westjet travel companion voucher

WestJet Companion Voucher: Everything You Need to Know

Josh Bandura Jul 8, 2024 / WestJet , WestJet Rewards / 38 comments

If you are familiar with the WestJet Rewards program, then you know the basics of redeeming WestJet Dollars for flights and vacation packages. However, that is only half of the equation. If you truly want to get the most from your WestJet Dollars and save even more on your next flight booking, you need to understand the value that WestJet companion vouchers can provide to you as a traveler.

Let’s look at everything you need to know about WestJet companion vouchers so you can save big money on your next WestJet flight.

What are WestJet Companion Vouchers?

WestJet companion vouchers are vouchers issued within the WestJet Rewards program . They give the holder the opportunity to apply a discount towards a flight booking consisting of themselves and at least one other person. The voucher can only be used on the same flight and same itinerary as the member who is redeeming the voucher.  

The WestJet companion voucher will reduce the base fare cost of the first companion traveling on the itinerary. Taxes and fees will still need to be paid on the companion’s fare, but the reduction of cost on the base fare can be significant.

Companion vouchers can be used for one-way or round-trip travel, but are fully consumed once applied, even if it is for a one-way booking. While these vouchers also have an expiry date, typically one year from the date it was issued, travel can be booked past the expiry date as that is simply a “must book by” date.

Needless to say, the reduction of base fare can result in significant savings on your next WestJet flight booking. Surprisingly enough, these vouchers are actually quite straightforward to earn and use.

How to Obtain a WestJet Companion Voucher

There are two ways in which you can obtain a companion voucher: signing up for and holding a WestJet RBC credit card or having elite status with WestJet Rewards.

WestJet RBC Credit Cards

For the majority, the most straightforward method of obtaining a companion voucher is simply by signing up for and holding a WestJet RBC Mastercard. When you sign up for a new WestJet RBC credit card, you will receive a companion voucher as part of the welcome bonus and an additional voucher for every cardholder anniversary going forward.

Out of the two cards offered by RBC, our personal favorite is the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard, which comes with a strong welcome bonus, FlyerFunds rebate, and various benefits such as an annual companion voucher, free checked bags, and more.

The WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard earns WestJet dollars and offers cardholders benefits on WestJet flights including an annual companion fare and a first free checked bag.

Check out our WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard review for more details.

On the other hand, the WestJet RBC Mastercard also offers a companion voucher if you do not meet the income requirements of the World Elite card. However, this card does not offer as many overall benefits and comes with a weaker companion voucher which we will cover below.

If you do an RBC product switch to one of the WestJet cards, you may receive a companion voucher upon switching. This is very much so a “your mileage may vary” case – you are not entitled to receive one necessarily. But, it sometimes can work out this way so it may be worth a shot.

It is important to note that any unused vouchers, even if the voucher expiry date is not for a while, will be removed from your WestJet Rewards account if you close your WestJet RBC credit card that awarded those vouchers.

WestJet Rewards Elite Status – Milestone Awards

If you are a WestJet Rewards member, you can earn milestone qualifying spend awards which include WestJet-wide companion vouchers. Milestone spend is tracked separately from spending that is used towards status but includes qualifying spend on WestJet travel.

The list of milestone qualifying spend tiers and the respective awards can be seen below:

While this is definitely a method to accrue WestJet companion vouchers, it will most likely be out of the realm of possibility for the average traveler. These tiers are more geared towards those who travel for business or other needs, as opposed to the leisure traveler.

With that in mind, acquiring companion vouchers through any of the RBC credit card options is definitely the best way for the majority of people.

What is the Cost of Using a WestJet Companion Voucher?

When using a WestJet companion voucher, the cost you will pay for the base fare will vary depending on the source of your companion voucher and where you will be traveling.

See the table below for the base fare cost on companion vouchers earned from various sources:

Note that the costs listed in the table above only account for the base fare on the ticket. Even with a companion fare, you will still need to pay the taxes and tickets on the ticket.

Of note, the most accessible option of the three is the World Elite companion voucher since it applies network-wide, comes with a reasonable cost, and is attainable by the broader population, even if you have never flown WestJet before.

You can learn how to apply a companion voucher towards your booking here .

WestJet Companion Voucher Restrictions

Similar to companion fare vouchers offered by other airlines, the WestJet companion voucher has some restrictions on how it can be used.

Companion vouchers are not eligible to be used on WestJet Business class , BusinessFlex, or Member Exclusive fares; all other WestJet fare classes are eligible. When booking with a companion voucher, the same fare type must be booked for the primary cardholder and companion.

Companion vouchers can also not be used with WestJet vacations packages or group bookings. This means that the best way to save on your WestJet vacations booking is to redeem WestJet Dollars; click to learn more about redeeming WestJet Dollars for vacation packages .

WestJet companion vouchers can only be used by the WestJet Rewards member who has the voucher on their account. This means that you cannot transfer companion vouchers between members or book travel for third parties while still using a companion voucher.

Companion vouchers cannot be applied to existing bookings; they can only be applied when making a new booking. They also cannot be applied when using a discount code so you will have to determine if the code or voucher will save you more money on your booking.

The flight booking must be made before the expiry date listed on the companion voucher, however, the flight does not need to be flown by the expiry date. This means that you can stretch the expiry on your companion voucher, provided you book travel for the future before it expires.

How to Get the Most Value from a WestJet Companion Voucher

There are two main things to keep in mind when using your WestJet companion voucher: there are no blackout periods and it is better to always use it for a round-trip booking.

If you truly want to maximize the value you can extract from your companion voucher, booking a WestJet Premium fare is the way to go. Premium fares come at a premium price, which means you can save even more with a companion fare voucher. 

For example, let’s consider a recent itinerary that I booked using a WestJet companion voucher for this summer. In late June, my partner and I are flying from Edmonton to Orange County to enjoy a few days at Disneyland. Thanks to an influx of WestJet Dollars plus a companion voucher, we were able to splurge on premium class when booking our WestJet flights for some significant savings:

• Round-trip base fare for premium class: $1,840 total ( $920 per person )
• Round-trip base fare for premium class with companion voucher applied: $1040 total ( $520 per person )

As you can see, through the application of the companion voucher we were able to save $800 on the whole itinerary. That $800 will easily cover our Disneyland tickets, which gives us the opportunity to spend our money elsewhere during the trip as opposed to spending it on flights. Throw in some free night certificates from the American Express Hilton Honors Aspire card (US) , a Scene+ redemption on the Scotiabank Gold American Express card for theme park tickets, and a typically expensive trip to Disneyland starts to become very affordable.

