While I still have an MBNA Alaska and a RBC Westjet card, I have switched my "primary" spending to the Westjet card. A few reasons:
- Expected future travel plans favour Westjet flights,
- AS partners have become more limited while Westjet's have improved,
- Westjet $ are good whenever while AS miles are only as useful as award seats are available,
On the flip side:
- AS companion is $99(USD) for all AS flights whereas Westjet varies from $99, $299, $399
- AS WorldElite Mastercard now also has free checked bags
I'd also agree that fares on AS aren't always competitive with today's exchange rates making it even worse.