@CO skier @Judy Thanks so much for responding! This was my first post on this forum and, apparently, I don't have email notifications set up correctly, so I didn't know anyone had responded!
The Wyndham Rewards cards pay 3X points on WorldMark/Wyndham maintenance fees.
@CO skier Is 3X points the highest earning level on your "No Annual Fee" Wyndham Rewards card?
@Judy Here's my analysis for comparison, assuming WorldMark dues earn the highest rewards rate, for which the T&C states "By Wyndham hotels or Hotels by Wyndham (“By Wyndham hotels”)".
I'm a 35,000 credit WorldMark owner with TS, so my dues are currently $3,071.16 for 2021. My plan would be to only use the Wyndham card to pay WorldMark dues (aside from meeting the signup bonus spend amounts) as I have other better cards for everything else. I'm currently using the Citi Double Cash card to pay WorldMark dues, so if I can beat 2% cash back then it'd be worth it.
Earner (no annual fee)
Wyndham Rewards Gold member level
Spend $1,000 in 90 days = 45,000 points
Spend total of $2,000 in 6 months = 15,000 points
Worldmark dues @ 5 points per $ = 15,355 points
Total points first year = 75,355 points
Total points subsequent years = 15,355 points (and increasing due to increased dues)
Earner+ ($75 annual fee)
Wyndham Rewards Platinum member level
Spend $1,000 in 90 days = 60,000 points
Spend total of $2,000 in 6 months = 30,000 points
Worldmark dues @ 6 points per $ = 18,426 points
Total points first year = 108,426 points
Anniversary bonus = 7,500 points
Total points subsequent years = 25,926 points (and increasing due to increased dues)
Earner Business ($95 annual fee)
Wyndham Rewards Diamond member level
Spend $1,000 in 90 days = 60,000 points
Spend total of $2,000 in 6 months = 30,000 points
Worldmark dues @ 8 points per $ = 24,569 points
Total points first year = 114,569 points
Anniversary bonus = 15,000 points
Total points subsequent years = 39,569 points (and increasing due to increased dues)
Then it comes down to how much the points are worth. I was assuming a 15,000 point room would be worth at least $100 if not $150 or more. Assuming just $100 and ignoring the signup bonuses, that would make the cards worth the following amounts (for me):
Earner: 15,355 annual points = $102 (~3.3% cash back)
Earner+: 25,926 annual points = $172 - $75 fee = $97 (~3.1% cash back)
Earner Business: 39,569 annual points = $263 - $95 fee = $168 (~5.4% cash back)
If I can get closer to $150/night rooms (or higher) for the points, then it'd be even more worth it. But even at $63/night for 15,000 points, that's still ~2.3% cash back for the Earner Business.
Anyway, this is all contingent on the Wyndham card earning the 5x, 6x, or 8x points for WorldMark dues.
@Judy Out of curiosity, why were you using 3x points in your analysis. I don't see that as an option for any of the current card offers. I assume that if the WorldMark dues do not earn the 5x, 6x, or 8x points, then they probably earn 1x. If that were the case, the Earner Business would get ~0.8% cash back on my WorldMark dues and the Earner would get ~0.6%.
The current card offers end Thursday 10/14, so I guess I need to make a decision...