Barclaycard Wyndham Rewards Visa Signature Review (before September 2020)
Updated February 25, 2020. Please note this review is for the old product and NOT being updated - see the updated review here.
The Facts
The Math
Our current valuation for Wyndham Rewards points is about 1 cent a piece. The new Wyndham Visa after October 2016 returns a very mediocre 1% rewards for general spending. Even with enhanced features such as elite status and waived foreign transaction fees, the new product is no match for the old product in our eyes.
Non-fee version vs. $75 version: The $75 version offer a total of 9,000 points annual bonus, which more than cancels out the annual fee based on our valuation; it also offer two additional points at Wyndham, early check-in, and upgrades at Avis & Budget. In fact, as long as you value Wyndham points more than 0.83 cent per point which means you are willing to redeem 15,000 points for a room at $125, you should choose the $75 version over the non-fee version.
The Conclusion
The new Wyndham Visa only returns 1x for general spending and is no longer considered one of the best credit cards for rewards. The $75 version is a better card than the non-fee version for most consumers.
The Facts
- Annual Fee: None or $75.
- Signup Bonus: 18,000 points for the no-fee version; 30,000 points (15K after the first purchase and an additional 15K after spending $1,000 within 3 months of new account opening) for the $75 version, after your first purchase. 15,000 points can be redeemed at any Wyndham hotel. Historical best bonus for this product: 30,000 points for the non-fee version; 45,000 points for the $75 version in 2017.
- Application Landing Page
- Rewards: 3x Wyndham, 2x gas, utility, grocery stores, and 1x everywhere else for non-fee version. 5x Wyndham, 2x gas, utility, grocery stores, and 1x everywhere else for $75 version. The $75 version also has an annual bonus of 6,000 points.
- Best Use of Wyndham Rewards points: You can use points for hotel stays in Wyndham hotel chain which includes Wyndham Grand, Wyndham, Wyndham Garden, TRYP, Wingate, Hawthorn, Microtel, Ramada, Baymont, Howard Johnson, Knights Inn, Super8, Days Inn, Travelodge, etc. Each night requires 15,000 points per night. Some hotels also offer points + cash options. Another redemption option is transferring points into miles of frequent flyer programs of 17 airlines that include American, United, US Airways, Delta, etc., mostly at 1:0.2 ratio (6,000 points = 1,200 miles). Compared to the current hotel redemption rate, transferring to miles is not a great option for most customers.
- Other Benefits: (1) Automatic Gold status for non-fee version, and Platinum status for $75 version. The entry-level Gold status is not much, only offering preferred rooms and late check-out over general members. The mid-tier Platinum status adds early check-in, an annual 3,000 points bonus, and Avis & Budget car rental upgrades in U.S. and Canada. In this way, the $75 version actually offers a total of 9,000 points annual bonus over the non-fee version. (2) Waived foreign transaction fees.
- History: The transfer ratio to airline miles used to be 1:0.4, and that was the reason why this card took a spot on our Top List. However, with the major devaluation in January 2014, we took this card off the list. Before May 2015, Wyndham Rewards had 9 tiers, ranging from 5,500 to 50,000 points per night. Effective May 11, 2015, every Wyndham Rewards night requires the same 15,000 points, which we applauded as a positive change in general. In October 2016, Barclays revamped Wyndham Visa, reducing the rewards for general spending from 2x to 1x, adding automatic elite status, and waiving the foreign transaction fees.
The Math
Our current valuation for Wyndham Rewards points is about 1 cent a piece. The new Wyndham Visa after October 2016 returns a very mediocre 1% rewards for general spending. Even with enhanced features such as elite status and waived foreign transaction fees, the new product is no match for the old product in our eyes.
Non-fee version vs. $75 version: The $75 version offer a total of 9,000 points annual bonus, which more than cancels out the annual fee based on our valuation; it also offer two additional points at Wyndham, early check-in, and upgrades at Avis & Budget. In fact, as long as you value Wyndham points more than 0.83 cent per point which means you are willing to redeem 15,000 points for a room at $125, you should choose the $75 version over the non-fee version.
The Conclusion
The new Wyndham Visa only returns 1x for general spending and is no longer considered one of the best credit cards for rewards. The $75 version is a better card than the non-fee version for most consumers.