WestJet Rewards Elite Tiers: Guide to Qualifying and Privileges

WestJet Rewards is the loyalty program of Canada’s second-largest carrier. Its elite status tiers allow its most loyal members to advance progressively and enjoy the associated privileges at each tier.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the elite tiers of WestJet Rewards, including how to qualify and how to benefit from the perks that come with each tier.

WestJet Rewards Elite Tiers

WestJet Rewards members can qualify for three elite status tiers – Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Prior to earning any of these, you’ll begin your journey with WestJet as a Teal member, which doesn’t come with any particular perks or privileges. 

To progress to the elite tiers, you’ll need to accrue tier qualifying spend (TQS), which is broadly based on how much you spend with WestJet and/or your WestJet® RBC World Elite Mastercardǂ with the Status Lift feature (detailed below).

You’ll earn tier qualifying spend on the following expenses on WestJet-marketed flights:

• Base fare
• Other Air Transportation Charges (Other ATC)
• Baggage fees
• Seat selection fees
• Cabin upgrades

As a reminder, WestJet-marketed flights include codeshare flights operated by partner airlines with a WS flight code. If another airline, such as Delta, issues your ticket, even though the flight is being operated by WestJet, it won’t count towards tier qualification.

Furthermore, you’ll earn TQS on 20% of your share of eligible WestJet Vacations packages. 

For WestJet Vacations packages, 20% of the base package price counts towards tier qualification. WestJet divides the cost of a package into “flights and hotel” and “taxes and fees”, so only 20% of the former counts towards tier qualification.

Furthermore, you’ll only be awarded 20% of the proportionate share of the base package price, if there’s more than one passenger on the booking.

UltraBasic fares, Member Exclusive Fares, contracted fares, tour operator fares, and tickets paid for with WestJet points are excluded from tier qualification.

Tier Requirements

There are four tiers under WestJet Rewards: Teal, Silver, Gold, and Platinum.

All members start at the Teal tier. To advance to the higher tiers, you must satisfy the following annual spending requirement in a qualifying year:

• Silver: $4,000–5,999
• Gold: $6,000–9,999
• Platinum: $10,000+

For example, to qualify for the Gold tier, your tier qualifying spend must be between $5,000 and $7,999 from January 1 to December 31, since WestJet defines a “qualifying year” as a calendar year.

Once you advance to the next tier, you’ll stay on that tier for the remainder of the calendar year and the following calendar year. For clarity, this means if you reach Platinum by, say, August 25, 2025, you’ll hold Platinum for the remainder of 2025 and through to the end of 2026.

WestJet increased the TQS thresholds for earning Silver, Gold, and Platinum status as part of its revamped program which debuted in 2025.

Previously, Silver required $3,000 in TQS, Gold required $5,000 in TQS, and Platinum required $8,000 in TQS.

Status Lift

Status Lift is a feature available to cardholders of the WestJet RBC^® World Elite Mastercardǂ.

How Status Lift works is that you’ll receive $200 in WestJet Rewards tier qualifying spend for every $5,000 in eligible expenses charged to your WestJet RBC^® World Elite Mastercardǂ.

You may earn up to 50 Status Lifts per calendar year, which means that you can actually qualify for top-tier Platinum status without ever having been on a WestJet plane by charging the following amounts to your card:  

• Silver: $100,000 of eligible spending on your credit card = $4,000 tier qualifying spend (20 Status Lifts of $200)
• Gold: $150,000 of eligible spending on your credit card = $6,000 tier qualifying spend (30 Status Lifts of $200)
• Platinum: $250,000 of eligible spending on your credit card = $10,000 tier qualifying spend (50 Status Lifts of $200)

WestJet Rewards Tier Benefits

Once you’ve satisfied the spending required for the one of the elite tiers, it’s time to enjoy its associated privileges, which we’ll detail below.

Before getting into the specific inclusions at each tier, let’s first go over some general principles that apply to elite benefits offered through WestJet Rewards.

General Benefits for Elite Tier Members

There are general benefits applicable to all WestJet Rewards elite tier members, though members may receive them at varying degrees, depending on their tier.

Complimentary Upgrades Prior to Check-In

You may receive complimentary upgrades from Economy to Premium prior to check-in, except for flights to/from Europe and Asia.

With these upgrades, members are prioritized by tier, meaning you’ll have a better chance as a Platinum member than a Gold member. In addition, you and up to one other guest travelling on the same reservation are eligible.

