The discharge of the brand new Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card in March could look like a great choice with aggressive rewards charges, however how does it stack as much as among the finest journey bank cards available on the market at the moment? And does it deserve a spot in your pockets?
On this article, we’ll look at the playing cards’ welcome affords, rewards, advantages and journey companions to evaluate their general worth. Let’s see how the Autograph Journey measures as much as these 4 rivals:
Welcome affords
The Wells Fargo Autograph JourneySM Card has a aggressive welcome provide of 60,000 bonus factors if you spend $4,000 within the first three months. In accordance with Bankrate’s valuations, Wells Fargo Rewards are value about 1.0 cents per level, giving the welcome provide a price of $600. After finishing the spending requirement, you might have wherever from 64,000 to 80,000 factors, relying on which classes you make the most of to fulfill the spending requirement. That’s a return of 16 % on the low finish to twenty % on the excessive finish, although you’ll seemingly fall someplace within the center.
How the Autograph Journey stacks up
The welcome provide on the Autograph Journey matches up with the common affords from the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked and the Citi Premier precisely. All three give the identical bonus, for an equivalent spending requirement and timeframe, with the identical annual price. Nonetheless, each Chase Final Rewards and Citi ThankYou Factors are value extra, at about 2.0 cents and 1.6 cents per level, respectively, when transferred to a high-value journey companion. This offers the sting to each, with Chase being probably the most beneficial at $1,200 and Citi at $960.
Trying round, the Capital One Enterprise X affords extra miles for a similar quantity of spending requirement and timeframe. With this card, you’ll get 75,000 miles, but in addition pay the next $395 annual price. Capital One miles are additionally extra beneficial at about 1.7 cents per level, making its welcome provide value $1,275.
The Platinum Card® from American Categorical affords probably the most factors of any of those affords — at 80,000 Membership Rewards factors — however it additionally requires the very best spending at $8,000, though you’ll get twice as lengthy to fulfill that quantity (six months). It additionally has the very best annual price of those playing cards at $695. Since Membership Rewards factors are valued at about 2.0 cents cents per level, this provide has a price of $1,600.
Our resolution: Not so good as the competitors
The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey affords the bottom general worth of any of those welcome affords, because of the decrease worth of the Wells Fargo Rewards it earns.
When deciding between these playing cards, contemplate:
- Whether or not you may meet the spending requirement
- What you need the factors for
- The return in your spending
Based mostly on these standards, the very best general worth comes from the Enterprise X since your return on spending will seemingly be the next proportion — although the Amex Platinum affords probably the most factors and the very best worth.
Rewards and advantages
Exterior of its welcome bonus, the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey comes with glorious incomes charges in quite a few classes specializing in journey. Particularly, you’ll earn 5X factors at lodges, 4X factors on airways and 3X factors on different journey and eating places. All different purchases earn 1X factors.
You’ll additionally get a $50 annual assertion credit score with a $50 minimal airline buy — using this credit score offsets greater than half of the $95 annual price. Extra advantages embody:
- Journey safety protection
- Auto rental collision protection
- Emergency/roadside help
- Mobile phone safety
- My Wells Fargo offers
- Visa Signature advantages
As it’s, the cardboard earns solidly sufficient to operate as a standalone card, providing glorious safety and advantages. Nonetheless, let’s examine this extra carefully with its rivals to evaluate its precise worth.
Wells Fargo Autograph Journey vs. Chase Sapphire Most well-liked®
Each of those playing cards include a $95 price. For journey purchases, the Autograph Journey will get 5X on lodges, 4X on airfare, and 3X on different journey, whereas the Sapphire Most well-liked solely earns 2X on journey (however can earn 5X when you undergo the Chase Journey portal or use Lyft). Chase factors additionally get a 25 % increase when reserving journey by Chase Journey. Whereas each playing cards earn 3X on eating, the Sapphire Most well-liked additionally earns 3X for streaming and on-line grocery purchases.
Whereas the Autograph Journey has a $50 air credit score, the Sapphire Most well-liked has a $50 lodge credit score as an alternative. You’ll additionally get a factors increase in your account anniversary equal to 10 % of your spending from the prior 12 months. Chase has extra in depth switch companions, together with 4 of Wells Fargo’s airline companions. There are additionally extra Chase playing cards out there that may mix factors with the Sapphire Most well-liked through the Chase trifecta, giving it a fair additional benefit.
