WestJet Companion Voucher Explained
Have you ever noticed the option to select the WestJet companion voucher on their website? It’s right there on the main page above where you choose your destinations for flights. Some people may have ignored that checkbox since they don’t have a WestJet companion voucher, but I’m sure they still wondered what is the WestJet companion voucher?
To use the companion voucher, guests need to purchase one ticket on a flight operated by WestJet. The second guest would then pay $119 CAD, $199 CAD or $399 CAD plus the taxes, fees, and charges depending on where they’re flying. This is clearly a great way to save money, but how do you get the voucher and what are the conditions?
How to get a WestJet companion voucher
There’s really no secret to getting a WestJet companion voucher, you get one annually as a WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard holder. That’s right, every year you get a free companion voucher which is easily worth more than the $119 annual fee that comes with the card.
The first World Elite companion voucher usually appears in your account a few weeks after you make your first purchase. After that, it’ll appear a few weeks after your card renewal date.
Here’s a quick look at the current welcome bonus and earn rate that comes with the card.
WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard
- $119 annual fee
- 450 WestJet dollars when you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months
- Earn 2% back in WestJet dollars on WestJet flights or WestJet Vacations packages
- Earn 1.5% back on all other purchases
- Receive a round-trip companion voucher – every year – for any WestJet destination starting from $119 (plus taxes, fees, charges and other ATC)
- Get free first checked bags for the primary cardholder and up to 8 guests on the same reservation
Besides the compassion voucher, you also get your first checked bag free for up to 8 people on the same itinerary. Remember, it costs $30 each way to check a bag within North America now so a family of 4 could save $240 on every flight. The included free Boingo Wi-Fi may not seem like a big deal, but remember, most airplanes offer paid WiFi via Boingo Wi-Fi. In other words, you can browse the internet for free whenever you fly with this card. Read my WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard review now for the full details.
The only other way to get a WestJet companion voucher is with the WestJet RBC Mastercard. Since this is a lower tier card, the voucher works a bit differently You only get access to an annual round-trip companion voucher within Canada, and it costs $199 plus taxes, fees, and charges. Although it’s not as generous as the companion voucher that comes with the World Elite Card, it’s still pretty good considering the credit card has an annual fee of just $39. Let’s take a quick look at the current welcome bonus and earn rate.
WestJet RBC Mastercard
- $39 annual fee
- Earn 50 WestJet dollars after your first purchase
- Earn an additional 50 WestJet dollars when you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months
- Earn 1.5% back in WestJet dollars on WestJet flights or WestJet Vacations packages
- Earn 1% back in WestJet dollars on all other purchases
- Annual companion voucher
You’ll notice that this card doesn’t come with free checked bags. That should be expected since this is a lower tier card compared to the World Elite version. That said, the WestJet RBC Mastercard doesn’t have a high personal or household income requirement to qualify for the card, so it’s still a good option for people who want a companion voucher but don’t have a high salary.
WestJet companion voucher cost
The WestJet companion voucher is given to you free every year if you hold the WestJet RBC Mastercard or the WestJet RBC World Elite MasterCard but there are a few fees you need to pay on top of the fare for the first ticket purchased.
- $119 for round-trip travel in Canada and the continental U.S.
- $199 for round-trip travel within Canada (WestJet RBC Mastercard version)
- $399 for round-trip travel to/from the rest of the WestJet network
- Taxes, fees and charges
WestJet companion voucher conditions
Now that you understand the fees, there are a few other conditions and restrictions that come with the WestJet companion voucher that you should be aware of:
- No blackout dates
- New bookings only
- Valid for one round-trip flight for the primary cardholder and a companion of their choice travelling on the same itinerary
- You can’t use it for WestJet vacation packages
- Reservations must be made before the date shown on your voucher but travel can happen after that date
- It’s only valid on new reservations
- Valid on all published Basic, Econo, EconoFlex, Premium, and PremiumFlex fares wholly marketed and operated by WestJet, including seat sales
- Not eligible for Business Class or Member Exclusive fares
- The same fare type must be booked for the primary cardholder and companion
- You can’t use the companion voucher when making a reservation through a travel agent or third-party online booking site
- You can’t transfer the voucher
- Unused vouchers will automatically be cancelled when your WestJet RBC World EliteMastercard account is closed
To be clear, the companion voucher can only be used when the primary cardholder is travelling. Even if there’s an authorized user on the account, that person can’t use the voucher with another passenger.
