Why did I get the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card?

As a seasoned traveler, I’m always on the lookout for new credit cards that fit my lifestyle — especially when they fill a void in my wallet. While a big welcome bonus is (obviously) appealing, there’s more to choosing a great travel card.

And recently, I added a wonderful card to my portfolio.

This is why I applied for a new job Wells Fargo Signature℠ Travel Card (see rates and fees) — plus my thoughts on using the card’s welcome bonus once it hits my account.

Read more: Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card review

A new negotiable currency

Earlier this year, Wells Fargo officially burst onto the scene of transferable credit card currencies. Wednesday know it’s coming as of December 2023, but when Signature itinerary card launch, marking the first time Wells Fargo customers have access to airline and hotel transfer partners with one of its own cards. When used strategically, transfers can allow you to get incredible value from your points and miles by taking advantage of the sweet spots in partner programs.

But even if you’re not ready to learn about these optimization opportunities, there’s another key feature of Wells Fargo Rewards program (and reason to get the Autograph Journey Card): You can easily use the rewards, which are worth 1 cent each, to offset the fees on the card.

Other issuers peg different values ​​to their rewards depending on the redemption type. In some cases, this reduces the value of each point or mile to 0.7 cents or even 0.5 cents.

Not Wells Fargo.

Each direct redemption with Wells Fargo Rewards will be worth 1 cent per point. You can use your points as credit on qualifying accounts or as offset against qualifying purchases on the card. You can choose gift cards, travel, merchandise, or even shop online through PayPal, all for the same price of 1 cent per point.

I usually rely on transfer partners when redeeming points, but it’s nice to have the flexibility to pay for purchases or book travel without worrying about getting poor value from my rewards.

Income ratio

Another attractive feature of Wells Fargo autographed travel card is the set of returns with its value. When I use my card, I earn:

• 5 points per dollar spent on hotel purchases
• 4 points per dollar spent on airline tickets
• 3 points per dollar spent on other travel purchases
• 3 points per dollar spent on restaurant purchases
• 1 point per dollar spent on other purchases

Send Wells Fargo Transfer PartnersYou can think of 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 eventually transfer your points to those programs.

The best part about the top two is that they don’t require you to book through a specific portal or website. Many other rewards cards increasingly force you to book through the issuer to get better rates—but I can go directly to my favorite hotels and airlines with the Autograph Journey Card.

The card also has no foreign transaction fees (see prices and fees), making it the perfect companion for a recent trip to the Mediterranean.

Added perks (and discounts)

But the card doesn’t just come with great rewards. You’ll also unlock a host of additional perks and gain access to targeted discounts through My Wells Fargo Offers.

For example, you’ll receive an annual statement credit of $50 with no minimum purchase of $50. Unlike other popular cards, this does not apply to a single airline and is not limited to certain additional fees. Just make at least $50 in purchases with the airlines and you’ll get a $50 credit applied to the card.

Immediately after receiving the card, I needed to book a plane ticket for a summer trip. I currently have a credit with that airline to cover part of the ticket, but I have $97.20 left to pay. I charged this amount to my Signature Cruise Pass and two days later I had $50 credited to my account (note that it may take one or two billing periods for this credit appear).

I also earn 4 points per dollar spent on this purchase.

Another pleasant surprise came quickly after the card arrived. That’s when I was able to access my online account — and the My Wells Fargo Deals page. Many popular providers offer discounts on purchases when you activate the offer and use the card. In fact, I was able to earn a total of $58.17 in statement credits for the three transactions I made in my first month of card membership. These deals include two hotel stays and one Lyft ride. I earned statement credits simply by activating offers and paying with my Autograph Journey Card.

When you add in the $50 statement credit, I overpaid the card’s $95 annual fee in benefits (see prices and fees) in less than two months—and with no effort required to do so.

In addition, the card also brings a number of benefits when shopping and traveling. Including:

• Protect your cell phone:If you pay your monthly wireless service bill with a card, you will be reimbursed up to $1,000 per claim (up to $2,000 every 12 months) for repairs or replacements phone if it is damaged or stolen (subject to $25 deductible).
• Trip cancellation and interruption insurance:If you pay for common carrier airfare with your card, use rewards, or use a combination of both, you’re eligible for a refund of non-refundable travel costs if you need to cancel or suspend travel for a covered reason (up to $15,000 per covered traveler, per trip, and up to $20,000 per 12-month period, per account).
• Waiver of collision damage when renting a car: You can get reimbursed up to $50,000 for theft or damage to your rental car when you use your Signature Pass (or your rewards) and opt out of the rental car company’s insurance. This coverage is even primary outside the United States, meaning you won’t need to file a claim with any other insurance provider first.

While I hope I never need to use any of these insurance benefits, it’s nice to know that they’re available if something goes wrong during a trip.

Get and use 60,000 bonus points

Of course, one main reason I chose to take Wells Fargo Signature Travel Card is a welcome bonus. If you apply for (and are approved for) a card, you can earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months. This is a relatively easy spending threshold to reach, requiring an average of just $1,333.33 per month for the first three months.

So how do I plan to use that bonus?

It’s no surprise that I explored transfer options with Wells Fargo’s stalwart airline and hotel partners. While travel award ticket prices will naturally increase and decrease over time, the current redemptions I found include:

• Switch to British Airways Executive Club to book direct flights on American Airlines: Since I live near Miami, I have a lot of great options for visiting the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. For example, I can book round-trip flights to Belize for a long weekend in January 2025 for just 22,000 Avios plus $98.40 in taxes and fees. The welcome bonus plus the points I’ll earn from spending with the card means I can book this itinerary for me, my wife, and my daughter.
• Switch to Iberia Plus to book non-stop, off-peak, business class flights: Another great award option from Miami International Airport (MIA) is a business class flight to Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) for 42,500 Avios. I’ve booked this flight multiple times with Avios, and it’s still one of the most cost-effective ways to travel from the US to Europe in a lie-flat seat.
• Switch to Air France-KLM Flying Blue to book business class flights: Air France and KLM offer a variety of routes from the United States to Europe. Business class seats on some of these routes start at just 50,000 miles, making the Flying Blue program a great way to book flights that would otherwise cost thousands of dollars.

These options don’t even take into account all the points I’ve earned (and will continue to earn) through spending on my card. By the end of the year, my Wells Fargo Rewards points balance could reach six figures.

Regardless of how I end up redeeming these points, one thing’s for sure: These transferable points will really help with my future vacation planning.

Bottom line

As TPG’s senior editorial director, I always find new credit card launches exciting because they offer new ways to satisfy the rewards travel desires and needs of the TPG community.

But Wells Fargo autographed travel card not just a new card on the market. It represents a brand new opportunity to earn transferable rewards with a host of additional perks to make the deal even more attractive.

I am very happy with the earning rate and the discount I received. The points I earned (plus the 60,000 welcome bonus) will go a long way towards booking my family’s upcoming trips.

If you’re looking for a great new travel credit card with a low annual fee and flexible redemption options, you really can’t go wrong with the Autograph Journey Card.