograph | Wells Fargo Autograph Journey | |
|---|---|---|
| Rewards | Earn 3X points on dining, travel, gas, transit, streaming, and phone plans and 1X on all other purchases | Earn 5X points on hotels, 4X on airlines, 3X on travel and dining, and 1X on all other purchases |
| Annual fee | $0 | $95 |
| Intro APR | 12 months on purchases | N/A |
| Credits | N/A | $50 airline |
| Foreign transaction fee | None | None |
What We Like About the Autograph Journey
Valuable Points
As noted, the Autograph Journey has liberal rules regarding what qualifies as an eligible travel purchase. This broad range of available purchases includes bookings made directly with the airline or hotel. You can add even more points thanks to any loyalty program elite status you might hold.
No “Everyday” Categories
Unlike the Wells Fargo Autograph Card, the Autograph Journey does not provide bonus points on any “everyday” purchases outside of dining. Sure, dining can be a very lucrative category, but there are no bonus points on streaming, entertainment, rideshares, or other popular categories.
Things to Consider
Limited Transfer Options
Wells Fargo’s introduction of points transfer options with the Autograph Journey is excellent, but the initial lineup of options is rather limited. This problem will likely resolve quickly, with Wells Fargo highlighting further names announced in 2024, but it is worth considering before applying.
Wells Fargo Ratings
How does Wells Fargo rank as a credit card issuer? Here is a selection of reviews for the bank from consumers and financial experts:
| BestCards | Better Business Bureau | TrustPilot |
|
3/5 |
N/A |
2/5 |
Should You Apply for the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Visa® Credit Card?
The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Visa Credit Card is a good fit for frequent travelers and diners. It offers high reward rates on select travel purchases without requiring a travel portal. The card also provides a $50 annual statement credit for airfare purchases made directly through any airline. However, it does not offer bonus rewards on everyday spending categories and has a base rewards rate of 1X points per dollar, meaning other options might provide better value if you don’t expect to maximize the travel benefits with the card.
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