About the WestJet RBC Mastercard
The WestJet RBC Mastercard will appeal to anyone who flies WestJet. It’s essentially a cash back credit card, but with some great travel benefits. Instead of earning points, you get WestJet dollars. Earn 1% back in WestJet dollars on everyday purchases³ you make on your card and 1.5% back in WestJet dollars on WestJet flights or WestJet Vacations packages³. While that earn rate may not seem high, this is an entry-level card and has an annual fee of just $39.
Let’s say you spend $2,000 on flights and a total of $18,000 on all other purchases every year. That would give you 210 WestJet dollars. When you add in the welcome bonus that’s worth up to 100 WestJet dollars¹, that’s a total of 310 WestJet dollars that you could get in the first year. That’s a decent return for a low-fee card. Plus, every seat on WestJet flights is available and there are no blackout dates.
Additional benefits with the card include an annual round-trip companion voucher starting from $199¹, travel accident insurance¹¹, hotel/motel burglary insurance⁹, and rental car insurance.¹⁰
Card features and benefits
Clearly, this card is aimed at travellers who frequently fly WestJet. You get an increased earn rate on WestJet purchases and some travel benefits. Overall, it’s a decent entry-level travel credit card that has a low minimum income requirement to be approved. Some of the benefits worth highlighting include:
- Robust earn rates: Earn 1% back in WestJet dollars on everyday purchases³ you make on your card and 1.5% back in WestJet dollars on WestJet flights or WestJet Vacations packages³.
- Lucrative welcome offer: Earn up to 100 WestJet dollars¹ (with $1,000 spend in the first 3 months).
- Easy redemptions: WestJet dollars can be used to pay for the base fare of eligible WestJet flights and vacation packages.
- Low annual fee: The annual fee is just $39, which is great for a card that offers so many benefits.
WestJet RBC Mastercard Pros and Cons
The WestJet RBC Mastercard is a good travel credit card for people who don’t meet the high-income requirement that premium travel cards often have. In addition, the benefits you get far outweigh the annual fee that you’ll pay. Many people will love the fact that you’re earning dollars instead of points, so there’s no need to navigate complex rewards charts.
Despite the benefits, there are some limitations to this card. Since you’re earning WestJet dollars, you’re essentially tied to a single airline. Although you do have the option to use your WestJet dollars on vacation packages, not every resort is available. The included travel insurance¹¹ is pretty basic, and it doesn’t include travel medical or trip cancellation insurance.
Pros
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Decent welcome offer
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Good earn rate
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Some travel insurance
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Low minimum annual income requirement
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Low $39 annual fee
Cons
Other WestJet RBC Mastercard perks
Although the WestJet RBC Mastercard is an entry-level card, it comes with a few additional perks that are worth mentioning. For a similar, more premium version check out the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard.
- Companion voucher¹: You get an annual round-trip companion voucher starting from $199.
- Travel accident insurance¹¹: You’re insured for up to $500,000 with the included travel accident insurance.
- Auto rental collision/loss damage insurance¹⁰: Get up to $65,000 in auto rental collision/loss damage insurance for up to 48 days.
- Hotel/motel burglary insurance⁹: Get up to $2,500 in hotel/motel burglary insurance.
- Purchase security: Provides coverage against all risks of direct accidental physical loss or damage, for 90 days from the date of purchase. This applies to personal property and gifts purchased in full using a WestJet RBC Mastercard card and/or WestJet dollars.
- Extended warranty: Purchases made with your WestJet RBC Mastercard automatically get double the original warranty up to an extension of one additional year. Items covered must have been purchased in full using your WestJet RBC Mastercard, your card and WestJet dollars, or with WestJet dollars.
How the WestJet RBC Mastercard compares
If you’re considering the WestJet RBC Mastercard, the assumption is that you fly WestJet regularly. Since Air Canada is WestJet’s biggest competitor when it comes to flights, you should take a look at what the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Platinum* Credit Card offers as a comparison.
Earn up to $500 in value†, including up to 20,000 Aeroplan points† and no annual fee for the first year†. Conditions apply.
The TD® Aeroplan® Visa Platinum* Credit Card has a higher annual fee of $89 but there is a first-year annual fee rebate.† Currently, the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Platinum* Credit Card extends a strong Welcome Bonus to new cardholders. Earn up to $500 in value†, including up to 20,000 Aeroplan points† and no Annual Fee for the first year†. Conditions apply.
When it comes to the earn rate, WestJet is decent for an entry-level card. Earn 1% back in WestJet dollars on everyday purchases³ you make on your card and 1.5% back in WestJet dollars on WestJet flights or WestJet Vacations packages³.
The TD® Aeroplan® Visa Platinum* Credit Card, has a slightly different rewards system. Earn 1 point† for every $1 spent on eligible gas, grocery and direct through Air Canada® purchases (including Air Canada Vacations®) made with your card. Earn 1 point† for every $1.50 spent on all other eligible purchases† made with your card.
For many people, the comparison comes down to redemptions. If WestJet is your preferred airline, then earning WestJet dollars makes sense. If you prefer some flexibility with your flights, then Aeroplan might be a better choice since you can use your points with Air Canada and their partners. That said, Aeroplan does have a dynamic pricing model, so redeeming your points for free flights could be tricky.
†Terms and conditions apply.
The TD® Aeroplan® Visa Platinum* Card offer is not available for residents of Quebec. For Quebec residents, please click here.
The verdict
If you prefer to fly WestJet, don’t want to pay a high annual fee, or don’t meet the high minimum annual income requirement for other cards, then the WestJet RBC Mastercard is a solid choice. The welcome bonus is worth more than the annual fee and WestJet dollars are easy to redeem since they’re similar to cash.
While this card may be lacking in travel insurance, this should be expected since the annual fee is just $39. You still get purchase security and extended warranty insurance as long as you charge the entire cost of your purchases to your WestJet RBC Mastercard and/or with WestJet dollars. If you like to fly WestJet and want to save money, then this card is for you.
Refer to RBC page for up to date offer terms and conditions.
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