WJ mastercard question

[mom25kiddos]

For the experts of the WestJet MasterCard: i have booked our flights using points, and we do not yet have the WestJet mastercard, but will be flying westjet on this trip. I was wondering-can you use the 'free baggage' allowance even if you did not book the flight on your westjet mastercard? So if I get the card now and fly in May, will i be able to use the free baggage? We are family of 7, so the baggage costs add up in a hurry and we tend to pack strategically to avoid paying more fees, would be nice to pack normally if we can! Also, assuming you can use the $250 for onboard purchases like meals and such? Thanks so much.

 

[mab2012]

For the experts of the WestJet MasterCard: i have booked our flights using points, and we do not yet have the WestJet mastercard, but will be flying westjet on this trip. I was wondering-can you use the 'free baggage' allowance even if you did not book the flight on your westjet mastercard? So if I get the card now and fly in May, will i be able to use the free baggage? We are family of 7, so the baggage costs add up in a hurry and we tend to pack strategically to avoid paying more fees, would be nice to pack normally if we can! Also, assuming you can use the $250 for onboard purchases like meals and such? Thanks so much.

Good question. I've always wondered the same myself, but I've never actually tried it. My read of the card benefits is that you only need to be a cardholder; I don't believe there's any stipulation that you have to book the flights using the card.

They *should* be able to tell that you're a cardholder even if you didn't book the flight with your card, since your WestJet Rewards number is associated with both your reservation and your card. 24 hours prior to my flight I always get an email that includes my baggage allowance, and indicates first bag free due to the Mastercard. Specifically, it says "Reason for no fee: booking includes a WestJet RBC® World Elite MasterCard‡primary cardholder". Note that it doesn't say anything about how the tickets were obtained, only that the cardholder is included in the itinerary.

If you don't get a definitive answer here from someone who has tried it, I would just call WestJet and ask. And then post the answer here.

For a family of 7 the savings on baggage must be quite significant. Good value on the card!

Regarding the $250 in WestJet dollars - AFAIK those are only redeemable on airfare or vacation packages, not for in-flight purchases.

 

[mom25kiddos]

Thanks so much, i appreciate the response. I did call WJ and the lady was very kind and thought that it would be fine (I would need to add my WJ # when i get it) but she didn't seem confident, and said i would need to confirm at the airport. my only issue is by then it is a little late (as it may impact if we check and extra bag or two). thanks again!

 

[kerreyn]

Thanks so much, i appreciate the response. I did call WJ and the lady was very kind and thought that it would be fine (I would need to add my WJ # when i get it) but she didn't seem confident, and said i would need to confirm at the airport. my only issue is by then it is a little late (as it may impact if we check and extra bag or two). thanks again!

A couple of years ago we were at the airport checking into our flight to Vegas, there was a couple beside us checking into the flight. The WJ agent told them there was a charge of $25/bag unless they had a WJ credit card. They had the card and showed it to the agent, so the agent waived the fee.

Not sure if that still applies, but the response you received on your telephone call seems to agree with it. Good luck!

 

[mom25kiddos]

A couple of years ago we were at the airport checking into our flight to Vegas, there was a couple beside us checking into the flight. The WJ agent told them there was a charge of $25/bag unless they had a WJ credit card. They had the card and showed it to the agent, so the agent waived the fee.

Not sure if that still applies, but the response you received on your telephone call seems to agree with it. Good luck!

awesome, thanks! just didn't want to get the card and then have an airport surprise

 

[Starwind]

For the experts of the WestJet MasterCard: i have booked our flights using points, and we do not yet have the WestJet mastercard, but will be flying westjet on this trip. I was wondering-can you use the 'free baggage' allowance even if you did not book the flight on your westjet mastercard? So if I get the card now and fly in May, will i be able to use the free baggage? We are family of 7, so the baggage costs add up in a hurry and we tend to pack strategically to avoid paying more fees, would be nice to pack normally if we can! Also, assuming you can use the $250 for onboard purchases like meals and such? Thanks so much.

Short answer:

Free checked bag - should be able to, yes.

$250 is in WestJet rewards dollars on your Westjet rewards account and therefore can only be used towards the base fare of a ticket, not the fees and taxes, and not for anything else (it cannot be used for checked bag fees, to upgrade yourself to Plus at checkin, etc). So, no onboard puchases with it either.

Longer answer:

I got the WJ MC this fall. It is tied to your WestJet rewards account -- WestJet knows you have the card.

I traveled for work on a ticket bought by work through work's travel agency. When I went to check in online for the first flight, at the Westjet website, the system noted that the first checked bag was free because I was a WestJet MC cardholder. Since I had to bags to check I only had to pay for the second one.

Make sure you read the rules about using the free first bag for your traveling group - IIRC they all have to be on the same itinerary, etc. WestJet has a very good and helpful FAQ about all of the MC benefits.

SW

 

[Mama Bear Me2]

For the experts of the WestJet MasterCard: i have booked our flights using points, and we do not yet have the WestJet mastercard, but will be flying westjet on this trip. I was wondering-can you use the 'free baggage' allowance even if you did not book the flight on your westjet mastercard? So if I get the card now and fly in May, will i be able to use the free baggage? We are family of 7, so the baggage costs add up in a hurry and we tend to pack strategically to avoid paying more fees, would be nice to pack normally if we can! Also, assuming you can use the $250 for onboard purchases like meals and such? Thanks so much.

Hi ... NOT an expert BUT learned this as I recently called West Jet about their "RBC WestJet World Elite Mastercard" re: Free Baggage:

* Valid for Primary Cardholder of the above noted card (the $99 annual fee card) & up to 8 guests on the SAME reservation
* Eligible Member's WestJet Rewards ID (9 digit #) MUST be on the reservation at the time of check-in
* Valid on flights OPERATED by WestJet (NOT applicable for Code Share or Interline Partners)

* Asked & was advised that you did NOT have to use the WestJet World Elite Mastercard to pay for the WestJet Flight in order to get the "1st Free Baggage" (so doesn't matter which credit card was used to pay for the WestJet Flight)

* Re: $250 welcome credit = was advised that had a 5 year expiration date (so a lot of time to redeem it)
* Re: $99 companion fare = was advised that had a 1 year expiration date

* To redeem the $250 welcome credit and/or $99 companion fare = need to call the WestJet Sales Centre ... cannot book flight online

* $99 companion fare valid on "new" bookings made through WestJet Sales Centre

* $99 companion fare NOT valid on westjet.com or previous existing bookings or WestJet Vacations or Group bookings ("guessing" this also applies to the $250 credit)

* $99 companion fare (not sure about the $250 welcome credit) = needs to be used for WestJet flight marketed & operated by WestJet (so no code share flights)

Hope this helps!

 

[mom25kiddos]

thanks so much! that is super helpful.