If you’re a frequent WestJet flyer, a credit card that earns you WestJet dollars might sound appealing. The WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard offers up to 2% back on your spending, free checked bags when flying with WestJet, and an annual companion voucher, but there are high income requirements to meet and the base earn rate is fairly low compared to other premium cards.
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Our review of the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard
The WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard is WestJet’s premium offering with the best earn rate and insurance package – plus a few airline-specific perks.
You'll start with a solid welcome bonus (up to 450 WestJet dollars plus an anniversary bonus at the time of writing) and then earn 2% back in WestJet dollars when you book WestJet flights or vacation packages with your card. All other purchases will earn you 1.5% back.
Although there is a modest annual fee of $119, we think the rewards and insurance coverage makes up for it if you’re a frequent traveller with WestJet.
WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard
| Extended Warranty | 1 year |
| Purchase Protection | 90 days |
| Travel Accident | $500,000 |
| Emergency Medical Term | 15 days |
| Emergency Medical over 65 | 3 days |
| Trip Interruption | $5,000 |
| Flight Delay | $500 |
| Baggage Delay | $500 |
| Lost or Stolen Baggage | $500 |
| Hotel Burglary | $2,500 |
| Rental Car Theft & Damage | Yes |
Please review your insurance certificate for details, exclusions and limitations of your coverage.
What we love:
- Annual round-trip companion voucher starting at $119 + taxes and fees
- Free checked bags on WestJet flights
- Save 3 cents per litre at Petro-Canada stations
- Earn Be Well points at Rexall
- Extensive insurance package that includes travel coverage
What we don’t:
- Underwhelming base earn rate
- Income requirements of $80,000 personal or $150,000 household
How does WestJet Rewards work?
WestJet Rewards is WestJet’s loyalty program that comprises 4 tiers of membership. As a member, you earn WestJet dollars based on how much you fly with WestJet and spend at westjet.com. It’s free to become a WestJet Rewards member.
Take a look at how you qualify for each tier and see just a few of the things you earn:
| Teal | Silver | Gold | Platinum | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tier qualifying spend | Up to $3,999 | $4,000 to $5,999 | $6,000 to $9,999 | $10,000 and beyond |
| WestJet flight earn rates | 0.5% | 3% | 5% | 8% |
| Free checked bags | N/A | 2 bags | 2 bags | 3 bags |
| Airport lounge access | N/A | 6 vouchers | Unlimited + immediate family + 2 guest vouchers | Unlimited + immediate family + 2 guest vouchers |
| Complimentary upgrades prior to check-in | N/A | Eligible (EconoFlex fare) | Higher priority (EconoFlex fare) | Highest priority (Econo and EconoFlex fares) |
| No fee for same-day flight changes | N/A | N/A | Yes | Yes |
In addition to earning points towards status, you’ll get Milestone Awards. Spend at least $2,000 and get one of the following:
- $20 WestJet dollars
- $200 tier qualifying spend bonus
- $25 Skip gift card
Once you reach $8,000 in spending, you’ll get one of the following:
- WestJet-wide companion voucher
- 4 guest lounge vouchers
- 6 guest advance seat selection vouchers
You’ll continue to earn awards when you hit $12K, $16K, $20K, $30K, $40K, and $50K of eligible spending.
Using the WestJet companion voucher
It’s easy to book a flight using your companion voucher:
- Sign into your WestJet Rewards account
- Select the companion voucher box
- Search for flights and select the trip you want to take
- When you review the trip, you’ll see details for 2 travellers and the companion voucher will be applied to one
The voucher is not free – you’ll be on the hook for a base amount plus taxes and fees. What you must pay to use the voucher depends on where you’re traveling.
The more expensive the flight you choose, the more value you’ll get out of your companion voucher. For example, using it to cover a $400 roundtrip Econo fare within Canada will only net you around $280 in value; using it to cover a $1600 roundtrip Econo fare to Italy would deliver a value of around $1,200.
If you won’t use your companion voucher, you can exchange it for 4 lounge vouchers to the WestJet airport lounge in Calgary.
WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard vs. WestJet RBC Mastercard
WestJet also has a basic Mastercard, the
| WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard | WestJet RBC Mastercard | |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | Up to 450 WestJet dollars after $5,000 spent in the first 3 months, plus a one-time anniversary bonus of $100 | Up to 100 WestJet dollars after $1,000 spent in the first 3 months |
| Annual fee | $119 | $39 |
| Rewards | * 2 WestJet points per $1 spent on WestJet or WestJet Vacations purchases * 1.5 WestJet point per $1 spent on all other everyday purchases | * 1.5 WestJet points per $1 spent on WestJet or WestJet Vacations purchases * 1 WestJet point per $1 spent on all other everyday purchases |
| Travel benefits | * Annual companion voucher anywhere WestJet flies * Free first checked bags on WestJet * World Elite Mastercard benefits * Worldwide airport lounge access with DragonPass (no free passes) | * Annual companion voucher anywhere WestJet flies in Canada and the Continental U.S. |
| Insurance coverages | 10 types | 7 types |
| Income requirements | $80,000 personal or $150,000 household | None |
| Additional card cost | $59 | $19 |
The World Elite version of the card comes out on top in 3 key ways: better rewards on purchases, free checked bags, and airport lounge access. If you want a higher earn rate and you’ll use these added benefits, the $119 annual fee might be worth it for you.
The verdict: Is the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard worth it?
If you’re loyal to WestJet, it may make sense for you to collect WestJet dollars and this card is the best way to scale up your earnings.
To make the annual fee worthwhile, you’ll need to use the companion voucher each year. It has varying value depending on where and when you fly – and you’ll be limited by WestJet’s network of destinations. The airline serves most places throughout the U.S. and Canada and limited airports in Europe and Asia. While service is expanding, you’ll probably be disappointed by your options if you prefer to travel internationally.
For maximum flexibility, consider a card that has a high earn rate and flexible points. It’s no secret that we love the American Express Cobalt Card, but there are lots of other great options as well.
TL;DR If you’re loyal to WestJet and will use the World Elite companion voucher every year, this card might be a good choice for you; however, there are certainly better travel credit cards available, and they’ll be able to take you on reward flights to destinations that WestJet doesn’t service.
FAQ
Does the RBC WestJet card have lounge access?
If you have Platinum, Gold, or Silver tier status, you and your guests can access WestJet partner lounges. The World Elite card includes a subscription to the Mastercard Travel Pass Program provided by DragonPass, which gives you paid access to over 1,300 lounges worldwide.
Do you get priority boarding with the WestJet World Elite Mastercard?
If you’re a Gold or Platinum member, you’ll enjoy priority boarding. Silver tier members board in Zone 2. Being a cardholder alone doesn’t give you priority boarding – you must hold tier status.
What benefits do I get with my World Elite Mastercard?
You’ll earn 2% back in WestJet rewards on WestJet flights and vacation packages and 1.5% back on all other purchases, plus get an annual companion flight voucher and an extensive insurance package.
What are the income requirements for the WestJet World Elite Mastercard?
WestJet requires $80,000 per year in personal income or a combined $150,000 per year in household income.
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