Wyndham and Barclays Launch Massive Card Refresh: New $395 Premium Card & Huge 120,000 Point Bonus
In the biggest shake-up for the Wyndham Rewards ecosystem in years, Barclays and Wyndham have officially debuted an entirely revamped credit card suite. Standing tall at the top of the lineup is the brand-new Wyndham Rewards Earner Premier Card, a premium entry with a $395 annual fee designed to compete with the industry’s heavy hitters. But it’s not just about the new card; the existing Earner, Earner Plus, and Earner Business cards have seen significant shifts in their earning structures, fees, and anniversary bonuses.
| Card Type | Intro Offer | Annual Fee | Top Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earner Premier (NEW) | Up to 120,000 Points | $395 | Wyndham Diamond Status |
| Earner Plus (Refreshed) | Up to 100,000 Points | $95 (was $75) | 15,000 Anniversary Points |
| Earner Business (Refreshed) | Up to 100,000 Points | $149 (was $95) | Diamond Status / 20% Award Discount |
| Earner (No-Fee Refreshed) | Up to 75,000 Points | $0 | Gold Status / 10% Award Discount |
The New Heavyweight: Wyndham Rewards Earner Premier
The star of the show is the Earner Premier Card. This is Wyndham’s first true “lounge-era” premium card, though it focuses more on hotel lifestyle credits than airline lounge access. With a hefty 120,000-point welcome bonus (earned via tiered spending), it provides massive initial value.
- The Bonus: 90,000 points after $6,000 spend in 120 days + 30,000 points after $750 at Hotels by Wyndham in 180 days.
- Key Perks: Automatic Diamond Status, a 25% discount on award nights, and up to $420 in annual statement credits (including meal delivery, streaming, and a $100 hotel credit).
- Anniversary Value: 30,000 bonus points every year you renew.
Changes to the Existing Lineup
If you’re applying today, the “middle” cards have become a bit more expensive but offer more consistent anniversary value:
- Earner Plus: Now $95, but the anniversary bonus has doubled to 15,000 points—essentially covering the fee if you value Wyndham points at ~0.6-0.7 cents each.
- Earner Business: Now $149 (up from $95), but it now features an improved 20% discount on all award redemptions, making it perhaps the most valuable card for frequent Wyndham stays.
PointsGobbler Verdict
Wyndham is clearly trying to move upmarket. The new Earner Premier is a “math card”—if you use the $120 meal delivery and $100 streaming credits, the effective annual fee drops to $175, easily offset by the 30k anniversary points. However, the loss of legacy benefits like the easy Vacasa high-value redemptions and the Caesars status match nerf makes the ecosystem slightly less “gamable” than before. If you stay at Wyndham 5+ nights a year, the Earner Premier or the refreshed Business card are now must-haves.