The Best Credit Cards with Companion Fares

While award chart sweet spots and premium class redemptions tend to attract most of the spotlight, one less-discussed way to save money on travel is by taking advantage of the annual companion fares that get offered as a perk on certain credit cards.

Like the name suggests, companion fares are redeemable when at least two people are travelling together, offering a free or discounted ticket for the second passenger.

If you tend to travel as a couple, companion fares can be a fantastic way to essentially get up to a 50% discount on your flights. Furthermore, loading up on more than one companion fare and “multiplying” their benefit is one of the best ways to reduce costs if you regularly travel together as a family or party of four, six, eight, etc.

Let’s take a look at some of the best available companion vouchers being offered as a credit card perk.

The WestJet Annual Round-Trip Companion Voucher

WestJet’s annual round-trip companion voucher comes as a perk of the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercardǂ. As part of signing up for this card – which has an annual fee of $119 – you’ll earn a welcome bonus of WestJet points (WSP) (redeemable towards the cost of any WestJet flight), free first checked bags on WestJet flights, and an annual companion voucher.

When redeeming the companion fare, the cardholder will pay full price for the round-trip ticket, while the second guest will pay the following (depending on the class of service and destination):

• Within Canada or to/from continental US:
  • UltraBasic, Econo, EconoFlex: $119 (plus taxes, fees and other ATC)
  • Premium or Premium Flex: $219 (plus taxes, fees and other ATC)
• To/from the rest of the WestJet network:
  • UltraBasic, Econo, EconoFlex: $399 (plus taxes, fees and other ATC)
  • Premium or Premium Flex: $499 (plus taxes, fees and other ATC)

Note that the above amounts cover the base fare only, and you must still pay for the taxes and fees on the ticket separately.

The companion voucher expires one year after it’s issued (you have to book by this date), and at that point you’ll be given a new annual companion voucher for the following year. Therefore, as long as you can save more than $119 by using the companion voucher every year, you’re getting great value out of holding onto the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercardǂ for the long term.

The WestJet points you earn as a signup bonus can also be combined with the companion voucher to achieve even greater savings.

However, it’s important to note that the guest travelling on the companion voucher is not eligible to earn WestJet points from their travel. And unfortunately, the companion voucher can neither be redeemed in conjunction with Member Exclusive Fares, nor can it be redeemed towards business class tickets in WestJet’s Dreamliners.

To redeem the companion voucher, you simply tick the “Companion voucher” box when searching for flights on the WestJet website.

You’ll then have the option to apply your companion voucher if you’re searching for at least two passengers.

One of the best uses of the companion voucher is within North America, where the second guest travels for only $119 in base fare. For example, let’s consider using the voucher on a transcontinental flight between Toronto and Vancouver, booked a few weeks in advance.

The total fare prices out at around $940, as broken down on ITA Matrix.

You’ll notice in the screenshot that the base fare comprises $705 of the $940 total fare, with the remaining $235 consisting of various taxes and fees. If you were to redeem your companion voucher to travel as a duo on this fare, you’d end up only paying $119 + $235 = $354 for the second traveller, thus incurring a savings of $940 – $354 = $586.

Clearly, the higher the original fare, the greater “value” you’re getting from the companion fare.

Therefore, in situations where base fares tend to be much higher, such as during last minute travel or peak travel periods, you stand to garner more value from your companion voucher by redeeming it during these times. Indeed, this is a general tendency with companion vouchers.

You can also use the companion voucher for WestJet flights to other destinations, such as Europe. You’d have to pay a higher amount of $399 for the second traveller, but it’s not necessarily the case that you’ll wind up saving money this way.

To see why, look at how WestJet’s European fares are constructed.

Notice how the base fare only comprises $280 ($140 + $140) of the overall $1,060 fare. That’s actually less than the $399 you’d have to pay when redeeming the companion fare, and you’d still be on the hook for the remaining $780 in taxes and fees.

So, be sure to look at the breakdown of the fare to make sure you’re actually getting a good deal with the companion voucher from WestJet.

Lastly, while these examples were designed with a travelling couple in mind, they can certainly be generalized to a family of four or more that needs to travel together. If, say, both parents were to pick up a WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercardǂ, you could double-up on the savings for the entire family.

