Q&A: WestJet's Head of Rewards Reveals Tips, Tricks and The Secret Sauce
Q&A valid as of when this article was initially published. Please find current card details that apply below and on the RBC site.
We are super excited to have the highly accomplished loyalty and marketing executive Sol Zia, formerly from WestJet Rewards with us for an in-depth Q&A!
WestJet’s credit card program is quickly distinguishing itself among its peers with a truly unique set of benefits in the Canadian marketplace.
We invited Sol to do a Q&A with GreedyRates to help us understand the secrets to maximizing the value of WestJet’s credit card program. The result is a masterly dissertation on how to squeeze hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars out of WestJet EVERY year. The best part is, WestJet’s happy to see you do it.
Q: What’s the goal of the WestJet Credit card program?
A: Like other programs, it’s pretty simple. It’s to enhance the earning opportunities for our members.
But what makes our card different, are the travel opportunities – first bag free and the companion voucher, those are amazing features. If you’re traveling as a family, or you like to travel with other people, you can’t beat the card.
Q: Who’s the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard best suited for?
A: It’s designed for moderate to frequent travelers. It’s also for folks who are loyalty savvy that enjoy paying with points and cash. Families have a big affinity for the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard. I love seeing them flash their card at the airport.
Q: How can cardholders get the most value from the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard? What are some of the secrets out there?
A: The savviest cardholders sign-up for all our promotions. The secret sauce is getting the card, always using it when you book your flight, but signing up for every promotion that we have out there.
We have one for California that starts tomorrow, and you can earn up to 250 WestJet dollars. They’re free to register.
Q: Can you go into a bit more depth on how these promotions work?
A: They are typically destination based. If you were to book your flight, without your credit card and it was $100 to Boston, you would earn 1 WestJet dollar. Get the credit card, now you’re earning 3 WestJet dollars. Still ok, but you sign-up for the promotion and you save an additional 40 WestJet dollars. That’s a huge earn rate based on the cost of the flight. That is the secret sauce.
Q: Are those promotions available to cardholders only? Or to WestJet Reward members as well?
A: They’re available to all WestJet reward members. But if you’re using your card you’re getting that triple dip so to speak (credit card, loyalty rewards and promotion dollars).
Q: Which features are the most popular with cardholders? Talk to me about how cardholders use them.
A: Free first bag is hugely popular, as is companion voucher and then the earn rate – earning 2% when you use the card, so the double dip is the third feature. The welcome bonus is typically fourth place.
No one offers free bag and the companion voucher, especially with the new ability to use it for Europe, Hawaii, Mexico and the Caribbean. Folks love it and they’re redeeming for great destinations.
Q: You’re seeing a lot of uptake, even in the last 3 months?
A: We’re definitely seeing it in the redemption of those vouchers to sun destinations and to Europe. Folks are being really smart about it, they’re booking Plus seats (business class).
There’s no blackout or restrictions on those companion vouchers. Your companion is booked for $399 dollars (return) to London in that Plus seat, as long as you buy the first Plus seat (you can use your WestJet dollars). It’s a phenomenal deal.
Q: And when consumers buy a full fare ticket, it’s the same price they get at WestJet.com?
A: If you find a seat sale for Plus, you can use the companion voucher with it. It’s amazing value. Folks don’t believe it, because everyone’s skeptical, and I’m sure you’re readers are just as skeptical as everyone else. Everyone believes there must be a restriction, a blackout, but there really isn’t.
Depending on when you buy that seat to London, you could be saving upwards of $1,000. No cash back card, at 1.5% will ever give you that much return.
Q: Why should readers choose the WestJet credit card over any other card? How does the WestJet card beat out the alternatives?
A: I think it’s the flexibility of the card and its features.
You would choose the card because you travel enough where you can see the benefit of having that first bag free, for yourself and the other folks travelling on your same itinerary.
You travel enough times a year, and you travel with someone else, so you’re going to see the value in that companion voucher. That beats most other travel cards if that’s how you travel.
The third piece is, even if you don’t travel, but you buy travel for other people, you’re getting that return. Let’s say you travel twice a year, but you often buy a flight for your mom, grandma, or kids, you can redeem for anybody. You don’t have to be the primary traveler.
Q: Can you transfer WestJet dollars to other members?
A: We don’t see a lot of transferability because we have partial redemption. In Aeroplan, you have to have 25,000 points for long-haul, so there’s a lot more reasons economically to transfer and pool points.
Because we have partial redemption, if you’re buying 3 WestJet tickets and 3 people each have 75 WestJet dollars, each redeems partially.
We do have transferability like every other program, but very little take-up.
Q: Who do you view as your primary competitor in the travel card space?
A: The primary alternative in the marketplace to our card would be TD Aeroplan.
After that would be the bank led travel programs. But they compete on earn rate. Because they’re bank run and they don’t have any affiliation or ownership of an airline, they don’t have features like first bag or companion vouchers.
Q: The only other card offering companion fare would be Alaska Airlines?
A: Alaska’s a great program, but it’s really centered towards Western Canadians. If you live in Montreal or Toronto you’ve got to find an Alaska flight to use it.
British Airways is pretty niche too, because not everyone is going overseas (and you have to spend $30K to get the companion ticket), you have to really play the game to redeem on Avios.
Q: Several bank travel card programs offer lounge access. The WestJet card does not. Any reason?
A: That’s a really good question, only because we ask that every year, and lounge access always ranks really low.
For the leisure traveler, lounge has just not popped as something they want on the card. If the demand was there, we would address it. But I can show you just how far down on the right demand is for lounge on one of our charts.
There are other higher demand flexible travel features that cardholders and members are asking for that we’re looking to add on.
Q: What are the top destinations that people like to redeem for?
A: Before we launched Caribbean, Mexico and London, it was Vegas. The top 5 hasn’t really changed, because we haven’t had enough time yet. But the trend is moving away from Nevada and Florida. Depending on when you want to travel the value is amazing.
Current WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard Summary:
- Annual companion ticket to any destination WestJet flies – one every year!3
- 450 WestJet dollars welcome bonus – (a value of up to $450) when you spend a minimum of $5,000 in the first 3 months on your card1
- No black outs or seat restrictions on any flights, any time
- First free checked bags for the primary cardholder on WestJet flights and up to 8 guests on the same reservation4
- Travel coverage including emergency medical insurance20 as well as trip interruption insurance21, hotel burglary18 and rental car insurance19
- 2% WestJet dollars per $1 spent on WestJet purchases8
- 1.5% WestJet dollars per $1 spent on all other purchases8
Click here to apply or learn more by reading our complete WestJet World Elite Mastercard review.
Refer to RBC Page for up to date offer terms and conditions.
Article comments
I am a WestJet World Elite member. I am Canadian. My husband and I drove to Arizona. We want to fly back to Saskatchewan for Christmas and then return to Arizona. I have tried to book a flight using my companion voucher. However, the voucher is not available for use to fly from AZ to Saskatchewan. I don’t understand why?
