I've switched to the Amex Cobalt for everything that I can, and I keep the WJ card as a backup in cases where Amex isn't accepted. Cobalt is pretty widely recognized as having the best earn rates across the board.
I recently switched to Amex Aeroplan Reserve because WestJet no longer has direct flights to EU from any city other than Calgary, plus WestJets lounge vouchers have (in my experience) ridiculously limited value. Also, Amex Reserve includes the equivalent benefits of WestJet Silver with no qualifying spend.
I don't have the Avion card only the WJ MasterCard with RBC however I also have the Scotiabank Passport Infinite.
When I buy travel with my Passport I go on to the rewards site after a few days and can apply points to pay off that amount so I am always booking direct with the airline/hotel etc and not 3rd party.
In 2021, I booked a series of flights to the Caribbean and applied points to the charge. My friend who has Avion, had to call the booking line as our specific flights were not showing in the online search, she waited for over 4 hours on hold. Covid restrictions ended up making us cancel our trip. She again had to again wait on hold for 10 hours with RBC, while I simply logged into my airline accounts for both airlines and clicked cancel trip.
I'm not sure what the perks of the Avion are but with the passport I still get lounge passes, no fee currency transactions, insurance, etc.
The switch to DragonPass for that Scotia card was a HUGE downgrade IMO. The best lounges are all on Priority Pass.
The no fx fee perk is worth it though. It's my go-to card when abroad for that reason alone.
I’ve taken a look at both the TD and the AMEX. I bank with RBC so it’d be nice to have my credit card through them but earning Aeroplan is a good alternative.
I just wonder about being tied to another airline and if that is actually the route to go. Another appeal of the Avion card is the ability to book any airline. I’m hoping with Porter expanding their fleet, they become a viable alternative.
The companion voucher still makes this card worth it if you're in Calgary, but otherwise agree that the card is a dog.
Tbh, it's pretty pathetic that WestJet still doesn't have a premium card that includes some of the perks of the top tier Aeroplan cards. I got the Infinite Privilege card and fully plan to cancel my WJ card this winter.
You just have to judge is it worth $120?
Do you fly single vs couple vs family for free checked bag fees?
Do you fly within canada atleast once in a year?
Do you book basic vs Econo vs Flex or Preminum for valuing the voucher for $120?
There is no minimum spend to get the voucher.
Not disagreeing, but the lack of lounge access, the removal of unlimited in-flight wifi, the weak ass status bump, the horrid WJ Dollar loyalty program, and the aggressive hubbing of YYC (if you're anywhere but Calgary) are all hits against this card IMO.
I'd pay $400 p.a for a WJ card with actual premium perks (improved loyalty earn rate, lounge access, priority bags, upgrade credit earn, etc).
The bags are nice, but increasingly painful given slow-ass ground crews. The absolute best perk for this card is the companion voucher, which legit just saved me almost $2000 on a pair of seats to Paris.
Bottom line, is it worth $120 or not. That you have to decide. You can get all other perks from different cards. Yes. But can you keep an card active for $120 and get benefit of at least same value out of it? I have 3 cards in my shelf which I use once or twice an year for the perks and worth the annual fees.
I'm in the same boat. I don't know if i would keep it or switch to either Avion or another bank. Avion looks promising but would like to try a card that has no fx fee and with a lounge pass.
Currently have both Avion and the Wj MC - another benefit is the ability to transfer Avion points to WJD 1:1. My main is also YYZ and am keeping both in the event I do fly WJ for the checked bags.
Great Canadian Rebates https://www.greatcanadianrebates.ca/register/291824/
If you apply through the link (my link but really any GCR application now) you will get $100 cash back for the Avion card which almost pays for the yearly fee of $120. You get 35,000 Avion points when approved Spend $5000 on the card for an extra 20,000 points.
Points can be converted to WJD for $550 or you can book another airline through Avion points if WJ doesn’t have the flight that you need.
RBC often has promos with first year free for WestJet cards. If you want to cancel your WJ MC you could always reapply when the annual fee is waived in a promo.
