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Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card review: A high-earning card designed for frequent travelers
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Some offers on this page are from advertisers who pay us, which may affect which products we write about, but not our recommendations. See our Advertiser Disclosure. Wells Fargo has designed its Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card with travelers in mind. The card's earning power, benefits, and redemption options offer the most value for people who travel regularly. Cardholders can earn a generous welcome bonus and receive up to 5x points on travel and everyday spending. When you’re ready to redeem your rewards, trade in your points for travel or cash back — or transfer points directly to hotel and airline partners. The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Visa's earning power and transfer partners open up a tremendous opportunity to get maximum value on every dollar you spend on the card. With the Autograph Journey, cardholders receive unlimited rewards at a rate of: 5x points with hotels 4x points with airlines 3x points on restaurants and other travel purchases 1x points on everything else The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card offers three primary ways for cardholders to earn rewards through their spending. These options include the welcome bonus, bonus categories, and everyday purchases. However, some expenses may not be eligible to earn bonus points — or any points at all. In the dining category, for example, spending at bakeries, grocery stores, or third-party delivery services may not qualify for the 3x bonus points. In addition, money spent on gift cards or gambling is ineligible to earn points. You may also combine points from other Wells Fargo cards to maximize your rewards. For example, you could use the Wells Fargo Autograph Card to take advantage of its bonus categories or the Wells Fargo Active Cash for its unlimited 2% cash rewards. Customers have several redemption options with rewards earned from the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card. In March 2024, Wells Fargo announced the addition of transfer partners, giving cardholders another way to redeem points and get more value from their rewards. Transfer partners: One of the best ways to get maximum value from your rewards is to transfer them to airline and hotel partners. Cardholders will have the option to transfer points to Choice Privileges, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Avianca LifeMiles, British Airways Executive Club, Aer Lingus AerCub, and Iberia Plus. All partners transfer at a 1:1 ratio unless stated otherwise. Booking travel: Customers can book travel with their points through the Wells Fargo travel portal. Redemption options include flights, hotels, and rental cars. Cash back: Cash-back redemptions are often the smart choice for cardholders when they're not traveling. The Autograph Journey provides several different ways to redeem points for cash, including credits to your Wells Fargo bank account, mortgage, or credit card statements. Gift cards: Redeem points for gift cards from many popular retailers or restaurants. Gift cards are available in increments of $25. Online shopping: Your points can also help you cover purchases online. You can pay with points when checking out online at participating merchants. Additionally, buy merchandise and gifts from hundreds of retailers using your points through Wells Fargo’s online shopping portal. The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey was created with travelers in mind, and like other travel credit cards, it offers numerous benefits to save money and protect your trips. Each year, you'll receive a statement credit of $50 when using your card to pay for airline tickets, fees, or other eligible transactions of $50 or more. This credit applies when making purchases directly with the airlines. When booking through the Luxury Hotel Collection, you'll receive benefits normally reserved for travelers with hotel elite status. Perks may include automatic room upgrades, complimentary breakfast for two, a $25 food or beverage credit, or late checkout. If you use your Autograph Journey card to book a rental car and decline the rental company's insurance plans, you'll receive secondary protection against theft or damage to the vehicle. This coverage does not cover medical claims or damage to other vehicles or property. Your carry-on and checked baggage is covered up to $3,000 per trip if it’s lost or stolen. It covers you, your spouse or domestic partner, and your children traveling with you. When your trip is canceled for a covered reason, you'll be reimbursed up to $15,000 per traveler for nonrefundable trip expenses. This benefit covers a maximum of $20,000 in claims in a 12-month period. Your cell phone is covered against damage, theft, and accidents when using your Wells Fargo Autograph Journey to pay the monthly bill. Each claim is covered up to $1,000 with a $25 deductible, with a maximum of two claims per 12-month period. Autograph Journey cardholders can access exclusive concerts showcasing major artists in small venues. Avoid hidden fees while traveling with the Autograph Journey credit card. While some banks charge up to 3%, this card waives fees on purchases made outside the U.S. The