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Although it was only founded in 1994, WestJet is the second-largest airline in Canada. The carrier is headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, and serves various domestic and international destinations from its hubs in Calgary and Toronto Pearson.
WestJet Rewards is the airline's frequent flyer program, and its main currency is WestJet Rewards Dollars — at least for now. Yesterday, WestJet announced that it will switch from Rewards Dollars to WestJet points effective April 30, 2025. As of that date, WestJet Rewards points will not expire.
However, WestJet Rewards Dollars are still subject to expiration until then. And WestJet uses different expiration policies depending on how you earned your WestJet Dollars. Here's what you need to know about the WestJet expiry policy.
Do WestJet Rewards Dollars Expire?
WestJet currently offers two types of reward currencies: Base WestJet Dollars and Bonus WestJet Dollars. Each has different expiration policies. However, things are even more complicated since Bonus WestJet Dollars can have different expiration deadlines!
Base WestJet Rewards Dollars Expiration Policy
Base WestJet Rewards dollars do not expire. Travelers don't need to worry about these WestJet Dollars expiring. Per the WestJet Rewards terms and conditions page:
“Base Rewards (as defined herein) will not expire due to the passage of time. WestJet dollars will be maintained in the member's account and may be redeemed at any time in accordance with these terms and conditions.”
Bonus WestJet Rewards Dollars Expiration Policy
Bonus WestJet Rewards have two expiration policies as follows:
- The Bonus WestJet Rewards will expire per the deadline specified in the promotion/offer/competition they were earned from.
- If no deadline is mentioned, Bonus WestJet Rewards expire one year after the date issued. Per the WestJet terms and conditions page:
“Bonus Rewards (as defined herein) will expire on the individual date(s) specified in the terms or conditions of the promotion, contest or compensation initiative or, in the absence of such terms and conditions, then expiry will be one (1) year from date of issuance.”
Earning WestJet Rewards Dollars
With Base WestJet Rewards that don't expire, you can focus on earning and building up your balance toward your next redemption. You can earn WestJet Dollars in all of the following ways:
- WestJet flights: Earn WestJet Dollars for flying on WestJet-marketed flights.
- Partner airlines: Earn dollars for flying with partner airlines — including Delta, KLM, and Air France.
- Car rentals: Earn dollars for your next car rental with a wide range of partners including Avis, Hertz, Thrifty, and Budget.
- Vacation packages: Earn WestJet Dollars when you book your next vacation package.
- Hotel stays: Earn dollars for your next hotel stay and travel activity booked through WestJet and WestJet Vacations.
- Credit cards: Earn WestJet dollars for everyday spending on the following cobrand credit cards:
- The WestJet RBC® Mastercard
- The WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard
Using WestJet Rewards Dollars
The good news is that it's easy to use your WestJet Rewards Dollars. As you might suspect from the name, WestJet Rewards Dollars are pegged to the Canadian dollar. Not only that, but you can make partial payments using your WestJet Dollars using a minimum of 15 dollars. Therefore, if you fly somewhat regularly, there should be no reason for your Base WestJet Rewards dollars to expire since you can keep using them to partially pay for your fares!
One word of caution when it comes to using bonus WestJet rewards is that you need to read the fine print of the promotion/offer that generated them!
Quite often, using these WestJet Dollars for a partial payment negates the Base WestJet Rewards earned for the rest of the fare. For instance, using just 15 dollars as a partial payment on a C$1,000 flight could potentially prevent you from earning anything on the other C$985 of spending! So, you'll want to redeem WestJet Rewards Dollars to cover cheaper fares whenever possible.
Use AwardWallet to Track WestJet Rewards Dollars
The fact that WestJet Rewards Dollars expire with multiple deadlines means that it's important that you keep a very close eye on your balance in case any of your dollars are nearing expiry. The best way to do this is to use AwardWallet and let it do the hard work of tracking your balances.
To add your WestJet account, log into your AwardWallet account, then link your WestJet account. Once linked, you will receive a timely reminder if you have any WestJet Rewards Dollars in danger of expiry.
Related: How to Track Your Rewards Using AwardWallet
Our Take
Although seemingly simple, WestJet Rewards can be tricky to use effectively for redemptions. However, if you are patient and keep an eye on your program regularly, you should be able to leverage your dollars for their maximum value and avoid any of them expiring.
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