WestJet Introduces New Tiers, Offers to Match Status of Rival Canadian Carriers

WestJet is introducing reward tiers based around qualifying flight spending, offering free checked luggage and advance seat selection to elite members.

WestJet Airlines is targeting Canadian frequent flyers with the announcement of its WestJet Rewards elite program. The new multi-tier system offers rewards based on qualifying flight spending during a calendar year, in line with other North American frequent flyer programs.

In order to reach the highest tier, WestJet flyers must meet a minimum qualifying flight spend of $6,000 CAD (around $5,380 USD). Qualified spending is limited to WestJet-marketed flights. Vacation packages, partner-marketed flights and partner bookings are excluded from qualified flight spend.

Effective immediately, WestJet Rewards members earn tiered rewards starting with $1,500 CAD in qualifying spending. Teal frequent flyers meeting the minimum threshold will earn a 3 percent rebate in WestJet Dollars, as well as a bonus for meeting the qualifying spend. In the Silver tier, flyers can earn up to a 5 percent rebate, companion flights, seat assignment vouchers and free checked bags. Silver members also get four lounge vouchers, four advance seat selection vouchers and one companion pass after $4,000 CAD in qualifying spending, while Gold members get ten lounge vouchers, ten advance seat assignment vouchers and one companion pass after $6,000 CAD in qualifying spending.

To celebrate the launch of the new tiers, WestJet is offering flyers two limited-time ways to quickly achieve Gold status. To take advantage of the Fast Track offer, registered members must complete a qualifying flight spend of $1,500 before January 31, 2015. Under the Status Match special offer, flyers must provide proof of top-tier status with another Canadian airline’s frequent flyer program before January 31, 2015. According to the terms and conditions, “top-tier status” is defined as status earned “through the equivalent of a minimum 25,000 qualifying miles or a minimum of 25 qualifying flight segments in that program during the calendar year.”

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