Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Review – Is the Annual Fee Worth It?
Just like the name suggests, the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey is designed for those who want to go on a journey. Whether you’re traveling across the world – or just across the country – this card can help you earn extra points to redeem for your next vacation.
Our Verdict
Best Suited for:
Always on the road
Travel is your middle name. When you aren’t taking advantage of transit for your daily commute in the form of cabs, rideshares and trains, you are looking for a weekend escape. And if there is an opportunity to go somewhere, you take it. You are into earning miles, getting hotel upgrades, eating out and making sure your car is always fueled.
Pros | Cons |
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Can earn 60,000 points by spending $4,000 in the first 3 months | $95 annual fee |
No foreign transaction fees | No special 0% APR offer for purchases or balance transfers |
Can earn rewards on a variety of travel purchases | Can’t transfer points to travel companies directly |
Comparing Wells Fargo Autograph with similar cards
Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card
Wells Fargo Autograph®
Discover it® Miles
Beyond the basics
Balance transfer intro APR | 21.24%, 26.24%, or 29.99%, based on your credit score |
Cash advance APR | 29.99% |
Foreign transaction fees | None |
Loan APR | None |
Late payment fee | Upto $40 |
Penalty APR | None |
Credit score required | 670+ (Good – Excellent) |
Other Offers
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Cell phone protectionCan get up to $1,000 in cell phone protection with a $25 deductible
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Tow assistanceCan receive a free tow in case your car breaks down, 24/7.
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Car rental collision damage waiverCar rentals come with collision damage waiver in case you’re in an accident while driving a rental car
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Trip cancellation protectionComes with $15,000 in trip cancellation and interruption fees and expenses
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Special sales and discountsCan qualify for special sales and discounts with merchants through your online account.
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Access to free FICO ScoreCan get free FICO credit score monitoring with this card.
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Emergency ServicesWells Fargo offers free emergency services if something happens while you’re traveling in a foreign country.
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Contactless paymentAccess to contactless payment. You can just tap to pay while using this card.
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Special access to eventsCan receive access to special concerts and events only for Autograph cardholders.
What we like about this card
Can earn an annual $50 statement credit for airline purchases
If you spend $50 or more on airline-related purchases, you’ll receive a $50 statement credit once a year.
Can redeem rewards for past purchases
This card lets you redeem rewards for purchases you’ve already made. There are many cards that don’t let you do this, so this can be a huge perk.
Points can be redeemed in many ways
Wells Fargo provides cardholders the chance to redeem points for travel purchases directly or pay for purchases with merchants if you link your PayPal to your Wells Fargo card. You can also get gift cards with your points.
Drawbacks and considerations
Can’t transfer points to third-party companies
This card does not let you transfer points to participating partners like airlines and hotel brands. There are other non-Wells Fargo travel cards that let you move points directly to a participating travel-related company.
No special 0% APR offer
This card does not provide any special 0% APR offers for either purchases or balance transfers. If you end up racking up a balance on this card because of your vacation, you could be paying hundreds in interest charges. If you want a special 0% APR, you’ll need to look for it with a different card.
Fewer free memberships than other cards
Some travel cards also come with free premium memberships to services like Lyft or DoorDash. These extra perks can be a nice boost if you’re already paying for a card with an annual fee.
Points are worth less when redeemed than other cards
Wells Fargo points may not be as valuable for booking flights or other reservations as other cards. This means that every point you earn with a Wells Fargo card may be worth less than a point with another card provider.
How to decide if this card is right for you
Can get a 60,000 point bonus after spending $4,000 in 3 months
If you’re looking for a travel card that provides an easy-to-earn bonus, then you may enjoy this card. You’ll only have to spend approximately $1,333 each month to earn the bonus. This is fairly doable, especially if you’re married or have kids.
Great to use before and during your vacation
This card has many popular travel-related perks like no foreign transaction fees and extra ways to earn rewards. Whether you’re bringing this card along with you on vacation or trying to save up points for your next trip, this card can help you spend less overall. However, there are other travel cards that have better redemption options, like ways to move your points to a partner airline or hotel chain.
Found a prefect pair
Methodology
At Credello, our credit card content is crafted and maintained by a dedicated team of writers and editors with extensive expertise in personal finance. Our team members have contributed to prestigious publications such as USA Today, Conde Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, Forbes, Business Insider, Thrive Global, Observer, New York Magazine. They have also been quoted as experts or cited by MarketWatch, The New York Times, Money, and GOBankingRates.com.
Credello’s credit card reviews aim to provide readers with clear and unbiased information to help them choose the right credit card that aligns with their financial goals and needs. Our methodology emphasizes transparency, disclosure of any potential biases, and regular updates to ensure the information remains relevant and accurate for readers. The methodology used to review credit cards relied on a number of factors, with the most prominent of those being:
- Annual Percentage Rate (APR): Assess the interest rates charged on outstanding balances.
- Annual fees: Evaluate the cost of owning the credit card, including any annual fees.
- Rewards and benefits: Examine rewards programs, cashback offers, travel perks, and other cardholder benefits.
- Introductory offers: Analyze introductory APR, balance transfer offers, and sign-up bonuses.
- Credit limit: Consider the card’s credit limit and its suitability for different financial needs.
- Fees and penalties: Review late fees, foreign transaction fees, and other charges.
- Credit score requirements: Determine the credit score needed to qualify for the card.
- Customer service: Research the quality and accessibility of customer support.
- Security features: Assess security measures such as fraud protection and chip technology.
With decades of combined experience, our team is committed to providing accurate and up-to-date information. We follow stringent editorial guidelines to ensure the integrity and reliability of our content. Our writers and editors regularly communicate with credit card issuers to verify that the details we provide are current and correct. When there are updates to credit card offers, our editorial team promptly reviews and revises our content to reflect these changes, ensuring our readers always have access to the most accurate information available.
The product information provided here is based on research conducted up to a specific date and may have changed. For the latest and most accurate information, we recommend you to visit the respective card’s website before proceeding.
FAQs
If you’re loyal to a particular hotel chain or airline company, then you may want to consider a co-branded credit card instead of a regular travel credit card. You may be able to earn more rewards and special perks by focusing on one travel company instead of having a general travel credit card.
However, if you don’t find yourself traveling with the same airline or staying in the same hotel chain, then a general travel card might provide more flexibility than having a branded card.
Comparing the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey to the Wells Fargo Autograph card is truly like comparing apples and oranges – they’re two different cards designed for completely different reasons.
If you want a card with 0% APR on new purchases, then the Wells Fargo Autograph card is a better choice for you. If you don’t have any concrete plans to travel or don’t want to pay an annual fee, then the Wells Fargo Autograph card might be a better choice.
However, if you’re looking for a card with better travel rewards perks, then the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card is the right pick.
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