Complimentary upgrades are assigned prior to the opening of the 24-hour check-in period and allocated in priority order by tier, starting with Platinum, followed by fare class purchased, in descending order.

Silver and Gold members must be booked on an EconoFlex fare, while Platinum members can be booked on an Econo, EconoFlex, or Member Exclusive Fare to be eligible.

Complimentary Upgrades at the Gate 

As an elite member, you may receive complimentary upgrades at the gate, as long as seats are still available.

You can receive upgrades from Economy to Premium (or Extended Comfort seats), or from Premium to Business Class, as long as you’ve booked an eligible fare and travel on an eligible route.

Silver and Gold members must be travelling on an EconoFlex fare to upgrade from Economy to Premium (or an Extended Comfort seat), while Platinum members are eligible with a Member Exclusive, Econo, or EconoFlex fare.

Upgrades from Premium to Business are only available on domestic flights on WestJet’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner. To be eligible, Silver, Gold, and Platinum members must be booked on a Premium, PremiumFlex, or Member Exclusive Premium fare.

At the time of writing, WestJet doesn’t operate any Dreamliners on domestic flights, which makes this benefit largely a moot point.

Complimentary upgrades at the gate from Economy to Premium aren’t available on flights to or from Europe and Asia.

These upgrades are valid for reservations with one or two guests on the same booking.

Seat Selection Vouchers

You may use seat selection vouchers to select seats that you’d otherwise be charged for. However, you may not use them to upgrade to a higher cabin.

One voucher is valid per one-way bound, including connections, so if you’re travelling round-trip, you need two vouchers. You may use the vouchers for yourself and/or your guests.

Note that seat selection vouchers must be used prior to check-in.

Member Lounge Vouchers

You may use lounge vouchers only for yourself, as the elite member, and they’re valid throughout your qualifying year and the following qualifying year.

Access with these vouchers isn’t limited to the Elevation Lounge in Calgary. You may use them on partner lounges, including the Air France Lounge in Montreal and the Plaza Premium Lounge in London.

A full list of partner lounges can be found on the WestJet website.

You’ll also receive a smaller number of vouchers that your guests can use to access WestJet’s partner lounges.

Free Checked Baggage

As a WestJet elite member, you’ll receive free checked bags weighing up to 23kg or 50lbs. The number of free bags depends on your tier, which we’ll explore below.

The free checked bags apply to the elite member, as well as up to eight other passengers travelling on the same reservation, regardless of tier.

You must be travelling on an itinerary with flights marketed and operated by WestJet, which means that the free baggage allowance doesn’t apply to codeshare flights.

Priority boarding 

As an elite member, you’ll get to board with premium cabin customers, even if you’re flying economy. Your priority boarding zone depends on your tier.

Priority handling

Priority check-in applies to all three elite tiers, while priority security screening, baggage, and support hotlines are applicable to Gold and Platinum members only.

Same-Day Flight Changes

As a Gold or Platinum member, you may change your flight for an earlier or later departure on the same calendar day for free, except when travelling on an UltraBasic fare.

To change your flight, you must do so starting 24 hours before your scheduled departure. The new flight must have the same origin and destination, and the change will only apply if there are available seats in the same cabin on the flight of your choice.

Early Access to Purchase an Upgrade

Gold and Platinum members may purchase an upgrade to premium or business 24–48 hours prior to departure, except when flying on an UltraBasic ticket.

Upgrades may be purchased for the elite member and up to eight passengers travelling on the same reservation, subject to availability. Regular upgrade fees apply.

WestJet Silver Tier Benefits

Let’s now summarize the privileges of each WestJet elite tier.

Silver

Silver, the first among the three elite tiers, is achieved upon reaching $4,000 in tier-qualifying spend. 

Here’s a summary of the benefits afforded to you at the Silver tier:

• Eligible for complimentary upgrades prior to check-in
• Eligible for complimentary upgrades at the gate
• Two free checked bags of 23kg/50lbs each
• Four advance seat selection vouchers (for Standard economy seats only)
• Six airport lounge access vouchers
• Zone 2 priority boarding
• Priority check-in, baggage, and security

In addition to the benefits above, the Silver tier earns 3 WestJet points per dollar spent on WestJet flights.

