WestJet’s Elite Status Gets Up to 50 Percent Pricier, With a Sweetener

WestJet is making elite status harder to earn. Starting January 1, 2027, the amount members must spend to qualify for WestJet Rewards tiers rises across the board. Silver goes from $4,000 to $5,000, a 25 percent jump. Gold climbs from $6,000 to $8,000, up 33 percent, and Platinum leaps from $10,000 to $15,000, a full 50 percent increase. The airline says the benefits attached to each tier will stay the same, so members are paying more for the same perks.

This is the second increase in barely two years. The previous round took effect on January 1, 2025, when Silver rose from $3,000 to $4,000, Gold from $5,000 to $6,000 and Platinum from $8,000 to $10,000. Add the new thresholds and the top tier now costs nearly double what it did before 2025, a pace that has frustrated Canadian frequent flyers who already watch their spending closely each year.

WestJet is pairing the change with some transition incentives. Members who register can earn a 50 percent bonus on eligible flights booked by the end of 2026 for travel in the first quarter of 2027, meaning a flight worth $1,000 toward status would count as $1,500. Cardholders also get a better deal on Status Lifts: the first ten in 2027 will earn $300 in qualifying spend for every $5,000 spent, up from $200, and the annual cap rises from 50 lifts to 75.

Lounge access and other priority services are not expected to change until at least 2028, according to Prince of Travel’s reading of the announcement. The practical advice is simple: if you are close to a tier, the bonus window for flights booked before year-end may be the cheapest route to 2027 status. Check your registration in WestJet’s emails before booking, since the bonus does not apply automatically.

Sources: Prince of Travel, InsideFlyer