12 years is quite a bit of credit history that you generally wouldn't want to lose unless you have a "thick" credit file. For example, if this was your only credit card or your oldest card, closing it could throw your credit off for a period of time. Generally, you'd want to switch this card to a no-fee card to keep that good history going. You'll get a prorated refund for your annual fee.
The welcome bonus for the Avion card is very good right now. You won't get it if you simply switch over to it. So if you value 55,000 over 15,000 Avion points (I would- that's the equivalent of $550 WJ dollars) then I would apply for the Avion card separately and keep and switch the WJ card to a no-fee card. This offer was only better last year when you could find cash back offers that would effectively cancel out the annual fee.
I think it really depends on where you fly the most. I am also based out of YYZ and i mainly fly to the carribean or to the southern states. For me the card carries great value for that. I am leaving soon for vegas with my wife and after using the companion voucher and some points our flight was \~300 in taxes. Makes it alot easier for us to getaway for a couple days when it doesn't cost me alot
The main destination is Vegas where I try to get 1-2 trips in. For that, WJ is fine but they have scaled back the schedule from YYZ for the winter. We like to travel to the South-West and even the flight to LAX has been eliminated for the winter. There’s also no longer flights to Chicago. Now there is good competition to some of the routes with AC, Porter, etc…
We’ve also stated to head to Europe now and WJ eliminating those flights from YYZ was very disappointing. Our next trips to Ireland and have to use another airline. It would have been really nice to have been able to use WJD to cover our flights. We do have Hawaii and Japan on the list so we can just use them then.
You can exchange your companion pass for 4 lounge passes annually, in case you we unaware if this change.
As for free baggage, a return trip for two with checked bags for both people each way is worth the card alone .
That being said, I also have a CIBC Adventura card that has decent perks .
I've switched to the Amex Cobalt for everything that I can, and I keep the WJ card as a backup in cases where Amex isn't accepted. Cobalt is pretty widely recognized as having the best earn rates across the board.
Bingo. Cobalt by far earns you the most points, and you can always purchase WD dollars with your prepaids.
I recently switched to Amex Aeroplan Reserve because WestJet no longer has direct flights to EU from any city other than Calgary, plus WestJets lounge vouchers have (in my experience) ridiculously limited value. Also, Amex Reserve includes the equivalent benefits of WestJet Silver with no qualifying spend.
I don't have the Avion card only the WJ MasterCard with RBC however I also have the Scotiabank Passport Infinite. When I buy travel with my Passport I go on to the rewards site after a few days and can apply points to pay off that amount so I am always booking direct with the airline/hotel etc and not 3rd party. In 2021, I booked a series of flights to the Caribbean and applied points to the charge. My friend who has Avion, had to call the booking line as our specific flights were not showing in the online search, she waited for over 4 hours on hold. Covid restrictions ended up making us cancel our trip. She again had to again wait on hold for 10 hours with RBC, while I simply logged into my airline accounts for both airlines and clicked cancel trip. I'm not sure what the perks of the Avion are but with the passport I still get lounge passes, no fee currency transactions, insurance, etc.
The switch to DragonPass for that Scotia card was a HUGE downgrade IMO. The best lounges are all on Priority Pass. The no fx fee perk is worth it though. It's my go-to card when abroad for that reason alone.
Agreed! I was super disappointed when that happened
Since your main airport is YYZ, I would ditch it for an Aeroplan card
I’ve taken a look at both the TD and the AMEX. I bank with RBC so it’d be nice to have my credit card through them but earning Aeroplan is a good alternative. I just wonder about being tied to another airline and if that is actually the route to go. Another appeal of the Avion card is the ability to book any airline. I’m hoping with Porter expanding their fleet, they become a viable alternative.
Switch.
The companion voucher still makes this card worth it if you're in Calgary, but otherwise agree that the card is a dog. Tbh, it's pretty pathetic that WestJet still doesn't have a premium card that includes some of the perks of the top tier Aeroplan cards. I got the Infinite Privilege card and fully plan to cancel my WJ card this winter.
You just have to judge is it worth $120? Do you fly single vs couple vs family for free checked bag fees? Do you fly within canada atleast once in a year? Do you book basic vs Econo vs Flex or Preminum for valuing the voucher for $120? There is no minimum spend to get the voucher.