Hi Barb,
That’s an interesting conundrum. Assuming you’re the primary card holder and are flying together with your husband on the same flight, I can’t think of any reason why the voucher wouldn’t apply. Your best bet will be to contact WestJet customer service at 1 (888) 937-8538 to find out there are any restrictions with booking this route or to have them help walk you through the process. Good luck.
I have been searching for round-trip flights for myself (primary card-holder) and my sister. I have an expiring companion voucher to use. I am able to book the flight no problem without ticking the companion voucher box, however when I apply the companion voucher it says “no flights available for that date”. I thought there were no blackouts and vouchers could be used for “anywhere WestJet flies”? If this is not actually the case (as I read in a previous response) this is very misleading advertising. Is there a list of places anywhere that Westjet will honor the companion voucher? This would save me a lot of time and frustration. Thanks in advance.
Hi Sarah,
I’d venture to guess that the allotment of seats reserved for companion vouchers may have been reached? But that’s entirely my speculation. Your best bet will be to contact WestJet customer service at 1 (888) 937-8538 to find out what’s up with your situation. Good luck.
They have a special offer now. 1200 westjet dollars for $1512 taxes in. They say it’s regular $2400. I don’t see the deal. It’s basically dollar for dollar when you use it for a flight. A $840 taxes in return flight cost me $720 plus taxes. Might as well use cash.
Hi Terry,
That’s an interesting way for them to frame it. Where did you come across this?
Can a wife transfer her flight qualifying spend to her husbands account which is our main account to achieve tiers faster?
Hi Linda, I don’t think that WestJet will allow it. The WestJet Rewards Terms and Conditions state that individual rewards are ‘personal’ but it does mention that “You may transfer WestJet dollars to another member, subject to a transfer fee of $50 plus applicable taxes.” Finally, “You may use your WestJet dollars to purchase a booking for another individual so long as you make the booking on behalf of the other individual.” Best to confirm with WestJet Customer Service; you can reach them at 1 (888) 937-8538 or you can request a callback here and they’ll get in touch.
We have the elite Mastercard which gives us one free checked bag each. If I book econoflex it includes one free checked bag. Does this mean I would get two free checked bags?
Hi Gwen,
It’s plausible, but the only way you can be sure is to get in touch with Wesjet Customer Service. You can reach them at 1 (888) 937-8538 or you can request a callback here and they’ll get in touch.
I have 2 questions –
1) I try putting my Westjet ID where it says loyalty program under my spouse and kids when I book a flight, but it doesn’t let me. Does this mean each have to have their own Westjet ID to earn points? Have I not been acquiring Westjet points for them?
2) Can the lounge access vouchers be redeemed the day of your flight when you get to the airport? Or is it something you have to prebook?
Hi Angela,
Bit of a bad news / good news situation here: Bad news first, your spouse will need his own Westjet Rewards account. You can also enrol on behalf of your children as long as a parent provides an email at time of enrolment. For the good news: you don’t have to prebook to take advantage of the lounge. Simply roll on up and your vouchers will get you in.
In the past I was able to use WestJet dollars to rent a car, this was awesome! At the moment they aren’t doing it, wondering if they will again the future?
Hi Karen,
Yes, indeed it was a nice perk but unfortunately it’s true- your WestJet dollars can not currently be redeemed towards the cost of car rentals at this time. Maybe they’ll reinstate the perk when rental car companies build their stock back up so their supply can more reliably meet the demand? Here’s hoping.
Wondering if I can use the companion voucher for WestJet vacation (flight and hotel all inclusive)
Hi Mary,
According to Wesjet’s Terms and Conditions, the companion vouchers are ‘Not valid with group discounts and/or WestJet Vacations bookings.’ Hope that helps.
Hi there, thank you for all the very good questions posed and helpful responses. I’ve read through them all. I do not believe this question was posed and answered, my apologies if it was. When a flight is booked with the companion voucher, does the flight have to take place prior to the expiry of the voucher or it simply has to be booked prior to expiry? For example: If i have a voucher that is good until March 31, 2021 and I booked a flight on March 15, 2021 that will take place April 20-25, 2021 will that be utilizing voucher that was good until March 31, 2021 or am I now using the newly provided voucher that is good from April 1, 2021-March 31, 2022 and essentially i have not used the voucher from April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021?
Hi Michelle,
Glad that you’ve found the information here helpful. According to Westjet’s companion voucher terms and conditions: “Booking must be made before the voucher expiry date; travel may occur after the voucher expiry date subject to flight schedule availability at the time of booking.” Looks like you can book before March 31 for your April flight. Good luck!
There is a lie that isn’t often talked about, and it is perpetuated in the above article. It is stated that: “No black outs or seat restrictions on any flights, any time”. This is a blatant falsehood. You CANNOT use a companion voucher in business class. You can only use it in E+, which they also erroneously refer to as business class. From ripping off passengers with no refunds, to lying about the program, it is good to see that at least Westjet is consistent. Waiting to burn off my 16K in cancelled business trips, and then this Platinum member will never get on another Westjet aircraft.
Hi Kevin,
That must have been an unpleasant surprise. Unfortunately, Westjet’s Terms and Conditions for the Annual World Elite Companion Voucher does explicitly state that the vouchers are “Not valid on Business, BusinessFlex or Member Exclusive fares, nor combinable with a discount code.” These vouchers are valid on “all published Basic, Econo, EconoFlex, Premium, and PremiumFlex fares wholly marketed and operated by WestJet, including seat sales.” Here’s hoping you can make good use of your remaining points and can find a travel rewards program that better suits your needs.
We have the world elite MasterCard but each have our own WestJet id’s. My husband is the primary cardholder and I have a secondary card under his account. We know when he uses his MasterCard he receives WestJet dollars in his account and I was told if I call RBC and give them my own WestJet I’d number I will receive WestJet dollars of my own as well in my own account. Is this true? Right now it seems like the only WestJet dollars accumulating are from my husband’s card(primary card). Or are they from both our cards going into his account? An answer would clear up my confusion for sure.
Hi Melanie, Have you called them? You can get a human being from Westjet Rewards at 1-888-937-8538 The wait time is apparently 6 minutes (but I wouldn’t trust that at all) Still, call that number, explain your situation and get them to check if the points collected through your WestJet ID are actually funneling into your account (not just your husband’s Westjet ID) You may also be able to get them to merge your two ID’s together, so whoever is collecting points, with whatever ID their using, it’s all ending up in the same place, which will hopefully reduce confusion for you. Good luck.
If I make a purchase of $16,000 how many WestJet dollars will that equal?
Hi Pam,
Westjet dollars are equivalent to Canadian dollars when purchasing the base fare of a flight, so $16,000 would basically issue 16,000 westjet dollars (not counting taxes and fees)
with the covid crisis, my companion voucher booking time has been extended to Jan. 31 2021. I want to cancel my credit card now. Will I still be able to use the voucher later, after the travel restrictions make it possible to do so?