Gold

Gold is achieved upon reaching $6,000 in tier-qualifying spend, and it comes with the following benefits:

• Higher priority for complimentary upgrades prior to check-in
• Higher priority for complimentary upgrades at the gate
• Two free checked bags of 23kg/50lbs each
• Six advance seat selection vouchers (Standard seats and Extended Comfort seats)
• Unlimited airport lounge access for member and immediate family
• Two guest airport lounge access vouchers
• Zone 2 priority boarding
• Priority check-in, baggage, security screening, and support hotline
• No fee for same-day flight changes
• Early access to purchase an upgrade

In addition to the benefits above, the Gold tier earns 5 WestJet points per dollar spent on WestJet flights.

Platinum

Platinum, the highest elite tier, is achieved upon reaching $10,000 in tier-qualifying spend, and it comes with the following benefits:

• Highest priority for complimentary upgrades prior to check-in
• Highest priority for complimentary upgrades at the gate
• Three free checked bags of 23kg/50lbs each
• Unlimited advance seat selection plus six vouchers for guests
• Unlimited airport lounge access for member and immediate family
• Two guest airport lounge access vouchers
• Zone 1 priority boarding
• Priority check-in, baggage, security screening, and support hotline
• No fee for same-day flight changes
• Early access to purchase an upgrade

In addition to the benefits above, the Platinum tier earns 8 WestJet points per dollar spent on WestJet flights.

Elite Tier Benefits on Delta Air Lines

Since 2021, WestJet Rewards and Delta SkyMiles Medallion Elite members have enjoyed reciprocal privileges on both airlines.

Through the partnership, WestJet Rewards members may earn and redeem WestJet points on Delta flights, and elite members may also expect the following perks when flying with Delta:

Note that Delta Sky Club access only applies when flying on an itinerary involving a US/Canada transborder flight operated by WestJet or Delta. Itineraries wholly within the US don’t qualify.

To receive benefits with Delta, make sure to attach your WestJet Rewards ID to your booking.

Milestone Awards

In addition to the WestJet points and privileges you’ll earn as an elite member, you’ll also be given Milestone Awards upon reaching qualifying spend thresholds.

Milestone qualifying spend is tracked separately from tier qualifying spend, but what counts under both categories is the same:

• Base fare
• Other Air Transportation Charges (Other ATC)
• Baggage fees
• Seat selection fees
• Cabin upgrades
• 20% of the base package price for WestJet Vacations

Prior to 2025, WestJet gave out Milestone Awards at the following thresholds:

• $4,000
• $6,000
• $8,000
• Every $2,000 increment beyond

For 2025, the Milestone Award thresholds have been changed, and are now awarded as follows:

• $2,000: 2,000 points, $200 tier qualifying spend bonus for the current year, or $25 Skip gift card
• $8,000: 20,000 points, WestJet-wide companion voucher, four seat selection vouchers (any seat in economy), or $500 TQS bonus for the current year
• $12,000: 10,000 points, WestJet-wide companion voucher, one-year Gift of Gold voucher, or $1,000 TQS head start for next year
• $16,000: 10,000 points, 40% discount on any Premium fare (maximum two guests), $250 WVI or Sunwing future travel credit, eStore merchandise item
• $20,000: 10,000 points, transferable WestJet-wide companion voucher, four transferable seat selection vouchers (any seat in economy), or eStore merchandise item 
• $30,000: 25,000 points, $500 WVI or Sunwing Vacations future travel credit, one-year Gift of Gold voucher, or eStore merchandise item
• $40,000: 25,000 points, 40% off discount for any Business fare (maximum two guests), eight transferable lounge vouchers, or eStore merchandise item
• $50,000: 25,000 points, transferable WestJet-wide companion voucher, or $1,000 Fairmont Hotels gift card

Conclusion

The top status tiers under WestJet Rewards incentivize the airline’s most loyal customers with a range of benefits, as well as accelerated WestJet points earning rates.

To help you reach those thresholds, you may take advantage of Status Lift, a benefit exclusive to holders of the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard.

Top-tier privileges include upgrade eligibility, free bags, and priority handling. In addition, higher-tier members receive benefits when flying with Delta Air Lines, such as free bags and Sky Club access.

Aside from these privileges, higher-tier members also receive Milestone Awards upon reaching certain spend thresholds.

If you fly with WestJet frequently, be sure to quote your WestJet Rewards ID, so that you can reach its top status tiers and enjoy the privileges that follow.