Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier vs Wells Fargo Autograph Journey: Which Is Better In 2025?

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Breakdown

‍

[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "7644", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "Frequent Travelers", "headerHint": "Mid-Tier Travel Rewards"} ]]

‍

Why We Like It

‍

Here’s a breakdown of why we like the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card.

‍

• The card offers high earning rates on common travel and dining purchases without needing to book through a specific portal.
• While it comes with an annual fee (See Rates & Fees), it's partially offset by an annual airline incidental credit.
• Cardholders paying for phone insurance could save enough to cover the annual fee by using the card's complimentary cell phone protection benefit (publisher-formulated estimate).

‍

Pros

‍

• Offers flexible redemption options, including cash back, travel bookings, and point transfers to airline partners.
• Comes with a solid set of travel insurance benefits, such as trip cancellation and interruption coverage.
• You can earn bonus rewards without worrying about spending caps or keeping track of rotating categories.

‍

Cons

‍

• The card comes with an annual fee, which may not be justified for infrequent travelers.
• Its selection of airline and hotel transfer partners is limited and lacks a direct major U.S. airline partner.
• It doesn't offer premium travel perks like airport lounge access or annual hotel night certificates.

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey vs Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier

‍

Categories

‍

Deciding which is better, Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier or Wells Fargo Autograph Journey, depends entirely on your travel habits and what you value in a credit card.

‍

• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card: This card is best for semifrequent Southwest Airlines flyers who want to earn points and enjoy day-of-travel benefits specific to the airline.
• Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card: This card is ideal for frequent travelers who want to maximize rewards on travel and dining and value flexible redemption options and travel protections.

‍

Redemption

‍

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier: Points are redeemed within the Southwest Rapid Rewards program, primarily for flights, but can also be used for other travel like hotels and car rentals through the airline's portal.

‍

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠: This card provides flexible redemption options, allowing you to book travel through the Wells Fargo portal or transfer your points to a variety of airline and hotel partners.

‍

Travel Perks

‍

• The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card has no foreign transaction fees, making it a better choice for international travel, whereas the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card does have a foreign transaction fee.
• With the Autograph Journey card, you can transfer points to various airline and hotel partners for greater flexibility. The Southwest Premier card's points are used within the Southwest Rapid Rewards program, limiting redemption options primarily to that airline's ecosystem.
• The Autograph Journey card comes with an annual airfare statement credit and travel insurance protections. In contrast, the Southwest Premier card focuses on airline-specific perks like anniversary bonus points and credits toward elite status.
• Neither card includes complimentary airport lounge access as a standard benefit.

‍

Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

‍

To eliminate the guesswork and find the best card for your spending habits, a tool like Kudos can help you compare top-rated credit cards based on your real transaction data.

‍

• Test drive credit cards: Preview potential earnings with a new card using your actual spending data before you apply, without impacting your credit score.
• Approval odds analysis: Understand your chances of getting approved for different cards with a detailed analysis based on your credit report.
• Welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better welcome offer within three months of being approved for a card through Kudos, they will match it.
• Personalized recommendations: Get matched with cards that will maximize your rewards based on your spending history.
• Kudos Boost rewards: Earn additional rewards on top of your credit card points when you shop at your favorite stores.

Who Should Choose the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier?

‍

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card is tailored for semi-frequent Southwest flyers who want to earn points and enjoy travel perks without committing to a premium card's higher annual fee. It's a solid mid-tier option for those who fly with the airline occasionally but still value benefits like anniversary points, EarlyBird Check-Ins, and a boost toward A-List status or the Companion Pass. As a detailed card review notes, this card best serves travelers looking to offset travel costs and enhance their experience on Southwest flights.

Who Should Choose the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey?

‍

The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card is designed for frequent travelers who want to earn significant rewards without paying a premium annual fee. It's an ideal fit for those who travel several times a year and dine out regularly, allowing them to maximize points on their largest spending categories. Cardholders who value flexible redemption options and practical benefits like travel protections over luxury perks such as airport lounge access will find this mid-tier travel card to be a strong contender.

Alternatives to Consider

‍

Still on the fence after our Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier vs Wells Fargo Autograph Journey comparison? Let's explore a few other top-tier travel cards that could be a better fit for your wallet.

‍

[[ COMPARE_CARD * {"ids": ["118", "510"], "bestCategoryIds":["17", "18", "19"], "bestForTexts":["Generous Travel Rewards", "$300 Annual Travel Credit"]} ]]

‍

_{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, as you’ll typically need good to excellent credit for approval.
• Review issuer application rules, like Chase’s 5/24 policy or Wells Fargo’s new card restrictions.
• Plan your spending to ensure you can meet the welcome offer requirement naturally without financial strain.

‍

Application Strategy

‍

• Don't settle for a lesser offer. You can often decline an initial offer without a credit impact and try again later.
• Use a targeted application link. Applying through a referral or specific offer page can sometimes yield a better welcome offer.
• Call the reconsideration line if denied. You may be able to provide additional information to get your application approved.

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 international travel?

‍

The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card is generally the stronger choice for international travel, as its points are flexible and can be transferred to various international airline partners. The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier card is primarily geared toward domestic travel and flights to the Caribbean and Central America.

‍

Can I transfer points from the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card to Southwest Airlines?

‍

No, you cannot transfer points from the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card to the Southwest Rapid Rewards program. Wells Fargo has its own list of airline and hotel transfer partners, which does not include Southwest Airlines.

‍

What happens to my Southwest points if I close my Rapid Rewards Premier card?

‍

Your Southwest Rapid Rewards points are stored in your loyalty account with the airline, not on the credit card itself. As long as your Rapid Rewards account remains open and active, you will not lose your points if you decide to close the card.

‍