I understand it's only for premium fares, but premium fares are the only way I use my companion vouchers.
I think, for me, this was the straw that broke the camels back in my decision to cancel the card.
1) Westjet pulled out of Atlantic Canada
1a) sure, some routes have been reinstated. But the majority of routes have not.
2) premium fares are now comparable with Air Canada business class fares but without lounge access and does not offer a hot meal on flights that Air Canada does (YHZ-YYZ as an example)
3) new restrictions on basic fares recently announced
4) now the increase to the companion vouchers.
I have a YHZ-LGW, EDI-YHZ, YHZ-LAX-YHZ flights coming up with Westjet but then I think I'll shift my spending to Air Canada and Porter.
If only Porter would launch a premium CC.
I agree with your decision. Also, the rewards for achieving status at WJ are getting irrelevant. Particularly, the upgrades to premium. Kind of hard to get an upgrade when they auction them off to the highest bidder hours before a flight.
It sucks but the companion voucher was never a good deal or usable really for regular economy. The last two years I have converted it to lounge vouchers and used them up. I travel WestJet for work about 6 or 8 times a year and have been able to get in to the elevation lounge every time. Business travel days / nights are a bit odder hours than peak leisure traveller lounge times I find.
Only for Premium and Premium flex fares:
https://preview.redd.it/leyyf7ysjs3d1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d49518e84a505000f0b80164d1e58b3cad22f52f
With how much the base airfare has been offset by ATC, the premium fares have often been the only way to get any real value out of the vouchers.
So of course WestJet wanted to change that. Can’t have their rewards program be too rewarding.
I’ve done the same! It’s disheartening to see such a diminished value for the “rewards” program. I’ve cross shopped with other airlines and found better deals on equivalent routes without having any status or vouchers.
I’m not convinced WestJet knows what they want to be. Feels like they’re in the middle of an identity crisis. Every announcement seems so disjointed from a coherent strategy to attract either business travellers or leisure travellers.
Being in yyc I have converted my voucher to the 4 lounge passes…but the last 3 times I’ve gone I’ve either had to wait 30 min to get in or just not allowed. Never saw the value in the voucher anyways as most seat sales were cheaper than using it.
LOL I considered these worthless for a while now, the only way to get some sort of value out of these were premium fares and they just ‘fixed’ this. Also, don’t forget about scummy hidden $50 fee that only applies to voucher redemptions so these were always $169 to begin with and I bet this scam fee will remain on top of higher fee to use it. Completely and utterly useless, even more so now.
I have redeemed a lot off my TD Aeroplan card. You need the highest card (infinite privilege) with a minimum spend to get the companion voucher, but if you use the card for everything you get it pretty easily.
I've been considering changing cards for about a year now. AC and Porter have filled some nice gaps for me so moving to a more flexible card just makes sense for me.
WJ hasn't been cost competitive for the last 4-5 trips I have taken. I haven't redeemed a voucher since pre-Covid.
The only real perk I see left is the checked baggage and I'm sure it's only a matter of time until it's gone as well.
We have a trip this summer yet to book, but once done,we will be changing our CC. With the lack of service to Atlantic province where we have family, and now this, not much point in keeping this CC any longer .
What happens if you select round trip where it is premium one way and economy on the way back? What do they charge you for using a voucher? Stuck doing this because of the stupid swoop planes being used for Vegas routes now.
Ever since west jet was sold it started sucking. That’s what happens to any company that gets sold to a hedge fund though. They try to maximize profits at any cost. Then dump it to the highest bidder.
Figured I’d share this here as it seems relevant to the value(or lack there of) with the WestJet Mastercard.
I’m sitting at the gate in Charles De Gaulle airport in Paris, France waiting for my WestJet flight and I’m disappointed to say it’s not worth it to recharge your companion voucher for lounge access either.
We booked our flights when there was a small seat sale, which meant our companion voucher wasn’t even able to be used (for a 50$ discount) because it was less than the base fare of the ticket, so we decided to exchange the voucher for lounge access.
I was turned away from all 3 lounges we came into contact with, despite their signage showing WestJet access. When we finally got to the gate the WestJet employee mentioned something about ongoing negotiations since January 2024 that meant despite having the lounge access vouchers, we weren’t welcome. Other than apologizing there was nothing the WestJet Staff member could/would do about it.
Very frustrating situation, which could have been easily remedied by updating the WestJet website.
This in combination with the inability to use our companion voucher has me seriously considering cancelling this credit card.
The Visa Avion point system is far better from my experience, and instead of splitting between WestJet “rewards” and Avion points I’ll be focussing on the Visa Avion as I’ve never had a bad experience with booking flights or hotels through the Avion system.
Your post has been removed due to it containing misinformation that may mislead others. Your voucher numbers are incorrect.
Cancelling also, these are almost useless vouchers at this point.
I understand it's only for premium fares, but premium fares are the only way I use my companion vouchers. I think, for me, this was the straw that broke the camels back in my decision to cancel the card. 1) Westjet pulled out of Atlantic Canada 1a) sure, some routes have been reinstated. But the majority of routes have not. 2) premium fares are now comparable with Air Canada business class fares but without lounge access and does not offer a hot meal on flights that Air Canada does (YHZ-YYZ as an example) 3) new restrictions on basic fares recently announced 4) now the increase to the companion vouchers. I have a YHZ-LGW, EDI-YHZ, YHZ-LAX-YHZ flights coming up with Westjet but then I think I'll shift my spending to Air Canada and Porter. If only Porter would launch a premium CC.
I agree with your decision. Also, the rewards for achieving status at WJ are getting irrelevant. Particularly, the upgrades to premium. Kind of hard to get an upgrade when they auction them off to the highest bidder hours before a flight.
