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

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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This is what makes the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card stand out.

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• It offers high earning rates on popular spending categories like travel and dining without forcing you to book through a specific portal.
• While it has an annual fee, the card provides valuable benefits like travel protections and cell phone insurance.
• The annual airline incidental credit helps offset the card's yearly cost (publisher-formulated estimate).

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Pros

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• Points can be transferred to a selection of airline and hotel loyalty programs, offering the potential for high-value redemptions.
• Comes with robust travel protections and cell phone insurance, with coverage levels that are competitive even with more premium cards.
• The rewards program is straightforward, with no complicated earning caps or category restrictions to track.

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Cons

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• The card comes with an annual fee, which might not be ideal for infrequent travelers.
• Its list of airline and hotel transfer partners is less extensive than some competitors, notably lacking a major domestic U.S. airline partner.
• It does not offer premium travel perks like airport lounge access or annual free night certificates.

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey vs Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority

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Categories

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Choosing between the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card and the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card comes down to your personal travel style. To determine which is better, Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority or Wells Fargo Autograph Journey, let's look at who each card is built for.

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• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card - This card is tailor-made for frequent Southwest flyers and their families. It's ideal for those loyal to the airline who want to maximize rewards and perks on domestic and nearby international travel.
• Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card - This card is designed for frequent travelers who want to earn high rewards on travel and dining without being tied to a specific airline. It offers flexible redemption options for those who value both points and cash back.

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Redemption

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Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card: Points are redeemed through the Southwest Rapid Rewards program, primarily for flights on Southwest Airlines. You can also use points for other travel options like hotels and car rentals available through the airline's portal.

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Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card: This card provides flexible redemption, allowing you to book travel through the Wells Fargo portal, transfer points to partner airlines and hotels, or opt for cash back.

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Travel Perks

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• Travel Ecosystem & Portal: The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card's ecosystem is built entirely around Southwest Airlines, with all bookings and redemptions handled through the airline's portal. In contrast, the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card offers a flexible system, allowing you to book through the Wells Fargo portal or transfer points to various airline and hotel partners.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: Neither the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card nor the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card charges foreign transaction fees, making both suitable for international travel.
• Travel Credits: The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card provides an annual travel credit specifically for Southwest purchases. The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card offers an annual statement credit for airfare that is not restricted to a single airline.
• Lounge Access & Airline Perks: Neither card offers traditional airport lounge access. However, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card provides several airline-specific benefits, including upgraded boardings and a percentage back on in-flight Southwest purchases. The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card does not offer such airline-specific perks, focusing instead on its flexible rewards structure.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To find the best card for your wallet, a tool like Kudos can help you compare top-rated cards side-by-side based on your actual spending habits.

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• Test drive a credit card: Simulate your potential earnings with a new card using your real spending data—all before you apply and without impacting your credit score.
• Welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better welcome offer for a card you got through Kudos within three months, the platform will match it.
• Detailed approval odds: Get a comprehensive analysis of your approval chances for a card based on your credit report.
• Exclusive member benefits: Creating a free account unlocks perks like the $100 Kudos Kickstart+ for adding eligible cards and access to Kudos Boost for extra rewards when you shop.

Who Should Choose the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority?

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The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is tailor-made for frequent Southwest flyers who can maximize its annual travel credit and other airline-specific perks. It's also a strategic choice for Southwest loyalists aiming to accelerate their journey to A-List status or the coveted Companion Pass®, as spending on the card contributes to both. Additionally, families who value Southwest's flexible policies and domestic travelers who frequent the airline's extensive network will find significant value in its rewards structure and benefits.

Who Should Choose the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey?

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The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card is designed for frequent travelers who want to earn significant rewards without committing to a premium card's hefty annual fee. It's an ideal choice for those who travel a few times a year, whether for work or leisure, and dine out regularly, allowing them to rack up points quickly on their biggest expenses. Cardholders who value flexible redemption options and useful travel protections will find this card to be a strong contender, as detailed in this card review.

Alternatives to Consider

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So, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority vs. Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ comparison didn't reveal a clear winner for your wallet? That's perfectly fine, as the world of travel rewards cards is vast and has other excellent options to explore.

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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

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score: You will generally need good to excellent credit for approval.
• Plan your spending: Make sure you can comfortably meet the welcome offer spending requirement.
• Know the rules: Be aware of any issuer-specific application restrictions before you apply.

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Application Strategy

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• Time your application strategically: Apply before a large planned purchase to help meet the spending requirement.
• Heed issuer-specific rules: Some issuers, like Wells Fargo, limit how many cards you can open within a certain period.
• Be patient for the best offer: If you don't see the highest bonus, try searching again later or in a private browser.

Our Methodology

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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.

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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

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Which card is better for a loyal Southwest flyer?

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The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is the clear choice for dedicated Southwest customers, as its benefits like an annual travel credit and upgraded boardings are tailored specifically to that airline.

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Can I use points from the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card on Southwest?

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While you can't transfer points directly to Southwest Rapid Rewards, you can use your Wells Fargo Rewards points to book Southwest flights through the travel portal, offering a flexible way to fly with the airline.

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Which card is better for earning rewards on daily spending?

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The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa® Card excels in this area by offering broad bonus categories that include dining, travel, and transit, making it easier to accumulate points from everyday purchases.

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How do the travel credits on these cards work?

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The Southwest Priority card provides a $75 annual Southwest travel credit that applies automatically to eligible purchases, while the Autograph Journey card offers a $50 annual statement credit for airfare purchases of $50 or more.

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