One-way trips are allowed with the companion voucher, but the full base fare applies.
At the time of booking, you can select to use your voucher before you start searching real-time pricing for flight availability. Once you find the flights you like, the voucher will automatically be applied so there’s nothing else to do during the booking flow.
Occasionally, WestJet will allow you to exchange your voucher for a one-time use lounge access pass. There is no cash exchange value with the voucher.
How much you’ll save with a WestJet companion voucher
The amount of money you’ll save depends on the cost of your ticket. The most important thing to remember is that you still need to pay for any taxes, fees and surcharges so the value comes from redeeming a ticket with a high full base fare or Air Transportation Charges (ATC) as WestJet likes to call it. Let’s take a look at this flight to Florida below as an example.
As you can see, the ATC charges are $727.97 and the taxes are $162.55 which gives you a total ticket cost of $890.52. The primary cardholder would pay that, but the second passenger would only pay $119 + $162.55 for a total of $281.55. That works out to a savings of $608.97. Mind you, this is summer pricing on a popular route which is why there’s a potential for such big savings.
Since the voucher only discounts the ATC, you need to always check to see if it’s valuable to use your WestJet companion ticket. If you’re flying to Europe, quite often the ATC is not much more than the $399 you need to pay to use your companion voucher so it may make more sense to hold onto your voucher for WestJet flights in the future.
The nice thing about the WestJet companion voucher is that it’ll tell you online if it’s cheaper to simply just book a regular price ticket as opposed to using your voucher. This has only happened to me a handful of times when I’m booking international flights where the companion voucher cost starts at $399. That said, on those same flights, if I booked premium instead of economy, I would have saved $1,000+. In other words, the WestJet companion voucher is a great deal when you’re looking for seats in premium.
What is the expiry date of the voucher?
The WestJet companion voucher expiry date is one year from the time you receive the voucher. That said, end dates are up to one year past the expiry date. That means you can book flights, including one-way travel up to one year after the formal expiry date of your voucher.
WestJet companion voucher pros and cons
Let’s be real for a second, the WestJet companion voucher is obviously good since it’s a free benefit. That said, if you don’t have a WestJet credit card yet, you probably want to know if there are any drawbacks. Here are the pros and cons of the WestJet companion voucher.
Pros
- Annual benefit – As long as you have a WestJet credit card, you’ll get a companion voucher every year, including the year you sign up.
- Easy to obtain – You get a companion voucher regardless of which WestJet Mastercard you hold. That said, the companion voucher that comes with the Westjet RBC Mastercard has a higher fee
- No blackout dates – You can use your companion voucher on any seat during any date.
- Can be used to any destination – As long as WestJet flies to a destination, including Mexico, you can use your voucher.
Cons
- Can be expensive – The cost of your companion voucher when used outside of Canada and the continental U.S. can be pricey at $399.
- Fewer flight options: –This benefit is restricted to WestJet flights, so you have fewer choices compared to Air Canada.
- Does not work on partner airlines – WestJet has a few partner airlines, but the voucher is only valid on WestJet operated flights.
- May not benefit those that require connections – Since WestJet doesn’t have a huge network of planes, the voucher won’t be as valuable for those that fly out of airports with limited WestJet flights.
How the WestJet companion voucher compares to others
For the longest time, the WestJet companion voucher had no real competition. but that all changed when Air Canada introduced the Buddy Pass with some of their select Aeroplan credit cards. The most obvious difference is that the Buddy Pass can only be used on Air Canada flights, whereas the WestJet companion voucher is used on WestJet flights. Air Canada gets the advantage here since they fly to different destinations.
Where WestJet wins is the fact that their companion voucher is an annual benefit. You get one every year including the year you sign up. With the Buddy Pass, you only get it once since it’s part of the welcome bonus. That said, you could apply for a new qualifying Aeroplan credit card every 12 months to get another Buddy Pass, but most people won’t do that.
As for costs, they’re similar and different. The Buddy Pass has a $0 base fare, you just pay the taxes and third-party fees. With WestJet, your companion voucher starts at $119. The advantage here may seem to lean towards Air Canada, but there are a few things to consider. The Buddy Pass is only good for flights within North America which happen to include Hawaii and the Caribbean. With the WestJet companion voucher, you can use it for flights to Europe. It’s worth noting that WestJet has recently been testing a new companion voucher for new sign ups which essentially mimics the cost and location of the Buddy Pass. I would not be surprised if a permanent change happens in the future.