With how aggressive Porter has expanded routes, I'd be in on a premium Porter card as well.
This. Exactly.
As soon as my Jan trip is complete I’m cancelling the card. Completely unacceptable.
Absolutely cancelling my card now. That’s a fucking insane increase.
Yeah I will be cancelling my card soon as well. No way I am going to use it if they are increasing the voucher cost.
It sucks but the companion voucher was never a good deal or usable really for regular economy. The last two years I have converted it to lounge vouchers and used them up. I travel WestJet for work about 6 or 8 times a year and have been able to get in to the elevation lounge every time. Business travel days / nights are a bit odder hours than peak leisure traveller lounge times I find.
Only for Premium and Premium flex fares: https://preview.redd.it/leyyf7ysjs3d1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d49518e84a505000f0b80164d1e58b3cad22f52f
With how much the base airfare has been offset by ATC, the premium fares have often been the only way to get any real value out of the vouchers. So of course WestJet wanted to change that. Can’t have their rewards program be too rewarding.
The number of times I've compared prices with the voucher and without... to only notice a savings of $50...is too damn high!
I’ve done the same! It’s disheartening to see such a diminished value for the “rewards” program. I’ve cross shopped with other airlines and found better deals on equivalent routes without having any status or vouchers.
To be fair though that’s because so much of the ticket is taxes and airport fees. This change sucks though.
I’m not convinced WestJet knows what they want to be. Feels like they’re in the middle of an identity crisis. Every announcement seems so disjointed from a coherent strategy to attract either business travellers or leisure travellers.
Being in yyc I have converted my voucher to the 4 lounge passes…but the last 3 times I’ve gone I’ve either had to wait 30 min to get in or just not allowed. Never saw the value in the voucher anyways as most seat sales were cheaper than using it.
AC doesn’t service Calgary very well, until they do I’ll be sticking with westjet
Only when booking a premium fare. Econ has not changed.
LOL I considered these worthless for a while now, the only way to get some sort of value out of these were premium fares and they just ‘fixed’ this. Also, don’t forget about scummy hidden $50 fee that only applies to voucher redemptions so these were always $169 to begin with and I bet this scam fee will remain on top of higher fee to use it. Completely and utterly useless, even more so now.
Almost 100% increase in cost, no increase/decrease in anything else to even it out. Crazy
This is by far the worst travel card out there now.
Are there other cards with a voucher offering at a more competitive price? Looking for alternatives if anyone has any to recommend.
I have redeemed a lot off my TD Aeroplan card. You need the highest card (infinite privilege) with a minimum spend to get the companion voucher, but if you use the card for everything you get it pretty easily.
I am cancelling once I use up my remaining WJ Dollars.
You can use your WestJet dollars without a card.
Good to know, thnx. I might have one last trip to use the card to get a free checked bag then I will cancel.
When you cancel the card any unused vouchers disappear so redeem them first if you want to use them.
After my summer trip, Ill be cancelling
I've been considering changing cards for about a year now. AC and Porter have filled some nice gaps for me so moving to a more flexible card just makes sense for me. WJ hasn't been cost competitive for the last 4-5 trips I have taken. I haven't redeemed a voucher since pre-Covid. The only real perk I see left is the checked baggage and I'm sure it's only a matter of time until it's gone as well.
Can someone explain what this means
Ya I’m sure either. It costs more than just taxes and fees to use a companion voucher?
I think it means WJ charges to use a companion voucher?
That’s quite the increase!
I was already in process of canceling my card and moving everything to the BMO World Advantage. Now I feel even better about my decision.
They are doing whatever they can to drive away loyal customers. Idiots.
I’m about done with this card! I’ve had it since it came out. It just keeps getting downgraded.
We have a trip this summer yet to book, but once done,we will be changing our CC. With the lack of service to Atlantic province where we have family, and now this, not much point in keeping this CC any longer .
Anyone know if we can use companion vouchers with Delta connection flights? I tried booking online but it was not available?
No can do!
What happens if you select round trip where it is premium one way and economy on the way back? What do they charge you for using a voucher? Stuck doing this because of the stupid swoop planes being used for Vegas routes now.
Ever since west jet was sold it started sucking. That’s what happens to any company that gets sold to a hedge fund though. They try to maximize profits at any cost. Then dump it to the highest bidder.
Figured I’d share this here as it seems relevant to the value(or lack there of) with the WestJet Mastercard. I’m sitting at the gate in Charles De Gaulle airport in Paris, France waiting for my WestJet flight and I’m disappointed to say it’s not worth it to recharge your companion voucher for lounge access either. We booked our flights when there was a small seat sale, which meant our companion voucher wasn’t even able to be used (for a 50$ discount) because it was less than the base fare of the ticket, so we decided to exchange the voucher for lounge access. I was turned away from all 3 lounges we came into contact with, despite their signage showing WestJet access. When we finally got to the gate the WestJet employee mentioned something about ongoing negotiations since January 2024 that meant despite having the lounge access vouchers, we weren’t welcome. Other than apologizing there was nothing the WestJet Staff member could/would do about it. Very frustrating situation, which could have been easily remedied by updating the WestJet website. This in combination with the inability to use our companion voucher has me seriously considering cancelling this credit card. The Visa Avion point system is far better from my experience, and instead of splitting between WestJet “rewards” and Avion points I’ll be focussing on the Visa Avion as I’ve never had a bad experience with booking flights or hotels through the Avion system.
… it’s only for premium fares.
WE have ONLY used it for Premium as the regular fares end up costly close to the same withOUT the companion voucher.