Overview of the Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card
Whether or not you’re a dedicated member of Wyndham, the Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card has many benefits that are hard to ignore. Featuring automatic elite status, an anniversary points bonus, and a competitive earning rate, all accompanied by a reasonable annual fee, this card is definitely worth a look. Card Rating*: ⭐⭐⭐½
*This card rating reflects the views of Flying Frugal’s editors and is not swayed by the card issuer.
While Wyndham may not be the first brand that comes to mind in the crowded hotel market, they provide excellent hotel options and have a lineup of cobranded credit cards to complement their offerings.
With a $75 annual fee, the Earner Plus card sits just above the entry-level Wyndham Rewards Earner card. Even infrequent guests at Wyndham properties can benefit from the card’s automatic elite status and discounts on award redemptions.
The card is generally recommended for individuals with a credit score of at least 670, although approvals may be possible with lower scores.
Let’s explore if the Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card is a worthy addition to your wallet.
The details regarding the Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card have been compiled independently by The Points Guy, and the information presented on this page has not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Pros and Cons of the Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card
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Welcome Offer for the Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card
New applicants for the Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus can earn 45,000 bonus points after making $1,000 in purchases within the first 90 days of account opening—enough for up to 6 nights’ stay.
According to Flying Frugal’s January 2025 analyses, this bonus offer is valued at $495, making the low spending requirement quite appealing.
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Past promotions have offered 75,000 points, so it may be wise to wait for a more lucrative offer if you don’t have an immediate Wyndham trip planned.
Remember, Barclays may examine your inquiry history closely, so it’s advisable to maintain a record of fewer than 6 inquiries within the last 24 months before applying for the Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card.
Related: Maximize value by booking low-end or luxury hotels with your points
Benefits of the Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card
The Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus grants you automatic Wyndham Platinum status, which includes benefits such as free Wi-Fi, early check-in and late checkout, preferred room selection, bonus points for stays, and rental upgrades at Avis and Budget.
This Platinum status could easily justify the $75 annual fee. Additional benefits of the card include:
- Anniversary bonus points: Earn 7,500 bonus points every anniversary after the annual fee is paid, valued at approximately $83 according to Flying Frugal’s January 2025 assessments.
- Discounts on paid and award stays: Cardholders can access special rates for cash stays and enjoy a 10% discount on Go Free award redemptions.
- No foreign transaction fees: Save on international purchases.
Related: Comprehensive guide to earning and redeeming Wyndham Rewards
Earning Points with the Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card
The Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card allows you to earn points at the following rates:
- 6 points per dollar on Wyndham hotel stays and gas purchases
- 4 points per dollar on dining and grocery store purchases (note: Walmart and Target are excluded)
- 1 point per dollar on all other purchases (excluding Wyndham Vacation Club down payments)
According to Flying Frugal’s valuations from January 2025, this translates to a 6.6% return on Wyndham and gas purchases, 4.4% for dining and grocery expenses, and a 1.1% return for all other purchases.
While these are strong earning potentials for Wyndham stays and fuel, other cards might offer better rates in everyday categories, such as dining at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, like the American Express® Gold Card (with spending limits applied).
Redeeming Points with the Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card
Points earned through the Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card can be redeemed for a diverse range of options: stays, gas, airline tickets, tickets and experiences, gift cards, merchandise, charitable contributions, tours and activities, and AARP memberships.
The most beneficial use of points is for Wyndham hotel stays.
Wyndham stands out as one of the few hotel brands that uses a fixed award chart rather than dynamic pricing, ensuring you can often achieve significant value. Notably, there are no blackout dates for Wyndham properties.
Two redemption options are available: Go Free and Go Fast. Go Free allows you to use points for the entire room cost, while Go Fast combines points with cash. Cardholders enjoy a 10% discount on all Wyndham Go Free room bookings.
Go Free awards come in three tiers priced at 7,500, 15,000, and 30,000 points per night, with higher-end properties and peak season stays generally costing 30,000 points.
Go Fast awards also have three tiers, starting from 1,500, 3,000, and 6,000 points per night, along with cash payments.
Flying Frugal senior points and miles writer, Katie Genter, comments, “[I’ve] redeemed Wyndham points for 15,000-point nights in Hawaii and 7,500-point stays in South Korea, even on the picturesque island of Jeju. I obtained excellent value from Vacasa stays, though this has become harder due to a lower cost cap for 15,000-point nights.”
Points can also be used for Wyndham Vacation Club stays starting at 7,500 points per room per night. As a cardholder, you can also book stays at Caesars Rewards properties, Vacasa vacation rentals, Landal GreenParks, and reservations on Cottages.com.
Wyndham timeshare owners can utilize their points to offset maintenance fees by converting them to Maintenance Dollars. Booking at Caesars properties typically costs 15,000 to 30,000 Wyndham points per room per night, but some blackout dates apply.
To book Vacasa vacation rentals with points, the total nightly cost (including all fees) must be below $500. Rentals with an average nightly rate below $250 require 15,000 points per room, while rentals priced between $250.01 and $500 require 30,000 points.
Transferring Points with the Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card
Wyndham provides a robust selection of airline transfer partners. However, redeeming points for hotel stays often yields better value than transferring them to these partners.
Wyndham has nine airline transfer partners, including Air Canada Aeroplan, Avianca LifeMiles, Frontier Airlines, Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles, and United MileagePlus miles.
Transfers occur at a 5:1 ratio, requiring a minimum transfer of 6,000 points. Therefore, 6,000 Wyndham points translate to 1,200 points with a partner. Given this transfer rate, it’s generally advisable to avoid this as a redemption option.
Related: Should you convert hotel points to airline partners?
Competing Cards to the Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card
If you seek more Wyndham Rewards benefits or prefer a different reward structure, consider these alternatives:
- If you prefer no annual fee: The Wyndham Rewards Earner® Card is the more basic version of the Earner Plus and has no annual fee. It provides automatic Wyndham Gold status and earns 5 points per dollar on Wyndham stays and gas, plus discounts on award and cash stays. Read our full review for more details on the Wyndham Rewards Earner card.
- If you want a flexible rewards currency: The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card earns at least 2 miles per dollar on all purchases, offers Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fee credits, and has a $95 annual fee (see rates and fees). Capital One miles can also be transferred to Wyndham. Check out our complete review of the Capital One Venture Rewards card for more information.
- If you’re looking for a business card with higher status: The Wyndham Rewards Business Earner® Card offers complimentary Wyndham Diamond status, and provides 15,000 bonus points after each cardmember anniversary, along with discounts for award and cash stays. For more details, refer to our full review of the Wyndham Business Earner card.
For additional options, see our comprehensive list of the best hotel credit cards.
The details for the Wyndham Rewards Earner Card and the Wyndham Rewards Business Earner Card have been gathered independently by The Points Guy and have not been reviewed or sponsored by the card issuer.
Related: How to select the right hotel credit card for you
Is the Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card Worth It?
This card is certainly worthwhile, especially if you regularly stay at Wyndham hotels, as it provides automatic Wyndham Platinum status, excellent earning rates for stays and gas, alongside a discount on all award redemptions. If your Wyndham visits are infrequent, you might be better off with the no-annual-fee Wyndham Rewards Earner Card.
Final Thoughts
The Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card is a robust choice for most Wyndham travelers, offering excellent earning rates and automatic elite status. It’s certainly a card worth contemplating for your wallet.
Additionally, a strong sign-up bonus can significantly enhance your Wyndham Rewards account.
Related: Discover the best hotel rewards programs to find the perfect fit for you.
