Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card (Visa Signature)
Updated August 31, 2024.
The Facts
The Math
Because its annual $50 airline credit is relatively easy to use and can be considered as an annual fee reducer, Autograph Journey has an effective annual fee of $45. Wells Fargo points are valued more than 1 cpp when the miles/points feature is used. Due to the limited number of partners, we currently value Wells Fargo points at 1.3 cpp, lower than some competitors' valuation, e.g., 1.5 cpp for Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou, and Amex Membership Rewards. With that, Autography Journey still offers impressive 6.5%, 5.2%, and 3.9% rewards for its useful 5x, 4x, and 3x bonus categories. However, we won't recommend this card for general spending, especially when compared to several other great options with 2-3% travel rewards.
Wells Fargo Autograph Journey vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred: while both have the same $95 annual fees, Autograph Journey's $50 airlines credit is easier to use than Sapphire Preferred's $50 hotel credit, because the latter requires a booking through Chase which is ineligible for points earning or elite status recognition under several major hotel programs. Autograph Journey offers 5x, 4x, and 3x rewards, for hotels, airlines, and other travel | dining, respectively, while Sapphire Preferred offers 5x, 3x, and 2x, for travel booked through Chase, dining | online groceries | streaming, and other travel. Considering the hassle to book through a portal and the aforementioned negatives associated with hotel bookings in such a way, Autograph Journey appears to be a better rewards card in general. However, when it comes to the miles/points transfer feature that elevates points value in general, Chase covers all Wells Fargo's partners plus some more, such as Air Canada, ANA, Cathay Pacific, Delta, JetBlue, and Singapore. Our current points valuation is thus higher on Chase than Wells Fargo (1.5 cpp vs. 1.3 cpp).
Wells Fargo Autograph Journey vs. Citi Strata Premier: while both have the same $95 annual fees, Autograph Journey's $50 airlines credit is way easier to use than Strata Premier's $100 hotel credit because the latter requires a booking of at least $500 through Citi. Autograph Journey offers 5x, 4x, and 3x rewards, for hotels, airlines, and other travel | dining, respectively, while Strata Premier offers 10x and 3x, for hotels | car rentals | attractions booked through Citi, and airlines | other hotels | dining | groceries | gas and EV charging. Note that hotel bookings through a travel portal are ineligible for points earning or elite status recognition under several major hotel programs and car rentals booked through a portal are usually ineligible for discount/coupons, so Citi's 10x categories might not be that amazing as you think. When it comes to the miles/points transfer feature that elevates points value in general, Citi covers all Wells Fargo's partners plus some more, such as Cathay Pacific, Etihad, JetBlue, Qantas, Singapore, and Thai. Our current points valuation is thus higher on Citi than Wells Fargo (1.5 cpp vs. 1.3 cpp). You need to do your own math to decide which card works better for your spending patterns.
The Conclusion
Joining the heated competition of rewards cards offering miles/points transfer feature, Wells Fargo Autograph Journey is a good alternative to the familiar power players such as Chase Sapphire Preferred, Citi Strata Premier, and Amex Every Day Preferred. We do hope their transfer partner list will get longer in the future, potentially increasing the value of this card.
The Facts
- Annual Fee: $95
- Signup Bonus: 60,000 points after spending $4,000 within 3 months of new account opening. This bonus is not available if you have this card or opened one within the last 48 months. In addition, you will only be approved for one Wells Fargo credit card every 6 months. Historical best bonus of this card: 70K points in 2024.
- Application Landing Page
- Rewards: 5x hotels, 4x airlines, 3x other travel & dining, and 1x everywhere else.
- Best Use of Wells Fargo Rewards points: Wells Fargo points can be redeemed for cash, merchandise, gift cards, travel, etc., at 1 cent per point (cpp). In addition, you may transfer Well Fargo points into miles/points of several frequent traveler programs, mostly at 1:1 ratio; the current transfer partners are Flying Blue (Air France and KLM), Avianca, British, Aer Lingus, Iberia, and Choice Hotels (1:2 ratio), and it is expected that the list will get longer in the future. Please see our featured review on several other more popular rewards programs that allow miles/points transfer. All your Wells Fargo Rewards points will be automatically pooled together in one rewards account, and Wells Fargo also allows one member to gift some points to another.
