Why Wells Fargo cards deserve a second look

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Hey friends! Jo here 👋 I am thrilled to be joining you for the very first installment of Y! Wonder. I, along with my amazing co-host Mary Ellen, can't wait to drop into your inbox twice a week to bring you the latest tips, tricks and inspiration that the points and miles space has to offer. So, without further ado, let's dive into today's topic.

When most people think about Wells Fargo cards, they think "cash back" or "beginner cards" and move right along. But over the last couple of years, Wells Fargo has quietly built something that's actually very compelling but rarely mentioned in the world of rewards programs. Today, we'll be focusing specifically on the Autograph and Autograph Journey cards.

The Wells Fargo Autograph is an everyday workhorse, offering:

• 3x points on dining, travel, gas, transit, streaming and phone plans

• Valuable phone protection and roadside assistance benefits

• No annual fee

• Simple earning that fits real-life spending

Then there's the Autograph Journey, which levels things up for frequent travelers ✈️:

• 5x on hotels

• 4x on airfare

• 3x on dining and other travel purchases

Both of these cards have a fantastic lineup of transfer partners. And yes, transfer partners MATTER. That's where the value of your points really shines! Wells Fargo points can be transferred to programs like Air France/KLM, British Airways, Avianca, Virgin Atlantic and Choice Hotels, which open the door to some excellent redemptions when used strategically.

What makes Wells Fargo really shine is how well it pairs with other ecosystems. All of these partner programs have other major banks that transfer to them, letting you pool points together for a big trip. Translation? Wells Fargo cards are EXCELLENT for supplementing when you're planning an epic vacation, especially if you have a specific hotel or flight in mind that feels just out of reach. These cards may be underrated, but they're far from underpowered 💪.

Details about the Wells Fargo Autograph and Autograph Journey cards in this issue were gathered independently by Yahoo Travel, not supplied by Wells Fargo. Offers and terms may change over time.

Points and miles tip of the week

A strong points strategy isn't about loyalty to one bank … it's about smart combinations.

A particular sweet spot of the Autograph cards is their transfer ratio to Choice Hotels at 1:2. (For those who may not have practiced math in the last 15 years 😅 — this means 1,000 points turns into 2,000!)

And there's another bank we love that does the exact same thing. If you have a premium Citi card (Citi Strata Elite or Premier), you can also transfer points to Choice Hotels at 1:2.

We think pairing these two cards for a dream hotel redemption is an excellent plan. ✨ 

And if you're wondering why we're so excited about Choice, don't miss the podcast episode below. 👇 

There are so many beautiful pairings to be had in the points and miles world.

When you stop chasing hype and start building your rewards intentionally, underrated cards (and underrated programs) can become your secret weapon. 💫

Listen to the podcast

We headed to Scandinavia with returning guest Cami, who's cracked the code on using Choice Privileges Rewards in Norway and beyond. From stunning fjords to iconic hikes (and yes, free hotel breakfasts 🥐), she shares why Choice Hotels are a hidden gem for this region.

Listen Now