Wells Fargo Autograph Journey: Newly announced travel card from Wells. What we know so far.

Update 3/15/24: Wells Fargo reached out to us and provided additional details on this card. We’ve updated this guide based on that information.

Wells Fargo recently announced its Autograph Journey card. Here’s what we know about the card thus far.

The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey is Wells Fargo’s entrant into the premium travel card space. The card offers points on travel, travel insurance benefits, and a $50 airline statement credit. The card carries a $95 annual fee.

With the Autograph Journey, you’ll earn 5x points on hotels, 4x points on airlines, 3x on other travel, 3x on dining, and 1x on other purchases. Points can be redeemed for one cent each toward cash back or transferred to a handful of airline partners. While the list of transfer partners is small, it contains easy-to-use programs across all major alliances and Wells Fargo is expected to add more transfer partners later.

The card offers cellular phone protection and a suite of travel insurance benefits including lost baggage reimbursement, secondary auto rental collision damage waiver insurance, and a trip cancellation/interruption insurance benefit that covers more than the vast majority of similar benefits out there.

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card at a glance

Here’s what you need to know about the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card.

My take on the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card

Wells Fargo has reached out to me to provide additional details about this card, so I’ve refined my take a bit.

I think it’s exciting to see Wells Fargo enter the travel card space. If nothing else, having more competition in this space will force American Express, Citi, Chase, and Capital One to compete more aggressively for customers. That likely means better welcome bonuses for everyone and more generous rewards and benefits.

The biggest things I’m excited about with the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card is the ability to earn 5x transferable points on hotels and 4x on airline purchases. 5x on hotels would rival the in-brand rewards of many hotel credit cards and 4x on airline purchases with the airlines is market-leading. I also think that the trip cancellation and interruption insurance on this card might be the best in the industry. It covers pretty much all of the expenses you would likely pre-pay for on your trip.

I’m also excited about the possibility of additional transfer partners. I do think you’re unlikely to see Hyatt, American Airlines, Delta, United, Southwest, or other airlines that have exclusive partnerships with other issuers added as transfer partners. But I could see Aeroplan, Emirates, Etihad, Qantas, Qatar, Singapore Airlines, or Virgin Atlantic becoming transfer partners.

Finally, the $50 airline credit brings the effective cost of this card down to $45 a year. That’s pretty compelling for a premium travel card.

The things that could be better include the lack of trip delay protection and lack of primary auto rental collision damage waiver insurance. (The card’s benefit is secondary within the United States.) This is probably reasonable in light of the card’s $50 airline credit. But the card doesn’t offer extended warranty or purchase protection benefits. When several cards with no annual fee offer these benefits, it’s disappointing to see this omission in a card with an annual fee.

As more information comes out about this card, I’ll be updating this post.

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey welcome bonus

At launch the card is expected to have a 60,000 point welcome bonus after $4,000 of spending within three months.

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey rewards

Redeeming Wells Fargo Autograph Journey rewards

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey rewards points can be redeemed for a variety of cash and travel redemptions:

• Cash redemption
• Physical and electronic gift cards
• Charitable donations
• Travel
• Merchandise
• Pay with Rewards (PWR) at PWR Merchants
• Points Transfer

Cash redemptions and travel redemptions

Wells Fargo has confirmed to Cards and Points that Autograph Journey rewards will be redeemable for 1 cent per point toward cash back redemptions. Per the card’s terms and conditions, you’ll be able to redeem them in $25 increments toward cash back redemptions or in 2,000 point increments ($20) if you redeem them through a cash withdrawal at a Wells Fargo ATM.

Transfers to airline partners

You will be able to transfer points to airline and hotel partners on April 4th. Initially, the list of transfer partners will be small and will include a handful of partners that are also transfer partners of other programs.

• Aer Lingus Aer Club
• Air France KLM Flying Blue
• Avianca LifeMiles
• British Airways Executive Club
• Choice Privileges
• Iberia Plus

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey benefits

Consumer insurance benefits

Many cards offer consumer insurance benefits that can protect the things you buy. Here are the consumer insurance benefits offered by the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card. Terms and restrictions apply to all benefits.

Cellular telephone protection can cover the cost of repairing or replacing your phone if it is damaged or stolen when you pay your monthly cell phone bill with your card. The coverage with your Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Card will cover up to two claims within 12 months, up to $1,000 per claim, and $2,000 per year, subject to a $25 deductible per claim. 

Travel insurance benefits

Cards targeted toward travelers often offer travel insurance benefits that can protect you when you are traveling away from home. Terms and restrictions apply to all benefits.

Auto rental collision damage waiver protects you against damage to or theft of your rental vehicle. For coverage to apply, you need to reserve and pay for your vehicle using your card and decline your car rental company’s collision damage waiver. The coverage provided by your Autograph Journey card is secondary to your personal auto insurance within the United States. 

Lost baggage reimbursement offers reimbursement if your bags are lost, damaged or stolen while traveling on a common carrier. Coverage is included up to $3,000 total for all travelers on a covered trip.

Roadside dispatch service provides a single number that you can use to get connected to local providers for roadside services like towing, lockout service, tire changes, fuel delivery, and more. Services are provided for a pre-negotiated, per-service fee. 

Trip cancellation and interruption insurance can reimburse you for prepaid travel expenses when your trip is canceled or interrupted for a covered reason. CARD trip cancellation and interruption insurance covers up to $15,000 per covered traveler, per trip for most types of expenses you’d prepay for through a travel supplier.

Travel accident insurance pays set benefit amounts for loss of life or limb while traveling, as long as you book your common carrier tickets with your card. Chase travel accident insurance provides coverage both while being transported by a common carrier and during your trip.

Statement credits

You’ll get a $50 airline credit when you use your card for your first airline purchase of $50 or more. This credit will be automatically be applied to your account within 1-2 billing cycles.