WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard: When Is It Actually Worth It?
Nerdy Verdict
Best for:
People who already fly WestJet often.
Not ideal for:
Travellers who want flexible rewards or more airline choice.
Why we like it:
The annual companion voucher, free checked bags and WestJet Status Lift can offer real value if you will actually use them.
The WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard is best for people who already fly WestJet often enough to make use of its perks. Its real value comes from the annual companion voucher, free checked bags and faster access to WestJet status.
View details
Points for every dollar you spend on WestJet flights, WestJet Vacations, and Sunwing Vacations².
Points for every dollar you spend at grocery stores and on transportation including gas, EV charging, public transit and rideshare³.
Points for every dollar you spend on all other everyday purchases².
Free checked bags, airport lounge access, an annual companion voucher, and the ability to earn WestJet points on everyday purchases are just a few of the perks this card has to offer — not to mention the full suite of insurances. But if you don’t fly WestJet often, or don’t meet the minimum $80,000 annual income requirement, this card won’t be worth your while. Best for: Frequent travellers who are loyal to WestJet and its partner airlines.
Pros
- Annual companion pass from $119.
- Free checked bags for you and up to 8 guests.
- Full suite of travel insurance.
Cons
- DragonPass membership only — airport lounge visits cost extra.
- High $80,000 minimum income requirement.
- Get up to 45,000 WestJet points¹: 25,000 welcome WestJet points upon your first purchase and an additional 20,000 WestJet points when you spend a minimum of $5,000 in the first 3 months.
- Check your first bag for free for the primary cardholder and up to 8 guests on the same reservation when you pay with your WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard⁴
- Cardholders can now achieve Silver, Gold and even Platinum Status with a Status Lift up to 50 times per year – you’ll earn 200 CAD in tier qualifying spend for every $5,000 in purchases on your card⁵
- Receive an annual round-trip companion voucher (World Elite Companion Voucher) starting from $119 CAD (plus taxes, fees, surcharges and other ATC) when you spend a minimum of $5,000 annually on your card⁵, or choose to exchange it for one of the following: a 30% flight discount for one traveller⁸, a $200 credit towards a WestJet Vacations package or Sunwing Vacations package⁹, or two airport lounge passes¹⁰
- Earn 2 points for every dollar you spend on WestJet flights, WestJet Vacations, and Sunwing Vacations²
- Earn 2 points for every dollar you spend at grocery stores and on transportation including gas, EV charging, public transit and rideshare³
- Earn 1.5 points for every dollar you spend on all other everyday purchases²
- WestJet points can now be redeemed to cover taxes, fees and surcharges⁹
- You can truly relax while you’re travelling with comprehensive coverage, now including Trip Cancellation insurance⁶.
- WestJet points never expire. Use your WestJet points to book flights anytime so you can travel when and where you want – no blackout periods.
- Travel coverage including emergency medical insurance²⁰ as well as trip interruption insurance²¹, hotel burglary¹⁸ and rental car insurance¹⁹. Even eligible purchases you make on the card are protected.
- Save at Petro-Canada – Save 3¢/L on gas and earn 20% more Petro-Points when you pay with a linked RBC card.⁷
- Earn more Be Well points at Rexall – Earn 50 Be Well points for every $1 spent on eligible purchases at Rexall when you pay with your linked RBC credit card.⁸
- Enjoy unlimited $0 delivery fees with DoorDash – Get a complimentary DashPass subscription⁹ from DoorDash for up to 12 months and enjoy unlimited deliveries from qualifying restaurants you love. Enjoy $0 delivery fees10 on orders of $15+ when you pay with an eligible RBC credit card.
- Enjoy airport lounges worldwide: Your WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard entitles you to membership in the Mastercard Travel Pass Program provided by DragonPass.¹¹ This program offers access to more than 1,300 airport lounges globally, plus valuable airport dining and spa offers. Download the Mastercard Travel Pass app and register at mastercardtravelpass.dragonpass.com
- Eligibility: This card requires a minimum personal income of $80,000 or a minimum household income of $150,000. Must also be a Canadian resident of the age of majority in the province or territory of residence.
- Corresponding legal references and product terms are available on the RBC website, which will be available and agreed upon in the customer onboarding process.