It’s really a coin toss here when debating which companion voucher is better. If you fly WestJet on a regular basis and don’t want to apply for a new credit card every year, then getting a WestJet credit card is better. If you’re looking for something high value such as a flight to the Caribbean or Hawaii, then the Buddy Pass will appeal to you.
Save even more with the WestJet credit card
What many people forget is that the RBC WestJet World Elite Mastercard also gives you free checked baggage. For flights within North America, that’s a savings of $30 each way. Let’s say you have a family of four and you plan on taking a flight to Orlando. Based on my itinerary above, you would save $261.55 if you had a companion voucher. However, if each parent got the WestJet credit card, then you’d have two vouchers which end up saving you $523.10.
Of course, we also need to factor in checked baggage. Let’s assume you’re checking 4 bags, that’s another $240 you’re saving by having the WestJet credit card which brings your total saved up to $763.10. Oh wait, we also need to include the $250 welcome bonus that comes with the card, that’s another $500 you’d be saving. All-in, you would save $1,263.10 which is a lot more than the $238 you’d be paying in annual fees for the credit card. In the end, you’d come out ahead by $1,025.10.
It’s easy to see why the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard is on my list of the best travel credit cards in Canada. The benefits you get are simply incredible which makes it a must-have card for anyone who flies WestJet on a regular basis.
Final thoughts
The WestJet companion voucher is something that can be used to your advantage since it’s deposited into your account after your first statement as long as you’ve made one purchase. Since you know what the cost of the voucher is, you can easily search for flights and see how much the voucher will save you. If it works to your benefit, you might well apply since you also get a welcome bonus and free checked bags. WestJet Rewards is one of the best travel loyalty programs and if you fly WestJet on a regular basis or even once a year, applying for their credit card is worth it.
[…] easily offsets the $39 fee. Another benefit that’s just been introduced is the annual round-trip companion voucher within Canada for $199 plus taxes, fees, and charges. This is incredible since it allows a pair […]
Can you combine a west jet gold companion voucher and a westjet elite companion ticket in the same booking ?
Thank you
I believe you can only use one on the same booking so you’d have to make multiple reservations if you have more than one voucher.
You forgot some very important facts about the companion voucher. You can only use it for DIRECT FLIGHTS ON WESTJET. If you do not live in one of their main hub cities this card is not worth it. Calgary and Vancouver are their main hubs. If you live east of Calgary good luck. Im in Ottawa and even if I get myself to Toronto , Im limited on flights I can use this. And I have the Elite one. It is costing me more to fly and use this companion from Ottawa to Vancouver than it would be a direct flight on Air Canada. LOL Worse thing I ever subscribed to. Too many restrictions and costs. Obviously this guy writing this post must either have not tried to book or lives in Vancouver or Calgary. Good to see the Florida example, but that is about it out of Toronto too. LOL
Finally, an answer as to why my voucher is getting rejected for an upcoming family trip to Oslo, Norway. There is no direct flight with WestJet, only with stopovers. So, the companion voucher is no good to me. I cannot find ANYWHERE in their Terms and Conditions or anywhere on their web site that this is identified as a restriction. Yours is the ONLY reference I have found about it needing to be a non-stop, direct flight.
HI Loreen
The Westjet RBC Elite is very limited to Europe too. So Im not sure why Barry who wrote this article is so keen on it. Here’s the way I would keep the card-1 flying across Canada or to USA if and only if a- there is a direct flight from your departure city (as for Ottawa Im extremely limited all year) and b) you plan on going when Westjet flys direct to those designations.
For example: The companion voucher is great for Ottawa to Vancouver as long as I want to go there between May and October. I wanted to see my MOM at Christmas and I would be doing a stopovers along the way. It would take me on Air Canada direct 5 hrs, on Westjet stop overs maybe 2 days. LOL So you have to look at WHERE you want to go to use the Campion voucher and WHEN you want to go,
BUT FIRST- WHICH CITY IS YOUR HUB OUT OF CANADA- if it is not Toronto ,Calgary or Vancouver. And you don’t want to use it for Canada or Orlando- I would look at the Aeroplan car. Im going too.