Hi Susan,
Yes, your travel voucher is with the airline you booked with, not the credit card issuer, so you will be able to use the voucher up until that date with that airline and whether you cancel your credit card will have no consequence on your use of the voucher as long as it already has been issued and is in your hand. Do not cancel your credit card until you receive it in case you need to provide further evidence of the booking that caused you to receive it. You wan to at least have a record of that.
Does the co-applicant with a world elite card get a companion voucher as well? What are the benefits of a co-applicant ($59 annual fee) and additional cardholder (ne fee)?
Hi Shelley,
One companion voucher per account, which means it is only awarded to the primary cardholder. The advantages of having a secondary cardholder are if you are a parent for example and want to allow your dependent child (say an older teen) a way to have credit in emergencies, but you still want to monitor their spending or control their access to funds. Remember though, while a secondary cardholder can’t build credit for themselves on your account, they can improve your credit if they’re also really good at paying off the balance or wreck your credit if they’re not.Before taking on a second cardholder, be able to carry their financial load and balance if you have to. Ultimately, you are responsible for them and what they do on the card, not the other way around.
Can you you a companion flight for a one way ticket
Hi Sheldon,
Unfortunately no. Companion vouchers with Westjet must be round-trip tickets with matching itinerary to the primary trip,
My husband and I are considering travelling to London (Gatwick). We plan to fly there together but may come back to Canada at different times. Can we still use the companion fare? Or do we have to be on the same flight for both ways?
Hey Andrea,
If you’ve got the RBC WestJet World Elite card, then you and your husband will need to be travelling on the same itinerary in order for one of you to use the companion fare. No travelling separately, and this condition also applies to the free checked baggage, we should add. Still a great card though! Perhaps save your annual companion fares for your vacations instead?
GreedyRates
Hello! Glad I found your page. What I’d like to know is, can a person use their Westjet dollars, plus use a westjet travel voucher (gift certificate) and pay the difference of a flight?
Hi Nikki, thanks for writing in. This is a great and frequently asked question. Here’s the answer from the Westjet website:
Can I redeem a gift card as payment in combination with my Travel Bank credits or WestJet dollars?
No, gift cards can only be combined with payment cards (MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Diners Club, Discover).
Hello, I currently have the RBC Westjet World Elite Mastercard and normally get the free baggage as I normally use the card and book through westjet.com.
Just wondering, if I book a westjet vacation package through pctravel and not use the westjet mastercard to pay, would I still be able to get the free luggage? Thank you for your time and help.
Hi Clement,
This question is easy to answer. The answer is no. The free baggage offer is tied to your credit card so your travel needs to be booked on the Westjet card to be eligible.
hello, I’m a westjet elite card holder, my wife is not. If I book a flight to florida from canada for my wife and I on my card, does she have the same medical coverage as I do?
Hi Ed,
Thanks for your question! If you’re the primary cardholder of a WestJet World Elite card (lucky you!), then you and your wife are both covered by its out-of-province emergency medical insurance as long as you meet the conditions eligible for any claim. Medical insurance from credit cards covers spouses and immediate family as long as they’re travelling with the primary cardholder, and there aren’t preexisting health conditions. This also applies to the trip interruption insurance, flight delay insurance, and other features of the WestJet World Elite card. Have a safe trip—we know you will!
GreedyRates
Hello,
We are WestJet elite card holders. I’m the primary and my wife carry’s the additional card on same account.
We have never redeemed our points and curious about it now.
How would we book the flight and redeem our points for all 3 of us (includes our daughter)?
Can we redeem all our points at checkout online?
Is there a way to divide the points among the 3 of us at the time of booking the flights online?
Can I use the same WestJet ID # for all 3 of us online to redeem points?
Is there a maximum number of points per person we are allowed to redeem if we are able to divide the points?
Look forward to your answers.
Thank you.
Richard
Hey Richard,
Thanks for your questions. If you’re considering how to best use your saved WestJet Dollars for a family trip, we can give some pointers. The best way to redeem your points is on WestJet’s website and booking platform, where you’ll simply browse for your flight using the regular booking tool with the option to add WestJet Dollars at checkout. You can pay for just a portion or for the full total fare price using your rewards, and still be able to use the companion voucher for your wife or daughter’s flight. To do so you’ll see an option at the checkout, but you’ll need to be on the same itinerary (also your WestJet ID number), which isn’t a problem seeing as how you’re all flying together anyway.
WestJet makes it easy because there are ways to search the site by companion voucher or WestJet Dollars as well, but if you’d rather call the WestJet travel centre and book with the assistance of a WestJet agent, then you can still use your rewards and the companion voucher. They’ll probably also tell you that your World Elite card also grants free checked bags, and depending on the airport, access to the lounge where you guys can relax before your flight. Have a nice trip!
GreedyRates
Had this card since inception and wasn’t aware that WJ Mastercard gave lounge access. Is this a pass or just access and to which lounges?
Hi Carol,
The RBC Westjet World Elite Mastercard gave lounge access through Mastercard Airport Experiences provided by LoungeKey Membership to 800+ airport lounges worldwide (fees apply for lounge access) and access to exclusive offers from luxury retailers. However, this benefit is no longer advertised on the RBC landing site for the card online, so it looks like the benefit has been replaced with one free checked bag.
Hello,
Not sure if this will get any traction or response but I have had this credit card for a couple years. The first few years it was great. We live in Ontario and fly to BC once a year with our two kids. My wife also has a card so we were able to all travel together and the kids used the companion fares. I am trying to book a trip to NYC or somewhere in Eastern Canaad and I am having a problem that whenever I go to book a companion fare there are no dates available. If I go back to the main booking page and remove the check mark in the companion box suddenly there are a ton of flights. It seems like I am being blocked from finding flights if using the companion fare. We are disappointed and hoping to get some answers on this before switching to another card.
Hey Jay,
We’re able to answer but you might not like what we say! Essentially, if you’re seeing that there’s a difference in the flights available when using a companion voucher versus flights available when the voucher isn’t used, then you aren’t wrong. WestJet has the final say on which flights are offered to any given traveller booking on their site, and especially when a bonus is involved. Most airlines and rewards programs operate this way, just check the fine print. For example, when using the companion voucher there are certain fares that simply aren’t eligible.
In the WestJet World Elite card’s fine print you’ll find the following sentence: “Flight Voucher is available on all published eligible Basic, Econo, EconoFlex, Premium, and PremiumFlex fares wholly marketed and operated by WestJet and may only be used if the companion is travelling with you on the same itinerary. Not valid on Business, BusinessFlex, or Member Exclusive fares. Flight Voucher pricing differs based on origin and destination.” In all likelihood there are other situations in which WestJet filters the flights available. Let us know if you still want to switch to a new card and we’ll do our best to suggest a card without these restrictions!
GreedyRates
How can i collect point for my family members when we fly without having to manage an account for each one of them?