You may select the Autograph Journey in case your journey spending aligns higher with Wells Fargo’s bonus classes. Nonetheless, for most individuals, the Sapphire Most well-liked would be the extra versatile choice.
Wells Fargo Autograph Journey vs. Citi Premier®
These playing cards even have the identical annual price — and as soon as once more, the Autograph Journey earns barely higher on lodge and air purchases. Whereas the Citi Premier has limited-time earnings of 10X on lodge and automotive leases by the Citi Journey portal by June 30, 2024, it earns 3X within the following classes:
- Accommodations
- Air journey
- Eating places
- Supermarkets
- Fuel stations
By overlaying a extra complete vary of on a regular basis bills, Citi Premier will get the sting for incomes rewards.
The Citi Premier additionally affords an annual $100 lodge credit score on a keep of $500 or extra when booked by the Citi Journey portal — greater than double the Autograph Journey’s air credit score. Whereas Citi overlaps on a couple of of Wells Fargo’s switch companions, it additionally affords a extra in depth checklist than Wells Fargo. Citi additionally has the Citi trifecta that means that you can mix factors from a number of playing cards.
Consequently, the Citi Premier typically affords extra worth general, except your spending is primarily travel-focused.
Wells Fargo Autograph Journey vs. Capital One Enterprise X
The Capital One Enterprise X comes with the next annual price than the Autograph Journey, coming in at $395 as an alternative of $95. Nonetheless, this larger price might be simply offset with the cardboard’s $300 annual journey credit score on the Capital One journey portal and the ten,000 bonus miles you’ll earn in your account anniversary (value $100).
The principle distinction between the 2 is that the Enterprise X earns a flat charge of 2X miles on all purchases. In the event you ebook by the portal, you’ll get 5X on airfare and 10X on lodges and automotive leases. In the event you ebook journey straight, the Autograph Journey is probably going a more sensible choice, however the Enterprise X nonetheless has the potential for larger returns. Non-bonus spending will do higher on the Enterprise X, for instance, however you’ll earn extra with eating purchases on the Autograph Journey.
General, Capital One miles have the next worth and extra switch companions whereas overlapping most of Wells Fargo’s companions. You’ll additionally get extra advantages and perks like in depth airport lounge entry. Even with the upper annual price, the Enterprise X is a transparent favourite nearly throughout the board.
Wells Fargo Autograph Journey vs. The Platinum Card® from American Categorical
These two playing cards strategy journey from reverse positions. Whereas the Autograph Journey has a manageable annual price and earns strong reward charges, the Amex Platinum has one of many highest annual charges on the market and mediocre incomes charges outdoors of its 5X charge on airfare and lodges bought by Amex Journey. Past journey purchases, the Autograph Journey is superior for spending.
The place the Amex Platinum shines above the remainder is its laundry checklist of perks and advantages. For as excessive because the $695 annual price is, you may nonetheless come out forward when you reap the benefits of all of the credit supplied, together with:
- $200 annual airline incidental credit score together with your chosen airline
- $200 Uber credit score ($15 every month, $35 in December)
- $100 Saks Fifth Avenue credit score ($50 semi-annually)
- $200 annual credit score with Amex Wonderful Accommodations & Resorts
- $240 leisure credit score ($20 month-to-month)
- $189 annual CLEAR membership credit score
- $300 Equinox/SoulCycle annual credit score
- Walmart+ reimbursement ($12.95 month-to-month price)
- World Entry or TSA PreCheck credit score as soon as each 4 years
- *Enrollment required for choose advantages
Maximizing these credit greater than compensates for the cardboard’s annual price, overlaying the whole lot from journey and purchasing to way of life purchases. As well as, you’ll get in depth airport lounge entry, glorious journey protections, a superior checklist of switch companions and complimentary elite standing with Hilton, Marriott and several other automotive rental corporations. Right here, the general worth supplied by the Amex Platinum’s perks and credit far exceed some other card — when you can absolutely make the most of them.