Now I must say 1 thing: The online customer service at WESTJET IS OUTSTANDING!!! Every women I talked to at reservations was patient and empathic to my struggles finding a fight to somewhere we wanted to go to use our voucher before it expired. THIS IS ONE PLACE WESTJET HAS IT RIGHT. We are going to Barbados in March.
However, Im still confused about the FREE LUGGAGE. I have the ELITE card which gives me free luggage, but when I booked I also wanted free cancellation,. To get free cancellation I had to book at a level that gives me free luggage. I don’t get a credit back because my free luggage at $30 a bag was included in my Elite status/voucher. So it’s really a gimmick on this one.
Here is what you do: Book the lowest , get the free bag, just remember it’s a fee or no cancellation policy. Take the risk.
With Trudeau up and down and in and out on the pandemic/covid mandatory shots, mandatory checks and all that other *^(&)**)*Q#E we decided to book the highest level for free cancellation and changes.
Hope that helps. My card comes up for renewal in March and Im seriously looking at the Aeroplan for a years.
The way I look at it. You can cancel and change it up as many times as you want.
MY BEST CARDS EVER: SCOTIA AMEX TRAVEL- and RBC AVION TRAVEL They have a few. Check them out.
Hey Barb,
I’ve been able to use my companion voucher with a stopover in the past. For example, Toronto to Vancouver to Hawaii. That said, I believe you’re right, if there’s any non-WestJet flight on your itinerary, then you wouldn’t be able to use the voucher.
This review was written before WestJet started pulling out of eastern Canada and certainly needs an update.
In the end, the companion voucher is still excellent (if you can use it) and it comes as a standard benefit with the credit card. There’s no denying the value (again, if you can use it).
Important to know that extra fees are added when one uses the companion fare – for example when booking 2 tickets to Puerto Vallarta “Other ATC” charges are $40 more than when just booking 2 tickets – so this is basically a F*you for using your companion far add on tax. If you call westjet you get a run around and no good explanation why this exists – just that it does. What is “other” atc in the first place? It is not listed under taxes and yet both the first ticket and the companion fare pay it (plus extra for the companion fare). Lacks transparency so I don’t like it on that principal alone. I am using the one I have to Puerto Vallarta which ends up being about $300 cheaper than just booking two tickets on the same flight, but I will not be signing up for this credit card again as they savings are only realized when restricted to flying with this airline and the savings are not significant enough to make this restriction worth it.
Also note that one cannot use WestJet dollars toward “other ATC” – only towards the base fare.
Hey Leanne,
I have noticed this a few times too.
can a westjet companion voucher be extended beyond the expiry date?
No, but you can use it for travel booked past the expiration date. E.g. if your voucher expires in May, you can make a reservation before then with the travel taking place later.
THE VOUCHER IS ONLY GOOD FOR 1 YEAR.
Does the 399 voucher include Australia?
Jen,
No, as WestJet does not fly to Australia.
Cruises often leave from one port and a end at another. Can you use your companion flight if you are not returning from same airport?
Lucie,
As long as WestJet flies to the the two destinations with their planes, you can use it.
If my husband and I fly Calgary to Toronto on same date, but the return date is different for me (i.e. I would stay an extra 2 weeks in Toronto) can i still use the companion voucher…or do we both have to return on the same date as well?
You need to return on the same date
Why are there two different charges for the companion fare within Canada? 99.00 and 199.0
Paul,
If you have the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard, the companion voucher starts at $99. If you have the basic WestJet RBC Mastercard, it’s $199.
Is Alaska included in Continental US?
Also, when a companion voucher is issued, how long before it expires?
Lisa,
Yes, Alaska should count. Your companion voucher lasts one year.
do you get free checked baggage when flying to Mexico with the elite mastercard?
Tammy,
Yes
I received an email awhile ago saying that the companion fare could be transferred to family, and you didn’t have to travel with them ?
Karen,
That was an exception during COVID-19. You’d have to check the email for the terms or call WestJet.
It no longer applies to new companion vouchers.
Can I use campion voucher on one way flights?
I’m assuming you can, but I’m not 100% sure.
Hey Barry, do you know where WestJet flies that has a high value ATC to tax ratio? As you mentioned European trips might not be worthwhile. Thanks!
Jay,
I only really looked into Europe. I should play around with destinations to see what gives you a good value.
Can you use the companion voucher for travel one way only?
