In the world of travel rewards credit cards, the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard stands out with Canadians who frequently fly with WestJet. From its generous welcome bonus to some valuable standard benefits, WestJet travellers can earn valuable WestJet Rewards and save hundreds of dollars on travel each year.

But is the card as good as it sounds and worth getting if you’re not a regular WestJet customer? I answer those questions and more in this WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard Review.

About The WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard

The WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard is a co-branded travel rewards credit card from Canada’s second-largest airline, WestJet, and RBC, Canada’s largest bank.

Not surprisingly, the card was designed with WestJet enthusiasts in mind and offers an array of WestJet-centric benefits that can help you save money on travel. Let’s take a closer look at the main features and benefits the card has to offer.

Quick Facts

• $119 annual fee
• $59 additional card
• 20.99% purchase interest
• 22.99% cash advance interest
• Minimum income requirement ($80,000 personal/$150,000 household)
• Annual Round-Trip Companion Voucher OR
• Four airport lounge vouchers
• First checked bag free

WestJet RBC World Elite Features And Benefits

Welcome Bonus

One of the best features of the WestJet RBC Mastercard is its generous welcome bonus, which is worth up to $450. When you sign up, you’ll qualify for 250 WestJet dollars after making your first purchase with the card. You’ll receive an additional 200 WestJet dollars if you spend a minimum of $5,000 within the first three months, for a total value of $450.

You can use these dollars to book WestJet flights or WestJet Vacations packages. Remember to review the terms and conditions for the specific bonus offering at the time of your application.

Earn WestJet Rewards

As a cardholder, you’ll become a member of the WestJet Rewards program, which allows you to earn WestJet dollars when you use the card. The point system is pretty straightforward and works as follows:

• Earn 1.5% back in WestJet dollars on everyday card purchases
• Earn 2% back in WestJet dollars on flights or packages with WestJet or WestJet Vacations.

Unlike other airline loyalty rewards programs, there are no blackout periods, and your WestJet Dollars don’t expire. You can redeem WestJet dollars at any time toward all or part of a WestJet flight or WestJet Vacations package.

Annual Companion Voucher

One of the standout features of the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard is the annual round-trip companion voucher wherever WestJet flies. This voucher allows you to bring a companion on a round-trip WestJet flight at a reduced fare for further travel savings. Here’s how it works:

The primary cardholder can apply the companion voucher once per year for the following flights:

• Round-trip travel in Canada and the continental U.S. for $119 CAD (base fare); or
• Round-trip travel on the rest of the WestJet network for $399 CAD (base fare).

The offer is valid for new bookings only (no existing reservations) and cannot be used with any third-party travel websites, like Expedia or Booking.com. For a complete list of terms and conditions, check WestJet’s website.

Airport Lounge Access

Not everyone will make use of the annual companion voucher. That’s okay because WestJet allows cardholders to exchange their voucher for four annual RBC airport lounge access vouchers per year. The primary cardholder can use the lounge vouchers for themselves and any accompanied guests.

WestJet and RBC are partnered with Mastercard Airport Experiences from LoungeKey for this benefit. The regular cost of lounge access is $32 USD per person, making this a valuable card perk.

Free Checked Bag

As a WestJet RBC World Elite cardholder, you receive a free first-checked bag for yourself and up to 8 additional guests on the same reservation.

Airlines are charging more and more fees for additional services, including checked bags, which is why this next benefit is so valuable, especially if you usually travel in a group. If so, this benefit alone can save you hundreds of dollars after only 1 or 2 trips.

To make sure you are not charged for your first checked bag, ensure that the WestJet Rewards ID that is associated with your card is included on your reservation. Free bags are tied to the WestJet Rewards ID of the primary cardholder, and the cardholder’s name must be on the reservation.

Insurance Coverage

Like any great travel rewards credit card, the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard doesn’t skimp on complimentary insurance coverages. As a cardholder, you are protected by the following plans:

• Emergency Purchases and Flight Delay Insurance
• Auto/Rental Collision/Loss Damage Insurance
• Purchase Security and Extended Warranty Insurance
• Hotel/Motel Burglary Insurance
• Travel Accident Insurance
• Out-Of-Country/Province Emergency Travel Medical Insurance (15-days, less than 65 years of age)
• Trip Interruption Insurance

These coverages, particularly the Auto/Rental Collision/Loss Damage and Emergency Medical plans, can save you a lot of money and provide peace of mind. Be sure to review your card’s policies to understand the specific details and limitations of your coverage.

