Now earn WestJet Dollars on all American Airlines flights

The WestJet Rewards program has just taken another big step in becoming a full fledged frequent flyer program. As of June 27th, WestJet Rewards members will be able to earn WestJet dollars on all American Airlines marketed and operated flights:

As you can see WestJet has decided to go with a flat rate reward for various flight distance flown on AA. Since WestJet is a revenue based program for their own flights (% of base ticket price is awarded as WestJet dollars) they had to figure out a way to reward their members for flights not operated by them and it appears the flat rate distance based amount was the way to go. Why would they go this route? In my opinion if you buy a $10,000 First Class ticket from AA, WestJet would have to dole out at $100 in WestJet dollars for a ticket that do not see any substantial revenue from and since WestJet does not have set redemption levels other than the base $25 they could see a big hit to their own revenues from tickets where WestJet Rewards members are applying their WestJet dollars to.

Overall, this is great new feature to the WestJet Rewards program as any partner earning addition is in the world of travel rewards.  In addition to this new AA partnership, WestJet Rewards members can earn WestJet dollars on WestJet flights, WestJet Vacation Packages, WestJet codeshare flights on AA and Delta, and via the RBC WestJet MasterCards. I figure we will see even airline more partners come on board and perhaps even some hotel partners (I predict IHG) by the end of the year.

For more details visit WestJet Rewards

As of June 27th American AAdvantage members will now be able to earn AAdvantage Miles on all WestJet flights within Canada and between Canada and the U.S., the Caribbean, and Mexico as follows:

Class of Service	Purchased Fares Booked in:	Base Miles	Class of Service Bonus Miles
Economy Class	Y, V, B, Q, L, M, P, G, X, D	100%	0%

Here are all the WestJet T&C's associated with this new opportunity

Eligible towards annual qualifying spend: No

To book a flight and/or to provide your WestJet ID:
Visit aa.com or call 1-800-433-7300

Missing WestJet dollars credit: Please allow up to thirty (30) days for WestJet dollars to be posted to your account.

To request retro credit for flights flown on American Airlines, American Eagle or AmericanConnection, please complete the online form available when you sign into mywestjet.com and select "My Requests". Be sure to include your flight date, origin, destination and ticket number. American Airlines ticket numbers are 13 digits and begin with "001".

Redeeming WestJet dollars: Flights operated by American Airlines are not available for redemption at this time.

WestJet Rewards: Fly More Earn More Promotion + new WS/RBC Credit Card offer

I said it before and I'll say it again, WestJet is really starting to make some moves with their rewards program. First the name was changed from Frequent Guest to Rewards (which is a good move as frequent guest tends to refer to Hotel Reward programs and was actually used first by Scandic Hotels for their reward program). We've now seen a first flight bonus, eastern triangle flight bonuses and free flight offers to New York and now the Fly More Earn More promotion. This a really decent offer for those who find themselves flying WestJet especially if you hit the $6000 spend level as the bonus of $500 combined with your base dollars of $140 for a total of $640 WestJet dollars equates to a 10.6% return on the money you spent and that does not include the free flight you also receive.

Along with the Earn More Fly More offer, WestJet and RBC have a new sign up offer for their WestJet Rewards World MasterCard which combines the basic $100 sign up bonus with a $99 companion ticket that is good for flights in Canada and the Continental U.S.. This offer is more lucrative than last years $350 WestJet dollar sign up bonus if you use the companion ticket on flight that costs more than $349 which in today's market is not hard to do. Full details on these new offers can be found below straight from the WestJet press release:

Starting today, WestJet Rewards members who register in the Fly more, Earn more promotion will be eligible to earn one the following bonuses on WestJet-operated flights flown between March 1 and December 31, 2012:
Reach $1500 in qualifying spend and get a bonus of $100 WestJet dollars, or
Reach $3000 in qualifying spend and get a bonus of $200 WestJet dollars, or
Reach $6000 in qualifying spend and get a bonus of $500 WestJet dollars plus one round-trip flight anywhere WestJet flies in Canada or the continental U.S.

Full details of the promotion are available at westjet.com/earnmore.