- Annual $50 statement credit for $50 minimum airline purchase.
- Other Benefits: (1) Waive foreign transaction fees. (2) Embedded EVM chip with the "Chip & PIN" technology which has much better acceptance worldwide than the previous "Chip & Signature" technology. (3) My Wells Fargo Deals for promotional savings at various merchants. (4) Autograph Card Exclusives for special ticket and event access. (5) Standard Visa Signature benefits including 24/7 concierge service and Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection.
- Consumer Protection: In addition to regular travel and consumer protection, Autograph Journey is one of the very few credit cards that offers Cellphone Protection - you will be reimbursed up to $1,000 per claim with a $25 deductible when your cellphone is damaged or stolen. You don't need to purchase your cellphone with the card, but rather enjoy the coverage as long as you pay your cellphone bills with the card.
- History: Wells Fargo introduced this card in March 2024, as a premium version of the Autograph Card.
The Math
Because its annual $50 airline credit is relatively easy to use and can be considered as an annual fee reducer, Autograph Journey has an effective annual fee of $45. Wells Fargo points are valued more than 1 cpp when the miles/points feature is used. Due to the limited number of partners, we currently value Wells Fargo points at 1.3 cpp, lower than some competitors' valuation, e.g., 1.5 cpp for Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou, and Amex Membership Rewards. With that, Autography Journey still offers impressive 6.5%, 5.2%, and 3.9% rewards for its useful 5x, 4x, and 3x bonus categories. However, we won't recommend this card for general spending, especially when compared to several other great options with 2-3% travel rewards.
Wells Fargo Autograph Journey vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred: while both have the same $95 annual fees, Autograph Journey's $50 airlines credit is easier to use than Sapphire Preferred's $50 hotel credit, because the latter requires a booking through Chase which is ineligible for points earning or elite status recognition under several major hotel programs. Autograph Journey offers 5x, 4x, and 3x rewards, for hotels, airlines, and other travel | dining, respectively, while Sapphire Preferred offers 5x, 3x, and 2x, for travel booked through Chase, dining | online groceries | streaming, and other travel. Considering the hassle to book through a portal and the aforementioned negatives associated with hotel bookings in such a way, Autograph Journey appears to be a better rewards card in general. However, when it comes to the miles/points transfer feature that elevates points value in general, Chase covers all Wells Fargo's partners plus some more, such as Air Canada, ANA, Cathay Pacific, Delta, JetBlue, and Singapore. Our current points valuation is thus higher on Chase than Wells Fargo (1.5 cpp vs. 1.3 cpp).
Wells Fargo Autograph Journey vs. Citi Strata Premier: while both have the same $95 annual fees, Autograph Journey's $50 airlines credit is way easier to use than Strata Premier's $100 hotel credit because the latter requires a booking of at least $500 through Citi. Autograph Journey offers 5x, 4x, and 3x rewards, for hotels, airlines, and other travel | dining, respectively, while Strata Premier offers 10x and 3x, for hotels | car rentals | attractions booked through Citi, and airlines | other hotels | dining | groceries | gas and EV charging. Note that hotel bookings through a travel portal are ineligible for points earning or elite status recognition under several major hotel programs and car rentals booked through a portal are usually ineligible for discount/coupons, so Citi's 10x categories might not be that amazing as you think. When it comes to the miles/points transfer feature that elevates points value in general, Citi covers all Wells Fargo's partners plus some more, such as Cathay Pacific, Etihad, JetBlue, Qantas, Singapore, and Thai. Our current points valuation is thus higher on Citi than Wells Fargo (1.5 cpp vs. 1.3 cpp). You need to do your own math to decide which card works better for your spending patterns.
The Conclusion
Joining the heated competition of rewards cards offering miles/points transfer feature, Wells Fargo Autograph Journey is a good alternative to the familiar power players such as Chase Sapphire Preferred, Citi Strata Premier, and Amex Every Day Preferred. We do hope their transfer partner list will get longer in the future, potentially increasing the value of this card.