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Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus vs Wells Fargo Autograph Journey: Which Is Better In 2025?
July 1, 2025
Editor's Picks
- The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is a solid choice for budget-conscious, occasional Southwest flyers who want to earn points on travel, gas, and groceries.
- The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card is ideal for frequent travelers who want to earn high rewards on hotels, flights, dining, and other travel purchases.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a quick look at why we think the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is a solid choice for many travelers.
- The card offers a simple way to earn points on Southwest flights and everyday purchases at gas stations and grocery stores.
- While it comes with an annual fee, the card provides anniversary bonus points and two EarlyBird Check-In® credits each year to help offset the cost.
- The 3,000 anniversary bonus points are worth approximately $39–$45, meaning you only need to get about $54–$60 in value from other benefits to break even on the annual fee (publisher-formulated estimate).
Pros
- Every point earned counts toward qualifying for the Southwest Companion Pass®, one of the most valuable perks in domestic travel.
- Cardholders receive annual bonus points and EarlyBird Check-In® credits, which provide recurring value that helps offset the annual fee.
- The card includes a suite of travel and purchase protections, such as coverage for delayed luggage and extended warranty on eligible purchases.
Cons
- The card lacks premium travel perks like airport lounge access or statement credits for travel purchases.
- Points are most valuable when redeemed for Southwest flights, limiting flexibility for those who fly other airlines.
- Its point-earning rates are less generous than some competing travel cards, particularly for everyday spending.
Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a quick look at why the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card stands out in a crowded field of travel cards.
- You can earn high rewards rates on travel and dining without being restricted to a specific booking portal.
- Cardholders get access to useful benefits like travel protections and cell phone insurance for an annual fee.
- The $50 annual airline credit effectively cuts the annual fee down to $45, making it easy to get value from the card (publisher-formulated estimate).
Pros
- Generous rewards on travel and dining purchases without requiring you to book through a specific portal.
- An annual airline credit helps offset the annual fee, and the card includes robust travel and cell phone protections.
- Flexible redemption options, including the ability to transfer points to airline and hotel partners for potentially greater value.
Cons
- An annual fee is charged, which might not be suitable for users who won’t take full advantage of the card’s credits and bonus categories.
- The selection of travel transfer partners is more limited compared to other travel cards, especially for domestic U.S. airlines.
- It lacks premium travel perks found on other cards, such as airport lounge access or free checked bags.
Wells Fargo Autograph Journey vs Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus
Categories
Deciding which is better, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card or the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card, depends on your personal travel habits and reward priorities.
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card - This card is best for frequent travelers who are loyal to Southwest Airlines. It's an ideal choice for those looking to earn rewards and perks specifically within the Southwest ecosystem.
- Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card - This card is built for frequent travelers who want flexibility and high rewards on a wide range of travel and dining purchases, rather than being tied to a single airline.
Redemption
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card: Points earned with this card are primarily redeemed for flights on Southwest Airlines. You can also use them for other travel-related purchases like hotels and car rentals through the airline's portal.
Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card: This card offers more flexible redemption options, allowing you to transfer points to a variety of airline and hotel partners. You can also redeem points for travel through the Wells Fargo portal or for statement credits.
Travel Perks
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card: This card’s travel ecosystem is built exclusively around Southwest Airlines. It features airline-specific perks like anniversary bonus points and credits for in-flight purchases. The card includes a foreign transaction fee and does not offer airport lounge access.
- Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card: This card provides a flexible travel ecosystem. Its main feature is the ability to transfer points to a variety of airline and hotel partners, in addition to booking through the Wells Fargo portal. It does not have a foreign transaction fee and includes an annual statement credit for airfare, but it does not provide airport lounge access.
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Who Should Choose the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus?
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is an excellent choice for budget-conscious travelers and those new to travel rewards who fly with the airline occasionally. It's also a strategic tool for Southwest loyalists aiming to earn the highly coveted Companion Pass, as all points earned count toward the qualification threshold. Even infrequent flyers can find value in the card's perks, like anniversary bonus points and EarlyBird Check-In® credits, making it a solid entry-level option.
Who Should Choose the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey?
The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card is designed for frequent travelers, particularly millennials and Gen Z, who want premium-style rewards without the high annual fee. It's a strong fit for those who spend regularly on hotels, flights, and dining, and who also value practical perks like trip cancellation coverage and cell phone protection. Ultimately, this card appeals to users seeking a straightforward way to rack up flexible points on their adventures and everyday spending, filling a valuable niche in the travel card market.
Alternatives to Consider
If our deep dive into the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus vs. Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ comparison has shown that neither card is the right fit for you, don't fret. Several other excellent travel rewards cards might be a better match for your wallet and travel aspirations.
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Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
Tips for Application Success
Before You Apply
- Check your credit score—most rewards cards require a good to excellent credit history for approval.
- Know the application rules, as some issuers limit how many new cards you can open within a specific timeframe.
- Plan your spending to ensure you can meet the welcome offer spending requirements organically.
Application Strategy
- Research transfer partners—know how you’ll use your points to ensure they align with your travel goals.
- Time your application strategically—apply before a large planned purchase to meet the spending threshold more easily.
- Heed issuer-specific rules—some banks limit how many new cards you can open, such as Wells Fargo’s one-card-per-six-months policy.
Our Methodology
We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.
Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which card is better for someone who primarily flies Southwest?
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is specifically designed for Southwest flyers, offering benefits like anniversary points and EarlyBird Check-In® that directly enhance the Southwest travel experience.
Can I use points from the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card on Southwest flights?
Yes, you can use your Wells Fargo points to book Southwest flights through the Wells Fargo travel portal or transfer them to airline partners for other redemption options.
Which card has a better welcome offer?
Welcome offers change frequently, so it's best to check the current promotions for both the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card and the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card before applying.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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