Also starting today, WestJet launches an exciting limited-time offer of a $99 round-trip companion flight as well as a welcome bonus of $100 WestJet dollars for new WestJet RBC World MasterCard cardholders. To receive this offer, new cardholders must apply and be approved from March 1 to April 30, 2012, and make their first purchase by June 15, 2012.

This offer allows new cardholders to take one companion on a round-trip flight, on the same itinerary, for $99 (excluding taxes, fees and surcharges) to any WestJet-operated destination in Canada or the continental U.S., excluding Hawaii and Puerto Rico. What’s better, the $100 WestJet dollars welcome bonus can be used to pay for the round-trip companion flight. For more information, visit westjet.com/creditcard.

Clarification on earning rewards with the WestJet Frequent Guest program

Recently one of our readers commented on the WestJet Frequent Guest Program as follows:

"WestJet rewards stops when you reach the $ 7,500 milestone. No more rewards! I reached this in 6 months and I need to wait until my membership year is over to start over again!"

So I went to the WestJet website to check this out for myself, and the site does not state this nor does it state the opposite. The lead me to send an email to one of my contacts at WestJet to clarify what I believed was the case in that the bonuses stop at $7,500 but you will continue to earn your 2.5% WestJet dollars on each dollar spent no matter how much you spend with them. He confirmed this is the case, so to reiterate, the spend level bonuses and JetAway bonuses stop at $7,500 but your base earning does not.

WestJet enhances their Frequent Guest Program

It was a little over 18 months ago that WestJet launched their Frequent Guest Program to so-so reviews from us and other industry analysts. Today, WestJet announced some changes to program that make the program better for its members. The biggest change comes in the removal of the $1,500 spend limit (I know I fell short in the first year by a couple hundred) which means you start earning WestJet dollars right from the onset of your first flight with WestJet. The complete changes as taken from the press release are as follows:

• Frequent Guest Program members will now start earning with their first WestJet flight flown and vacation package taken. The $1,500 annual qualifying spend requirement has been eliminated.
• There's no limit to the number of WestJet dollars members can redeem toward WestJet Vacations packages. The $500 maximum redemption amount for WestJet Vacations packages has been removed.
• All WestJet RBC MasterCard members are now automatically members of the Frequent Guest Program with the ability to double-dip by earning WestJet dollars through purchases on their card and by flying with WestJet.

 According to the press release additional enhancements to program will be announced in the coming months.

Update from a WestJet Email I received:
We've removed the $1500 annual qualifying spend requirement.
You read that right. We listened to your feedback and have eliminated the requirement to spend $1500 each qualifying year before you can begin receiving WestJet dollars. Now all members can earn right away, starting with the first flight flown or WestJet Vacations package taken.

For WestJet flights, earning starts at 1% and increases to 2.5%.
Each qualifying year, you'll begin by earning 1% back in WestJet dollars on eligible spend between $1 and $1499. Once you reach $1500 in annual qualifying spend, you'll receive a bonus of $35 – for a total of $50 WestJet dollars. Even more, your earning rate will increase to 2.5% and will continue at that rate for the remainder of your qualifying year.

For WestJet Vacations® packages, earning starts at 0.5% and increases to 1%...on the entire
package price.
Each qualifying year, you'll begin by earning 0.5% back in WestJet dollars on your WestJet Vacations packages. Once you reach $1500 in annual qualifying spend on WestJet flights, your earning rate for WestJet Vacations packages will increase to 1% and will continue at that rate for the remainder of your qualifying year. Earn WestJet dollars for flights, hotel, car rentals or activities that you purchase as part
of your package.

How does this affect my account?
If your current qualifying spend is between $1 and $1499, a credit of 1% in WestJet dollars for WestJet flights will be posted to your account. Watch for your new WestJet dollars balance on the account update issued in early December. You'll then continue to earn and receive WestJet dollars at the rates provided above.

If you are currently over $1500 in qualifying spend you will not see any immediate change. You will continue to earn at 2.5% for WestJet flights and 1% for WestJet Vacations for the rest of your current qualifying year, with WestJet dollars posted to your account within 30 days of completion of travel.