Learn More: How to Save Money on a Disneyland Trip with Miles & Points

Not to mention, for any travel in North America, WestJet Premium is a step up from economy class and is a nice treat. You can expect an experience similar to Air Canada business class . That being said, at the end of the day, the best value you can get out of your companion fare voucher is using it for the trip you want to take . Don’t worry about maximizing value, worry about reducing costs for the vacation you actually want to take.

Convert WestJet Companion Vouchers to Lounge Passes

While we would always recommend using companion vouchers for flight redemptions, as we will cover more below, you can actually convert them to lounge passes. This may be an avenue worth pursuing if you have an excess of companion vouchers and do not hold a card that grants lounge access, such as the American Express Business Platinum card .

Only vouchers earned from the WestJet RBC World Elite credit card are eligible to be converted to lounge passes, at a rate of one voucher to four lounge passes. The lounge passes can be used by the WestJet Rewards member for themselves and their guests, but the member must be in attendance.

There are a variety of lounges that you can access with these vouchers, with the most notable lounge being the WestJet Elevation lounge in Calgary. Click here for a full list of all eligible lounges.

You can exchange your companion vouchers for lounge passes here .

WestJet companion vouchers present a strong value proposition in the WestJet Rewards program. I highly recommend taking advantage of them should you find yourself with a voucher in your account. 

Personally, I’ve had great success using them to hop around North America with ease and with minimal out-of-pocket costs, including booking an upcoming WestJet Premium round-trip itinerary to Anaheim to visit Disneyland.

Frequently Asked Questions

The easiest way to obtain a WestJet companion voucher is to sign up for either the WestJet RBC Mastercard or the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard. You will receive your companion voucher when your first statement posts on the credit card account and on the account anniversary every year thereafter.

Yes, you can absolutely make a WestJet flight redemption using both WestJet Dollars and a companion voucher.

Yes, WestJet companion vouchers can be used to book premium class seats. However, business class seats are not eligible to be booked with companion vouchers.

No. If you wish to use a companion voucher, you must be on the itinerary as the main passenger.

No, companion vouchers are only redeemable on WestJet flights and not on vacation packages.

No, you cannot transfer a WestJet companion voucher to another WestJet Rewards member.

Yes, WestJet companion vouchers do have an expiry date which will be listed when you view the voucher in your WestJet Rewards account. Note that the expiry date is the date by which flights need to be booked, not the date by which the flights must be flown.

Yes, you can use companion vouchers for open-jaw bookings, ie. where you fly into one city and fly home from a different city.

Yes, the voucher will be credited back to you, with the original expiry date. You can ask WestJet to extend the voucher, which they may do at their discretion.

• Latest Posts

Josh Bandura

Latest posts by josh bandura ( see all ).

• Simplii No Fee Chequing Account: Banking with No Fees in Canada - Aug 23, 2024
• Definitive Guide: Booking ANA Business Class with Points - Aug 9, 2024
• New RBC Credit Card Offer (August 2024) - Aug 2, 2024
• Flight Award Redemptions: Change & Cancellation Fees - Aug 2, 2024
• New BMO Credit Card Offers (August 2024) - Aug 1, 2024

How to Use FlightConnections to Plan Travel

Review: american express cobalt card, leave a comment cancel reply.

All comments are moderated according to our comment policy. Your email address will NOT be published.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Subscribe to our newsletter .

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

38 comments on “ WestJet Companion Voucher: Everything You Need to Know ”

If you booked and paid for two return tickets with the companion voucher. One person gets sick and can’t return on the same flight. What happens now is the voucher still valid it’s already been used?

I’m not sure, that’s a unique situation that would be best discussed with WestJet customer service. My guess would be that since the voucher was applied and utilized on the outbound leg, it will probably not be available.

I am trying to use the companion voucher on flight from Toronto to Liberia Costa Rica but the website is saying flights are not available when I select apply companion voucher. It works for other destinations. Are there destination restrictions when using the companion voucher?

I did a test booking for YYZ-LIR and am able to apply a companion voucher. I’d try different dates or maybe call in to see if customer service can help.

Can I use a companion voucher if my companion returns home earlier than I if we both depart the same day?

In order to use a WestJet Companion voucher both passengers must be flying on the same itinerary. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t work for the situation to mentioned.

You can only use the companion voucher if WestJet operates all legs of the flight. If it’s a code share, you can’t use it.

In 2024 the companion vouchers are basically a scam. WestJet only let’s you apply the voucher (and WestJet Dollars!) against the base fare. But they also severely under price the base fare while jacking up the “Other Air Transportation Charges.”

For example, a flight from Calgary to Paris is $993 plus an additional $142 to $310 for seat selection.

But the base fare is only $94. By some magic, the base fare of this $1300 flight is $94. So the companion voucher is worthless, and you can only use $94 of your WestJet Dollars to help pay for it.

Yes – Base fare $20 – “other air transportation” charges $1950!!

Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. For complete and current information, please consult the entity's website.

• $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.

• 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.
• 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.

About Barry Choi

Barry Choi is a Toronto-based personal finance and travel expert who frequently makes media appearances. His blog Money We Have is one of Canada’s most trusted sources when it comes to money and travel. You can find him on Twitter: @barrychoi

142 Comments

[…] 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 ?

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.

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?

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?

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

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?

Yes, Alaska should count. Your companion voucher lasts one year.

do you get free checked baggage when flying to Mexico with the elite mastercard?

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 ?

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!

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?

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.

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)?

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

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?

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

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?

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.

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.

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?

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?

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?

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 ?

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?

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?

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

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?

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)?

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!

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?

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?

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

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.

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?

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?

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 ?

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!

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?

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

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

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?

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?

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!

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

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

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?

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?

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?

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.

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Get a FREE copy of Travel Hacking for Lazy People

Subscribe now to get your FREE eBook and learn how to travel in luxury for less

• Our Bloggers

Select Page

WestJet Companion Voucher: How to earn them?

