In March 2024, we saw the launch of the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card. This is a card with a reasonable annual fee, some amazing bonus categories, and it even earns transferable points.
Continue reading: Wells Fargo Autograph Journey: Amazing Card, So What’s The Catch?
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Expanding its base of transfer partners is the number one priority for this card. Air Canada, Emirates, and Singapore to round out the standard set.
@ Daniel B. -- Somehow that disappeared when I created a bulleted list. Fixed, thank you!
@Lucky: the sad thing is, Aer Lingus only has 1 business class seat available when the schedule opens up (for 50k Avios + around $180 tax) and ONLY in 2 out of 12 US cities it flies to.
Once transferred to Avios, my understanding is that points can be transferred between Avios programs including Aer Lingus and Qatar (?).
@ Klaus_S -- That's correct, so if you have access to one Avios currency, you have access to all of them.
Ben, thanks for covering this card. One thing to note is that the Autograph Journey does not have the same broad travel category earnings as the CSR (until October), Amex Green, or, oddly, the no-AF Autograph card. So if the “other travel” at 3X is the most compelling part of this card for a certain person, they should seriously consider the free Autograph instead.
It’s going to be a few more years before I stop viewing WF as a sketchy bank. So it really doesn’t matter to me what the credit card rewards look like, I don’t want an account there.
Yeah, how about also that WF is just a shady, shitty company that we shouldn't support?
I’m not sure what is truly included in the other travel category. I used it on the trams and metro in Prague last month, and they didn’t trigger the 3%. I just assumed they would be considered other travel.
As a CSR holder since inception, I don’t feel it is reasonable to compare the WF card to the CSR. With WF, I wouldn’t need to do much to keep it to a $45 net annual fee, but with CSR someone would have to approach that like trying to manage a three ring circus, where the main act is good, but the side rings really suck for most travelers. So far, I’m cancelling the CSR when my renewal approaches in 2026. I’d prefer limited opportunities with the Wells card more than matched by a negligible net annual fee compared to Chase wanting $795 from me and another $195 for my wife’s card. $990 up front isn’t going from my pocket to Jamie Dimon’s, even if I manage to net that down to $690.
I have decided to go after several of these smaller cards with no AF or $100 max to replicate csr when it was $300. Then drop csr when it's time comes later this year. It will simplify my life a lot. No more monthly homework to chase Chase credits. The trade-off is good enough because I do have cc fatigue.
Awww… thanks Ben. I’ll shut up now 😉
I know this card isn’t for everyone but it’s a fantastic, underrated option nonetheless. Especially for those of us who value point multipliers above all else.
And chase is not? I agree wf is trash but I do bare minimum business with them because as someone who used to work for the federal reserve most banks are awful. Without the feds intervention banks would only lend money to wealthy folks living in the wealthiest neighborhoods. Everybody else would be treated like the lowest class citizens.
The cash redemption option seems to be broader than what you wrote. On its website, WF says you can redeem your Journey points as a statement credit, or redeem them in 2500 point increments for a check, at a 1¢/point value. So if you don’t feel like jumping through the point-transfer hoops or using the company travel portal, you still get decent basic value.
Also, it appears that you can combine Autograph Journey points with other WF credit card points. So if I’m reading this correctly, you could use an Autograph Journey/no-fee Autograph combo to get 3x points on categories Journey doesn’t support, like rail fares, tolls, streaming services and phone bills. It doesn’t specifically say you can swap all these points for airline miles, but it doesn’t specifically say you can’t, either.
Yes, the rewards T&Cs for the $0 AF Autograph card list points transfers as an available redemption option, just like on the Autograph Journey. One of the rare $0 AF cards that offers transfer partners.
Being able to get 5x on hotels and 4x on airfare without having to go through a travel portal is an advantage (benefits of booking direct, avoid the frequent horror stories about portals), as is being able to cash out points a 1cpp if you want. Also, the effective annual cost is $45 after the $50 airfare credit compared to much higher numbers on some other cards.
It has travel insurance although not quite as good as the CSR.
If you only spend on 5x and 4x categories and never carry a balance they will lose money on you so if you really hate them, get the card and cost them money.
I routinely get 25-40% transfer bonuses from Citi for my points. For me the extra points from WF are not as valuable because of lack of a broad range of partners.
While it's true that WF has a trust issue with the consumers, their current CEO has done a good job turning things around. They just now came out of the Fed doghouse with regards to capital requirements. They seem to be on the right path at the moment.
I think this card is amazing. The 5X points for hotels is extremely lucrative, and the other bonus categories (4X airfare, 3X restaurants/travel) are very competitive.
In addition, you can pair it with the Wells Fargo Active Cash Visa and transfer those points over to the Autograph Journey. This allows you to earn 2X points on general spending, and since it's a VISA, you can use it a Costco for 2X points.