The Air Canada Annual Worldwide Companion Pass

In many regards, the Air Canada Annual Worldwide Companion Pass is similar to the WestJet companion voucher, in that it reduces the base fare for a second passenger, and it may be used across Air Canada’s entire flight network.

The Companion Pass allows a second passenger to travel on a discounted base fare when the first passenger pays full price for an Air Canada economy class ticket to anywhere in the world.

The Companion Pass can be redeemed on any Air Canada flights between Canada or the United States and one of the following regions:

• Canada or the United States (excluding Hawaii): $99 base fare
• Hawaii, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean: $299 base fare
• South America, Europe, Middle East, and Africa: $499 base fare
• Asia, Australia, and New Zealand: $599 base fare

The Companion Pass can only be used with economy fares, including Economy (Standard), Economy (Flex), Economy (Comfort), and Economy (Latitude). It may not be used for premium economy or business class flights.

Likewise, Companion Passes may not be combined with Aeroplan points, and may not be used for any codeshare flights with partner airlines.

The Air Canada Annual Worldwide Companion Pass is a benefit afforded to certain credit cardholders who meet an annual minimum spending requirement. It’s neither given as part of a welcome bonus, nor is it guaranteed to be renewed year after year.

Rather, upon spending $25,000 each year on a premium Aeroplan credit card, eligible cardholders will have an Air Canada Annual Worldwide Companion Pass deposited into their Aeroplan account.

If you can save at least $599 by using the Companion Pass strategically, you’ll have saved the equivalent of your premium credit card’s annual fee.

Once you’ve met the spending requirement, which depends on your card’s annual renewal date and not by the calendar year, it will show up in the “Benefits” tab of your Aeroplan account within 10 weeks. It’s valid for one year from the date of issue, but can be used to book flights beyond its validity date.

To use the Companion Pass, simply search for cash flights for two people on Air Canada’s website. At the bottom of the screen, you’ll see a “Credits and discounts” blurb, which you’ll need to click on.

If there are eligible flights for the Companion Pass, you’ll see the base fare clearly marked. Be sure to check off the box next to your Companion Pass, and then click “Apply”.

Once you click “Apply”, the search results will repopulate, and eligible flights will have a small ticket symbol next to them.

While the base fares with the Companion Pass aren’t free, they can still offer up some great value. The usual scenarios for maximizing other companion vouchers apply here, too – you’re more likely to get good value out of the card by using it when base fares tend to be higher. 

One compelling use of Companion Passes may be in conjunction with eUpgrades on long-haul flights. Despite base fares of up to $599, if you’re able to get an upgrade to premium economy or business class, you’d have saved a significant amount compared to booking in a higher class of service to begin with.

Just be sure to check out the breakdown of the fare, perhaps by using ITA Matrix, to ensure that you’re getting a good deal. If the base fare is low, and most of the ticket’s cost is in the taxes, fees, and carrier surcharges that you’d have to pay anyway, you could wind up being disappointed.

The Porter Companion Pass

The newest companion pass to enter the Canadian market is the Porter companion pass, which made its debut in 2025 as Porter Airlines launched co-branded credit cards with BMO.

To earn a Porter companion pass, you must be a first be a cardholder of the BMO VIPorter World Elite®* Mastercard®*.

As a cardholder, upon spending $9,000 in the first year, you’ll earn a round-trip Porter companion pass, which offers a second passenger 100% off the base fare. In subsequent years, you can earn another companion pass upon spending $50,000 in a cardholder year (not a calendar year).

Once earned, the pass is valid for one year, though it can be used for travel beyond its expiry date.

As with other companion passes, the first passenger pays full price, and the second passenger enjoys 100% off the base fare, but must still pay the associated taxes and fees.

The VIPorter companion pass can only only be used with PorterClassic fare.

The following terms and conditions govern the use of the VIPorter companion pass:

• It can only be used on flights operated by Porter Airlines
• There must be one additional passenger travelling with you on the same itinerary (it can’t be used for bookings with more than two passengers)
• It must be used at the time of purchase (it cannot be applied retroactively)
• Unused companion passes are automatically cancelled if you cancel your card account, or if you change to a different card product

Compared to the other companion vouchers/passes offered by Air Canada and WestJet, it’s worth noting that the one offered by Porter covers 100% of the base fare. However, earning one after the first year as a cardholder is likely prohibitive for many, since it’s only issued after spending $50,000 in a cardholder year.