Free Access to Boingo Wi-Fi

Cardholders can register for free access to Boingo Wi-Fi, which is a worldwide network with hotspots in over a million locations worldwide, including many WestJet flights. It’s a nice feature if you’re trying to avoid using data while traveling.

Bonus Be Well points at Rexall

When you link your WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard with your Rexall Be Well account, you’ll earn 50 Be Well points on every dollar you spend on eligible Rexall products. This is five times the regular earning rate, which is only 10 points per dollar spent. For reference, 25,000 Be Well points have a value of $10 upon redemption.

DoorDash Discounts

When you link your WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard to your DoorDash account, you’ll get a 12-month complimentary DoorDash subscription (over $100 value). You’ll also receive unlimited deliveries with $0 delivery fees on orders of $15 or more as long as you pay with your linked card.

Petro-Canada Fuel Savings

When you link your WestJet card to your Petro-Canada account, you’ll be eligible to receive 3 cents/litre whenever you fill up on fuel while earning 20% more Petro Points.

WestJet RBC Mastercard Pros and Cons

When considering any credit card, always weigh the benefits and drawbacks. Here’s my list of Westjet RBC World Elite Mastercard pros and cons:

Pros

• Generous welcome bonus
• Annual companion voucher (or airport lounge passes)
• Free first checked bag for up to 9 passengers (primary cardholder + 8 additional guests)
• Seven types of insurance coverage
• Membership in the WestJet Rewards program
• Best travel credit card for loyal WestJet customers

Cons:

• It is less flexible than other travel rewards cards, i.e., you can only redeem your WestJet dollars for WestJet flights.
• You can’t redeem your WestJet dollars when booking through third-party travel providers.
• Lower earning rates than other rewards credit cards (only 1.5% on non-WestJet purchases).

Overall, consider your travel preferences, spending habits, and whether the benefits of the WestJet RBC Mastercard align with your needs when deciding if it’s the right card for you. Happy travels!

The Bottom Line on the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard

The WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard is best suited to frequent WestJet flyers. As mentioned, you can save hundreds of dollars annually just by taking advantage of the annual companion voucher and free checked bags. That’s over and above the WestJet dollars you earn when you spend.

In full disclosure, WestJet is my preferred airline in Canada, and I’ve had a WestJet RBC World Elite card for several years. One thing I like is that I can use it at Costco and stack my rewards points with the 2% cash back I earn with my Costco Executive membership.

But it’s not the only travel credit card in my wallet, which leads me to the biggest drawback of the WestJet RBC World Elite card – that is, its lack of flexibility.

If you want to use travel rewards for different types of travel bookings (flights, hotels, car rentals, etc.) through different providers, then the Westjet RBC World Elite Mastercard isn’t for you.

Instead, choose a travel rewards card not tied to a specific provider. This is why I also carry a TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite can. I book flights with my WestJet World Elite and everything else with my TD travel card, which is more flexible.

FAQs

What are the top benefits of the WestJet World Elite Mastercard?

In my opinion, there are three standout features of the WestJet World Elite Mastercard. The first is the generous welcome bonus, which has a value of up to $450. But that’s a one-time benefit. The best features, which is why I have this card in my wallet, are the annual companion voucher and the free first-checked bags. If you’re a frequent traveller, these benefits can save you hundreds of dollars annually.

Can I access airport lounges using this card?

There are three ways to access airport lounges with the WestJet RBC World Elite card.

1. Register for the Mastercard Travel Pass Program provided by DragonPass.
2. Exchange your annual WestJet companion voucher for four complimentary WestJet Lounge vouchers.
3. Reach Platinum or Gold WestJet Rewards status and receive complimentary access to WestJet Lounges.

Is the card worth having for frequent travellers?

This card provides significant value to anyone who travels often with WestJet. The ability to earn WestJet dollars and take advantage of the annual companion voucher can result in substantial savings on travel expenses.