All for 1 annual fee of $95, which is discounted to $45 after the $50 airline credit.
I like that Wells Fargo has upped their game and hope to see more transfer partners in the future!
I think the ideal 'card portfolio' is the following:
Amex Platinum for lounges and airfare (5X points)
Amex Gold for groceries (4X points) and dining (4X points)
Wells Fargo Autograph Journey for hotels (5X points) and travel (3X points)
Wells Fargo Active Cash for general spend (2X points)
Sleeping on Citi which has a unique transfer partner in EVA.
My non-SUB lineup:
Prestige - 5x flights/dining, 3x hotel
Rewards+
Double Cash
Custom Cash - 5x gas
Custom Cash #2 - 5x grocery
If you think the 3x on non-hotel & airline travel is the most compelling aspect of the card, a better option may be the no fee Autograph card. WF has a more narrow definition of travel compared to Chase. The Autograph Journey gives 3x on things like cruises and online travel agencies, but the no fee version gives 3x on those travel items plus 3x on gas and transit, which includes parking, tolls, ferries, trains, etc. In terms of return on spend, I think a no fee combo of the Autograph and Attune would include a fairly diverse set of categories that are less well covered on other cards.
For those of us who have a number of cards, the 5x on hotels can be underwhelming. I would later earn 4x Hyatt points with my WoH card than 5x WF points. Also would probably rather earn 14x Hilton points on my Aspire than 5x WF. I tend to stay at the major hotel systems for the elite benefits.
Another thing to note--the Autograph Journey currently cannot be product changed. I had signed up for Journey version for the bigger SUB, hoping to downgrade it to the no fee Autograph after a year. All the data points so far indicate that is not (currently) possible.
What’s most surprising is that not every single person in the USA with a credit score has this card already, compliments of Wells Fargo falsifying applications.
Talk about The Bank of Corruption.
This card doesn't even have trip delay insurance. The fact that you can't safely book travel on this alleged "travel" card is utterly disqualifying.
Prestige is a sound card, but unfortunately, it is now closed to new applicants. Glad that you are taking advantage of it, though!
This will probably be my next card. I already have 9 Chase cards (6 biz and 3 personal), 2 Amex (biz blue and plat); and Venture X Biz. I am an older female solo (now) traveler who is not comfortable driving internationally and who likes taking 3 or 4 week trips to visit a country. Thus, for my last two month long trips to South Africa and New Zealand, I used a travel agent to book some activities, private transfers, and accommodations (safari lodges and non Hyatt/Marriott hotels). For these kinds of trips, I can still get 4x points on the Autograph Journey (as opposed to 1x for CSR going forward). More importantly, the AJ provides $15k in trip cancellation and interruption insurance as opposed to the 10K for CSR or CSP. At my age (and I'm not even 65!) and for the price of these trips, trip interruption and cancellation insurance for a $15K trip is about $1500. So I really value the $15K in trip cancellation insurance offered as part of the AJ card. I can always use Avios points to transfer to Qatar to fly Q suites.
It's a really weird list. I guess if you are a cruiser it is a good substitute. I suppose this card and Amex Green are best for direct car rental? Don't think this definition covers Airbnb/Vrbo, does it? I suppose it would cover booking.com, agoda, etc ("other portals") if it covers discount travel sites/travel agencies.
Other Travel: 3 points (1 base plus 2 bonus points) are earned per $1 spent on net purchases made at retailers whose merchant category code is classified as: timeshare, or vehicle/auto rental, cruise lines, travel agencies, discount travel sites, campgrounds.
End of the day the lack of transfer partners makes this a sub-par option. But if you are someone that spends a lot of $ on cruises and gets a lot of value out of Flying Blue, could make sense.
I've had accounts with WF for > 20 years. Can't say enough good things about WF. It has the WellsTrade from 2005.
Nothing wrong with the bank. It is the media. I ignore.
I get no trust issue with WF. Never any single problem for > 20 years.
You like AmEx coupon book better? How about frequent shutdowns by Chase?
I guess two important questions are:
(1) does booking a safari really count as “travel” for purposes of AJ bonus categories? Back in the times of the old Chase Sapphire Reserve card, pretty much all of safaris, dive trips etc I booked were just coded as regular 1x purchases… I was always disappointed…
(2) for the $15k trip cancellation/interruption insurance to kick in, I assume every single part of the trip has to be booked with the AJ card.. so can’t eg put flights on Amex Plat (?)
Respectfully, if you are reading this blog you are likely the demographic that every bank treats well (especially if youre trading with them). Enjoy it, but we live in a K-shaped economy and all of our premium credit card benefits are often at the expense of increased merchant fees that hits folks who cant afford it the most and preys on the same folks with unfair and duplicitous practices which, beyond bad press, is legally well documented in WF's case.