Welcome bonus of up to 450 WestJet dollars 💰

When it comes to travel rewards in Canada, options can sometimes feel limited. Air Canada dominates the scene with extensive routes, while WestJet has steadily expanded its offerings. Today, we’re diving into the RBC WestJet World Elite Mastercard, a card designed for frequent WestJet flyers. We’ll break down its bonuses, perks, earning rates, and whether it’s the right choice for you.

Bonus Structure

The RBC WestJet World Elite Mastercard currently offers an attractive welcome bonus of up to 450 WestJet dollars. This includes:

• 250 WestJet dollars upon your first purchase.
• 200 WestJet dollars after spending $5,000 within the first three months.

This offer has been available since January 2022 and, notably, there is no annual fee waiver. This bonus is the highest we’ve seen since the card’s inception, and there’s no indicated end date, suggesting it may stick around for a while.

Earning Rates

For regular spending, the card provides:

• 2% back in WestJet dollars on WestJet flights and vacation packages.
• 1.5% back in WestJet dollars on all other purchases.

This straightforward earning structure is appealing. While many other cards offer tiered earning rates, RBC maintains a solid base rate of 1.5%, which is competitive in the current market.

Card Perks

The perks associated with the RBC WestJet World Elite Mastercard enhance its value significantly, especially for those who travel frequently with WestJet. Key benefits include:

Free In-Flight Wi-Fi

Cardholders enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi access on WestJet flights, typically saving about $10 to $15 per flight. However, the Wi-Fi service is often limited to basic messaging.

Petro Canada Discounts

Linking your card with Petro Canada offers a discount of three cents per liter on gas purchases, along with additional petrol points.

DoorDash DashPass

Enjoy 12 months of free DoorDash DashPass, which can save you around $120 if you frequently use this service.

Free Checked Baggage

One of the standout features is the free first checked bag for you and up to eight travel companions on WestJet flights. For a family of four, this could save you around $240 for a round trip, easily covering the card’s annual fee.

Annual Companion Voucher

This voucher allows you to book a round-trip flight for yourself and add a companion for:

• $119 plus taxes and fees for flights within Canada or the continental U.S.
• $399 plus taxes and fees for international flights.

This can lead to significant savings, but it’s essential to analyze specific routes to determine the actual benefit. For example, a flight from Vancouver to New York City can save you around $218 when using the voucher, effectively doubling your savings.

Limitations of the Companion Voucher

While the companion voucher can offer substantial savings, there are limitations. In some cases, particularly on flights to Europe, the taxes and fees can exceed the cost of the voucher. This means that booking without the voucher could be more cost-effective. For instance, when attempting to book a flight from Calgary to London, the total cost with the voucher was higher than booking directly.

However, on high-demand routes like Calgary to Tokyo, using the voucher can lead to impressive savings—over $1,100 for two travelers, showcasing that the voucher’s value can vary dramatically depending on your destination and booking timing.

Using WestJet Dollars

WestJet dollars are straightforward to redeem—each dollar equals one Canadian dollar towards the base fare of any WestJet flight. This simplicity is a significant advantage over other loyalty programs that can be complicated and dynamic.

Additionally, WestJet occasionally offers member-exclusive fares that can provide discounts on select routes, although you must cover the entire base fare with WestJet dollars, which can be a limitation for some travelers.