Posted by Maple Miles | Mar 9, 2023 | Airlines , Travel Tips | 0

Use a WestJet Companion Pass for discounted travel to Europe!

For families, it might be less important to have Business Class from Toronto to Los Angeles, as long as they can do budget family travel. After all, 4 tickets to Disneyland Los Angeles could nearly cost C$1,000 per day, ignoring the cost of flights, hotels, food and everything else.

This post will highlight all the opportunities Canadians have to access a WestJet Companion Voucher, that will provide a discounted (or free) second ticket. Of course, like any free ticket, taxes, fees and surcharges will be extra.

I do not always travel with a companion, but when I do, it’s typically three people

Annual World Elite Companion Voucher

All holders of the RBC WestJet World Elite MasterCard are issued an Annual World Elite Companion Voucher . The annual fee for the RBC WestJet World Elite MasterCard is $119, and the companion voucher will cost an extra: 

• $119 for flights within Canada and continental USA
• $399 for flights anywhere else in the WestJet network

If a family decides to make a last minute Spring Break vacation to Los Cabos, they might be alarmed to see that the only non-stop flight is $1,465.10 per person. 

$1,465.10 fare for a round trip from Vancouver to Los Cabos

If they look at the price breakdown closely, they will notice that the fare is broken into three separate components, as shown in the image below:

• Base Fare of $1,113.04
• Surcharge of $74.92 and ATC Fee of $82
• Taxes, Fees and Charges of $195.10

Fare breakdown of Vancouver to Los Cabos on WestJet

If the family of four had two companion vouchers, rather than paying, $5,860.40, they would instead pay:

• $1,465.10 for two people
• For the other two tickets, the fare will drop from 1113.04 to 399, for a savings of $714.04 per person. All other fees and surcharges will remain, so the total price will be $751.06 for the other two tickets
• $238 for the annual fee of 2 RBC WestJet World Elite MasterCard’s

This will cost a total of $4,670.32. This is a savings of over $1,000, without including the first checked bag free for all travelers, that will be very useful during your family travel.

RBC WestJet Companion Voucher

Similar to the Annual World Elite Companion Voucher is a cheaper Annual Round Trip Companion Voucher , offered to RBC WestJet MasterCard holders with an annual fee of $39.

The Annual Round Trip Companion Voucher is more restricted than the Annual World Elite Companion Voucher, as this voucher can only be used for flights within Canada or the Continental USA.

It is ironic, however, that if you intend on using the voucher within Canada and the continental USA, the voucher, regardless of if you hold the World Elite or the regular MasterCard, will cost the same:

• RBC WestJet World Elite MasterCard: $119 + $119 = $238
• RBC WestJet MasterCard: $39 + $199 = $238

The World Elite MasterCard will obviously give you additional perks when traveling with WestJet, such as a free first checked bag, but the companion voucher for domestic travel is relatively the same.

WestJet Economy Class on the Boeing 787-9

WestJet Milestone Reward Companion Voucher

The WestJet milestone reward companion voucher is awarded after reaching certain spending thresholds as described below on WestJet flight tickets:

• Every $2,000 thereafter

These vouchers are some of the best vouchers available on WestJet, since they are a flat $0 fare for the companion across the WestJet network in Economy or Premium Economy class.

This is the only companion voucher that can be used for Premium Economy class travel. However, it is possible that these companion vouchers are quite hard to earn for most of us since they require extensive travel across the WestJet network.

Companion vouchers can be an incredible opportunity for couples or families of four traveling during peak or last minute flights when they can be incredibly expensive for Canadians. A WestJet companion voucher is a useful tool in your arsenal if your travel is focused around last minute flights or peak travel destinations during peak travel season.

Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team.

You have successfully subscribed, maple miles.

Hello Hello, this is Moli! Welcome to Maple Miles. A tech professional on a weekday, and a global traveler outside of work. I manage my entire family's travel, connecting us across the globe, between Canada (Vancouver is home, for now), India and whatever country comes in between. I love water, so you might always find me either dreaming of a beach, or actually at a beach in my free time.

More Posts from Maple Miles

Oh, Hello from Maple Miles

March 8, 2023

Best Ways to Earn Free WestJet Flights

March 9, 2023

How to Earn an Air Canada Companion Pass

March 16, 2023

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Most Popular Posts

Our Authors

The Unaccompanied Flyer

Travel Gadget Reviews

The Flight Detective

Takeoff To Travel

The Hotelion

Bucket List Traveler

MJ on Travel

The Points Pundit

Family Flys Free

Recent Reviews

• Hyatt Regency Dehradun Resort and Spa Review Score: 65%
• St Regis Cairo Review – A perfect stay Score: 100%
• Six Passengers in Two Business Class Seats in Gulf Air Score: 90%
• Review: Hyatt Place Waikiki Score: 83%
• Review: Hyatt Centric Waikiki Score: 81%

• Special offers

WestJet promotion: Redeem your companion voucher for a WestJet Vacations package

WestJet companion voucher to exchange

WestJet is giving certain WestJet credit cardholders the opportunity to redeem their companion voucher for a number of WestJet dollars to pay for an upcoming WestJet Vacations package.

Some lucky people were targeted and received a special e-mail. The amount of WestJet dollars to be used to pay for a future vacation package is different for everyone:

• WestJet RBC ® World Elite Mastercard : 200 or 300 WestJet dollars
• WestJet RBC Mastercard : $100 WestJet dollars

To register for this offer, click on the link in the e-mail. The closing date for registration is November 22, 2023.

Then confirm the redemption of the WestJet companion voucher . Promotional WestJet dollars will be deposited the following week.

These WestJet dollars can only be used to pay the base rate of any WestJet Vacations package .

How to easily get a WestJet Companion Voucher with a credit card

This WestJet companion voucher is available to RBC Westjet credit cardholders and those who have Elite status with WestJet Rewards.

Last week, RBC launched a very attractive welcome offer for its WestJet RBC ® World Elite Mastercard credit card .

With the WestJet RBC ® World Elite Mastercard, you can earn up to 700 in WestJet Dollars as a new cardholder:

• 300 WestJet dollars upon your first purchase 1
• 300 WestJet dollars when you spend $5,000 in the first three months 1
• 100 WestJet dollars one-time anniversary bonus 1

With the WestJet RBC ® World Elite Mastercard, you get a travel companion voucher redeemable for a round-trip flight. 2 Plus, your purchases can bring you closer to achieving status with WestJet .

