WestJet Modifies Its Reward System

Changes to WestJet's loyalty program will take effect in January 2025.

The four tiers of WestJet Rewards' tiered loyalty program are teal, silver, gold, and platinum. At the moment, silver, gold, and platinum have minimum expenditures of $3,000, $5,000, and $8,000, respectively.

Raising the spend thresholds is one of the program's most significant changes. The new eligible expenditures will be $4,000, $6,000, and $10,000 as of January 1.

According to the WestJet Rewards website, reward benefits will be available for the rest of 2025 to individuals who attain a tier at the prior spend levels by December 31, 2024.

Priority boarding is about to undergo yet another significant adjustment. Zone 1 will only be accessible to Platinum members as of January 15. Gold and Silver members and those who purchased extended comfort seats will be the only ones allowed access to Zone 2.

Additionally, the free cabin upgrade offer is being extended. A top tier member and a companion will be able to upgrade to a Premium cabin starting on January 15. This offer was formerly limited to one person per reservation.

Lastly, WestJet is changing the voucher guidelines and milestone awards for the loyalty program. Customers will have the option of 20 WestJet dollars, $200 in "tier qualifying spend" for the current year, or a $25 gift card from Skip when they hit a milestone spend of $2,000 (the lowest is presently $4,000) as of January 1. Guests who spend $8,000 will get four guest lounge certificates, six guest advance seat selection vouchers, or a companion voucher.

All companion vouchers given out as milestone incentives will have a two-year expiration date as of right now. An extra 12 months will be automatically added to the initial expiration date of any coupons issued in 2024.

According to Open Jaw, WestJet stated that the modifications are intended to make the program more difficult for current members while maintaining its relevance for prospective Canadian clients.

Some adjustments take effect on January 15th, but the majority are scheduled to take effect on January 1st. According to officials, more changes will be implemented in the upcoming year.

Hannah Fairweather, senior manager of loyalty, told Open Jaw, "We tested all concepts over months and months to make sure we're making the right changes to the program." "We're beginning to find ourselves in a position where we can be more inventive and consistent in that regard as we grow and expand and examine the loyalty landscape and how it's changing."