Redeem as little as $25 WestJet dollars or as many as you like.
You'll need to use a minimum of $25 WestJet dollars at one time when redeeming for WestJet flights or WestJet Vacations packages. However you can now use as many as you like towards the purchase of a WestJet Vacations package – we've removed the maximum redemption amount!

Source: WestJet

WestJet and Emirates sign interline agreement

This news came out last week and brought a touch more fan fare then the El Al announcement. This time it was announced that an interline agreement has been set up between WestJet and Emirates. Passengers will now be able to travel on one itinerary when flying WestJet and connecting to/from Emirates flights in Toronto.

Source: Newswire.ca

American and WestJet continue to expand codeshares

From Airline Route Updates, American and WestJet have further expanded the routes they code share on:

American Airlines operated by WestJet
Calgary – Edmonton
Calgary – Phoenix
Calgary – San Diego
Edmonton – Phoenix (eff 01OCT11)

WestJet operated by American Airlines
Los Angeles – Fresno
Miami – Jacksonville FL
Miami – Key West
Miami – Nashville
Miami – New Orleans
Miami – Pensacola
Toronto – Boston

WestJet and El Al sign interline agreement

On September 12th WestJet signed an interline agreement with Israel's El Al Airlines. The agreement will allow consumers to purchase one ticket for flights from Israel to Toronto on El Al and connect to WestJet flights within Canada and to Florida and the Caribbean.

To celebrate El Al Matmid Club members can earn 20% bonus Matmid points on the WestJet portion of their flights during the month of December.

Source: Shalom Life

KLM starts codeshare service on select WestJet routes

It didn't take KLM long to get their codeshares onto WestJet flights after receiving CTA approval a week or so ago. Starting on September 26, KLM will be placing their flight numbers on the following routes (you'll notice they all originate in cities that KLM serves to connect to/from their Amsterdam flights):
Calgary – Abbotsford
Calgary – Comox
Calgary – Edmonton
Calgary – Kelowna
Calgary – Montreal
Calgary – Ottawa
Calgary – Regina
Calgary – Saskatoon
Calgary – Vancouver
Calgary – Victoria
Calgary – Winnipeg
Montreal – Edmonton
Montreal – Winnipeg
Toronto – Calgary
Toronto – Edmonton
Toronto – Edmonton – Kelowna
Toronto – Halifax
Toronto – Kelowna
Toronto – Montreal
Toronto – Ottawa
Toronto – Regina
Toronto – Saskatoon
Toronto – Thunder Bay – Winnipeg
Toronto – Winnipeg
Vancouver – Edmonton
Vancouver – Kelowna
Vancouver – Ottawa
Vancouver – Prince George
Vancouver – Regina
Vancouver – Winnipeg

Source: Airline Route Updates

$350 Sign Up Bonus for the WestJet RBC World MasterCard extended

You may recall our post from July 15th announcing the larger sign up bonuses for the WestJet MasterCards from RBC. At that time the offer was to run only until August 31 but the offers of $350 for the World MasterCard and $100 for the regular WestJet MasterCard have been extended to November 14.

For more details please visit WestJet.com.

WestJet adds service to San Juan, Puerto Rico

Towards the third week of July WestJet released their winter 2011/12 schedule and it included service to one new city for the airline. The new service to San Juan Puerto Rico launches on November 5th from Toronto and will operate twice weekly.

Flight Timings
Toronto-San Juan Dep 0910 Arr 1435
San Juan-Toronot Dep 1605 Arr 1950

RBC ups the sign up bonus for WestJet MasterCards

One of the weakest components of the WestJet RBC MasterCards has been the relatively low sign up bonus. Most premium travel rewards credit cards in Canada offer a large enough bonus to get a free flight within Canada or North America (short haul or long haul depending on the card), the premium card for WestJet is the WestJet RBC World MasterCard and since the launch it has only offered a $100 WestJet Dollars sign up bonus, nowhere near a free flight. That has changed, well at least for a limited time only.