Still, since you can use it with any Porter Airlines fare, there’s a lot of potential that you can squeeze from it, especially if you use it for PorterReserve, travel during peak periods, or at the last minute.

As a relatively new product, our team hasn’t had a chance to earn or redeem one just yet; however, the BMO VIPorter World Elite®* Mastercard®* is a popular one on the Prince of Travel team, so it shouldn’t be long before they start rolling in.

The British Airways Companion Award eVoucher

One unique perk of the RBC® British Airways Visa Infinite^† is that you can a Companion Award eVoucher when you spend $30,000 (CAD) on the card within a calendar year.

Unlike the other two companion tickets on this list, the British Airways Companion Award eVoucher is usable only when you’re redeeming Avios for a British Airways flight originating from and returning to Canada, not when you pay for a revenue ticket.

When you redeem Avios for two passengers travelling on British Airways, the second passenger won’t have to pay any Avios at all. For example, if a round-trip flight costs 160,000 Avios for one person, applying the voucher will result in round-trip flights for two pricing out at 160,000 Avios, too.

The Companion Award eVoucher has also become applicable to solo travellers, too. If you redeem it as an individual, it will reduce the cost in Avios by 50% for a booking.

For example, if a round-trip booking costs 160,000 Avios without the voucher applied, it would only cost 80,000 Avios with the voucher applied.

While that might sound like a good deal on the surface, anyone familiar with the British Airways Executive Club program will know that the fuel surcharges on British Airways long-haul flights can be quite substantial. Indeed, RBC even mentions this in the RBC British Airways Visa Infinite’s terms and conditions, so as to avoid giving cardholders the wrong idea that they’re getting anything close to a “free” ticket:

At time of publication, all Reward Flights and Companion Tickets are subject to taxes, fees, & carrier charges of approximately $600 per person based on return travel from Vancouver to London in economy class and approximately $1,000 per person based on business class travel.

That definitely takes most of the excitement out of this perk, because if you’re paying $600 in taxes and fees per person to get to London (in addition to the Avios required for the first passenger’s ticket), then you may as well just buy an economy class ticket for about $700–900 per ticket.

This voucher could potentially being useful for someone who wants to fly business class direct from Canada to London. For example, a round-trip from Toronto to London Heathrow in British Airways business class would cost between 100,000 and 120,000 Avios, depending on whether it’s peak or off-peak.

If you paid 100,000 Avios, plus around $2,000 in taxes and fees, to book round-trip non-stop business class flights for two people in total, it wouldn’t be the worst deal in the world compared to the retail price.

Keep in mind that British Airways offers Reward Flight Saver options on long-haul routes. This means that you can choose to pay more in Avios and less in taxes and fees on flights.

When used in conjunction with a Companion Award eVoucher, and especially if you leveraged a transfer bonus to earn extra Avios, you could wind up getting a great deal on a redemption.

However, aside from these very niche redemptions, you’d likely be better off redeeming, say, Aeroplan points or Air France KLM Flying Blue miles to get to Europe instead.

Overall, it’s fair to say that the Companion Award eVoucher on the RBC® British Airways Visa Infinite^† is rendered less effective by the surcharges that British Airways is known for. Considering also that you need to spend $30,000 on the card to get it in the first place, and it’s most likely not going to be something that most cardholders pursue in earnest.

Conclusion

The WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard, various premium Aeroplan co-branded credit cards, the BMO VIPorter World Elite®* Mastercard®*, and the RBC® British Airways Visa Infinite^† offer companion vouchers as part of their benefits. The best ways to use each voucher vary, but they are all valuable in specific circumstances.

Sure, using points for travel is always preferred, but it may make sense to pay cash for flights in some circumstances. If you’re travelling as a pair, you can make use of companion vouchers for when you’d otherwise have to pay cash.

Be sure to check the price breakdown of your desired flights to make sure you’re actually getting a good deal, as sometimes you’d be better off paying full price to begin with.