Hi Andrew,
If you’re concerned about not earning WestJet Dollars on your family’s travel, then know that as long as you pay for the trip using your card or a supplemental card attached to the same WestJet account, then you’re still earning on each dollar spent. Multiple cards can all contribute to the same account’s rewards balance separately as well, just put your existing Member number on the application for each supplementary card for your kids or spouse. If we misunderstood your question let us know, we’re here at the ready.
GreedyRates
Hi. My husband’s companion voucher expires in mid Sept. He would like to use it to fly himself and my daughter -Winnipeg to Edmonton -as my daughter has volleyball nationals there next May. However, the schedule is not out yet for the tournament. Can he book their flights before the voucher expires and then change them when the schedule is posted? Thanks.
Hey Kelly,
Great question. We know there’s some urgency surrounding the usage of your companion flight voucher before it expires, but consider that the voucher expires only on the year anniversary from when it was given out by WestJet. This means that once it expires, your husband (as the primary WestJet World Elite cardholder) will receive a new equivalent companion flight voucher on the same day, which lasts the same year period.
This means you don’t need to worry about scheduling a flight and then trying to move it to an entirely different date (which accordingly carries a different airfare value), which could be a headache. Best of luck in the national volleyball championships—sounds exciting!
GreedyRates
If I purchase a member exclusive fare, using my Westjet dollars, and pay the taxes and fees with my Westjet World Elite Mastercard, will the first checked bag be free?
Thank you
Hi Bob,
Great question. To take advantage of the free checked bags perk with your RBC WestJet World Elite card, you’ll need to meet a few easy requirements that we think you have covered. Essentially, all that needs to happen in order for you to get your bags for free is for the primary cardholder to be present on the same itinerary, for the booking to be anything but a ‘group booking’, and for the Rewards ID to be on the itinerary during check-in. That’s it! There’s not even a caveat that you need to purchase the flight with your WestJet Dollars or, with your WestJet card, or even on WestJet.com.
The two most important requirements are that your Member ID is on the itinerary and that the flight is operated or marketed by WestJet. When you book a WestJet flight on Expedia or another site, there might not be a place for you to enter your Member ID so just call WestJet and have them manually add it into their system, and the free bags will apply. Enjoy!
GreedyRates
With recent changes to Alaska Airlines partner airlines, using my accumulated mileage plan points is really inconvenient. Can I transfer those points to a new Westjet World Elite Mastercard?
Hey Andrew,
Unfortunately, you cannot transfer your Alaska miles to the WestJet World Elite card. You’ll likely be able to spend them on a flight or pay for a flight partially wherever you need to go with these points, however, by using Alaska Air’s partner airlines. Then if you’ve got the Alaska Airlines card and want to cancel it, you can do so without fearing the needless loss of your miles. Do consider the impact of cancelling on your credit, however. If you have additional questions, let us know!
GreedyRates
Hi,can the companion voucher be used for vacation packages? Thanks
Hey Julie!
Thanks for coming to GreedyRates with your inquiry on the annual companion voucher, free for cardholders with a WestJet World Elite Mastercard. We know it can be a bit complicated to navigate the voucher’s many conditions and caveats, but this one shouldn’t be too tough. Regarding vacation packages, the companion voucher is valid only on round-trip airfare marketed or operated by WestJet. Though flights are definitely part of a vacation package, you won’t be able to buy a package and then use your voucher on the flight part.
Here’s the part of the fine print you need to be concerned with: “Valid on all published Basic, Econo, EconoFlex, Premium, and PremiumFlex fares wholly marketed and operated by WestJet, including seat sales. Not valid on Member Exclusive, Business or BusinessFlex fares. The same fare type must be booked for both member and companion. The flight’s base fare may be paid in whole or in part with WestJet dollars. Not valid with group discounts and/or WestJet Vacations bookings.” Essentially that means that the voucher is flexible in some ways (e.g. the ability to use WestJet Dollars or get a one-way flight with it), but inflexible in others. Best of luck!
GreedyRates
Hi. I’m not sure if you’ll know the answer but I have the westjet credit card. If I take my cousin onto my itinerary and she gets my companion voucher is she allowed to use up her westjet dollars to pay for her base fare? I’ll be using some of my westjet dollars for my flight but I wasn’t sure if we could use her westjet dollars as well on the same booking.
Thanks!
Hey Trina,
Interesting question. There’s no doubt that you’re able to use your own WestJet Dollars on the flight and also the companion voucher for your cousin, but since you’re the one booking the flight then you’re also the only one who will have a chance to use their WestJet Dollars—not your cousin. There’s no way to split the payment between two tickets or allow her to pay a portion of the fare, as WestJet requires that both fares be purchased at the same time in order to use the companion voucher on one. It’s also impossible to transfer the voucher to your cousin, if you were wondering, and there is no transferring WestJet Dollars between accounts either.
Essentially, WestJet wants you to use the voucher in one way exclusively, and they’ve done their due diligence in restricting it so that it’s impossible to use otherwise. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but it’s better than calling WestJet and waiting on the line for the same answer. Best of luck and we hope you two enjoy the trip.
GreedyRates
Actually you can transfer westjet dollars to another member for $50.
Thanks for the update Reed. We will do our best to update the article as well if necessary.
Hi. thanks for this great article and answering most of the questions. I do have a couple more questions regarding this card. I have just received my card yesterday and used it last night. I was wondering when would be the welcome bonus points would kick in?
also about the companion voucher, is it like something physical I’ll receive in the mail after 4-6 weeks opening the account? we’re planning for Europe trip in October, wondering would it make a huge difference to use the voucher (given there are certain fares are not applicable to using voucher), also i’m not clear on the (399 round trip fare)+tax+applicable fees= around how much? or just go ahead book now while they’re having a sale?
Hey Degi!
No problem at all, we’ll answer your questions as thoroughly as we do for everyone else! Regarding the perks that come with your new RBC WestJet World Elite card, the bonus WestJet Dollars and the companion voucher both come after you receive the card, but not by much. You can normally expect to wait 4-6 weeks from the date you were approved before these benefits land in your account—and digitally, we should add. This means that the voucher itself isn’t a physical coupon but something you use while booking online. Because you can only use it on WestJet flights, you’ll be automatically logged into your account during booking and then can choose to add it to a flight with a simple click.
Generally, the voucher makes flights with two people cheaper than they would be otherwise, but in our personal experience it’s not worthwhile enough to justify skipping out on a sale or waiting an extra month to book. During this time, prices generally rise enough to offset what you’d save anyway, so book now and save the voucher for something special later on. Maybe a vacation with you and your significant other!
GreedyRates
I live in the UK , my wife is Canadian and travels there at least twice a year. Am I eligible for a west jet credit card. I am retired but meet the income requirement
Hi Mike,
Because you distinguish between yourself and your wife as from the UK and Canadian, we venture to guess that you don’t have citizenship nor residency in Canada. Unfortunately, you’ll find that most credit cards including the RBC WestJet World Elite Mastercard require applicants to be residents for approval eligibility. Even your wife may not be able to get the card, given that it specifies residents as eligible, and we gather you two live abroad and not in Canada. It works like this because when the card issuer receives your application, the primary thing they’re looking at to determine your eligibility is the health of your credit in Canada—and nowhere else.
