Originally Posted by
mjjhorto
I am new to the RBC Mastercard, and I am looking for clarification as to how the free 1st bag (and up to 8 guests) works in real life. Some questions as follows:
1. The WestJet website doesn't seem to acknowledge it when booking a flight. Can someone confirm that?
2. What fare would you want to book (Basic, Econo, EconoFlex) in order to use this benefit? EconoFlex already includes a bag, so I would assume you wouldn't want to choose that one. Would you book Econo, pay to pick your seats, and not pay for a bag?
3. Does this benefit get recognized when you try and check in online, like 24 hours before? And if not, would you just say you don't have any bags when you check in?
4. If you have to do this when you get to the terminal, on one of the machines, what happens? How do you communicate that you want to use this free benefit and get the free checked bag for my group (wife and two sons). Is there a "Do you have the RBC Mastercard button" you have to push?
5. Do you have to use the credit card when making the reservation for it to work?
6. What if you pay for the flight using westjet dollars or credits? Will is still work?
Thanks for advance for your help. I haven't been able to find any information online about the actual steps you need in order to use it.
1. The website doesn't acknowledge free bag when booking a flight - your ticket will list baggage fees applicable, but say that it may not apply based on status or credit card etc.
2. No real benefit if booking a fare class that includes bags, but choice of fare class may be due to other reasons
3. When you check in online and select the number of bags, there should be no charge indicated for 1 bag
4. Same as when checking in online - no fee indicated when you say you are checking one bag - no other steps required
5. Don't have to use the credit card to make the reservation - having the credit card puts a notation on your Westjet rewards account that entitles you to the benefit regardless of how your ticket is paid for.
6. Yes - see response to #5
Only caveat is that while all other passengers (up to 8 guests) on your reservation get one free bag each, if you book tickets for others but you aren't flying with them, the benefit does not apply. For that reason, my spouse and I both got our own cards in case one of us flies separately with our kids.