Full review: Benefits, drawbacks and perks to know
The WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard is a co-branded airline card. So the first question is not whether it has a decent earn rate. It does. The more important question is whether you actually fly WestJet often enough to benefit from what makes this card special.
That is the key tradeoff. This card can be genuinely useful for people who already prefer WestJet, especially couples, families or regular domestic travellers who are likely to check bags and use the companion voucher.
But it is much less compelling if you want broad travel flexibility or do not want your rewards strategy tied closely to one airline.
This card’s benefits come from its airline-specific perks.
Its strongest benefit is the annual companion voucher, which becomes available after $5,000 in annual spending. For the right traveller, that can be one of the most valuable airline perks attached to a Canadian credit card.
The free checked bag benefit also stands out. The primary cardholder and up to eight guests on the same reservation can get their first checked bag free on eligible WestJet bookings. If you travel with a partner or family, that can add up quickly.
The card also has respectable earns rates: 2 WestJet points per dollar on WestJet flights, WestJet Vacations and Sunwing Vacations, 2 points per dollar at grocery stores and on transportation, and 1.5 points per dollar on everything else.
These rewards make the card more usable for everyday spending than some airline cards. Still, they are ultimately most useful for people who actually want WestJet rewards.
Another meaningful perk is WestJet Status Lift, which helps cardholders make progress toward elite status through spending. That will not matter to everyone, but for frequent WestJet flyers it adds value in a way a more general travel card usually cannot.
There is also now a connection between WestJet Rewards and Triangle Rewards, which slightly improves the everyday appeal of the card for people who already shop at participating Canadian Tire banners. That is a nice extra, but it should be treated as a secondary benefit, not the main reason to get the card.
The biggest weakness is also the simplest one: this is a narrow card.
If you want flexible points, broader redemption options or the freedom to book travel without thinking about one airline, this card will probably feel limiting. The points alone are probably not enough to carry the card for most people.
It also charges a 2.5% foreign transaction fee, which makes it less attractive for spending abroad.
The annual fee is not outrageous at $139, a cost that's hard to justify if you are not using its perks regularly. The companion voucher sounds great, but only if you actually redeem it. The checked-bag benefit is valuable, but only if you fly WestJet often enough to use it.
2 WestJet points per dollar on WestJet flights, WestJet Vacations and Sunwing Vacations.
2 WestJet points per dollar at grocery stores and on transportation.
1.5 WestJet points per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
An annual round-trip companion voucher after $5,000 in annual spending.
Free first checked bag for the primary cardholder and up to eight guests on the same reservation on eligible bookings.
Mastercard Travel Pass membership with access to more than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide.
WestJet Status Lift through card spending.
The ability to link WestJet Rewards with Triangle Rewards for additional earning opportunities across participating businesses.
Who its best for (and how to know if you qualify)
This card is best for travellers who already have a reason to stay close to WestJet. That could mean you:
Fly WestJet regularly
Live in a WestJet-friendly market
Usually check a bag
Travel with a partner or family
Are likely to get real value from the companion voucher
It may also work for someone who only flies a few times a year, as long as those trips are predictably with WestJet and the airline perks will save enough money to offset the fee.
It makes less sense for people who want more flexible travel rewards, rarely fly WestJet or are unlikely to use the card’s airline perks consistently.
Eligibility
To qualify for the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard, you must:
Be a Canadian resident.
Be at least the age of majority for your province or territory.
Have a personal annual income of at least $80,000 ($150,000 per household), or a minimum of $400,000 in investable assets.
Don’t meet the income requirements? A card with lower or no income requirements may make more sense if your main goal is simply earning travel rewards rather than accessing this card’s WestJet-specific perks.
Approximate credit score needed for approval
Canadian credit card issuers rarely disclose required credit scores, which makes it hard to know your chances of approval when comparing credit cards. However, higher scores generally mean better chances of approval, and that’s true regardless of the type of credit you’re applying for.
Want to learn more? Visit our “What Credit Score is Needed for a Credit Card?” page.
Rewards: Welcome offer, earn rates and point value
Point value breakdown:
According to WestJet, 100 WestJet Rewards points is worth $1 CAD in eligible redemptions.
