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Best WestJet Credit Cards in Canada 2026

Updated

WestJet operates Canada’s second-largest airline network, serving destinations across Canada, the US, Caribbean, and Europe. Its co-branded credit cards with RBC earn WestJet dollars — a fixed-value currency worth $1 each — alongside travel perks for WestJet’s most loyal customers.

WestJet Credit Cards at a Glance

CardAnnual FeeEarn RateKey Benefit
RBC WestJet World Elite Mastercard$1192% WestJet dollars everywhereCompanion voucher + free checked bag
RBC WestJet Mastercard$01.5% WestJet dollars everywhereFree checked bag (cardholder only)

RBC WestJet World Elite Mastercard — Best for Regular WestJet Flyers

Annual fee: $119 | Network: Mastercard World Elite | Income: $80,000 personal / $150,000 household

Earn Rates

  • 2% in WestJet dollars on all WestJet purchases (flights, vacations)
  • 1.5% in WestJet dollars on all other everyday purchases
  • No category caps — flat-rate earn on everything

Key Benefits

Annual Companion Voucher Each year on your card anniversary, receive a companion voucher allowing a second passenger to fly for a base fare starting at $119 CAD one-way on eligible WestJet flights. For a round trip, this means a companion can join you for $238 base fare + taxes and fees. On a Calgary–Toronto–London routing, the base fare alone could be worth $400–$800+ in savings.

First Checked Bag Free The primary cardholder and up to eight companions on the same booking each get their first checked bag free on WestJet-operated flights. At $35–$60 per bag each way, a family of four on a round trip saves $280–$480 in baggage fees — more than doubling the annual fee in a single trip.

Premium Cabin Discounts Cardholders receive discounted access to WestJet Plus upgrades at the airport, subject to availability.

Travel Insurance Includes emergency medical insurance, trip cancellation/interruption, flight delay, baggage delay and loss, and rental car collision/loss damage waiver — a comprehensive suite appropriate for the price point.

Is the $119 annual fee worth it? For WestJet flyers travelling 2+ times per year with checked baggage, yes — typically by a significant margin. The companion voucher value alone can justify the fee on a single long-haul booking.

Full RBC WestJet World Elite Mastercard Review →


RBC WestJet Mastercard — Best for Occasional WestJet Flyers

Annual fee: $0 | Network: Mastercard | Income: None stated

Earn Rates

  • 1.5% in WestJet dollars on all WestJet purchases
  • 0.5% in WestJet dollars on all other purchases

Key Benefits

First Checked Bag Free The cardholder gets one free checked bag on WestJet-operated flights — but unlike the World Elite, the benefit does not extend to companions. For solo travellers and couples where only one person uses the card, this is still a meaningful saving.

No Annual Fee The $0 fee makes this a straightforward WestJet card for budget-conscious Canadians or occasional flyers who want some loyalty currency without committing to a fee card.

Who it’s best for: Canadians who fly WestJet once a year or less and want to accumulate WestJet dollars passively.

Full RBC WestJet Mastercard Review →


Understanding WestJet Dollars

WestJet dollars are the simplest airline loyalty currency in Canada:

  • Fixed value: 1 WestJet dollar = $1 CAD — always
  • No award chart: Apply any amount toward any WestJet booking at checkout
  • No blackout dates: Redeem on any available WestJet seat
  • Expiry: 24 months from last account activity
  • Earning sources: RBC WestJet co-branded cards + WestJet Rewards programme

The fixed-value structure means no strategy is required — you accumulate dollars and spend them like cash on WestJet. The tradeoff is that there is no aspirational upside: 1 WestJet dollar will never be worth more than $1 on any redemption, unlike Aeroplan miles that can be worth 2–5 cents on premium cabin redemptions.


WestJet vs Aeroplan: Which Should You Choose?

FactorWestJet Dollars (RBC WestJet)Aeroplan Miles (TD/CIBC Aeroplan)
Currency valueFixed at $1 eachVariable: 1.5¢–5¢/mile
Airline networkWestJet + codesharesAir Canada + 40 Star Alliance partners
Premium cabin upsideNone (1:1 value)Significant (3–5¢/mile)
SimplicityExcellentModerate to complex
Companion voucherYes (World Elite)No (Aeroplan cards)
Free checked bagYes (both cards)Yes (TD/CIBC Aeroplan)
Annual fee (top card)$119$139

Choose WestJet if: You fly WestJet regularly, travel domestically or to the Caribbean/US, and want simple, no-strategy rewards.

Choose Aeroplan if: You fly Air Canada or Star Alliance, travel internationally, and are willing to learn redemption strategies to maximise point value — particularly for premium cabin awards.


WestJet Routes and Network

WestJet serves 100+ destinations and operates:

  • Canada-wide domestic routes
  • Transborder routes to the US (major cities + leisure destinations)
  • Caribbean and Mexico (Cancún, Montego Bay, Nassau, Punta Cana, and others)
  • Transatlantic routes (London Gatwick, Dublin, Edinburgh, and others)
  • Sunwing vacation packages (WestJet subsidiary)

WestJet’s membership in the Global Airline Alliance and codeshare agreements with Delta, KLM, Air France, and others extends effective reach — though WestJet dollars only apply to WestJet-operated and marketed flights, not codeshare partners.


Best Strategy for WestJet Card Holders

  1. Use the companion voucher on a long-haul route — The $119 base fare is the same whether flying Toronto–Halifax or Toronto–London. The savings on long-haul routes are dramatically greater.

  2. Book family travel to maximise the free bag benefit — The World Elite’s 9-person bag coverage means a family of four saves $280–$480 on checked bags in a single round trip.

  3. Pair with a no-FX fee card for international travel — The WestJet cards charge 2.5% on foreign currency. Use a Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite or Scotiabank Gold Amex for purchases abroad; use the WestJet card for WestJet bookings.

  4. Redeem during WestJet promotions — WestJet occasionally offers bonus WestJet dollar promotions; using your balance during these periods can stretch value beyond the standard 1:1.


Card benefits, earn rates, and annual fees are subject to change. Verify current terms with RBC and WestJet Rewards before applying.