[ANALYSIS] New Tiers to WestJet Rewards
WestJet has a program called WestJet Rewards, which is revamping its program by introducing 3 new loyalty tiers that will be effective on October 29, 2014. The elite statuses have been renamed to the following:
Teal
The Teal status has two levels:
Spend up to $1,499 a year
- Earn 1% worth of WestJet dollars.
Spend your next $1,500 and $3,999 a year
- Earn 3% worth of WestJet dollars
- Earn $35 bonus WestJet dollars
Silver
Spend between $4,000 – $ 5,999
- Earn 5% worth of WestJet dollars
- Earn 4 free airport lounge vouchers
- Earn 4 advance seat selection vouchers
- Earn 1 free first checked bag
- Earn 1 roundtrip companion flight to anywhere in Canada
Gold
Spend $6,000 or more
- Earn 5% worth of WestJet dollars
- Earn 1 companion flight on any WestJet flight
- Earn 1 additional companion flight anywhere we fly at $10,000 and each $5,000 in flight spend beyond
- Earn 10 free airport lounge vouchers
- Earn 4 advance seat selection vouchers
- Earn 1 free first and second checked bag
- No fee to change to an earlier/later flight on same day of travel
- Priority security screening (at select airports)
- Advance boarding
There appears to be lots of great perks in WestJet’s elite levels (Silver and Gold). So if you are a frequent flyer of this airline, be sure to take advantage of whatever benefits and perks are offered to you.
My main issue with the WestJet Rewards program is that WestJet dollars are only valid for 5 years (from the end of the Qualifying Year in which the WestJet dollars were earned) before they expire. You will have the option of extending your dollars for up to one year for a fee of $20 plus applicable taxes. On the other hand, you can start redeeming your dollars for as little as $25, which is fair.
Therefore, I would not recommend that you hoard your WestJet Dollars. Once you have $25 accumulated, I would redeem it on the next flight instead of waiting for more money.