The RBC WestJet World Elite Mastercard is designed for Canadians who fly WestJet with some regularity — especially families or couples. The card’s headline perks (free checked bag and the companion voucher) are the kind of benefits that can pay for the annual fee in a single trip for many households. If you live in a WestJet hub area (West Coast or Calgary) or you frequently fly WestJet routes, this card can be a practical long‑term keeper.
Welcome bonus — 450 WestJet dollars
RBC’s current public offer on this card is 450 WestJet dollars. The split is:
- 250 WestJet dollars after account opening and first purchase
- 200 WestJet dollars after $5,000 in spend within the first 3 months
That’s a healthy bonus for a co‑brand card. The offer has no advertised end date and has been one of the better publicly available sign‑up levels for this product.
How the card earns
Earning is simple and predictable:
- 2% back (in WestJet dollars) on WestJet purchases and WestJet Vacations
- 1.5% back (in WestJet dollars) on all other purchases
The 1.5% base earn on general spend is notable. Many competing cards, including some other World Elite Mastercards, have moved to more tiered structures (higher rates on dining, grocery, and 1% base), so a straight 1.5% across the board is a solid baseline for WestJet loyalists who want a single card for everyday spend.
Perks that matter — what you actually get
The most valuable perks are travel‑centric (as expected from a co‑brand card). Below are the notable benefits and practical notes about each.
Free Boingo Wi‑Fi
World Elite Mastercards typically include Boingo access — including on planes where available. It can save you $10–15 per flight, but in practice the connection is often only good for messaging and light browsing. With major airlines moving toward free onboard messaging for frequent flyers, Boingo’s value may wane.
RBC banking perks
- 3 cents per litre off at Petro‑Canada and 20% more Petro‑Points when accounts are linked.
- 12 months of DoorDash DashPass included (saves roughly $120 if you’d otherwise subscribe).
Free first checked bag
Cardholders and their travel companions on the same WestJet reservation get a free first checked bag. For families this is a big win — a family of four doing a round trip could easily save ~$240 (two trips’ worth of checked baggage) which alone can cover the annual fee.
Annual companion voucher — the headline benefit
Each cardholder receives an annual round‑trip companion voucher. The companion can fly with the cardholder for:
- $119 + taxes & fees for travel within Canada and the continental U.S.
- $399 + taxes & fees for travel to other WestJet destinations
On paper this looks fantastic, but the real value depends on how WestJet prices the base fare vs taxes and fees. Below are real booking examples demonstrating the variability.
Pros and cons – RBC WestJet World Elite
Pros
- Companion voucher often easily offsets the annual fee; can deliver very high value on certain routes.
- Free first checked bag for cardholder and travel companions saves frequent family travelers real money.
- Strong flat 1.5% earn on all non‑WestJet spend — better than many cards’ 1% base.
- Simple redemptions: WestJet dollars = $1 toward base fares with no blackouts.
- RBC banking perks (Petro‑Canada savings, DashPass) add tangible, everyday value.
Cons
- WestJet dollars are less valuable on a per‑point basis than Aeroplan for premium redemptions.
- Companion voucher’s value depends on taxes & fees; not useful for all routes (notably many European itineraries).
- Redemptions are limited to WestJet — less flexible than transferable points or cards that work across multiple airlines.
- Some perks (Boingo Wi‑Fi) have limited practical value.
Who should consider this card?
- Families who fly WestJet once or twice a year — the free bag benefit alone can justify the annual fee.
- Couples who travel together and can use the companion voucher on mid‑ to long‑haul routes where the base fare is significant.
- Residents of the West Coast or Calgary where WestJet has a strong route network — the card can serve as a primary travel card for these flyers.
- People who want simple, predictable redemptions (1 WestJet dollar = $1 toward base fare) and don’t want to deal with complex award charts.
Who might want to skip it?
- Travelers who habitually fly Air Canada or use multiple airlines; they’ll likely find more value from Aeroplan or flexible points cards.
- People who chase premium international business class redemptions — WestJet Rewards is limited for premium cabins.
- Anyone who prefers broadly transferable points (Amex MR, RBC Avion/Visa Infinite Avion etc.) for flexibility across alliances and partners.