Autograph Journey Visa was designed from the ground up with travelers in mind. Those who travel regularly will benefit from the card’s earning power, redemption options, and travel perks. You’ll maximize travel purchases by earning an unlimited 5x with hotels, 4x with airlines, and 3x on all other travel purchases. Plus, the card receives 3x on restaurants worldwide and 1x on everything else. The card’s $50 annual statement credit on airline purchases can cover costs on flights, airline fees, and other airline purchases. It also includes cell phone protection and a limited number of complimentary travel protections to protect you during your trips. Learn more: How do travel credit cards work? Earn up to 5x points per dollar on your spending $50 annual statement credit on purchases made directly with airlines Complimentary travel protections and cell phone insurance Luxury Hotel Collection benefits include perks similar to elite hotel status No foreign transaction fees Flexible redemption options, including transfers to airline and hotel partners Limited transfer partners available at launch (though more are expected to be added at a later date) No intro APR offer on purchases or balance transfers The annual fee of $95 may be hard to justify for some cardholders Travel protections do not include baggage delay, and rental car insurance is secondary As a Visa Signature Card, the Autograph Journey can be used anywhere Visa cards are accepted. Visa is available in more than 200 countries and 130 million merchant locations. This card also has no foreign transaction fees so you won't be hit with hidden fees on your international purchases. Online at WellsFargo.com Via Wells Fargo mobile apps (Apple, Google) In-person at Wells Fargo branches and ATMs across 36 states and Washington, D.C. Over the phone by calling the number on the back of your card Mail payments to: Wells Fargo Card ServicesP.O. Box 51193Los Angeles, CA 90051-5493 Customer service is available by phone 24/7 by calling 1-800-642-4720 Online via the Wells Fargo login page Visit the credit card FAQ page The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey will be available in select branches starting March 9, 2024, before rolling out nationwide on March 20. However, if you want to compare other travel card options, take a look at these alternatives. Why we like it: The Chase Sapphire Preferred is one of the most popular travel rewards cards because of its powerful Ultimate Rewards points. This card earns 3x on dining, online grocery orders, and select streaming services, 2x on travel, and 1x on everything else. You can also earn 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel. Points have many redemption options but generally have the most value when booking travel through Chase (up to 1.75x more value) or transferring points to 14 airline and hotel partners. The card also includes generous travel and purchase protections, including primary rental car insurance. Why we like it: You don’t need to memorize complicated bonus categories with the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card — every purchase earns an unlimited 2x miles, but you can earn 5x miles when booking hotels or rental cars through Capital One Travel. The card also includes reimbursement for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck every four years, plus access to the Lifestyle Collection hotel perks and Hertz Five Star status. Miles are redeemable for travel, cash back, gift cards, and more. Plus, Capital One has more than 15 airline and hotel transfer partners to book award travel. Why we like it: Travelers willing to pay a higher annual fee for premium travel benefits should consider the Platinum Card from American Express. It features complimentary access to more than 1,550 airport lounges, Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors Gold elite status, and premium travel protections. The points you earn have many redemption options, but the most value comes from Amex's 21 airline and hotel transfer partners. Can’t decide on a credit card? Check out Yahoo’s best credit card picks This article was edited by Rebecca McCracken Editorial Disclosure: The information in this article has not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. All opinions belong solely to Yahoo Finance and are not those of any other entity. The details on financial products, including card rates and fees, are accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information. This site doesn't include all currently available offers. Credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product. Learn how the Wells Fargo Autograph Card can help you earn an excellent travel rewards rate on everyday expenses, including gas, dining, and transit. If you want to earn rewards on your everyday purchases, the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card is a standout credit card option. Learn about rewards credit cards that offer cash back, points, or miles to see which one might better fit your lifestyle, spending habits, and goals. Before leaving on vacation, use this guide to secure the right card for saving on travel expenses. The right travel credit card can help you earn points toward your next trip with the purchases you make most. These are the best travel cards right now. The AARP Travel Rewards Mastercard is a great pick for frequent travelers, and offers a generous intro APR.