WestJet Silver is the entry level status for WestJet. However, it can be hard to quantify the value of the benefits extended by WestJet. This article will go through how to quantify the value of WestJet Silver.
Qualification Criteria
There is only one way to qualify for WestJet Silver status. You will need $4,000 in Tier Qualifying Spend (TQS) on WestJet on any combination the following products and services:
- Any flight sold and marketed by WestJet, including fuel surcharge and carrier surcharges, or,
- Seat selection fees on WestJet operated flights, or,
- Cabin upgrade fees on WestJet operated flights, or,
- Checked baggage fees on WestJet operated flights, or,
- 20% of any WestJet Vacations package booked. It is not clear whether this is the total price, including taxes, or only base price, or,
- Earn $200 TQS for every $5,000 spent on the WestJet RBC World Elite MasterCard.
Benefits of WestJet Silver
The benefits of WestJet Silver will always vary based on everyone’s individual travel style. I am going to make some assumptions when determining the value of WestJet Silver status.
- You hold a WestJet RBC World Elite MasterCard and spend roughly $50,000 per year on this credit card, and,
- You typically travel with a partner/children with occasional business travel involved.
Points Earnings
Silver Members will earn 3x the points for every dollar spent on WestJet flights. Assuming you spend $2,000 on WestJet flights (the remaining $2,000 on TQS will be earned through credit card spend), that would translate to an additional 4,000 Points.
Additional Value: $40
Seat Selection Vouchers
With WestJet Silver Status, you will be extended four advanced Seat Selection vouchers. These Seat Selection vouchers will be valid for any standard seat in the cabin. Standard Seat Selection on WestJet typically costs between $10 and $50, per person, per flight. The fees will likely increase for international long haul flying as well as WestJet expands its global footprint.
I struggle to put a good value for these vouchers. If you are a family with a child under the age of 12, you get free advance seat selection on all fares. If you are a single traveler or couple, you can book either 1 or 2 round trip non-stop flights only. However, the reality is, most passengers do not do any advance seat selection and at time of check-in. During check-in, I find, most passengers get what they are looking for regardless. Hence, I will value seat selection vouchers at roughly 80% of the average cost. That would mean each seat selection voucher is worth $24.
Additional Value: $96
Priority Security
I firmly believe in the value of Nexus for security. If you do not have Nexus, I believe the cost is roughly $120 for a 5 year period. While Nexus will be drastically better than any form of priority security, it can still be valuable for those who have not yet gone through the process. I would put the value of Priority Security as the same cost as Nexus.
Additional Value: US$24 (C$35)
Priority Check-In, Boarding
How often do you need to go to the airport for Priority Check-In? I value Priority Check-In and Priority Boarding a bit more than most people. While everyone hates queues, I go out of the way to avoid queues. Hence, assuming you travel once a quarter, I would put the value of each flight at $25 for Priority Check-In and Priority Boarding.
Additional Value: $200
Upgrades to Economy Comfort, Premium Economy and/or Business Class
I would put a very generous value on an upgrade into Economy Comfort. I would put a lower upgrade value into Premium Economy and a much lower value into Business Class.
I generally tend to find on routes ex YVR and ex YYZ that Economy Comfort is invariably empty. Premium Economy typically fills up on half my flights. And Business Class, I have rarely seen on any domestic flight, which would nullify any value received with upgrades.
The biggest limitation is that the upgrade only applies to single traveler reservations, and you must have an Economy Flex reservation. Despite that, with the number of times I have seen seats go empty at the front of the cabin, I would put a value of $60 per flight. However, it would only apply to single traveler reservations, and the assumption is that on occasion you are traveling with your family. So, I would reduce the value by 50%. Upgrades on WestJet are very reasonably priced anyways, so this should also reflect for the cheap upgrades.
Additional Value: $240
Total Value of WestJet Silver
$611
The biggest benefit of WestJet Silver Status in my opinion is the complimentary upgrades for single traveler reservations. In comparison to Air Canada, where 25K rarely get upgraded, I see many opportunities on WestJet where a WestJet Silver member would have gotten upgraded. But, how often, are those earning Silver status, traveling on their own?