As of yesterday you can now get a $350 WestJet Dollar sign up bonus for the WestJet RBC World MasterCard, which according to WestJet's promo material is enough for a free flight in most cases (not including taxes and fees). Overall the WestJet Frequent Guest program is average however if someone is planning a flight with WestJet in the near future, then this sign up bonus would be well worth the $79 annual fee on the card as you will end up saving $271 on your flight(s). There could also be a chance of lowering that annual fee if you cancel the card before you renew and they prorate it for you and refund the difference. Some card issuers (like TD) are known to do this so RBC may do it also. (just make sure you redeem your WestJet dollars before cancelling)

The lower end WestJet RBC MasterCard has also had its sign  up bonus upped to $100 and carries a $39 annual fee. Definitely not as good of a deal like the one above.

For complete details on this promotion please see here.

WestJet's Frequent Guest Program turns one and we ask them 15 questions about the program

The WestJet Frequent Guest program recently celebrated its first birthday and I had the chance to talk to WestJet about the program, how the first year went and what the future of the program may hold. Many thanks to Richard B. and Lauri F. over at WestJet for taking the time to answer these questions.

1. Did WestJet do anything special for the launch of the FGP? (Internally and/or Externally)
Absolutely. We had a big celebration internally to kick off the program. This was celebrated not only in our head office in Calgary but at all Canadian bases across our network. Each employee was presented with a passport wallet to commemorate the launch of the program. At WestJet, we celebrate many momentous occasions and the launch of our own frequent guest program was cause for celebration.

Externally, we launched a campaign to raise awareness of the new program through our Jet Mail program, the travel agent community and through the travel trade media and traditional media. We also made extensive use of our social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook to promote FGP.

2. What has been the response in the first year for the WestJet RBC MasterCards?
The response has been positive. Many of our guests have told us how much they appreciate the simplicity of reward dollars that can be earned on everything they purchase. This is further evidenced by the fact that we have cardholders and FGP members who have redeemed not only once but several times since the launch of the program.

3. What has been the response in the first year for the FGP program itself?
The response has been very good. The idea that you can begin to use your WestJet dollars once a threshold has been reached has been positive. Our guests also appreciate that there are bonuses as you reach each subsequent milestone.

The program is unique – once our guests understand it and realize the value it offers compared to other programs they are engaged, using it and we are seeing strong redemption.

4. Has enrolment in the program met or exceeded your first year targets?
We don’t disclose information regarding targets.

5. Have credit card sign up met or exceeded your first year targets?
We don’t disclose information regarding targets.

6. Have many members who are not WestJet credit card holders succeeded in reaching the set spend levels?
These are thresholds that we do not disclose.

7. Do you see a trend of members redeeming their balances each time they book or are more members hoarding for that big trip?
It’s still a bit early to determine any sort of trending as it relates to their dollars. I believe the notion of hoarding came from other programs where it took awhile before you could reach a level. We’ve heard from guests on both sides; those who are still saving and those who began to use their dollars as soon as they were eligible.

8. Looking back on your launch and the first year of operation, is there anything you would have changed before the launching of the program?
There are a few things such as the ability to use the guest-generated user name as the login ID rather than the 9 digit ID which is generated by the system. We are working on that now and look forward to introducing this initiative. The whole program is rooted in simplicity and it would be much simpler for the guest to be able to login with a username they have chosen.

9. Your first FGP partner outside of RBC and WestJet Vacations is American Airlines, do you have more planned in the immediate future (ie 6-12 months) In particular any hotel or car partners that you will be able to earn WestJet dollars at?
Nothing that we can discuss at this point. As part of our strategic planning cycle each year, we look at a variety of initiatives across the airline so we have certainly taken the time to review the program and prepare several scenarios of what we might do in the future.

10. Will the relationship between WestJet's FGP and American AAdvantage program be expanded beyond earning on code share routes? ie earning WestJet $$ for American Airlines flights only (not code share) or vice versa?
This is something we can not provide information on at this time.

11. Will you eventually be able to redeem WestJet $ for American AAirlines flights (code share and/or non code-share) and vice versa for AAdvantage members? If so, do you see any issues arising in direct competition for the WestJet RBC MasterCard from the TD Canada Trust AAdvantage card?