Not only this, many banks require you to maintain a Canadian address and bank account before approving you for credit. Your best bet is to find a good card in the UK that offers zero foreign transaction fees and travel rewards that are redeemable for flights between the UK and Canada. This way, you can discount you and your wife’s travel and also reduce expenses when you or she visits her home country. Best of luck!
GreedyRates
I just want to confim that if we apply for the card and are approved, none of the benefits (insurances, purchase security) or perks can be denied if income levels no longer meet the $80,000.
John,
Thanks for the intriguing question! We imagine your real concern is what would happen should you (or your spouse) lose your job while holding a credit card with a high annual income requirement. The answer lies in how banks determine your creditworthiness, and so it’s important to know that your income is just one of many factors that go into their perspective. As long as your account is in good standing, there’s no reason they’d cancel the card just for having a variable income in the short-term, as long as it was high enough when you applied. They also can’t just take away single perks from you. If you’re a cardholder you have them all.
If they were able to cancel cards for losing a job or having a lower income than the prior year, you’d see retirees getting their cards cancelled after retiring, even though they have assets, credit history, and more. In other words, you’re safe. Enjoy the card (regardless of your job status) and come back if you have other questions.
GreedyRates
hello, Im thinking about getting the card. I have one question. If I purchased a premium plus ticket, can I use the companion voucher for the same ticket class? thanks
Hi Rowena,
Thanks for the great question about the WestJet World Elite card’s annual companion voucher. We think you’ll be able to use the voucher but aren’t familiar with a Premium Plus fare offered by WestJet. Do you mean PremiumFlex? Here’s what WestJet’s page says on the matter: The companion voucher is “…valid on all published Basic, Econo, EconoFlex, Premium, and PremiumFlex fares wholly marketed and operated by WestJet, including seat sales.” It isn’t valid on Member Exclusive, Business or BusinessFlex fares.
All companion vouchers for any fare must be used on the same fare anyway, since you need to be headed to the same destination (same itinerary) as the person using the voucher. We also did a quick search online and only found references to Plus fares and not Premium Plus, so in our opinion, you’re good. Enjoy the card and let us know if you have any further inquiries!
GreedyRates
Why are are my earned WestJet dollars on everyday purchases not showing up in my WestJet rewards profile?
Hey Ethan!
Appreciate you coming to GreedyRates. If you’re inquiring about specific account-side details within the WestJet Rewards program, we’re always going to point you towards RBC or WestJet customer service. Unfortunately, we don’t have access so we can’t be of much help, but we know they can. Good luck!
GreedyRates
If I was to order the secondary card under the WestJet MasterCard do they also get the one voucher per year?
Hi D,
Good question—from the way you asked, we assume you’re looking at obtaining a secondary version of your current RBC WestJet World Elite card for your spouse. In terms of the card’s bigger introductory perks like the 250 WestJet Dollar bonus and the annual companion voucher, these are only awarded to the primary cardholder. Adding a secondary cardholder is useful because they’re able to access the primary cardholder’s credit and collect WestJet Dollars on their purchases to the same WestJet account. This is useful for households, which usually split their purchases between the two spouse cards.
You can get another primary WestJet World Elite card, but it’ll mean paying a full annual fee of $119 instead of $59 to add a secondary cardholder. It also means applying for and being approved for a new credit limit separate from your current one, but in return you’ll receive the best rewards twice and still earn Dollars to the same account. You’ll also be able to complement each other by using the vouchers twice together every year!
GreedyRates
Can I use a westjet reward MasterCard to book a flight that is for reward members only or do I have to enough west jet dollars
Hey Sam,
Great question. If you’re referring to the Member Exclusive Fares part of WestJet’s website, then know you absolutely do need to spend your WestJet Dollars to buy any of these fares. They impose this restriction because these special fares are offer extra value and are also inclusive to WestJet partner airline destinations as well. The ability to use your WestJet Dollars to fly international is the main draw here, as you’ll only be able to see the full list of international destinations and fares when selecting Member Exclusive Fares from the booking dropdown online. If you were referring to something else or need further assistance, just get in touch with us at [email protected] and we’ll be able to provide more personal help!
GreedyRates
Using my RBC World Elite Westjet card, may I book a flight for my adult daughter and use my available voucher to include her young daughter on this same flight/same itinerary? I am not travelling on this particular trip as they would be coming to visit me.
Hey Lisa!
Great question, and thanks for posting it on GreedyRates! If you’re looking to make use of the awesome annual companion voucher from WestJet, then it’s crucial to know this perk’s limitations. One of the biggest is that the primary cardholder (we assume that’s you) needs to be on the trip in order for the companion voucher to be used. If it were you and your daughter on the trip then you could surely avail of the voucher, but since you aren’t present, they can’t take advantage. However, there’s nothing stopping you from booking a flight in her name using your WestJet Dollars, for example. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news!
GreedyRates
Can you use WestJet dollars for hotel or car rentals booked through WestJet?
Hey Pauline,
Thanks for the awesome question! WestJet Dollars can be redeemed online at WestJet’s rewards website, but we aren’t aware of any options for redemption on hotels or car rentals. If you take a look at WestJet’s site, you’ll see that there are countless flights and vacation packages offered for WestJet Dollars, but that’s about the extent of it. It may be confusing because WestJet does have hotel partners, but these are the brands and locations that allow you to collect additional WestJet Dollars when booking with the card—not places where WestJet Dollars can be redeemed for stays. Car rental companies are similar, so if you’re looking for a way to use your rewards on hotels or rental vehicles, then you may want to get a rewards card that complements your WestJet World Elite card in this regard.
Almost any American Express travel-centric charge card will allow you this benefit, as Membership Rewards points can be redeemed for an impressive range of goods and services most important to travellers. For example, the Amex Gold Rewards card can be used on everyday purchases and will quickly accrue points that are more flexible than WestJet’s. You can charge any travel-related expense (hotel, rental car, cruise, flight, vacation, etc.) to the card and then pay for it with your points once it hits your monthly statement. This would be a great companion card for your WestJet World Elite and should be considered if you want comprehensive rewards utility.
GreedyRates
Why I can’t book online trip for my mother in law with my west jet Id
It’s said guests doesn’t match WestJet rewards id.i did book for her last year without any problems just wonder did something change or I have to phone and book flight for her.
Hey Izzy,
Interesting questions you’ve presented us with. Our guess is as good as yours, but here it is. Are you booking for yourself and your mother in law, or just your mother in law? If you put only her name on the itinerary and then try to add your personal WestJet ID to get some sort of benefit, then it may recognize that she isn’t the primary cardholder and throw up an error. Think closely about the difference between the last time you booked like this and the current situation: is there any significant departure in how you’ve arranged the booking, who is travelling, where, or for how long? Many factors could cause trouble, but we have no way of knowing which.
