Booking flights can be expensive, and it can often feel like you’re being nickel-and-dimed for everything: checked bags, in-flight snacks, and even the tickets themselves.
Whether you’re a WestJet frequent flyer or simply someone who sometimes travels with the airline, you know how quickly these costs can add up, turning a lower-cost trip into something far less affordable.
Finding the right travel credit cards to help keep all the costs in check and to smooth out the overall travel experience can feel overwhelming. With so many options to choose from, it can be hard to know which cards you should choose, and how to make sure you’re not missing out on things like lounge access or free checked bags.
The good news? There are cards that can cut through all the fluff to not only save you money on flights, but to also help you earn WestJet dollars and upgrade your travel experience with lounge access.
In this article, we’ll show you how to build a WestJet-focused credit card portfolio that not only saves your wallet, but that also makes your trips more enjoyable.
Step One: Pick a Card with WestJet Benefits
First, as a WestJet frequent flyer, you’ll definitely want to have a card that offers exclusive WestJet benefits.
There are two co-branded credit card options to choose from when it comes to getting WestJet-specific benefits: the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard‡ and WestJet RBC® Mastercard.
Of these two cards, the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard‡ is our preferred choice due to its roster of perks and benefits.
By holding this card, you’ll enjoy a free checked bag on all WestJet flights for you and up to eight passengers on the same booking.†
Even better, this perk applies to budget-friendly fares, so you can book an UltraBasic ticket and still skip the baggage fees.
The card also earns WestJet dollars on every purchase and typically comes with a nice welcome bonus of WestJet dollars, helping you to save money on future flights.
But the real highlight of this card is the annual round-trip companion voucher that offers a discounted rate on the base fare for a second passenger when the first passenger pays full price for a ticket with WestJet.
Although the second passenger still needs to cover the discounted base rate and other taxes, fees, and Other Air Transportation Charges (ATC) imposed by the airline, the companion voucher can provide a nice way to save money on flights that you were already planning to take.
Additionally, if you know you won’t use the companion voucher before it expires, you can opt to exchange it for four airport lounge passes valid at select lounges in Canada, the US, the Caribbean, and Asia.
As a quasi low-cost carrier, WestJet doesn’t provide many perks by default, so the Status Lift feature offered by the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard‡ is an advantage if you’re looking to earn WestJet elite status to enjoy perks like priority check-in, priority boarding, airport lounge access, and more.
With the Status Lift feature, for every $15,000 (all figures in CAD) you charge to the card, you get $500 in tier-qualifying spend to help you reach the next elite status level.
You can earn three Status Lifts per calendar year, for a total of $1,500 in tier-qualifying spend, making this an easy way to help you reach status.
With an annual fee of $119, we think the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard‡ should be a staple for any WestJet frequent flyer; however, if you don’t qualify for this card or you’re looking to minimize your annual fees, you could also consider the WestJet RBC® Mastercard, which comes with an annual fee of only $39 and a lower minimum income requirement.
Step Two: Save Money on Flights
Once you’ve selected a card that gives you some WestJet-specific benefits, the next card you should get for your portfolio is one that will help reduce your out-of-pocket costs, either through the accumulation of WestJet dollars or by offsetting your WestJet purchases with points.
Surprisingly, the best way to earn WestJet dollars and save on WestJet flights is not with a WestJet co-branded credit card. Instead, you can rack up points like RBC Avion Rewards and Scene+ from everyday purchases and then transfer them into WestJet dollars or use them to offset flight costs, respectively.
One great option if you’re looking to boost your WestJet dollars balance is the RBC® ION+ Visa, which lets you earn 3x Avion Premium points per dollar spent on categories like groceries, dining, gas, rideshare, streaming, and digital subscriptions.†
You can then transfer your Avion Premium points to WestJet Rewards at a rate of 100:1, meaning 100 Avion points becomes 1 WestJet dollar.
In other words, with this card, you’ll earn twice as many WestJet dollars with the 3x category earning rate than you would using a WestJet co-branded credit card for daily spending.
If you’re not so focused on earning WestJet dollars specifically, you could instead look to get a card like the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card, that has strong earning rates for a flexible rewards currency that can be used to offset your travel expenses (like your WestJet flights).
With this card, you can earn 6 Scene+ points per dollar spent at Empire brand grocery stores like Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland, and Freshco.†
You also earn 5 Scene+ points per dollar spent on groceries, dining, and entertainment, 3 Scene+ points per dollar spent on gas, transit, and streaming services, and 1 Scene+ point per dollar spent on everything else, making it one of the best cards in Canada for everyday spending.†
While you can’t transfer Scene+ points directly into WestJet dollars, you can use them to offset the cost of any eligible travel expense that is paid for with the card, with 1 Scene+ point worth 1 cent each.†
When you redeem points this way, it’s equivalent to getting up to a 5–6% return on spending.
Simply book a cash fare with your Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card, and then redeem your Scene+ points for a statement credit to cover the expense.
Plus, the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card has no foreign transaction fees, so you won’t have to worry about the 2.5% fee most cards charge for purchases made outside Canada, as well as strong travel insurance if your plans go sideways.
Step Three: Elevate Your Travel Experience with Lounge Access
To round out your WestJet frequent flyer portfolio, you’ll likely want to consider a card that gets you airport lounge access to make your travel experiences more pleasant overall.
If you travel frequently, having access to airport lounges can make a world of difference. Whether you’re looking to relax before your flight or just need a quiet space to catch up on work, lounges offer a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of the airport.
For frequent travelers, the American Express Platinum Card is a top choice for both convenience and luxury. It offers unlimited access to over 1,300 Priority Pass lounges around the world (including the WestJet Elevation Lounge in Calgary) and to American Express Centurion Lounges found in 20+ airports internationally.
While the annual fee for the American Express Platinum Card is significant at $799, its perks, including annual travel and dining credits, extensive travel insurance, and Marriott Gold and Hilton Gold elite status, can more than justify the cost for frequent travelers.
Alternatively, if you don’t travel as often and don’t need unlimited lounge access, or if you don’t want to shell out for the Platinum Card’s annual fee then the Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card might be a better fit.
It offers a more balanced solution, with six complimentary lounge passes per year through the Visa Airport Companion Program, making it ideal for the occasional travelers.
In addition to lounge access, this card also offers no foreign transaction fees, similar to the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card mentioned above, once again saving you 2.5% on every foreign currency purchase.
Plus, the card also earns flexible Scene+ points that can be redeemed for travel, groceries, entertainment, and more.
Adding either of these cards to your wallet makes sure that your trips are not only comfortable but also cost-effective, given that lounge access can help you save significantly on meals, drinks, and Wi-Fi during travel.
Whether you go for the premium, unlimited lounge access of the American Express Platinum Card or opt for the occasional lounge access with the Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card, you’ll be traveling smarter and with more convenience.
Conclusion
Building the perfect WestJet credit card portfolio doesn’t have to be complicated.
Start with a card that offers exclusive WestJest perks, like the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard‡, and pair it with a card that helps you offset your WestJet travel expenses, such as the RBC® ION+ Visa or Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card.
Then to round out your portfolio, consider adding a card with airport lounge access, like the American Express Platinum Card or the Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card, to make your trips more comfortable and relaxed.
With the right combination of cards, every WestJet trip can become more affordable, enjoyable, and rewarding.