I believe it’s for return flights only
What would be the cost for a companion voucher for a premium economy booking within Canada with the World Elite Card?
Harold,
The companion voucher is $99 plus taxes on Basic, Econo, EconoFlex, Premium, and PremiumFlex fares wholly marketed and operated by WestJet for round-trip travel in Canada and the continental U.S.
Thanks for this information.
Can one person with the world elite use the voucher on another person with another world elite card and vice versa? Say a couple using the vouchers on each other? Thanks.
Nicolas,
You can use the voucher on whoever you want as long as the primary passenger is the person who holds the Companion voucher.
You can’t use the multi city booking feature when using the Companion Flight. My concern is what happens to my Companion Flight if we have to change or cancel our Econo Flex (changes allowed without a fee on regular ticketing)?
Pat,
I’ve heard that you lose your companion voucher if you cancel a flight where you used it. I haven’t personally confirmed that though.
You will not loose the companion voucher if you cancel your flight.
I canceled my Hawaii trip and the voucher became available again
Lucian,
Ahh good to know, I was under the impression that you lose it.
I did not use my companion fare so it expired. When is my new companion fare given?
Kathy,
It usually appears in your account a few weeks after your anniversary date.
can I book flights for my two friends with companion fare? I will not be flying this year however I know they will be does it matter that the names wont match the card?
Hi Rebecca,
My earlier comment was wrong so I deleted it. I looked at the terms and conditions and it states the following: Valid for one (1) round-trip for the primary cardholder and a companion of their choice travelling on the same itinerary; these vouchers are non-transferable.
I am under the impression that You had to be flying with your travelling companion when using your companion flight reward
Pat,
You’re right, I just looked at the terms and conditions and it clearly states the following: Valid for one (1) round-trip for the primary cardholder and a companion of their choice travelling on the same itinerary; these vouchers are non-transferable.
I understand the vouchers can’t be used for multi-city travel, but if I wanted to fly Toronto-Calgary-Vancouver-Toronto, could I use the companion fare to go Toronto -> Calgary and then return flight of Vancouver->Toronto, and book separately for Calgary -> Vancouver?
Mike,
That’s a multi-city ticket so you can’t use your companion voucher.
You can use a companion voucher multi-city but you have to phone in to it. In August my wife and I flew from Toronto to San Francisco, then we toured around for a week or so by car and flew back Los Angeles to Toronto. I paid regular price for my ticket and $99 plus taxes for her ticket.
Vince,
I had no idea, thanks for letting me know!
Barry , you can use your voucher on a multi-city trip; you just have to pay a slight surcharge.
Cindy,
Another reader pointed that out to me, thanks for confirming. I’m going to update my article.
can I use multiple vouchers for the same trip ?
Not unless it’s two different people with vouchers.
E.g. a family of 4. Each parent could use a voucher if they each have a credit card and an available voucher.
Do you have to wait a year after you get your credit card before you get your first companion voucher?
No, you get it 8-10 weeks after opening your account.
If I am booking a one way flight can I use my companion voucher?
What is the minimum amount I have to spend annually, on my credit card to qualify for a companion flights?
Sherry,
There is no minimum spend required to get the companion voucher.
Hi Barry,
How long does it take for the westjet dollar credit to appear? Can I pay with the westjet credit card before I receive the dollars and then call RBC to have my card credited?
Vic,
The sign up bonus typically posts after your first statement assuming you’ve made a purchase. You can not redeem WestJet dollars after the fact. You must have the dollars in your account to use them.
How long after getting the credit card until the companion fare is added to your account?
Robyn,
It takes about 4-6 weeks for the voucher to post
So when it expires (companion voucher) does it take 4-6 for the new to show up on your account ?
Jane,
The companion voucher expires 12 months after you get it. That said, you can use your voucher for a travel date after your voucher expires and it would still work. I honestly am not sure when your anniversary companion voucher shows up in your account as I’m still in my first year of having the card.
Can the voucher be used for an all inclusive trip through WestJet vacations?
Jeremy,
No.
Do we have to book through WestJet vacations to use the companion voucher if we are wanting to go to an all inclusive in Mexico? Also are there travel agents we can call to help book this through WestJet?
Brodie,
The companion voucher is not valid for vacation packages.
I received my first annual voucher when I applied and paid my annual due. The expiration on my World Elite R bank Westjet is 11/22. When do I receive my second voucher? When do I pay my annual due? I have received nothing in November nor December.. I don’t understand why I have not.