Our best guidance is just to call WestJet and inquire about what you’re trying to accomplish. They can help assist you through the booking process or inform you if what you’re attempting isn’t supported by the card or rewards program. Good luck!
GreedyRates
You guys are so impressive, with your patient and helpful responses, regardless if it’s relevant or pertinent to your website or not!
Hey Laura,
Your appreciation is music to our ears! Thanks for reading and be sure to get in touch if you need anything from us in the future. Also…while we do occasionally speak about the Canadian cards not featured on our site, we like to think of ourselves as curators of the best and most lucrative credit cards, and therefore gravitate towards those we know for certain are quality. Glad you recognized it!
GreedyRates
If my annual companion voucher expires end of March 2019, and I use it now, will I get my next companion voucher April 2019 or do I have to wait a year from when I spent it? Would my next one be one year from now?
Basically, is it not very ideal to wait 10 months to spend it?
Hey Jen,
Appreciate the great comment, we’re glad to be of help. Essentially the voucher is meant to be as predictable as possible, and it therefore arrives in 4-6 weeks after you’ve first been approved for the card, and then on your account opening anniversary from then on. Since your voucher expires at the end of March 2019, that means you must have opened your account in March, so you can expect to receive the next voucher then as well—not 12 months after you’ve used the last one. This also means that your existing voucher will be rendered null and void when you’re issued the new one in April, so it’s in your best interest to use the voucher within the next month.
Then, you’ll be issued another one which you can use immediately, thereby allowing you to avail of two vouchers almost back-to-back, if you like. We hope our explanation was easy to understand. For any other questions just comment back and we’ll respond as soon as possible. Thanks again.
GreedyRates
Can I transfer unused airmiles to westjet Dollars?
Hi Steve,
Thanks for your inquiry about the transferability of airline travel rewards. Usually, you won’t be able to shift points from one program to another, even if they’re related somehow like Aeroplan and Air Miles (both Air Canada). While partnerships would allow you to earn rewards by flying on partner-operated flights, this isn’t the case with Air Miles and WestJet. You may be able to spend Air Miles on a flight that’s similar to the WestJet flight that you want, but otherwise you’re out of luck. Sometimes, customer service agents can come up with some creative solutions though, so as a last resort we’d call over there and inquire—they’ll often go to great lengths to keep a customer. Good luck!
GreedyRates
If I use a RBC West Jet elite card do the purchases go towards my west jet tier levels? Or is that only on $$ spent on West Jet travel?
Hey Shellbea,
Thanks for your comment on the RBC WestJet World Elite card. You’re referring to the four WestJet tiers that the travel rewards program offers to its members who reach certain spending milestones, which we don’t often mention ourselves. This could be a good opportunity for a refresher, and to address your question as well. WestJet cardholders and members who spend more than $8,000 earn Platinum status, from $5,000 is Gold status, from $3,000 is Silver and then anything below is Teal. These tiers represent the opportunity to earn accelerated WestJet Dollars on many spending categories, earn additional free checked bags and other boarding privileges, plus airport lounge access as well.
WestJet makes it clear, however, that only spending on WestJet travel or experiences will get you further towards the spending milestones required to advance tiers. The whole 100% base fare of eligible WestJet marketed flights and 20% of the base package price on WestJet Vacations applies. In fact, most of the benefits related to the tier program are travel-purchase-related anyway, with accelerated WestJet Dollars earnings coming from flights, hotels, rental cars and other travel spending. If you look at WestJet’s Tier Comparison page on their site, you’ll see that the earnings rate on everyday purchases using the World Elite card is the same 1.50% for all tiers.
GreedyRates
If you have 3 companion tickets can you use them at once like take my family with the 3 vouchers
Hi Brenda,
Interesting question. If you’re referring to the annual companion vouchers offered via the RBC WestJet World Elite Mastercard, then getting ahold of three of these vouchers at the same time is difficult if not impossible. First, only the primary cardholder gets the companion voucher (he or she must also be present when it’s used, incidentally), and supplementary cardholders don’t. Second, the vouchers can’t be saved up over time because they each have a year-long expiration date, and when the date comes your voucher is simply replaced with another one that lasts until the next year. This encourages you to use them as you receive them.
While it is possible for one family to get two vouchers, by equipping both spouses with primary versions of the WestJet World Elite card, this is an expensive proposition because you’ll need to pay two annual fees and get approved for two individual credit limits (two primary cards can’t share the same limit). In this case, it would be possible to use both at once, but getting three vouchers this way may not be possible, because there’s usually only two people in the family that are eligible for an unsecured card. It’s also relevant to know that WestJet tries to limit the number of promotions that can be redeemed at once, so your best bet is to use your WestJet Dollars instead. Good luck and happy travels!
GreedyRates
Can Ibuy a Lounge pass with my westjet dollars
Hi Brad,
Thanks for the unique inquiry! Wouldn’t it be great if you could pay for entry into the VIP airport lounge with your card’s specific rewards points, like Air Miles, WestJet Dollars, Amex Membership Rewards or BMO Rewards points? Airport lounges are sometimes associated with one travel rewards programs, like Amex Centurion lounges or Air Canada’s Maple Leaf Lounge, but that doesn’t mean you can pay with the relevant type of rewards. Integrating rewards into these experiences (other than free vouchers or membership status) would be complicated and expensive, so most will just take cash or credit if you aren’t a premium member or don’t have a voucher. This is why cards that offer free lounge access in the form of vouchers are so valuable, because otherwise you’re paying out of pocket. Thanks again.
GreedyRates
CAN YOU USE YOUR COMPANION VOUCHER AT THE SAME TIME AS YOU USE YOUR WESTJET DOLLARS
Hey George,
Great question. It’s one of the most logical things to think about when applying for the RBC WestJet World Elite card, because the bonus includes both $250 WestJet Dollars and the annual companion voucher, so to maximize its value they should be usable simultaneously. Thankfully, that is the case, and even the Director of WestJet Rewards has confirmed it in the WestJet tips and tricks article above. We’ve had some readers report that they had to call WestJet support to make it happen, as they weren’t able to figure out how to apply their rewards directly to the booking. However, the option is there, and if you’re still struggling to make it work, just call and have a friendly WestJet employee take care of it for you. Thanks again for coming.
GreedyRates
Am I correct that the annual companion pass cannot be used for a multi city flight, say Calgary to LAX and then San Diego back to Calgary? Do I need to book a true round trip ie Calgary to LAX and LAX to Calgary?
Hey Doug,
The WestJet companion flight is designed to work best with WestJet marketed or operated flights that are direct round trips, and the voucher covers both legs of the trip (departure and return) of the person flying with you, if you’re the primary cardholder. You can also use it to cover a one-way trip, but again, it has to be a WestJet flight and fit into one of the categories listed on WestJet’s site ($99 within North America, $299 to Mexico/The Caribbean, $399 elsewhere etc.). Once you use it for a single leg of your trip it’s considered used up, so if you then take another flight with a different airline to get to your destination, it won’t apply to any WestJet flight you take to return to Canada (full price).