Our resolution: Perks fall quick however rewards measure up
These comparisons level to a obtrusive weak spot of the Autograph Journey — its perks and advantages. Every predominant competitor card affords extra worth in credit, advantages and level worth. Even the upper annual price playing cards make up for that distinction with superior returns in the advantages class. In the event you’re taking a look at this card particularly to deal with your journey wants, it’s possible you’ll wish to contemplate one of many different playing cards, all of which give higher returns.
Nonetheless, the cardboard holds up nicely with its reward-earning charges, significantly within the journey and eating classes. The charges for lodges and airfare purchases are robust and don’t require you to buy by a journey portal. This distinction might be useful, as many lodge chains and airways will deny your elite advantages if you ebook by a 3rd occasion like this. With loads of bonus classes, the Autograph Journey ought to have the ability to cowl a lot of your on a regular basis spending.
Airline and lodge switch companions
Every card has its personal set of airline and lodge switch companions — a number of playing cards can cowl some applications, whereas others could also be distinctive to a single card. We’ve compiled an inventory of all of the companions that can assist you resolve which card is finest for you. All switch ratios are 1:1 except in any other case famous.
| Airline Program | Wells Fargo Autograph Journey | Chase Sapphire Most well-liked | Citi Premier | Capital One Enterprise X | The Platinum Card by American Categorical |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air France/KLM Flying Blue | x | x | x | x | x |
| British Airways Government Membership | x | x | x | x | |
| Aer Lingus AerClub | x | x | x | ||
| Iberia Plus | x | x | x | ||
| Avianca LifeMiles | x | x | x | x | |
| Air Canada Aeroplan | x | x | x | ||
| Emirates Skywards | x | x | x | x | |
| JetBlue TrueBlue | x | x | 250:200 | ||
| Singapore Airways KrisFlyer | x | x | x | x | |
| Southwest Airways Speedy Rewards | x | ||||
| United Airways MileagePlus | x | ||||
| Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership | x | x | By Virgin Crimson | x | |
| Aeromexico Rewards | x | x | 1:1.6 | ||
| Cathay Pacific Asia Miles | x | x | x | ||
| Etihad Visitor | x | x | x | ||
| EVA Air Infinity MileageLands | x | 4:3 | |||
| Qantas Frequent Flyer | x | x | x | ||
| Qatar Airways Privilege Membership | x | ||||
| Thai Royal Orchid Plus | x | ||||
| Turkish Airways Miles&Smiles | x | x | |||
| Finnair Plus | x | ||||
| TAP Air Portugal Miles&Go | x | ||||
| All Nippon Airways Mileage Membership | x | ||||
| Delta SkyMiles | x | ||||
| HawaiianMiles | x |
| Resort Program | Wells Fargo Autograph Journey | Chase Sapphire Most well-liked | Citi Premier | Capital One Enterprise X | The Platinum Card by American Categorical |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selection Privileges | 1:2 | 1:2 | x | x | |
| IHG One Rewards | x | ||||
| Marriott Bonvoy | x | x | |||
| World of Hyatt | x | ||||
| Wyndham Rewards | x | x | |||
| Hilton Honors | 1:2 | ||||
| Accor Reside Limitless | 2:1 | 2:1 | |||
| Leaders Membership | 5:1 |
Our resolution: The Autograph Journey doesn’t measure up
As you may see, the Autograph Journey has the smallest variety of switch companions — every of which is roofed by at the very least two rivals. Additional, contemplating that the Autograph Journey comes with the bottom general level worth, the cardboard’s rivals are more likely to be a more sensible choice when you’re searching for a selected switch companion, given their wider choice and higher worth.
You would definitely use the Autograph Journey’s welcome provide to complement the purpose steadiness in certainly one of its companions, however generally, you shouldn’t use it as the first methodology to accrue these factors except you’re spending in its prime classes.
The underside line
Whereas introducing a journey card with switch companions is an enormous milestone for Wells Fargo, the Autograph Journey sadly doesn’t fairly rise to the extent of its competitors. Whereas the reward charges are first rate, the decrease worth of Wells Fargo factors retains it a step behind the competitors. Provided that, this card is finest fitted to individuals who could have already got a strong portfolio of bank cards and are searching for a brand new program to complement their factors balances. However when you’re searching for your first premium journey card, you’ll seemingly get extra worth from one of many different playing cards on this area.