In addition, the primary cardholder and up to 8 guests receive complimentary first checked bag on WestJet flights. 4

With the WestJet RBC ® World Elite Mastercard, you earn 2% back in WestJet dollars 8 per dollar of purchase when you buy a WestJet flight or WestJet vacation package, and 1.5% back in WestJet dollars on everyday purchases . 8 If you travel regularly with WestJet, it’s like earning 1.5% to 2% cash back (including at Costco) to use towards the purchase of WestJet flights!

You’ll also benefit from a wide range of insurance plans : Out-of-Province/Country Emergency Medical Insurance, Travel Accident Insurance, Trip Interruption Insurance, Flight Delay and Emergency Purchases Insurance, Hotel/Motel Burglary Insurance, and Rental Vehicle Collision/Loss Damage Insurance.

Bottom Line

For these lucky people, it’s a great opportunity to do something else with their good companion. Because this option is not normally available!

These redeemed WestJet dollars can even be transferred to another WestJet member, for a fee of $50 plus tax.

We recommend that you read the terms and conditions of the offer carefully to make sure it’s right for you. There is no blackout period or date for taking the Vacation package. But the WestJet dollars redeemed will have the same expiry date as the companion voucher redeemed .

All posts by Caroline Tremblay

Suggested Reading

CanadaPointsGuy

Westjet-exchange companion vouchers to lounge vouchers.

Westjet has now rolled out the option to exchange a valid round-trip companion voucher for 4 lounge vouchers. You can use them yourself or with your guests travelling with you.

Register to get started

You will first need to register for this option by logging into your account to request for the companion voucher to be converted in lounge vouchers.

You should then receive a confirmation that the request has been successfully submitted to Westjet.

Once you have registered and submitted the request, if you qualify, the new lounge vouchers will be deposited in the voucher section of your account within 4 days. You can use this offer on multiple World Elite companion vouchers and they will have the same expiry date as the original Annual World Elite companion voucher. They cannot be used by someone if they are not travelling with you. Finally, note that it only applies to the World Elite companion vouchers.

Now, is it a good idea to do this conversion?

If, you have a premium credit card that already gives you access to a lounge or the Priority pass that gives you access, then there is no reason to do this exchange. You will definitely get more value by redeeming it for a fare towards a second passenger.

Best lounge for redemption?

The best lounge to redeem the lounge vouchers would be in Calgary at the WestJet Elevation Lounge. Do bear in mind that you can also access this lounge if you already have a Priority Pass. These can also be used at participating airport lounges in Canada, Europe and the Caribbean.

Gift of Gold

Platinum and Gold members can now do more with their milestone awards. By exchanging a milestone award—such as a companion voucher—earned at $6,000 or more, you can give two gifts of Gold status to friends or family members that can each be used on a round-trip flight. Now your friends and family can also get more out of their experience when they fly even when not travelling with you.

You can request this by visiting the “Gift of Gold” page below

where you can now directly both “Get” and “Redeem” a “Gift of Gold” voucher(s).

Its great to see WestJet delivering on their promised made at the relaunch of the WestJet Rewards Program and I look forward to using up my accumulated WestJet Reward Dollars and check out the WestJet Elevation Lounge in Calgary when travel opens up again.

Written by Dominic Fernandes aka CanadaPointsGuy.

Image courtesy of Westjet.com

STAY UPDATED

WE LIKE TO SHARE LATEST NEWS OF CANADA POINTS GUY

Prince of Travel

Prince of Travel is a full-service travel brand with an emphasis on luxury travel.

Get in-depth information on hotel programs and learn more about Prince Collection’s premier brands and vendors.

Credit Cards

Get the latest news, deals, guides, and travel reviews straight to your inbox with a Prince of Travel newsletter subscription.

Join Our Newsletter

Subscribe to the prince of travel newsletter.

You'll receive priority information about the newest luxury properties worldwide, exclusive reservations and deals through Prince of Travel , and unique destinations across the globe.

By providing your email, you agree to the Prince of Travel Privacy Policy

Thank you for subscribing!

Please check your email to confirm your subscription!

Id ea eiusmod magna cupidatat proident commodo tempor sit incididunt. Fugiat aliquip officia exercitation ad culpa ipsum est.

Points Programs

Hotel programs, best credit cards, back to insights, analyzing westjet’s other atc fees on companion voucher bookings.

Upon closer inspection, it seems that there might be an additional fee for redeeming WestJet companion vouchers in North America.

Written by T.J. Dunn

On January 22, 2024

Read time 19 mins

A popular feature that many WestJet travellers take advantage of is the companion voucher , which offers a discounted base fare for a second passenger when the first passenger pays full price. 

When we were recently exploring some redemptions with the companion voucher, we noticed some unusual patterns that form when comparing fare breakdowns with and without the companion voucher applied.

As it seems, there may be some additional fees associated with using a companion voucher to some destinations, which could warrant further investigation.

Since originally publishing this article, we’ve received an initial response from WestJet, which has been added to the discussion below.

A Closer Look at WestJet’s Other ATC Fees on Companion Voucher Bookings

Whenever you redeem a WestJet companion voucher , it’s important to always compare the cost of a booking with and without the voucher applied. 

This is because the companion voucher only offers a reduced base fare for the second passenger, and you’re still on the hook for what WestJet terms Other ATC (Air Transportation Charges) – a catch-all category for fuel surcharges and other fees added to your booking. 

Recently, we were comparing the price breakdowns of bookings for two passengers to various destinations, and we noticed some discrepancies between the amount of Other ATC fees with and without a companion voucher applied.

For example, for a round-trip booking between Calgary and Toronto without a companion voucher, we see the following fare breakdown:

In this example, we see a total cost of $784 as the base fare for two passengers, or $392 each. In the Other ATC field, we see $0 in fees.

However, with a companion voucher applied, we see the following breakdown of costs:

Under Air Transportation Charges, we see a $119 companion voucher fee for the second passenger (expected), as well as a $392 base fare for the first passenger (expected).

However, there’s a $20 fee in the Other ATC field, which is unexpected, since it isn’t there when booking the same flights without the voucher applied.