We are at the very early stages of our discussions as it relates to redemption with code share partners. Nothing we can say at this point.

12. I noticed that WestJet is starting to offer FGP bonuses outside of the CC and set spend levels. Do you foresee this as continuing or are they experiments at this time (ie Eastern triangle $25 bonus)
They are promotional bonuses to help support our strategic expansion into the eastern triangle. It reflects the flexibility and the power of the program. From time to time, we will leverage it tactically where we see a benefit.

13. Do you see any benefit in offering a bonus like that above when you launch a new route?
It’s certainly something we could look at but no plans at this point for new route launches to include FGP. FGP will become a promotional tool that we can leverage for future initiatives.

14. Do you ever see the WestJet FGP moving to a coalition model like Air Miles or Aeroplan?
Not at this point. Our first priority is on our program and to ensure that we are working on the airline partnerships we have in place. That will provide the greatest value for our guests while ensuring that those who fly with us are being rewarded for their patronage.

15. Anything else you would like to add about the WestJet FGP?
Sign up!

For more details on the WestJet FGP or to sign up for the program please visit the Rewards section of the WestJet website.

WestJet and American kick off code sharing on select routes

WestJet and American announced yesterday the launch of their code-sharing partnership (see our previous post on the initial announcement) with American placing their codes on WestJet flights between Montreal and Winnipeg and between Toronto and Edmonton. This will ultimately be expanded to cover nearly 20 cities in Canada. WestJet on the other hand will initially place their code on American flights between Toronto and Los Angeles and Dallas Ft. Worth. With more routes being implemented in phases.

As we had previously mentioned their will also be reciprocating frequent flyer program earning on these code-share flights (ie WestJet Frequent Guest dollars for the AA flights, AAdvantage Miles for the WestJet flights). There is talk of further expanding the relationship of the FFP's which I would assume to mean the ability to redeem dollars/miles on these flights as well. If this comes into play then some of our yearly credit card rankings may change as holders of the TD AAdvantage Visa would finally have access to domestic flights and holders of the WestJet RBC MasterCards would have access to more of the U.S. market.

Source: WestJet Press Release

Westjet, American Airlines expand relationship with code share agreement

Following an earlier interlining announcement in October 2010, WestJet and American Airlines have announced a new code share agreement between the two airlines. The agreement will allow each airline to place their codes on the other airlines flights. At this point this means American customers will be able to connect to up to 20 cities in Canada that AA or American Eagle does not serve while WestJet customers will be able to fly on WestJet coded American Airlines flights from Canada to Boston and Chicago. Future arrangements should see the WestJet place their codes on American flights to more cities.

For our readers, the biggest perk here is the reciprocal frequent flyer benefits in the agreement. This means members of either airlines frequent flyer programs will be able to earn AAdvantage miles or WestJet dollars on the code share flights. What is unknown at this time is whether you have to fly a connecting flight on your actual airline to earn miles/dollars or if you will be able to earn those miles for the code share flight only. In most other agreements as long as the flight has your main airline's code then you get the miles/dollars but on some occasions some programs have made it more restrictive that you have to connect to/from a flight flown with your airlines own metal. Hopefully  that will not be the case here as they may attract a few more business customers to the WestJet frequent guest program primarily out east with the numerous flights that AA has from Eastern Canada to Boston and Chicago.

Source: WestJet

WestJet mounts new challenge in the Eastern Triangle

Since the launch of Porter Airlines a few years back WestJet has seen their small market share of the eastern triangle between Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal be eroded to an even smaller percentage putting them behind Air Canada and Porter. To prove their importance in the market and attempt to gain more business travellers WestJet announced a new initiative on their Eastern Triangle routes that will take effect on May 2, 2011.