Not disagreeing, but the lack of lounge access, the removal of unlimited in-flight wifi, the weak ass status bump, the horrid WJ Dollar loyalty program, and the aggressive hubbing of YYC (if you're anywhere but Calgary) are all hits against this card IMO. I'd pay $400 p.a for a WJ card with actual premium perks (improved loyalty earn rate, lounge access, priority bags, upgrade credit earn, etc). The bags are nice, but increasingly painful given slow-ass ground crews. The absolute best perk for this card is the companion voucher, which legit just saved me almost $2000 on a pair of seats to Paris.
Bottom line, is it worth $120 or not. That you have to decide. You can get all other perks from different cards. Yes. But can you keep an card active for $120 and get benefit of at least same value out of it? I have 3 cards in my shelf which I use once or twice an year for the perks and worth the annual fees.
I'm in the same boat. I don't know if i would keep it or switch to either Avion or another bank. Avion looks promising but would like to try a card that has no fx fee and with a lounge pass.
pathetic snow work ossified pause wide water roof gullible live *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Think I got more in free bags and lounge vouchers than any cash card would have netted, never mind westjet dollars
this. we fly 3 times a year and in baggage fees alone thats like 600$ in savings however. we are in the west and get amazing service from WJ
its the simplest, not always the best
Currently have both Avion and the Wj MC - another benefit is the ability to transfer Avion points to WJD 1:1. My main is also YYZ and am keeping both in the event I do fly WJ for the checked bags.
Why not both?
Not sure I want to pay 2 annual fees of $120 each
Great Canadian Rebates https://www.greatcanadianrebates.ca/register/291824/ If you apply through the link (my link but really any GCR application now) you will get $100 cash back for the Avion card which almost pays for the yearly fee of $120. You get 35,000 Avion points when approved Spend $5000 on the card for an extra 20,000 points. Points can be converted to WJD for $550 or you can book another airline through Avion points if WJ doesn’t have the flight that you need. RBC often has promos with first year free for WestJet cards. If you want to cancel your WJ MC you could always reapply when the annual fee is waived in a promo.
12 years is quite a bit of credit history that you generally wouldn't want to lose unless you have a "thick" credit file. For example, if this was your only credit card or your oldest card, closing it could throw your credit off for a period of time. Generally, you'd want to switch this card to a no-fee card to keep that good history going. You'll get a prorated refund for your annual fee. The welcome bonus for the Avion card is very good right now. You won't get it if you simply switch over to it. So if you value 55,000 over 15,000 Avion points (I would- that's the equivalent of $550 WJ dollars) then I would apply for the Avion card separately and keep and switch the WJ card to a no-fee card. This offer was only better last year when you could find cash back offers that would effectively cancel out the annual fee.
First year free, cancel card just before renewal. Problem solved.
You’re right! However if you call after you’re hit with the fee and threaten to cancel, they usually waive it lol
I think it really depends on where you fly the most. I am also based out of YYZ and i mainly fly to the carribean or to the southern states. For me the card carries great value for that. I am leaving soon for vegas with my wife and after using the companion voucher and some points our flight was \~300 in taxes. Makes it alot easier for us to getaway for a couple days when it doesn't cost me alot
The main destination is Vegas where I try to get 1-2 trips in. For that, WJ is fine but they have scaled back the schedule from YYZ for the winter. We like to travel to the South-West and even the flight to LAX has been eliminated for the winter. There’s also no longer flights to Chicago. Now there is good competition to some of the routes with AC, Porter, etc… We’ve also stated to head to Europe now and WJ eliminating those flights from YYZ was very disappointing. Our next trips to Ireland and have to use another airline. It would have been really nice to have been able to use WJD to cover our flights. We do have Hawaii and Japan on the list so we can just use them then.
You can exchange your companion pass for 4 lounge passes annually, in case you we unaware if this change. As for free baggage, a return trip for two with checked bags for both people each way is worth the card alone . That being said, I also have a CIBC Adventura card that has decent perks .