Importantly, this isn’t just another airport improvement fee or other government-imposed charge, as those all appear under the “Taxes, fees, and charges” section. As we expect, those are the same in both breakdowns with and without the voucher.

Curious to see if this was just a one-off charge, we conducted a few more searches to see if there’s any sort of pattern.

WestJet also offers direct flights between Toronto and Vancouver, which is one of the most popular routes in Canada, and likely one for which many passengers might redeem a companion voucher.

Here’s a breakdown of the round-trip fare for two between Toronto and Vancouver without a companion voucher applied:

Under Air Transportation Charges, we see a base fare of $1,024 for two passengers ( $512 each), as well as $120 in the Other ATC field.

For comparison, here’s a breakdown of the fare for the same flights with a companion voucher applied:

This time, the breakdown shows a $119 companion voucher charge (expected), as well as a $512 base fare for the first passenger (expected). On the other hand, the Other ATC fees total $140 this time, instead of $120 without the companion voucher applied. Once again, there’s a $20 difference.

Next, we looked at some destinations in the United States to see if this pattern continues.

Here’s a breakdown of a round-trip fare for two passengers flying between Calgary and Los Angeles without a companion voucher applied:

For this flight, the base fare for two passengers is $659.98, or $329.99 apiece, with no fees listed in the Other ATC field.

Now, take a look at the breakdown of the fare for the same flights with a companion voucher applied:

As expected, we see a $119 companion voucher fee for the second passenger, and a $329.99 base fare for the first passenger. However, there’s now $20 showing in the Other ATC field, which isn’t present in the breakdown without the companion voucher applied.

Next, we took a look at flights a bit further afield to see if the same fee difference emerges.

Here’s a price breakdown of a round-trip booking for two between Calgary and Honolulu without the companion voucher applied:

Under Air Transportation Charges, we see a total cost of $1,155.96 for the base fare for two passengers ( $577.98 each), and no fees listed in the Other ATC field.

Now, take a look at the breakdown of the fare for the same flights with the companion voucher applied:

Once again, we see a combination of expected and unexpected Air Transportation Fees:

• $398.98 companion voucher fee (expected)
• $577.98 base fare (expected)
• $20 Other ATC fee (unexpected)

Lastly, we did the same comparison of round-trip flights to international destinations. 

Here’s a fare breakdown of round-trip flights for two between Calgary and Rome without a companion voucher applied:

For this trip, we see the base fare priced out at $1,220, or $610 each. However, unlike with the previous examples, there are fees totalling $1,400 listed in the Other ATC field.

For comparison, here’s a fare breakdown for the same flights with a companion voucher applied:

As expected, we see a companion voucher fee of $399, as well as a base fare for the first passenger of $610. However, whereas we may have expected the Other ATC charges to total $1,400, as they did without the companion voucher applied, those charges have actually dropped down to $1,067.50.

It’s worth noting that we saw the exact same drop in Other ATC for other bookings to European destinations. Unlike in the previous examples to North American destinations, the Other ATC fees appear to be reduced with a companion voucher applied when it comes to international destinations outside of North America.

In sum, there appears to be a pattern of a fee appearing in the Other ATC field with a companion voucher applied for North American bookings, which isn’t present for the same flights purchased without a voucher applied.

For some international destinations, the companion voucher appears to drop the Other ATC fees.

Is There a Fee for Using a Companion Voucher?

After poring over a number of flight pairings with and without the companion voucher applied, we can come to a few conclusions, based on our observations.

It appears that there is a $20 fee associated with using a companion voucher for flights in North America. This is indicated by an extra $20 charge appearing in the Other ATC field when a companion voucher is used, which isn’t there when the same flights are booked without a voucher.

In fact, it seems as though this fee has been around for some time, and it may have even been $40 as recently as last year.

In May 2023, we updated our guide to the WestJet companion voucher . In all pairs of screenshots for North American bookings, there’s an unexpected difference of $40 in the Other ATC field for bookings with and without companion vouchers.

For example, here’s a fare breakdown of a round-trip booking for two between Calgary and Toronto with $0 in the Other ATC field, taken in May 2023.

For comparison, here’s the breakdown with the companion voucher applied to the same flights, taken in May 2023.

Lo and behold, we see an unexpected difference of $40 in the Other ATC field, which is consistent with the other examples in that article, as well as with the pattern we see at the present day (albeit for $20 instead of $40).

On the WestJet website, the World Elite companion voucher, which is a perk associated with the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard , is marketed as the second guest being subject to a base fare of $119 or $399, plus taxes, fees, charges, and other Air Transporation Charges, when the first passenger pays full price.

Given what we’ve observed, we believe it would be more appropriate to list the companion voucher charges as $139 and $419, rather than $119 and $399, respectively, at least for North American bookings made with the World Elite companion voucher.

This would be a more accurate reflection of the charges that come with using a companion voucher for North American bookings observed in our analysis.

If this turns out to be the case, then it’s not transparent to lump what appears to be a fee for using a companion voucher into the catch-all Other ATC category.

There’s no official breakdown of what’s included and excluded in WestJet’s Other ATC fees, at least on the WestJet website.

On X (formerly Twitter), WestJet has previously defined them as including NAV Canada fees, insurance, and fuel surcharges.

The “Other ATC” charge refer to Air Transportation charges. These include fees such as NAV/Insurance fees and fuel. You’re welcome to give us a call at 1-888-937-8538 for a full breakdown of taxes and fees. — WestJet (@WestJet) June 20, 2019

When considered as part of the total cost of airfare, an additional $20 fee can easily be overlooked, especially when you have to look closely to notice it in the first place. This is particularly so as it appears in an undefined category of charges.

However, when you consider how many companion voucher redemptions are made every year, a relatively insignificant $20 fee adds up to a significant amount of cash unknowingly paid to the airline by passengers who were expecting to get a second base fare for $119 or $399, and not $139 or $419, for North American destinations.

Furthermore, if the fee used to amount to $40 (as indicated by our previous screenshots), then for as long as WestJet may have been tacking on extra fees in the Other ATC field for using companion vouchers, passengers would have been unwittingly paying more than what they signed up for.

This isn’t to say that there isn’t good value to be found in redeeming companion vouchers – there is, if redeemed strategically.

