Travel can be a great way to explore new places, beautiful destinations and enjoy new experiences. A rewards program that works well with your lifestyle can make the entire process even effortless. Recently, WestJet changed its rewards program from WestJet Dollars to WestJet Points, and this new technique offers more ways to earn and utilize your points. Whether you travel often or only on occasion, it pays to comprehend these changes so you can make the most of what’s available.
What’s New With Rewards System
WestJet has shifted from a dollar-based system to a points-based reward system. This means that instead of a fixed value associated with every dollar spent, the program now offers a broader range of ways to earn points rewards. This update in the system is designed to be more flexible and better match how modern travelers spend their money.
Diverse Ways To Earn Points
In the past, people mostly earned rewards by paying for the base fare of your ticket. With the help of this new system, points are awarded for a variety of expenses related to your travel. For example, you can now collect points on:
- Carrier surcharges
- Taxes and fees
- Seat selections
- Checked baggage fees
- Cabin upgrades
Above these, WestJet launched the WestJet Rewards eStore. This online store lets you earn points on everyday purchases. Whether you’re shopping for household accessories or travel items, these opportunities can add up over time, helping you build a rewards balance without the need to book a flight every time.
Diversified Options For Using Your Points
One of the most crucial changes is in the method you can utilize your points. Under this new system, points can be used to cover the entire cost of a flight, including fees and associated taxes. Moreover, you can use them for selecting the best seats, scanning baggage, cabin upgrades, or even for purchases through the WestJet eStore. This flexibility lets you choose exactly how you want to control your travel charges, based on your specific needs and interests.
Change In Tier Status
Another important update concerns how you achieve and maintain tier status in the WestJet rewards program. Previously, only the base fare contributed toward obtaining a higher tier, which often meant that many extra charges did not count. Now, the system has been updated so that more of your travel-related expenses—such as taxes, fees, seat selections, and baggage fees—help you move up the tiers. For frequent flyers, this change means an effortless path to get benefits like priority boarding and complimentary checked baggage.
Practical And Useful Tips For Making The Most Of Your Points
If you want to get the most value out of westjet points, consider these practical and useful strategies:
1. Cover All Flight Charges
Since the reward points now cover more than just the ticket charges, it makes sense to use them to pay for the whole flight charges, which also include additional fees. This strategy can help you keep your travel expenses on limit and reduce unexpected expenses when booking and selecting a flight for your dream trip.
2. Explore The WestJet eStore
If a tour is not in your current plans, you might still benefit and find interesting value in the WestJet Rewards eStore. Here, you can utilize your points on a wide variety of products. These rewards can be a very helpful way to put your points to work.
3. Earn Points On Routine Expenses
Using a WestJet Card for your routine purchases can help you to gather points without changing your regular routine. Means every time you spend money on shopping for house groceries or other household accessories, you’re also making and gathering rewards that can help you reduce the cost of future travel.
A Real-World Example
Suppose someone like Alex, who travels for work. He uses a WestJet RBC Card for routine spending, and over time, those points start to build up. When it’s time to plan a tour, the gathered points help cover a significant portion of the flight expenses, including upgrading and selecting the seat or covering baggage fees. This useful and practical approach not only reduces the cost of travel but also smoothes the booking process, making the experience more convenient and memorable.
Summary
The move to a points-based system by WestJet represents an important change in how rewards are earned and spent. With more opportunities and chances to avail points and a diversified range of options for using them for your traveling, this new update in system is well-suited to modern travel habits for travellers. Whether you’re a frequent flyer or someone who enjoys an occasional getaway, understanding and comprehending these updates can help you reduce, manage and track your travel costs more effectively.