Earn up to 45,000 WestJet points:
25,000 WestJet points upon first purchase.
20,000 additional points after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months.
Offer valid through August 31, 2026.
Earn:
2 WestJet points per dollar on WestJet flights, WestJet Vacations and Sunwing Vacations.
2 WestJet points per dollar at grocery stores and on transportation, including gas, EV charging, public transit and rideshare.
1.5 WestJet points per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
Is it worth it for you? Plus, options if not
Yes, the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard can be worth it for people who already fly WestJet often enough to use its airline perks.
If you will actually use the annual companion voucher, free checked bags and WestJet Status Lift, the card can offer solid ongoing value. If you want flexible travel rewards or are unlikely to use those benefits regularly, it will probably feel too limiting.
This is not a one-size-fits-all travel card. It is best for travellers who already have a reason to stay close to WestJet.
Not for you? Consider these alternatives
Rewards breakdown
Rewards breakdownPoints on eligible travel-related purchases
Points on everything else.
NerdWallet's take
NerdWallet's takeThe RBC Avion Visa Infinite simplifies reward accrual with 1 Avion point per $1 spent and boosted rates of 1.25x on travel purchases. A broad swath of insurance coverage, paired with value-adding extras like gas, car rental and food delivery discounts, makes this a well-rounded card for travellers. Best for: Travellers who want flexible rewards points and built-in travel protections.
Pros
- Car rental discounts of up to 20% at Hertz.
- Fuel discounts of 3 cents per litre at Petro-Canada.
Cons
- No airport lounge access.
- Highest earn rate only applies to travel spending.
Card details
Card details- Get up to 55,000 Avion points¹ (max travel value of $1,100†), that’s up to 3 round trip flights^. Get 35,000 Welcome Points on approval and 20,000 bonus points when you spend $5,000 in your first 6 months¹. Apply by June 15, 2026.
- Earn 1 Avion point for every dollar you spend* and an extra 25% on eligible travel purchases.
- Avion Visa Infinite Cardholders can book flights with points on any airline, on any flight, at any time, early or last minute, with no blackout periods or restrictions.
- Avion Visa Infinite Cardholders earn points that never expire so your points will be waiting for your next adventure.
- Redeem your points for travel and more. Use points for anything from paying bills and paying your card balance to redeeming for Gift Cards and Merchandise at top brands like Apple. The Avion Rewards program gives you the freedom of choice to use your points your way, and helps you make the most as an Avion Visa Infinite Cardholder.
- Eligible Avion Rewards members can also convert points to other loyalty programs including WestJet dollars, British Airways Avios points and Hudson’s Bay Rewards points.
- Link your RBC card with a Petro-Points membership to instantly save 3₵ per litre on fuel at Petro-Canada stations and earn 20% more Petro-Points and 20% more Avion points.
- Link your RBC card with a Rexall Be Well account and get 50 Be Well points for every $1 spent on eligible products at Rexall. Redeem Be Well points faster for savings in store on eligible purchases where 25,000 Be Well points = $10.
- Get access to RBC offers which provides access to earn points faster at specified brands.
- Extensive insurance including: mobile device insurance, travel insurance (trip cancellation, interruption and emergency medical) and other eligible purchases to protect you and your family.
- Avion Visa Infinite Cardholders get access to luxury Visa Infinite benefits including first in line for exclusive events, and hotel and dining benefits.
- Avion Visa Infinite Cardholders no longer need 14-days to book travel using the RBC grid.
- Add your credit card to your DoorDash account and get a free 12 monthly DashPass subscription¹⁶
- Enjoy unlimited deliveries with $0 delivery fees on orders of $15 or more when you pay with your eligible RBC credit card.
- Corresponding legal references and product terms are available on the RBC website, which will be available and agreed upon in the customer onboarding process.
Rewards breakdown
Rewards breakdownPoints for every dollar you spend on WestJet flights, WestJet Vacations, and Sunwing Vacations².
Points for every dollar you spend on restaurants, food delivery, digital subscriptions, streaming services and digital games³.