The initiative includes increases in the number of flights on business days to 10 each way between YYZ and YUL and 9 each way between YYZ and YOW. These flights will all depart from easy access gates at each airport. Further initiatives on these routes include no fees to take an earlier or later flight on the same day and complementary wine and beer on board. Also, guests who join WestJet's Frequent Guest Program will receive 25 bonus WestJet dollars for every three one-way flights flown in the triangle between May and August. WestJet is also promising 50% off their guest next flight on these routes should their current flights be delayed by more then 30 minutes. If a flight is cancelled and the guest can't fly at the new time they will receive a full credit for their first flight and the 50% off their next flight.

For more details and a schedule for the flights on the triangle please see this WestJet press release

WestJet and Delta ink interline agreement

WestJet announced yesterday that they have signed an interline agreement with Atlanta based Delta Airlines. The agreement went into effect immediately allowing WestJet and Delta customers to purchase connecting flights on one ticket, receive boarding passes for all segments at their first check-in, and tag bags through to their final destination. Currently it will allow connections between WestJet and Delta in over 25 cities in Canada and the U.S.. At the moment passengers must book via Delta booking channels to get the interline flights on both airlines.

This move makes a lot of sense for WestJet even though they already have an agreement in place with American Airlines. Why? As we have stated in the past Delta serves the most cities in Canada after Air Canada and WestJet and Delta's SkyTeam alliance is the second largest alliance in Canada after Star Alliance (solely because of Air Canada) The majority of the Canadian cities covered by Delta are served by WestJet as well, more so then American Airlines and allows for many more connections to be made across Canada rather then only 4 or 5 major cities.

Source: WestJet Press Release

WestJet adds Orange County flights from Calgary & Vancouver

WestJet announced today that they will offer direct non-stop flights from Calgary and Vancouver to Orange County, California. The summer seasonal service will be daily and is slated to start on May 2 from Vancouver and on June 13 from Calgary.  For those who are not aware, Orange County's John Wayne Airport is close to Anaheim (Disneyland), Knots Berry Farm and the beach cities of Southern California.

Flight timings
Calgary-Orange County Dep 930 Arr 1149
Orange County-Calgary Dep 1230 Arr 1635

Vancouver-Orange County Dep 1030 Arr 1323
Orange County-Vancouver Dep 1415 Arr 1705

Source: WestJet

WestJet signs interline agreement with British Airways

OK, I know this news is over a week old but better late then never right?

Anyways, WestJet has signed another agreement like those previously with Air France KLM, China Airlines and American Airlines whereby customers travelling on British Airways flights from the U.K. connecting to a WestJet flights will be able to do so on a single ticket.

Source: The Globe and Mail

WestJet announces more non-stop service to Orlando

More seasonal  routes were announced from WestJet last week:

- Hamilton to Orlando which will run once per week from Feb 15 to  Apr 26
- Moncton to Orlando will also run once per week from Feb 17 to May 5

Source: WestJet Press Release (Hamilton)
Source: WestJet Press Release (Moncton)

WestJet to charge for second checked bag

In a surprise move that countered most of WestJet's marketing strategies for the past year and a half or so, the airline announced yesterday that they will begin charging $20 for the second checked bag on flights on or after Jan 19, 2011. The first checked bag for each customer remains free.  The fee is effective on all tickets purchased on or after Nov 3, 10. The $20 fee is applicable to all of WestJet's routes and like any airline who adds a new fee, it has irked many travellers as can be seen by the responses on WestJet's social media channels like Facebook and Twitter.

Most airlines in North America are now charging some sort of baggage fee (most U.S. airlines charge for the first and/or second bags with Southwest being a exception) however WestJet's primary competitor, Air Canada only charges a second bag fee on flights to the U.S. and Europe. Within Canada, Air Canada still allows 2 checked bags for free, at least for the time being. We all know that the airlines tend to follow in each others footsteps so we may see Air Canada start charging for a second checked bag within Canada soon. If I was Air Canada I would avoid this to appease the customers especially since Air Canada seems to be gaining momentum in the customer service department and more people are enjoying their in flight service as of late. Perhaps Air Canada's marketing department will put a positive spin on WestJet's news for their airline. However, in the long run,  if your primary competitor is adding to their bottom line with ancillary revenues derived from baggage fees on flights in Canada, why would you not do the same?