Why I Chose the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card — and How I Plan to Use the Welcome Bonus

As an experienced traveler, I'm constantly seeking credit cards that align with my lifestyle, especially those that help fill gaps in my wallet. While a large welcome bonus is tempting, there's more to selecting the perfect travel card than just that.

Recently, I added a fantastic card to my collection.

Here's why I decided to apply for the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card (see rates and fees), and how I plan to use its welcome bonus once it lands in my account.

A Transferable Currency

Earlier this year, Wells Fargo made a significant entry into the world of transferable credit card currencies. While we knew it was coming since December 2023, the launch of the Autograph Journey Card marked the first time that Wells Fargo customers could transfer points to airline and hotel partners directly from one of their own cards. When used strategically, these transfers can unlock fantastic value by taking advantage of partner program sweet spots.

Even if you're not yet ready to dive into these optimization strategies, there's another standout feature of the Wells Fargo Rewards program — and a reason to consider the Autograph Journey Card: you can easily use your rewards to offset charges at a fixed value of 1 cent per point.

Other issuers may assign varying values to their rewards points depending on how you redeem them. In some cases, this can reduce the value of each point or mile to as little as 0.7 or even 0.5 cents.

But not with Wells Fargo.

With Wells Fargo Rewards, every direct redemption is valued at 1 cent per point. You can apply your points as credits to eligible accounts or use them to offset qualifying purchases on your card. There are also options for redeeming points for gift cards, travel, merchandise, or even shopping through PayPal — all at the same rate of 1 cent per point.

I typically prefer to transfer my points to partners for maximum value, but it's convenient to have the option to cover purchases or book travel directly without worrying about devaluing my rewards.

Earning Rates

One of the key highlights of the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card is its attractive earning rates. Here's how I earn when I use the card:

• Earn 5 points for every dollar spent on hotel purchases
• Earn 4 points for every dollar spent on airline purchases
• Earn 3 points for every dollar spent on other travel-related purchases
• Earn 3 points for every dollar spent on dining
• Earn 1 point for every dollar spent on all other purchases

Considering Wells Fargo's transfer partners, you could view this as earning 5 British Airways Avios for every dollar spent at hotels or 4 Avianca LifeMiles for every dollar spent on airfare, assuming you transfer your points to these programs.

What’s great about the top two categories is that there’s no need to book through a specific portal or website. Unlike many other rewards cards that require you to book through the issuer's platform to unlock premium rates, the Autograph Journey Card lets me book directly with my favorite hotels and airlines.

The card also comes with no foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees), which made it the perfect travel companion for my recent Mediterranean getaway.

Perks (and discounts)

The card offers more than just great rewards. You also gain access to various extra benefits, including exclusive discounts through My Wells Fargo Deals.

For instance, you’ll get a $50 annual statement credit when you make at least $50 in purchases with airlines. Unlike other cards, this benefit isn’t tied to a specific airline or limited to certain fees. Simply make any $50+ airline purchase, and you’ll get the credit applied to your account.

Soon after I got approved for the card, I needed to book a flight for a summer trip. I had some airline credit covering part of the ticket, but still owed $97.20. I charged the remainder to my Autograph Journey Card, and within two days, a $50 credit was applied to my account (note, it may take a couple of billing cycles for this credit to show up).

On top of that, I earned 4 points for every dollar spent on this purchase.

One of the first pleasant surprises came soon after the card arrived, when I accessed my online account and discovered the My Wells Fargo Deals page. Popular retailers provide discounts when you activate offers and make purchases with the card. During my first month, I earned a total of $58.17 in statement credits from three transactions, including two hotel stays and a Lyft ride. All I had to do was activate the offers and use my Autograph Journey Card.

With the $50 statement credit included, I’ve already recouped the full $95 annual fee in less than two months — and I didn’t have to go out of my way to do it.

Additionally, the card provides several valuable benefits when you shop or travel, including:

• Cellphone protection: Charge your wireless bill to the card, and you’ll receive up to $1,000 in reimbursement (per claim) for repairing or replacing your phone if it’s damaged or stolen (subject to a $25 deductible), with coverage up to $2,000 annually.
• Trip cancellation and interruption coverage: If you charge a common carrier ticket to your card (or use points), you’re covered for nonrefundable expenses if your trip is canceled or interrupted for a covered reason. This covers up to $15,000 per traveler, per trip, with a $20,000 annual cap per account.
• Auto rental collision damage waiver: If you decline the rental car company’s insurance and use your Autograph Journey Card or rewards to pay for the rental, you’re eligible for up to $50,000 in damage or theft coverage, including primary coverage abroad (no need to file a claim with other insurers).

While I hope I’ll never need to use these protections, it’s reassuring to know they’re there if something goes wrong during a trip.

How I earned and plan to use my 60,000 bonus points

A major factor in my decision to get the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card was its generous welcome bonus. If approved, you can earn 60,000 bonus points by spending $4,000 within the first three months. This is an achievable goal, requiring an average of just $1,333.33 in monthly spending over the three-month period.

So, what’s my plan for using these bonus points?

As expected, I’m already looking into transferring points to Wells Fargo’s strong selection of airline and hotel partners. While award prices fluctuate, here are some of the redemption options I’m currently considering:

• Transferring points to British Airways Executive Club for nonstop American Airlines flights: Since I live near Miami, I have great options for travel to the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. For example, I could book a round-trip flight to Belize for just 32,000 Avios plus $98.40 in taxes and fees for a long weekend in January 2025. Between the welcome bonus and the points I earn through card spending, I could book this trip for myself, my wife, and daughter.
• Transferring points to Iberia Plus for a business-class nonstop flight: Another fantastic redemption from Miami is a business-class flight to Madrid for 42,500 Avios. I’ve used this redemption before, and it remains one of the best ways to get from the U.S. to Europe in comfort.
• Transferring points to Air France-KLM Flying Blue for a business-class seat: Air France and KLM offer several routes from the U.S. to Europe, with business-class tickets starting at just 50,000 miles. The Flying Blue program is one of the best ways to book a flight that would typically cost thousands of dollars.

These are just a few options, and I haven’t even accounted for all the points I’ve earned (and will continue to earn) through card spending. By the end of the year, my Wells Fargo Rewards balance may be nearing six figures.

No matter how I choose to redeem my points, one thing is clear: These transferable points are going to be a game-changer for my vacation planning in the future.

Bottom line

The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card offers a wealth of transferable rewards along with a range of additional perks, making it a solid choice for anyone looking to maximize their spending power.

I've been really impressed with the earning rates and the discounts I've already taken advantage of. The points I've accumulated, along with my 60,000-point welcome bonus, will be a huge boost when it comes time to book my family's upcoming vacations.

If you're on the hunt for a solid travel credit card with a low annual fee and plenty of flexible redemption choices, the Autograph Journey Card is definitely worth considering.