Also, the destination cities are relevant to whether or not your round-trip is through WestJet. To use your example, if you take WestJJet to LAX from Calgary and then a different airline from San Diego back to Calgary, you could use your voucher on the first flight only. No round-trip booking will make you travel to a different city to catch your return flight, so we can’t see a scenario where you’d be able to cover both legs of the trip with the voucher, even if both are WestJet flights. Hope that makes sense!
GreedyRates
Am I able to use the companion pass towards a WestJet vacation to the Caribbean? Not just a flight.
Hi Sharon,
Thanks for the interesting question. There are a few criteria to become familiar with when redeeming the WestJet annual companion flight voucher, which will help you use it as efficiently as possible. First, to use the voucher the flight must be operated or marketed by WestJet exclusively—no third-party airlines, so if you’re taking a flight that isn’t WestJet you’re out of luck, even if you paid for it with the World Elite Mastercard. Second, flights eligible for the companion voucher are round-trip, but if you need to use it for a single-leg journey that’s also fine: It will just be used up after the first flight, and not applicable to the second WestJet flight if there is another flight between them. So, if your trip to the Caribbean is round-trip with WestJet you’ll be able to use the card.
If you’re referring to WestJet all-inclusive vacation packages, then you can’t use the voucher. All the fine print concerns flights only. The voucher really only has a single purpose, to discount the WestJet flight of someone travelling with the primary cardholder, and it has no exchange, transfer, or monetary value. If we misunderstood your inquiry let us know, but otherwise enjoy your vacation and save the voucher for another trip in the future. Thanks again!
GreedyRates
I have the westjet card and I am the primary. I have a second card for my husband. Are we paying two annual fees?
Hi Danielle!
If you’ve got the WestJet World Elite Mastercard, then the annual fee for the primary card/cardholder is $119.00. If you get a secondary card for your spouse, for example, then you’re paying another annual fee on top of the original $119.00, of $59.00. This applies to each secondary card you have—so if you have just one, your total annual fees between them are $178.00. Thanks for reading!
GreedyRates Staff
Does each cardholder then have the ability to use the companion voucher?
Hey Mike,
The RBC WestJet World Elite card has some very nice perks, and as you’ve noticed the companion voucher is one of the most enticing. However, like most of the other benefits granted by the card, you’ll need to be the primary cardholder to take advantage of them. For the companion voucher this holds true as well, and the only way you can use it is if the primary cardholder has purchased the WestJet flight himself/herself and is on the same itinerary as his/her companion. Then the price of the companion’s flight is discounted, depending on the destination.
For example, if the primary cardholder and the companion are flying together on a Basic fare to North Carolina, Texas, Calgary, or somewhere in the WestJet network within North America, your companion flight is $99 instead of whatever the price was initially quoted at. Yet, please notice that the use of the voucher hinges on your presence, the flight being operated by WestJet, and cannot be applied to a Business class fare. It also can’t be combined with other promotions. Generally, it may seem restrictive until you remember that the perks are free with the card, and that the card itself is mostly for those who rely on WestJet for travel exclusively.
If you’d like to let us know which airlines you prefer, what kind of rewards you like, your purchasing habits and other details (even via email at [email protected]) we’d be happy to supply some more tailored card recommendations. Thanks again.
GreedyRates
WHICH CANADIAN BANK HAS DEBIT CARD POINTS WITH WEST JET West?
HOW TO GET BANK TO START ONE?
Hi Carolyn,
We appreciate the question about WestJet Dollars and how to earn them using Canadian credit cards. Many credit cards offer these rewards and membership to the WestJet rewards program, but debit cards rarely have rewards. A debit card (and by extension, most debit transactions) is for withdrawing funds that you have already deposited in the bank, so you’re not borrowing money (credit) from the bank and therefore won’t owe them anything in terms of fees. Part of the way that banks help cardholders offset the cost of these fees and interest is rewards.
This is the reason why debit and cash-like transactions such as cash advances, item returns, and balance transfers don’t earn rewards in the same way credit transactions do. That’s ok, because you may be eligible for some of the awesome RBC cards that are accepted everywhere, so you can collect WestJet Dollars on virtually all your purchases no matter where you shop. The RBC WestJet World Elite card offers 250 WestJet Dollars just for signing up, and then you’ll earn 1.50% on everyday purchases and 2.00% on WestJet flights and vacation packages. An annual companion flight voucher is also included, as well as free checked bags for the primary cardholder and his or her travelling companions.
Thanks for the comment. If you have any follow-up questions about WestJet or the card, let us know!
GreedyRates
Is there a transaction fee when you use your WestJet RBC MasterCard in Europe. EX: if I bought a pizza in Italy using my WJ RBC Mastercard would there be an additional charge.
Hi Ray,
Thanks very much for your question about the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard. You’re referring to whether or not the card exempts cardholders from foreign transaction fees, which are incurred when the bank has to deal with multiple currencies in any single transaction. Unlike cards such as the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite, or the Rogers World Elite Mastercard, RBC’s WestJet card does not let you escape these fees and charges the industry standard 2.50%.
If you’re in Italy and your pizza was the equivalent of CAD$20.00, then a 2.50% fee on that price would see your final bill total CAD$20.50, not including tip obviously. This doesn’t seem like much, but if you’re travelling for a while it can add up fast. No one wants to add 2.50% to the cost of their whole trip, just because they had the wrong card. Check out the ones mentioned earlier and let us know if you have questions about them. Thanks!
GreedyRates
When are the West Jet Dollars credited to my account? Say I spend 2000 on my card for
household spending in a month, when are those earned dollars credited to me?
Hey Jim,
If you’re talking about the bonus WestJet Dollars that you receive for being a new cardholder, then they’ll hit your account within 2-3 statement periods after your account was created. The same goes for your companion voucher. However, if you’re curious about when WestJet Dollars that you earn for everyday spending hit your account, then the answer depends on what you’re purchasing. The card offers an accelerated rate of rewards for purchasing travel through WestJet, and if you’ve done so then you can expect your 2.00% in WestJet Dollars to arrive 30 days after your trip has concluded. When spending on everyday purchases (for which the card earns 1.50%), your rewards will be in your account within 30 days of the purchase.
We called WestJet to confirm these details, and they informed us that you might even see your WestJet Dollars in your account earlier than this. There is an incentive for them to deliver these rewards as soon as possible—so that you can spend them—so we encourage you to try the card out and see for yourself. Come back and let us know how you like it, of course, but also the delay that you’ve recorded between your purchase and the receipt of your Dollars. Thanks very much.
GreedyRates
Can I buy a ticket for my son with my westjet dollars
Hi Judy,
Thanks for the question about whether you can use your WestJet Dollars to purchase a flight for your son. The answer is, of course! It’s your money and your rewards, so the only thing you need to do is book the trip yourself with WestJet, using WestJet dollars, and put his name on the reservation. That’s it. Here’s exactly what WestJet says on the matter:
“Can I use my WestJet dollars to book a flight or vacation package for someone else?