Rather, it’s a matter of being transparent about exactly what passengers are being charged for when they use a companion voucher, and not tucking an additional fee under a catch-all category that’s easy to miss.

WestJet’s Response to Our Observations

Prior to publishing this article, we reached out to WestJet to provide comments on our observations, and received the following response after it was published:

WestJet ticket prices are made up of the base fare, carrier surcharges, and third party fees and taxes. The carrier surcharges (or Other ATC) can reflect fuel costs and navigational charges. Our pricing and revenue management team use surcharges and base fare adjustments as components of our pricing strategy to address high demand periods or increased fuel costs. These surcharges will continue to be used as such and can change from time to time. Transatlantic and Transpacific bookings (including Europe as the example from your article) are made up of base fares and carrier surcharges which is standard industry practice. The difference in carrier surcharges when using a companion voucher is a pricing strategy to ensure our cardholders gain the benefit of using these vouchers for these international flights. We firmly believe that the companion voucher is a differentiator and a hero benefit on our cobranded credit cards. In fact, in 2023, the World Elite companion voucher saved cardholders on average $500 (vs. the lead traveler fare) for a 2-person booking. Our cobranded cards are the only travel cards in Canada that offer a companion voucher every year, without any spend requirements. These vouchers can be used for economy or premium bookings and have no black-out dates. Let me know if you have any further questions or follow-ups.

In WestJet’s response, it’s confirmed that the Other ATC field is partially made up of fuel costs and navigational charges, which is what we already suspected and knew. 

The only part of the response that carries much substance is the last sentence of the first paragraph, which states that the differences in carrier surcharges with and without a voucher applied is a pricing strategy “to ensure our cardholders gain the benefit of using these vouchers for these international flights”. 

As mentioned in this article, with the companion voucher applied on flights to Europe, the Other ATC charges are reduced beyond what we’d expect. If you use a companion voucher for flights to Europe, this may wind up working in your favour, as long as the base fare is more than the companion voucher fee to begin with.

However, WestJet’s response doesn’t at all address why an extra $20 fee appears when using the companion voucher on North American bookings, or why it may have been $40 (or more) in the past.

Without a clear explanation of why an extra fee appears when using a companion voucher for flights within North America, we can assume that the fee is indeed tied directly to the use of the companion voucher. 

Therefore, a more accurate way to describe the costs of using a companion voucher for flights within North America would be $139 or $419, instead of $119 or $399, depending on your destination.

We’ve sent a follow-up email to WestJet for an explanation of why the fee appears on North American companion voucher bookings, and have yet to receive a response.

Upon closer inspection, it seems that there’s an additional $20 fee added to WestJet companion voucher bookings to North American destinations, which isn’t present for booking the same flights without a companion voucher.

This $20 fee appears in the Other ATC field in the fare breakdown, and it isn’t clearly listed as a fee for using a companion voucher. However, since it’s a charge that doesn’t exist without a companion voucher applied, but does with one applied, we can infer that it must be associated with companion voucher redemptions.

We’ve reached out to WestJet for additional comments on our observations, specifically about why a $20 fee appears when using a companion voucher for North American bookings, and have yet to receive a response.

Share this post

Copied to clipboard!

Your browser is out of date.

We highly encourage you to update your browser to the latest version of Internet Explorer, or use another browser such as Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox.

WestJet Companion Voucher

• Last Updated:

Jan 25th, 2024 1:56 pm

• Search this thread

May 15th, 2021 1:17 pm

• Reply with quote

May 15th, 2021 1:36 pm

Nov 9th, 2021 2:39 pm

Nov 9th, 2021 5:37 pm

Nov 9th, 2021 6:07 pm

Nov 9th, 2021 9:55 pm

Nov 9th, 2021 10:10 pm

Phonophoresis wrote: ↑ The companion voucher is already so de-valued, it is hardly worth getting your panties in a knot for anymore. Here is the breakdown: Cost of companion ticket has risen to $119+ Annual fee of the RBC WJ WE/MC has risen to $119 WestJet hides BS in "other ATC" (can be more than the base fare $) which companion vouchers do not cover Flights are dirt cheap to most places within Canada at the moment By holding onto your RBC WE/MC for your companion voucher, you are effectively paying $238+ for a base fare of your companion + other ATC + taxes/fees. Meanwhile, you can simply buy a flight for $250 across the country to most places, round-trip. Unless you have imminent travel plans, best to trade it in for 4 lounge vouchers for an upcoming trip (or just cut your losses if no travel planned), and just switch back to the card once you're ready to travel again. In COVID times, the companion voucher is most certainly not worth "holding on" for. Use it, or move on.

Nov 9th, 2021 10:33 pm

shushwap wrote: ↑ I would love to see where you are getting flights across the country for $250 all in

Nov 10th, 2021 10:59 pm

Phonophoresis wrote: ↑ Are you living under a rock? Without even trying, and without using 20% discount codes that come up every week: YVR-YYZ $238 YVR-YOW $258 YVR-YUL $290 YYC-YYZ $222 YYC-YOW $236 YEG-YYZ $226 I would keep going, but it seems like a pointless exercise.

Nov 11th, 2021 6:48 pm

shushwap wrote: ↑ One way is a lot different then a return flight.. I don't even need to look at those quotes as I would bet money they don't include taxes and the insane fees You are correct it is pointless as u can't fix stupid.. U go back to work at McDonald's now

Nov 16th, 2021 3:04 pm

cdbh12 wrote: ↑ Just got an email about using my companion voucher for 2 other people to fly. I guess it is a way for them to get at least some business. Anyone else considering 6his?

cdbh12 wrote: ↑ Yes, it does come annually. We have two that expire in Dec for the past 2 years, and another for next year.

Dec 25th, 2021 9:31 pm

Jan 14th, 2024 9:34 pm

Jan 14th, 2024 10:00 pm

thriftshopper wrote: ↑ In other news, there's reportedly an extra and undisclosed $20 fee that applies to companion voucher redemption on top of the disclosed $119 fee. https://princeoftravel.com/insights/ana ... -bookings/

Jan 15th, 2024 12:02 am

Phonophoresis wrote: ↑ It's $40, and has been in place for over a year now. They silently introduced it in the early Fall 2023, if I'm not mistaken. I guess if you have a straight dollar for dollar rewards program, you have to get creative when it comes to devaluation.