Point for every dollar you spend on everyday purchases²
NerdWallet's take
NerdWallet's takeThe WestJet RBC Mastercard is a low-fee option for jet-setters heading to destinations within Canada or the continental United States. Cardholders get access to a suite of built-in travel insurance as well as annual companion vouchers for their travel buddies.
Pros
- Low annual fee.
- Suite of travel insurance coverage including travel accident, hotel burglary and auto rental.
- One companion voucher per year, allowing a travel buddy to book the same trip for just $199.
Cons
- Low reward earn rates.
- WestJet dollars can only be redeemed for travel bookings.
Card details
Card details- Earn up to 15,000 WestJet points¹ (with $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months).
- Earn 1.5 points for every dollar you spend on WestJet flights, WestJet Vacations, and Sunwing Vacations².
- Earn 1.5 points for every dollar you spend on restaurants, food delivery, digital subscriptions, streaming services and digital games³.
- Earn 1 point for every dollar you spend on everyday purchases².
- Get an annual round-trip companion voucher starting from $199 CAD (plus taxes, fees, surcharges and other ATC) when you spend a minimum of $2,500 annually on your card for round-trip travel within Canada and to/from the continental U.S.⁴ or exchange it for: a 25% flight discount for one traveller¹¹ or 5,000 WestJet points¹²
- Use your WestJet points toward all or part of a WestJet flight, WestJet Vacations package, or Sunwing Vacations package⁴
- WestJet points can now be redeemed to cover taxes, fees and surcharges⁴
- No blackout periods and your WestJet points don't expire⁵ – fly to destinations across North America, Central America, the Caribbean and Europe (ALT language: Anywhere WestJet flies)
- Travel accident insurance⁹, plus hotel/motel burglary insurance⁹, auto rental collision/loss damage waiver insurance⁹, delayed bagged insurance⁹, and mobile device insurance⁹
- Save at Petro-Canada – Save 3¢/L on gas and earn 20% more Petro-Points when you pay with a linked RBC card.⁷
- Earn more Be Well points at Rexall – Earn 50 Be Well points for every $1 spent on eligible purchases at Rexall when you pay with your linked RBC credit card.⁸
- Enjoy unlimited $0 delivery fees with DoorDash – Get a complimentary DashPass subscription⁹ from DoorDash for up to 6 months and enjoy unlimited deliveries from qualifying restaurants you love. Enjoy $0 delivery fees¹⁰ on orders of $15+ when you pay with an eligible RBC credit card.
This card can make a lot of sense as part of a stack of multiple credit cards. You could keep it for WestJet perks, then use a more flexible travel or cash-back card for everyday spending where this card is less compelling.
Facts: Rates, fees, and the nitty-gritty details
WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard | |
|---|---|
Card type | |
Fees and interest rates | |
Annual fee | $139. |
Regular/purchase APR | 20.99%. |
Penalty APR | 25.99% if you miss two payments within 12 months. This penalty APR will stay in place until you’ve made 12 consecutive payments on time. |
Cash advance APR | 22.99% (21.99% for Quebec residents). |
Cash advance fee | $5 per transaction. |
Promotional balance transfer fee | Up to 3% of the transaction amount. |
Foreign transaction fee | 2.5% of the transaction amount. |
Rewards and benefits | |
Intro offer | Earn up to 45,000 WestJet points:
|
Reward earn rates |
|
Other perks |
|
Insurance coverage | |
Travel accident | Up to $500,000. |
Trip cancellation | Up to $1,500 per each covered person per trip, to an overall maximum of $5,000 |
Trip interruption | Up to $5,000 per insured person per trip. |
Flight delay | Up to $500. |
Baggage delay | Up to $2,500. |
Hotel burglary | Up to $2,500. |
Rental car theft/damage | For up to 48 days. |
Mobile device insurance | Up to $1,500. |
Extended warranty | Up to one additional year. |
Purchase protection | 90 days. |
Methodology
BACK TO TOPNerdy Verdict
Best for:
People who already fly WestJet often.
Not ideal for:
Travellers who want flexible rewards or more airline choice.
Why we like it:
The annual companion voucher, free checked bags and WestJet Status Lift can offer real value if you will actually use them.
DIVE EVEN DEEPER
Shannon Terrell
Shannon Terrell