![]() ![]() I’d also like to note that this is a Member Exclusive fare (which means it should be cheaper), but the full-price refundable EconoFlex ticket has the same amount of cash-payable taxes and fees – and a higher base fare to boot. What annoys me is that one can get Base Fares so insultingly low that redeeming WSD seems completely pointless! Take this example for Calgary to London: In the above example, $30 in ATC is annoying, but will hardly cause me to change my travel plans. These charges are totally unspecified, but you’re still liable to pay them with cash. What bugs me though is the “Other ATC” column. As an aviation enthusiast, far be it from me to be against the development of nicer airports. Now, your WestJet Dollars can only be used on the portion of this itinerary labeled as “Base Fare” – everything else would be your responsibility to pay out of pocket.įor the “Taxes, fees, and charges” section, I think this is fair enough, because you’re given an itemized list of charges and where your money is going. These will break your itinerary into two types of payments, as seen on this itinerary from Calgary to Montreal: “Air Transportation Charges (ATC)” and “Taxes, fees, and charges”. On all flights, you’ll be presented with a schedule of costs. Remember how I said that a WestJet Dollar can only be used on the base fare of a WestJet flight? Let’s explore what this means. ![]() It can take a lot longer to accumulate the necessary WSD, and even when one has them, they may run into the dreaded “Other ATC” charges that make the proposition less than economic. While the previous Member Exclusive fares were very affordable, and the requisite WSD could be acquired with ease, the new program is entirely dynamic. Sadly, all good things must end, and the new Member Exclusive fares leave much to be desired. You could fly across Canada in economy class for only $125 WSD plus taxes and fees. Prior to the pandemic, these fares were actually some of the most competitive on the market. In addition, membership within the WestJet Rewards program offers customers the opportunity to qualify for WestJet’s various status tiers, and also grants them the unique benefit of Member Exclusive fares. If you book your WestJet Rewards flight for London this weekend, do not expect the flat rate you could receive from a competing frequent flyer program such as Avios or Aeroplan. While this is nice because it means that your rewards can be used toward any redemption you choose, it unfortunately means you are subject to all the wiles of dynamic market pricing. The WestJet Rewards program allows members to earn rewards in the form of WestJet Dollars (WSD) anytime that they fly a qualifying revenue fare or spend on their co-branded credit cards.Īs the name would suggest, these WSD can be used at a $1 (CAD) value on the base fare of any WestJet flight. So without further ado, let’s get into the not-so-wonderful world of fuel surcharges – and a sweet spot or two where one can avoid them entirely. While the WestJet Rewards program’s shortcomings on the accumulation side can be offset by strong co-branded credit cards such as the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard, it’s the redemption side that has me worried. Why? Because not only is it hard to accumulate WestJet Dollars, it can be even harder to spend them on travel to desirable locations because of an infamous “Other ATC” charge that is really more of a cloaked fuel surcharge. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the WestJet Rewards loyalty program. For me, WestJet itself still has a long way to go. Personally, I feel it’s a bit of a shame that WestJet has chosen to spend most of their time and effort on expanding their business rather than seeing to their current operations. WestJet has been in the news a lot more as of late, both as a result of travel rebounding and because they recently took the huge step of acquiring Sunwing. ![]()
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