Jan 15th, 2024 12:23 am

Jan 24th, 2024 3:29 pm

Jan 24th, 2024 9:51 pm

emptywallet1963 wrote: ↑ You don’t save much if you use the voucher for domestic flights with WJ. What you really save money is when you use the voucher for their international route with premium economy seat. I purchased a couple of PE tickets using the voucher and saved around $1100. Their original price for two to NRT was about $4000 and I paid only around $2600 (including their 300 WJ dollar bonus on the RBC MC sign up). Yes, that is for two PE to NRT from YYC

Display posts from previous: All posts Last day Last 7 days Last 2 weeks Last month Last 3 months 6 Months Last year

Sort by Author Post time Ascending Descending

Trending Hot Deals

• [Starbucks] YMMV: Buy a $25+ eGift Card, get a bonus $5 eGift Card! +33 17 comments
• [American Express] Dollarama Spend $30 and earn $5 credit +20 17 comments
• [Amazon.ca] Anker Prime Power Bank, 12,000 mAh 2-Port w/130W Output ATL $69.99 +16 15 comments
• [Canadian National Exhibition] Toronto- $13 CNE grounds admission ($15 after tax and fees). Opening Day (Aug 16) and after 5pm (Mon-Thurs) +15 166 comments
• [Best Buy] [Best Buy] Razer Viper V2 Pro Wireless Gaming Mouse - $100.19 ($90 off) +4 11 comments

The browser you are using is not supported. Please see our supported browsers .

We are currently experiencing high call volumes.  

Please visit our  Self-serve  page for available options

By using the WestJet website, you agree to the website terms of use , the privacy statement , and the use of cookies .

Trade a companion voucher for lounge vouchers

Your companion voucher can do more.

Looking to relax in comfort the next time you're at the airport? WestJet RBC ® World Elite Mastercard ‡ holders have the option to exchange their companion voucher for 4 lounge vouchers.* You can use these lounge vouchers for yourself or treat your friends and family to the WestJet airport lounge experience. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How can i exchange my annual world elite companion voucher for lounge vouchers.

Exchange at  westjet.com/lounge-exchange . If you qualify, the new lounge vouchers will be deposited in the voucher section of your account within 4 days.

Which companion voucher qualifies for this offer?

Annual World Elite roundtrip companion vouchers.

How many lounge vouchers do I get in exchange for each Annual World Elite companion voucher?

One companion voucher = 4 lounge vouchers.

If I have multiple companion vouchers in my account, which one will be exchanged?

The eligible companion voucher with the nearest expiry date will be exchanged.

Can I exchange more than one companion voucher if I have more than one available?

Yes, you can use this offer on multiple World Elite companion vouchers.

Can I transfer my new lounge vouchers to someone else to use?

No, please see full terms and conditions for  RBC lounge vouchers .

Can my friends or family use the vouchers without me?

No, they must be accompanied by the member that owns the  vouchers .

Where can these lounge vouchers be used?

At available airport lounges in Canada, Europe and the Caribbean, as listed at  westjet.com/lounges . 

When do the lounge vouchers expire?

The lounge vouchers will have the same expiry date as the original Annual World Elite companion voucher.

Legal, restrictions and terms and conditions

World Elite companion voucher - lounge access exchange benefit 

WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard primary cardholders may exchange each valid Annual World Elite round-trip companion voucher for four (4) one-time use lounge access vouchers ("Lounge voucher") at WestJet partner lounges. 

Terms and conditions for exchanging a World Elite companion voucher:

Applicable to WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard primary cardholders with a valid  Annual World Elite round-trip companion voucher  ("World Elite companion voucher"), deposited into your account 4 – 6 weeks after your first purchase transaction date and 30 days after your credit card renewal date each year thereafter. 

Additional cardholders are not eligible for the lounge vouchers,

All requests to exchange an Annual World Elite round-trip companion voucher for Lounge vouchers must be submitted at  westjet.com/lounge-exchange .

Cardholders will be able to view the lounge vouchers and their expiry date(s) within the  Vouchers  section of their account. These vouchers will be identified as: Lounge Access – RBC.

• All requests to exchange a World Elite companion voucher must be submitted a minimum of 4 days prior to the cardholder’s planned date of travel and prior to the expiry of the companion voucher.

Lounge vouchers will have the same expiry date as the World Elite companion voucher used for the exchange. Lounge vouchers must be redeemed prior to the expiry date. If you have multiple World Elite companion vouchers, the first to expire will be the first one exchanged.  Sign in to see available vouchers  at westjet.com.

There is no limit on the number of World Elite lounge vouchers that may be exchanged.

If a Lounge voucher expires after a cardholder has exchanged a World Elite companion voucher but before the lounge voucher has been redeemed, the Lounge voucher(s) will not be valid.

World Elite companion vouchers that may be exchanged for Lounge access vouchers, subject to these terms and conditions.

Once a cardholder has requested an exchange of a World Elite companion vouchers for (4) Lounge vouchers, the request will be considered final and cannot be cancelled or reversed.

This offer may not be combined or used in conjunction with any other offer. Royal Bank of Canada and WestJet reserve the right to withdraw this offer at any time, even after acceptance by you. Terms and conditions of the lounge access voucher are established by WestJet and WestJet reserves the right to change or withdraw this offer at any time. WestJet, not Royal Bank of Canada, is solely responsible for the WestJet Rewards Program and the terms of the WestJet Rewards Program.

Terms and conditions for using a lounge voucher:

Lounge access - RBC vouchers may be used by the cardholder and their accompanied guests. Guests/companions may only use the lounge voucher when accompanied by the primary cardholder and taking a same-day WestJet flight from the same airport. If cardholder already has access to lounge through Platinum, Gold or Silver status, Lounge access - RBC vouchers may be used for additional guests.

Lounge vouchers and expiry dates will be available when you  sign into your account  at westjet.com.

Lounge vouchers are valid at participating airport lounges only. Visit  westjet.com/lounges  for a current list of lounges.

A valid boarding pass displaying your WestJet Rewards ID and a WestJet flight number for a departing flight must be presented at time of lounge entry: a printed voucher is not required for redemption.

Lounge vouchers are valid when travelling on WestJet-marketed flights only (identified by a WS carrier code preceding the flight number); not valid when travelling on partner-marketed itineraries.