Thank you
Laura,
Your companion voucher is deposited 30 days after your card renewal date each year.
Do you know if you can pay for the amount of the companion voucher using Westjet Dollars or a Westjet Travel bank?
Hi Laura,
Yes, you can use your WJD to pay for your companion voucher.
If travelling with kids, their ticket fare is less than adult fare. Can I use the companion voucher for my spouse (adult fare) or would the companion voucher have to be applied to the lowest priced fare on the reservation (one of the children)?
Glenn,
As far as I know, WestJet doesn’t charge lower fares for children so it wouldn’t matter.
Hi Barry, I am thinking travel in October and considering changing my current credit card provider. Is there a way to check a specific itinerary to see what the cost could be if i had a companion voucher? Thanks in advance!
Hey Diana,
Since the companion voucher just covers the base ticket fare, you can actually just do the math yourself to see how much you would save. The voucher costs the following:
$99 for round-trip travel in Canada and the continental U.S.
$299 for round-trip travel to/from Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and Hawaii
$399 for round-trip travel to/from the rest of the WestJet network
So say you’re looking to fly within Canada or the continental U.S. and the base fare is $400. Subtract the companion voucher cost of $99 and you’re saving $301. There will be times where it’s cheaper to simply pay regular price. If that’s the case, WestJet automatically withdraws your voucher so you don’t waste it.
Hello,
I am a single traveller so my companion voucher usually goes to waste. Do you of any way to get some compensation for it?
Allison,
The companion voucher has no monetary value.
If there are 2 people on the credit card- both my husband and I, does the primary card holder have to go on the trip to use the companion voucher or can the secondary card holder go with a companion?
Rose,
The primary cardholder must be travelling for you to use the companion voucher.
Does the free 1st checked baggage when using my W Jet Elite card still apply when booking a companion ticket?
Yes as the companion would be on the same itinerary as the primary cardholder. The primary cardholder gets their first bag checked free just for having the card.
If I book a premium ticket (aka fully refundable) for the primary and use the voucher to purchase a regular flight for my guest, can I then:
a). Cancel or change the flight for the primary traveler only (receiving refund or credit) and
b). maintain the ‘companion’ guest’s flight original booking / date (e.g. the ‘companion’ travels on his own as per original itinerary without the primary)
* let’s say in the case where the primary must cancel or change his flight BUT the companion must stay on the original flight as he doesn’t have the option to change
Randy,
You can only buy the same class of fare when using the companion voucher so you can’t buy a refundable ticket for the primary cardholder and a regular one for the companion.
Hi Barry- thanks for being so quick. Ok, so same question but with same class of ticket for both.
Randy,
Unfortunately, I don’t know the answer to that question.
Can I use the westjet companion discount if the flight is charged to a different credit card?
Fay,
Yes, you can pay with any credit card when using your companion voucher.
Am using elite card to fly Calgary Barcelona on primary class and wife will be on companion pass.
We r taking cruise from Barcelona to Montreal and must fly Montreal to Calgary. Do we have to treat this leg as new booking using another companion pass? OR
Being as reservation for both legs done same time can first companion pass still be honoured on montreal to Calgary leg?
Marie,
If you’re booking the entire segment as one ticket, you should be able to use the voucher.
We’ve booked a Companion Trip from YVR to Gatwick for August (returning in September) 2020 to go on a European River Cruise. We are contemplating deferring the cruise until September 2021. Will WestJet allow us to defer this flight until 2021? Are there any fees?
David,
As far as I know, WestJet has only issued their cancellation/defer policy until April – https://www.westjet.com/en-ca/travel-info/coronavirus
Good afternoon, how do we use our companion voucher if we want to go on an all inclusive trip? Would we have to purchase the flight and pay for the hotel sperate ? We are thinking of cuba? We always book all inclusive, so maybe we should have did a little more research before getting the RBC Westjet elite card. If we can’t use it that is.
Thank you,
George,
The companion voucher does not apply to WestJet Vacations packages
I have a current reservation made using a companion fare for travel in March. If I cancel my trip due to the current travel advisory will I be able to use my companion fare to rebook in the future? The original booking was before the expiration period of the voucher, but rebooking will be after expiration.
