WestJet dollars are one of Canada’s simplest airline loyalty currencies — a refreshingly straightforward programme in a world of complex award charts and redemption restrictions. This guide covers everything you need to know about earning, redeeming, and getting the most value from WestJet dollars.
What Are WestJet Dollars?
WestJet dollars are the loyalty currency of WestJet Rewards, the airline’s frequent flyer programme. Unlike Aeroplan miles or Scene+ points, WestJet dollars have a simple, fixed value:
1 WestJet dollar = $1 CAD — always.
There is no award chart to memorise, no peak and off-peak pricing, no complex partner booking process, and no “cash and miles” workaround. You accumulate WestJet dollars and spend them like cash on WestJet bookings.
How WestJet Dollars Are Earned
1. RBC WestJet Credit Cards
The highest-earning method for non-flyers:
| Card | Earn on WestJet | Earn Everywhere Else | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| RBC WestJet World Elite Mastercard | 2% WestJet $ | 1.5% WestJet $ | $119 |
| RBC WestJet Mastercard | 1.5% WestJet $ | 0.5% WestJet $ | $0 |
Everyday earning example (World Elite):
- $2,000/month on the World Elite card (non-WestJet spend) x 1.5% = $30/month
- $30 x 12 months = $360/year in WestJet dollars from everyday purchases
Plus: WestJet purchases earn 2%, so any flights booked with the card earn at double the base rate.
2. Flying WestJet
WestJet Rewards members earn dollars on flights based on fare class and membership tier:
| Tier | Earn Rate | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Blue (base) | 2% of base fare | Default for all members |
| Silver | 3% of base fare | 25 flight segments/year |
| Gold | 4% of base fare | 40 flight segments or $6,000 in fare/year |
| Platinum | 5% of base fare | 60 flight segments or $9,000 in fare/year |
Example: A $400 base fare YYZ-YYC round trip earns $8 WestJet dollars at Blue tier, $12 at Silver, $16 at Gold, $20 at Platinum.
3. WestJet Rewards Partners
WestJet has a small network of earn partners including select hotel chains and car rental agencies. Partner earn rates are typically 1 to 3% of the transaction value.
How to Redeem WestJet Dollars
Booking Flights
The most common and straightforward redemption:
- Search westjet.com for your desired flight
- Select your fare
- At checkout, enter your WestJet Rewards credentials
- Apply any number of WestJet dollars toward the total — up to the full booking cost
- Pay any remaining balance with a credit or debit card
No blackout dates. Any seat that WestJet is selling for cash can be booked with WestJet dollars. There is no separate award inventory.
No minimum redemption. You can apply even 1 WestJet dollar to reduce your booking cost by $1.
WestJet Vacations Packages
WestJet dollars can be applied toward WestJet Vacations bookings (flight + hotel packages, typically to Caribbean, Mexico, and European destinations). The same 1:1 value applies.
WestJet Plus Seat Upgrades
Apply WestJet dollars for WestJet Plus (premium economy) seat upgrades on eligible flights.
WestJet Dollars vs Aeroplan Miles: Which Is Better?
| Factor | WestJet Dollars | Aeroplan Miles |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed value | Yes — always $1 each | No — 1 to 5+ cents per mile |
| Award chart complexity | None required | Moderate complexity |
| Premium cabin upside | None (1:1 always) | Significant (3 to 5+ cents in business class) |
| Airline network | WestJet-operated flights + limited codeshares | Air Canada + 40+ Star Alliance partners |
| Partner airlines | Very limited | Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa, United, ANA, and many more |
| No blackout dates | Yes | No blackout dates (all available seats) |
| Points expiry | 24 months inactivity | 18 months inactivity |
| Companion voucher | RBC World Elite: yes (from $119 base fare) | No companion voucher on Aeroplan cards |
| Free checked bag | Yes (RBC WestJet cards) | Yes (TD/CIBC Aeroplan cards) |
| Annual fee (top card) | $119 (RBC WestJet World Elite) | $139 (TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite) |
The bottom line:
- Choose WestJet Rewards if you value simplicity, fly mainly domestic or leisure destinations (Caribbean, Mexico, some Europe), and like the predictability of dollar-for-dollar redemptions.
- Choose Aeroplan if you fly internationally, want access to Star Alliance’s global partner network, and are willing to learn redemption strategies to get outsized value on business or first class.
Many Canadians collect both — using an RBC WestJet card for domestic travel and a TD or CIBC Aeroplan card for international flights.
The Annual Companion Voucher (RBC WestJet World Elite)
The flagship benefit of the RBC WestJet World Elite Mastercard is the annual companion voucher: a second passenger can travel on your booking for a base fare starting at $119 CAD one-way on eligible WestJet-operated flights (plus taxes and fees).
How it works:
- Issued on your card anniversary each year
- Applies to one-way or round-trip bookings
- Valid on eligible WestJet Economy or Premium Economy fares
- Taxes and fees are additional (typically $100 to $500+ depending on route)
Where the voucher shines: The $119 base fare is the same whether you fly Toronto to Halifax or Toronto to London. On long-haul routes where the regular base fare is $300 to $800+ per person, the companion voucher delivers $200 to $700+ in savings on a single booking — far exceeding the $119 annual fee.
Where the voucher is less valuable: On short domestic routes where the base fare is already close to $119, the voucher savings are minimal.
WestJet Dollars Expiry and Management
- WestJet dollars expire after 24 months of inactivity
- Any earning or redemption activity resets the clock
- RBC WestJet credit card holders who use their card regularly will always have activity and effectively never expire their points
- Check your balance at westjet.com or in the WestJet Rewards app
Important: If you let your WestJet Rewards account go inactive for 24 months, all accumulated WestJet dollars are forfeited. Set a calendar reminder to make a small purchase or flight booking before the 24-month mark if you haven’t been active.
WestJet’s Route Network
WestJet operates:
- Domestic routes across Canada (including many smaller markets)
- Transborder routes to major US cities and leisure destinations
- Caribbean and Mexico (Cancun, Punta Cana, Montego Bay, Nassau, and many others)
- Transatlantic routes to London Gatwick, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and others
- WestJet Vacations packages (through Sunwing subsidiary)
WestJet dollars apply to WestJet-operated flights and WestJet Vacations. Some codeshare flights are available but WestJet dollar earn and redemption policies vary for partner-operated flights.