Overview
The WestJet RBC Mastercard is the entry-level WestJet co-branded credit card in Canada, offering a low-cost way to earn WestJet points on everyday spending. At just $39/year, it's one of the most affordable airline co-branded cards available — making it ideal for occasional WestJet flyers who want to accumulate points and access a companion voucher without a premium annual fee.
The current welcome offer is up to 10,000 WestJet points, worth up to $100 in travel value. While the signup bonus is modest compared to premium cards, the real ongoing value comes from the annual companion voucher (requiring just $2,500 in annual spend) and 1.5x earning on WestJet purchases, dining, and streaming.
Earning WestJet Points
The card offers a simple earning structure with bonuses on select categories:
- 1.5 WestJet points per $1 on WestJet flights, WestJet Vacations, and Sunwing Vacations
- 1.5 WestJet points per $1 at restaurants, food delivery, digital subscriptions, streaming services, and digital games
- 1 WestJet point per $1 on all other everyday purchases
The dining and streaming bonus categories are a practical fit for younger travellers and families who spend regularly on food delivery, Netflix, Spotify, and similar services. On $1,000/month in combined spending, you'd earn approximately 12,600 WestJet points per year before any welcome bonus.
WestJet Points Never Expire
Just like the World Elite card, WestJet points earned through this card never expire. There's no activity requirement or expiry window, so you can accumulate at your own pace.
What Are WestJet Points Worth?
WestJet points redeem at a consistent value across most travel options:
| Redemption Method | Value per Point | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Flights (base fare, taxes, fees) | ~1.0¢ | Full or partial flight cost coverage |
| Seat selection, bags, upgrades | ~1.0¢ | Redeem for ancillary services |
| WestJet Vacations packages | ~1.0¢ | Cover vacation package costs |
| WestJet Rewards eStore | Varies | Gift cards, electronics, home essentials |
| Member Exclusive Fares | 1.0¢+ | Member-only pricing for better value |
You can start redeeming with as few as 2,500 WestJet points, and points can cover the full cost of your flight including taxes, fees, and surcharges.
Companion Voucher
The companion voucher is the card's most compelling benefit — especially given the low annual fee:
Welcome Companion Voucher
After your first purchase on the card, you'll receive a round-trip companion voucher starting from $199 CAD (plus taxes, fees, charges, and other ATC). Bring a travel companion along on a round-trip WestJet flight at a significantly reduced cost.
Annual Companion Voucher
Each year after, when you spend a minimum of $2,500 annually on the card (a much lower threshold than the World Elite's $5,000), you'll receive another companion voucher. If a companion voucher doesn't fit your plans, you can exchange it for:
- 25% flight discount for one traveller
- 5,000 WestJet points
While the exchange options are less generous than the World Elite card's (which offers a 30% discount, $200 vacation credit, or two lounge passes), the lower spend threshold and annual fee make this voucher more accessible.
Insurance & Benefits
The standard Mastercard tier comes with a lighter insurance package:
- Mobile device insurance — Covers your smartphone against accidental damage and theft
- Purchase protection & extended warranty — Protection on eligible purchases
What's NOT Included
Unlike the World Elite version, this card does not include:
- Travel emergency medical insurance
- Trip cancellation & interruption insurance
- Flight delay insurance
- Baggage delay & loss insurance
- Car rental collision/loss damage waiver
If you need travel insurance, you'll want to purchase it separately or consider upgrading to the World Elite card.
Partner Perks
- Petro-Canada — Save 3¢/L on fuel and earn 20% more Petro-Points when you link your card
- Rexall — Earn 50 Be Well™ points per $1 on eligible purchases
- DoorDash — Free 6-month DashPass subscription with $0 delivery fees on orders of $15+
Drawbacks to Consider
No Travel Insurance
The biggest gap compared to most travel cards: no travel emergency medical, trip cancellation, or baggage insurance. If travel insurance is important to you, factor in the cost of standalone coverage — or consider whether the World Elite card at $139/year would be a better all-in value.
Modest Earn Rates
At 1 WestJet point per $1 on non-bonus categories, the everyday earn rate is average for a low-fee card. You'll earn meaningfully faster with the World Elite's 1.5x base rate and 2x grocery/gas/transit categories.
No Free Checked Bags or Lounge Access
These are reserved for the World Elite tier. If you regularly travel with checked luggage, the free bags benefit alone on the World Elite card can justify the $100 annual fee difference.
WestJet RBC Mastercard vs. World Elite
| Feature | Standard Mastercard | World Elite Mastercard |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $39 | $139 |
| Additional Card | $19 | $59 |
| WestJet/Vacations Earn | 1.5x | 2x |
| Dining/Streaming Bonus | 1.5x | N/A |
| Grocery/Gas/Transit Bonus | N/A | 2x |
| Everyday Earn | 1x | 1.5x |
| Companion Voucher | From $199 | From $119 |
| Min Spend for Voucher | $2,500 | $5,000 |
| Free Checked Bags | Up to 9 travellers | |
| Lounge Access | DragonPass | |
| Travel Insurance | Full package | |
| Mobile Device Insurance | ||
| Income Requirement | None | $80K/$150K |
The standard card wins on accessibility — lower fee, lower spend threshold, no income requirement. The World Elite wins on earning power, perks, and insurance.
Who Is This Card Best For?
This card is an excellent choice if you:
- Fly WestJet a few times per year and want to earn points towards future flights
- Want a companion voucher without committing to a high annual fee or spend threshold
- Value a low $39 annual fee with no income requirement
- Spend regularly on dining, food delivery, and streaming and want 1.5x points
- Want WestJet points that never expire — accumulate at your own pace
- Are a student, new to credit, or prefer low-commitment travel cards
It's not the best choice if you:
- Fly WestJet frequently and need free bags, lounge access, and status perks (get World Elite instead)
- Require travel insurance bundled with your credit card
- Spend frequently in foreign currencies
- Want a high earn rate across all spending categories
Bottom Line
The WestJet RBC Mastercard is a smart, affordable entry into the WestJet Rewards ecosystem. At just $39/year with up to 10,000 bonus WestJet points, an annual companion voucher requiring only $2,500 in spend, and 1.5x earning on WestJet, dining, and streaming, it delivers solid value for casual WestJet flyers who don't need all the bells and whistles of a premium card.
If you fly WestJet a couple of times a year and want to earn points that never expire, the companion voucher alone — even at $199 base price — can save you hundreds on a round-trip flight. It's a low-risk, low-cost card that punches above its weight class on value per dollar of annual fee.