Leslie,
You would get the voucher back. As long as you book a trip before the expiry date, you’re fine. It doesn’t matter if the travel date goes past the expiry date.
Is the companion fare still valid if l need to change return flight and return home early due to corona virus recommendations.
I’m planning to apply for this card. Right now it’s 450WJ$ with a limited offer of $0 companion voucher.
In the terms and conditions for this limited offer, it says “valid for one (1) round-trip for a companion of the primary cardholder flying on a full base fare, travelling on the same itinerary”.
– Does this mean I cannot use my 450WJ$ towards me and at the same time use the $0 for my husband?
– For the companion voucher, I’m aware that it’s only towards the base fare. Is there a cap or maximum? I mean if the base fare is C$774 (YVR/YUL return), will it still be $0?
– If I cannot use my WJ$ on me, can I use it towards any amount left for my companion? Like taxes and fees?
Your reply is appreciated.
Hi pureza,
You can use your WJD at the same time as your companion voucher. The full base fare refers to sales or other discounts.
There’s no cap on the base fare for the companion voucher, that’s why it’s so valuable. Flights to Hawaii or to Europe in Premium Economy yield incredible value.
Your WJD can only be applied to the base fare, so it can’t be used for taxes and fees. You don’t need to use all your WJD in one go, you can save it for another trip if you have any leftover.
Feel free to use my WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard referral link if you plan on getting the card – https://www.moneywehave.com/refer/WestJetWEMC
Thanks Barry
Honestly I’m torn right now between this card, Amex cobalt and scotiabank gold Amex.
Pureza,
The Amex Cobalt is excellent since you get a high earn rate and the points are transferable to Aeroplan and Marriott. Although the current welcome bonus is spread out over a year, it’s easily with at least $1K if you transfer your points to Aeroplan.
I’ve got a full review here – https://www.moneywehave.com/american-express-cobalt-review/
I use the Cobalt as my main card.
I have the westjet world elite I have westjet dollars and travel voucher can I use all my westjet dollars and my companion voucher than cancel my credit card even if my travel date is in a later date ?
William,
Yes
Can you use your companion voucher AND West Jet Dollars at the same time? The online booking doesn’t seem to allow both. It seems to be one or the other. Thanks!
Amira,
Yes you can, but not with WestJet Member Exclusive Fares.
If you’re booking a regular fare, you can use your companion voucher and your WestJet dollars.
Is there any way to find out in advance how much the “extra fees’ for a trip will be when I cash in my voucher? I am considering using my companion voucher for International travel premium, but have no idea how much the extra fees would cost from YYZ to LGW. Do I have to “pretend” to plan the trip to get this info?
Judy,
The “pretend” way is indeed the only way to know exactly what you’ll pay in taxes since every flight is different.
This is my first “companion voucher”. I can’t see a place indicating redeeming a companion voucher
When I “book” the flight, do I book for 2? That’s what I tried.? I see a list of fees of $777.12 as well as “other ATC” of $1040 Are those charges for 2 so I would only pay half of these in addition to Companion Base fare or do I simply deduct 1 base fare from the “total for 2” and add on the companion premium? In this case , my total for 2 is $5127.12 and Base fare for 2 is $3250.
companion fare is $399 .
Would I be paying $3901.12 for 2?
Do I have to use “Juliet” or call west jet to do this?
Thanks again.
If you log in to your account, you will see an option to select your companion voucher before you select your flight details.
The cost of the companion is Taxes, fees and charges, plus the cost of the companion voucher.
Once you’re logged in and you select your companion voucher, it’ll be obvious what you’re paying.
Can a companion voucher be used for all inclusive vacations
Melissa,
No, it only applies to WestJet operated flights.
Hi
I have not use a companionship vouchers from last year.
Now I received a RBC statement owing for this year annual fee.
I would like to know if I downgrade my card to no annual fee will I lose my companionship voucher that I earned last.
WestJet has extended last year expire to Dec.31,2021. Do I lose this voucher?
Hi Richard,
Usually when you cancel/switch cards, you’ll lose your companion voucher. That said, I cancelled a card recently and still see my companion voucher in my account 5 months later.
There doesn’t seem to be a firm answer. You might lose it or you might not. The no fee card also comes with a companion voucher, but it’s less valuable.