May only be used as described, has no monetary or other exchange value and is non-transferable.

If World Elite cardholder closes their credit card account, the lounge vouchers will be cancelled effective immediately.

Terms and conditions of this benefit are subject to the WestJet Rewards  Program Terms and Conditions  at the time of redemption.

All requests to exchange a World Elite companion voucher must be submitted a  minimum of 4 days  prior to the cardholder’s planned date of travel and prior to the expiry of the companion voucher.

• Bahasa Indonesia
• Slovenščina
• Science & Tech
• Russian Kitchen

Omsk: Western Siberia's hidden gem

A city view of Omsk. Source: Dmitry Feoktistov

Omsk was founded in 1716 when a wooden fort was constructed to house a Cossack unit in the area to protect the expanding Russian frontier from Central Asian nomadic incursions. It served various administrative functions throughout the 1800s and became infamous as a place of exile and incarceration. The city was rundown when selected as a hub for the Trans-Siberian railway in the 1890s. Many international trade companies and foreign consulates relocated here and the remnants of their offices can still be found in the city today.

The mystery of Kolchak’s gold

Omsk became the headquarters of the anti-Bolshevik white army led by Admiral Aleksandr Kolchak in 1918. In late 1918 there was a revolt in the city initiated by a leftist faction (Socialist Revolutionary Party or SPs) with 500 rebel deaths at the hands of Cossacks and Czechoslovak soldiers, a major factor in convincing the SPs to join the Bolsheviks. There is a large Soviet-era monument to the uprising at the corner of Lenina street and Broz Tito street.  

Kolchak was entrusted with a large portion of the Tsarist’s gold reserves, yet amazingly lost much of it. Supposedly 250 million rubles were lost (about $8 million at the time). Legend has it that they were buried near the village of Taiga, yet numerous excavations have turned up nothing. The area still attracts the occasional fortune seeker.

Kolchak’s headquarters are located at what is today the  Omsk Regional Archives  at Broz Tito St., 3. Nothing shows how much times have changed as the imposing Kolchak statue that was unveiled in 2012 around the corner. The statue guards  Kolchak restaurant , a four-story culinary complex featuring a steak house, an Irish pub, a Central Asian café and an Italian eatery.  For more details on where and how to dig Kolchak's gold, see  Top Ten Mysterious Lost Treasures of Russia

Dostoevsky and the Tsar

At 1.15 million people Omsk dwarfs the region’s second largest city, Tara (population 28,000). The city is split by the River Irtysh into two sections (all places of interest are on the right bank) with downtown emanating from the River Om.

Most foreigners have heard of Omsk via writer Fyodor Dostoevsky who spent four years here as a prisoner (1849-1853). He spent most of his time in Omsk in squalor and chains and with no books besides the Bible, however, it left an indelible mark on his memory and influenced his future literary output. There is a statue of the writer in chains grasping a Bible at the corner of Partizanskaya and Spartakovskaya streets, where Dostoevsky undoubtedly stepped many times. A  museum dedicated to the author's time in Omsk  is located nearby at Dostoevskogo St. 1. The local university is also named for him.

A view of the Assumption Cathedral, Omsk. Source: Lori/Legion-Media

Tarskaya Street is one of the city’s oldest thoroughfares. It features a monument to victims of Stalinist repressions and the Tara gates, originally built in 1792 as one of the four entrances to the Omsk fort. Nearby stands the Assumption Cathedral, one of the largest churches in Siberia. Future Tsar Nicholas II laid the first stone here in 1891 when making his way back to St. Petersburg after his Eastern journey.

In Omsk you are never more than a few steps from the village, made clear when one exits the center to the north, where most houses are wooden and roads unpaved. Stroll along Bulatova and Rabinovicha streets, a well-preserved ensemble of wooden architecture.

Omsk’s cultural heritage 

The Pushkin State Library is worth a look with busts of Russian literary figures adorning the front side of the building. At the corner under the big “M” is one of several stations of the never completed Omsk metro. Construction began in 1992, but as of 2014 the project is again dormant due to financing problems.

One of Omsk’s most famous sons is Symbolist painter Mikhail Vrubel (1856-1910). Vrubel ignored contemporary trends and focused on themes from fairy tales, demons and religious subjects and also designed a majolica frieze for the Metropol Hotel in Moscow. Omsk’s Fine Arts Museum is named for him and features a number of  his works .

Milhail Vrubel's painting 'Demon Seated in a Garden' (1890)

Over the years a number of tourists have tripped over the monument to Stepanych. This bust of a plumber rising from a sewer was the idea of Omsk’s former mayor after a trip to Slovakia in the 1990s. Stepanych has become one of the symbols of the city.

Omsk is a hockey town, with one of the major teams,  Avangard , in the KHL, Russia’s premiere professional league. Russian champions on several occasions, check out a match at Omsk Arena. But if you can’t catch a game there’s a large kiosk featuring the team’s merchandise at the airport.

Siberian   punk, jazz and the classics

While Omsk may not be on everyone’s radar musically, it does host a  musical theater  built just after the war. The building on 10 Let Oktyabrya Street is in the form of an enormous sloping grand piano.

A monument to Stepanych, Lenina Street, Omsk. Photo credit: RIA Novosti/Pavel Lisitsyn 

Perhaps Russia’s most famous punk band,  Grazhdanskaya oborona  (Civil Defence), was formed here in 1982. The band was active until 2008 when lead singer Yegor Letov died of heart failure at age 43. Letov is buried at the Staro-Vostochnoe cemetery. A sprawling graveyard with thousands of graves, fans should stop at the administration for help in locating his grave.

In Russia, Omsk is known among the younger, tech-savvy generation primarily because of the “Omsk bird,” also known as Winged Doom. The origin of what became one of Russia’s most ubiquitous memes comes from a painting by German artist Heiko  Müller. One day in 2009 an Internet user posted this painting with the line, “Welcome to Omsk,” at the top. Additional versions menace viewers stating, “Don't try to leave Omsk,” and “Omsk is closer than you think.” Like many popular memes on the Internet, this one went viral and has become something like an unofficial symbol of the city.

All rights reserved by Rossiyskaya Gazeta.

to our newsletter!

Get the week's best stories straight to your inbox

This website uses cookies. Click here to find out more.