Yes. To ensure security of your WestJet dollars account, a booking made using your WestJet dollars must be made by you and directly with WestJet.”
There are no rules stipulating that you need to travel with him or be at the airport when he gets his boarding pass. Enjoy—we hope his trip goes well! Let us know if you need anything else.
GreedyRates Staff
I am interested in opening West jet credit card. I need phone number to contact regarding some questions I have before I apply for west jet credit card,
Hey Priya,
If you need some specific questions answered about the WestJet card, just reply to this comment with your questions and we’ll clear everything up for you. If you’re inquiring about something other than the card’s specific perks or nuances, or the application process, then you’ll want to speak with a bank agent.
GreedyRates
Can you explain the 1.5% WestJet dollars per $1 spent? For example, if I spent $2000/mo on the card, how many WSD would I be earning?
Hey Courtenay,
We’d be more than happy to explain the 1.50% earnings rate for WestJet Dollars on the WestJet World Elite card. Basically, the card helps you save money on your purchases by earning rewards (in this case, WestJet Dollars) that can themselves be spent on travel. If you book airfare or other travel accommodations with the card then you’ll get 2.00% of the total purchase price back in WestJet Dollars, which helps you save up for your next vacation or business trip. Everything else that you buy that isn’t a “travel-related purchase” will collect 1.50% back in WestJet dollars. If you spent $100 with the card, that’s $1.50 immediately deposited directly into your WestJet account.
If you spent $2,000 with the card each month, then you’ll earn 30 WestJet Dollars each month, or $360 in your first year. Add in the $250 welcome bonus you’ll receive as a first-time cardholder, and that’s $610 in your first year—likely enough for a full short-haul trip right there. The annual companion voucher increases the value you get each year. We hope that our analysis helps you make sense of the card and determine whether it’s suitable or not. If not, we’re prepared to make other suggestions based on your precise criteria. Just respond with a short description of your financial situation and what you’re looking for in your next card and we’ll get right back to you!
GreedyRates
I am planning an eighteen day trip to various cities in Europe in August 2019. WestJet thankfully flies to London but our last city that we’ll visit is Rome and WestJet doesn’t fly out of Rome so we must fly with a competitor. That said, is it worth while to use my WestJet dollars and companion voucher for a one way flight to London? Does this make economic sense?
Hi Uwe,
Good questions. We understand that Rome isn’t a WestJet location, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use your WestJet dollars for some part of your trip. However, the companion voucher cannot be used in the same flexible way as WestJet Dollars, unfortunately. While you’re able to buy a one-way ticket with WestJet Dollars, for example, the companion voucher is officially called the ‘Annual round-trip companion voucher’ because it can only be used on round-trip flights.
When redeeming your WestJet Dollars, remember that you can pay for your flight partially only if the fare is an Econo, Flex, or Plus flight. Member Exclusive fares must be paid in full with WestJet Dollars. Otherwise, you won’t run into any unanticipated issues. In our opinion, unless you have enough to pay for a one-way ticket in full, you should save your WestJet Dollars for a single-destination trip with a friend or family member.
GreedyRates
do I get points when I buy canadaian tire gas on my elite card
Hi GAB,
We’re grateful for your inquiry on whether the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard applies its 1.50% cash back rate to gas purchases at Canadian Tire. We checked into the fine print and it seems like the “all-purpose” flat cash back rate stands: you’ll definitely get 1.50% back when you buy gas with the card, no matter where. Just remember that for 2.00% cash back, you’ll need to buy travel from WestJet, and 1.50% comes from virtually everything else (except cash transactions like paying for fees or taxes, ATM withdrawals, etc.).
GreedyRates
Could you explain the difference between lounge Access and lounge voucher.
Hi BB,
No problem! Lounge access typically means that you’ll receive a Priority Pass or LoungeKey membership. These are the two programs that connect most of the world’s airport lounges and place them under a single umbrella, so that anyone who is a member can get inside, no matter where they are. If you pay for membership to either Priority Pass or LoungeKey, then you’ll always be able to access the lounge but will still need to pay the entry fee each time you go in. Many credit cards give membership for free (it’s usually around $99 per year), while onetime entry is usually about $20.
If your card comes with membership and lounge vouchers, it means that not only do you avoid the yearly membership fee, but you also have one or more single-use passes that get you into the lounge at no cost. If you only have the membership, then you can get in, but you still need to pay when you do so. This is how it works with all members from the highest rung on the ladder to the lowest, and we’re not aware of any credit cards that offer free membership and also free, unlimited lounge access. Hope that clears it up for you!
GreedyRates Staff
See if I can phrase this properly. To get WestJet status, you have to do a yearly spend. Spend so much money. If you use Airmiles or BMO WORLD ELITE points to purchase the flight, does this count towards your yearly spend? I have the RBC WestJet card but have other points that have to be used. Thanks.
Hi Pat,
Great question. With the WestJet World Elite Mastercard, if you can spend $3,000 dollars
within the first 12 months of membership, you’ll attain Silver Status with WestJet—that’s
correct. However, this only counts for cash purchases made with the WestJet card itself, on
things like retail goods, groceries, gas, or whatever else. You cannot spend WestJet Dollars, and
certainly not another program’s rewards points, and expect this to count. Remember that
$3,000 over the course of 12 months is just $250 per month, which is a pretty easy target to hit.
Thanks very much. Let us know if you need any further assistance!
The GreedyRates Team
If I get a Westjet ID for my child will he or she earn westjet dollars simply by using the ID on a flight that I as a westjet member book?
Hi Paul, thanks for the interesting question! Unfortunately, WestJet only gives WestJet Dollar rewards to cardholders, not other WestJet members on the same itinerary. In our article, the statement “[The promotion is] available to all WestJet reward members. But if you’re using your card you’re getting that triple dip so to speak (credit card, loyalty rewards and promotion dollars)” means that any WestJet member that purchases flights, even without their credit card, can earn rewards for it. Dependent children on the trip itinerary aren’t eligible because they aren’t purchasing anything.
The other statement about sharing WestJet Dollars concerned splitting the redemption cost of a round-trip flight with other WestJet members. You can also redeem points for the flights of relatives, but they won’t earn WestJet Dollars for it. Hope that helps!
GreedyRates Staff
What are those dollars that expire every year used for? Not the westjet dollars that do not expire! Anything??
Hey Carolyn,
Thanks for your question about the WestJet World Elite card. Don’t worry about your WestJet Dollars expiring unless your account is inactive, as WestJet allows you to use most Dollars earned these days as frequently as you wish, without fear that they’ll be deleted just for being saved up! We think you’re referring to the annual companion voucher, which does expire if you don’t use it each year. However, it’s then replaced with an identical voucher valid for the following year, on the same day that the old one expires. For this reason, you should try to use it each year if possible, but don’t be too frustrated if you don’t find an occasion: it costs you nothing. Best of luck and have safe, cheap travels!
GreedyRates