Westjet World MasterCard -Deal?

[son3disfan]

Looking into this card.....
It offers a start up credit of one $99 companion fare, as well as a $100 westjet dollars. ( So basically free flight, just taxes/ fees).
Right now , flights from YYZ TO VANCOUVER are about $500 - $600 per person.
Seems like a great savings.
What am I missing?

I know about the $79 annual fee, (it covers insurance on car rentals and trip interruption which works for us anyway...)

Anyone want to comment on this card.
We are flying next year into Vancouver for our Alaska cruise .
We were looking into flying into Seattle, but this might work out too.

 

[newrygirl]

I got this card last year when they had the special where you got $350 west jet dollars to join, I put as much as i can on it every month and always pay my balance because of the high interest rate. I usually get anywhere from $25 to $50 westjet dollars per month so even with the annual fee I feel it is worth it. I have had my card for 7 months and have $502 dollars which I think is pretty good. personally I dont think you will regret it as long as you don't carry a big balance as the interest rate is 19%. I never have a outstanding balance so for me its worth it

 

[son3disfan]

I got this card last year when they had the special where you got $350 west jet dollars to join, I put as much as i can on it every month and always pay my balance because of the high interest rate. I usually get anywhere from $25 to $50 westjet dollars per month so even with the annual fee I feel it is worth it. I have had my card for 7 months and have $502 dollars which I think is pretty good. personally I dont think you will regret it as long as you don't carry a big balance as the interest rate is 19%. I never have a outstanding balance so for me its worth it

$350!!!
Wow! That would be awesome!
Maybe I should wait for a better offer!
Thanks for the feedback!

 

[modegard]

I have had my card since last fall as well (the $350 deal) and so far have been able to book 3 free flights (not including the taxes of course). I love this card! We had never flown West Jet before, but with their 'no baggage fees' and the West Jet dollars, I think we will stick with them now. I find the annual fee well worth it when I am earning that many dollars or more in a month or two.

Booking a flight using West Jet dollars is much easier than trying to use Air Miles or Aeroplan miles - both of which I have never used because I get frustrated with the flights you are limited to.

 

[son3disfan]

I have had my card since last fall as well (the $350 deal) and so far have been able to book 3 free flights (not including the taxes of course). I love this card! We had never flown West Jet before, but with their 'no baggage fees' and the West Jet dollars, I think we will stick with them now. I find the annual fee well worth it when I am earning that many dollars or more in a month or two.

Booking a flight using West Jet dollars is much easier than trying to use Air Miles or Aeroplan miles - both of which I have never used because I get frustrated with the flights you are limited to.

Good to know!!! Thanks!

 

[newrygirl]

I actual think the deal of $100 west jet dollars and a $99 companion flight is a pretty good deal, I even think its a better deal than the $350 west jet dollars I got last fall. To me a $99 companion flight is way better than an extra $250 west jet dollars especially if flights you are looking at are $500-$600, I would join up with that deal

 

[son3disfan]

Yes, agreed...
A companion flight does seem like a better deal. When I posted, I thought it was $350 PLUS the flight!

 

[204charity]

*BUMP*

Just thought this topic should be readdressed due to the new changes about to occur on this card: (Copied from the RBC Westjet site)


Effective October 2, 2012, the current WestJet RBC World MasterCard will no longer be available and will be replaced by the WestJet RBC World Elite MasterCard. The annual fee will be $99 a year for the primary cardholder and $49 for any additional cardholder, effective October 2, 2012, which means that the new annual fee will only be charged on your next account anniversary date. Existing cardholders who meet the eligibility criteria will receive their WestJet RBC World Elite MasterCard replacement card at the end of October 2012.

 

[newrygirl]

With the new card you also get a $99 companion flight every year on your anniversary date I recieved a letter in the mail outlining the changes and it states "every year on the anniversary of your card, you'll automatically recieve a round trip companion flight voucher for $99 (plis taxes, fees and surcharges, excludes Hawali and Puerto Rico)
Seems like a good deal to me

 

[son3disfan]

Thanks for the update.....
Of course Royal Bank did not share that with me.....

Was a mix up with the application from July, so we just recieved our cards this week. No letter or email regarding a change, but I did just check the web page, and there it is! So when do you think the changes will occur for me? I'm assuming I will be charged the annual fee on my first bill...would be great if I didn't have to pay the increase until next year!

 

[tgropp]

Are there blackout periods/dates for the 99 companion flights?

 

[Kat&Dom]

Are there blackout periods/dates for the 99 companion flights?

Not that I am aware of or read about. I booked the companion flight to Orlando in April and was able to book the direct flight from Edmonton. The companion flight with taxes in came to $213 for round trip, direct flight both ways so I was very happy with that. You have to call and book directly with call center but it was fairly quick experience. They had to book each one separately so we have 2 itinerary numbers.

I was quite excited to get the letter telling me that I would receive a companion flight every anniversary - that is awesome!

 

[FayeW]

I have an AmEx Airmiles card, but I am feeling a little limited in how to use the airmiles. I think it is a waste of airmiles to book a flight and then have to pay the taxes anyway (our flight was $397, but it would have cost me 2350 airmiles plus $213 in tax to use the airmiles.) I decided that it was better value to use those airmiles for my Universal tickets as there is no additional out of pocket cost for those. I am actively looking for a better reward card and getting rid of the AmEx altogether.

Is it the same with the Westjet Dollars? You can only use the "dollars" for the cost of the flight itself, and have to pay the tax separately? If so, I don't see it being a whole lot better than airmiles. I think with the TD Visa you can pay taxes and fees with your "rewards" balance so that may be a better way to go. Just not sure what I should replace the airmiles rewards with.