When I use the companion voucher (I now have 2) on the Westjet site, the price of the primary seat increased…a lot over just booking 2 regular seats. I would basically be just giving them the voucher back and paying the same amount in cash. There must be very specific routes where these are worth it but I can’t see an itinerary where you actually save money
Robert,
The only time that would happen is if the base fare of the ticket is less than what the companion voucher is costing you. For example, if the base fare is $100, but the companion voucher costs $119. Whenever that happens, the website automatically tells you that it’s cheaper to not use your voucher and automatically takes it off. That’s only happened to me once when I was searching for flights to the Caribbean.
Hi:
Do you know what would happen to a fare if 2 travellers booked using the companion voucher and one person had to change or cancel the return flight?
Hi Holly,
If the second person has to cancel, then I believe the companion voucher would be credited back. You would also get the difference in fare back in WestJet dollars. I’m not sure how it works if the secondary passengers needs to change their return flight only.
Do you get new companion voucher credits in January of every year ? or in month when you were approved?
Like I got one approved in November 2021 . I got one companion voucher right away.
Will i only get another voucher after November 2022?
Anup,
You get it on your card anniversary.
I purchased a trip to the U.S. for 2 and used my companion voucher. The voucher is now expired and because of Covid we are thinking we might change our flight to a later date. Will I lose my companion voucher or will I be able to still use it if changing up the flight? Thanks!
Carmel,
You’d have to ask WJ as it depends on when your voucher was set to expire and when you’re planning to rebook. WJ Recently extended the expiry date for many companion voucher holders, but you had to manually register.
I just got off the phone with Westjet and unfortunately, they no longer let you book multi-city trips with the companion voucher 🙁 messed up my itinerary pretty good. So please update the post.
Thanks for the intel. I’ve made the update.
Hi Jenna, thanks for the update. I contacted WestJet (using Messenger) in February and they told me I could but I had to call in.
Hey Jenna, got off the phone with the agent this evening and it took a while but it got the trip booked using the companion voucher (Toronto to Honolulu, then Maui to Toronto). The trip is normally $20000ish but paid $1100. He mentioned that he had to book individual one way trips or something so that’s why it took so long to do (about 45 mins). If it matters I booked an econoflex seat
Hi Marion. I did call in, twice in fact, but was told no I couldn’t twice. Maybe my call agents made a mistake? Make sure you call in and confirm with agents before you assume anything! -Jenna
If we purchase an Elite card Is the companion discount applicable with an upgrade from Economy to Premium Economy. Or is there any benefit in this case
Thanks
Patricia Miller
Patricia,
The WestJet companion voucher can be used on premium seats that are wholly operated by WestJet.
The credit card companion voucher s a joke. Do a simple test. Price a flight without the voucher. Then go back and price the same flight WITH the voucher. All of a sudden the flights are double or 3 times the price when selecting the voucher. I just did this. A flight to JFK was 489 without selecting g voucher. Then jumped to 1043 when selecting the voucher. This is a scam. I will be cancelling the card immediately.
Can you use the companion discount on allinclusive vacations if you and your companion are both going with Westjet. if so would the charges be different
Bonnie,
No, the companion voucher can’t be used for WestJet Vacations.
Booked a trip for two return to Calgary. Used elite voucher which gave no seat charge to companion , just add on charges. Fabulous. I have submitted an seat upgrade offer for return trip. Does my companion get charged the upgrade fee if the upgrade is accepted?
Karen,
I’m not sure, but usually, upgrade offers are charged per seat
I specifically got the World Elite card to save on All Inclusive vacations, which you say is not valid. Could I use it to pay for the flights and book our resort stay separately?
Hi Christy,
Yes, you could do that since the companion voucher is for flights only. Check the resort websites directly as they often have sales.
We’ve purchased regular fare and companion fare to for Yvr to Mexico, Feb. 2023. May I change it and pay 2 regular fares to Mexico and use the companion fare from Yvr to Rome, Oct. 2023?
Colleen,
You could, but I suspect you’d have to pay cancellation fees and then you’d have to rebook your Mexico flight at current flights. In other words, it’s probably not worth it.
Say you have a voucher expiring in one month and you book a fully refundable fair ticket and another of the same with your voucher for a flight two months out. now the day before the flight you cancel both tickets. What happens to your voucher since technically it expired a month ago?
Gerald,
You just need to redeem it before the expiry date. Your travel date can be up to one year from the expiry date. If you cancel the flight and your companion voucher has expired, you wouldn’t get it back.