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Following Porter’s announcement, WestJet is also introducing an additional $60 in fuel surcharges when using your companion voucher. This applies to all companion voucher bookings made on or after April 8, 2026.
Why Add $60 to Companion Voucher Bookings
The reasons are largely the same as Porter’s: rising jet fuel prices due to the current conflicts in the Middle East. The other cited reason is that while regular airfare prices can be adjusted, the fixed-price nature of the companion pass doesn’t offer that same flexibility.
WestJet does say that the additional fuel surcharge is temporary and will be removed should oil prices stabilize. However, there were no details on what constitutes “normal” pricing. In practice, we rarely see these additional costs rolled back once they’re in effect, but I’ll give WestJet the benefit of the doubt for now.
The $60 charge takes effect on Wednesday, April 8, so you have a short window to lock in bookings before then.
A Quick Rundown on the WestJet Companion Voucher
WestJet has two different companion fares: one with the WestJet RBC Mastercard and one with the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard. With the WestJet RBC Mastercard, you can only use it for Canada & the continental U.S.:
- $199 in economy
- $299 in premium
With the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard:
- $119 in economy within Canada & the continental U.S.
- $219 in premium within Canada & the continental U.S.
- $399 in economy to anywhere WestJet flies
- $499 in premium to anywhere WestJet flies
The companion voucher is included as a card perk with no spending requirement.
To be honest, the companion pass often did not save that much money anyway compared to buying two cash tickets, since the base fare of a WestJet ticket can often be lower than the cost of the companion pass, especially if booking ultrabasic.
The base fare is $120, so better not to use either the $119 or $199 companion pass
With the new $60 fuel surcharge, you might be better off redeeming points for WestJet and trading in your companion pass for 5,000 WestJet points or two lounge vouchers, depending on which WestJet credit card you hold.
Options to trade in the voucher earned with WestJet RBC Mastercard
Use Flying Blue Instead for WestJet Flights
The best way to redeem points for WestJet flights is with Flying Blue, especially with the current 25% Amex transfer bonus.
In some cases, Delta may come out ahead, but the Amex 25% transfer bonus makes Flying Blue a no-brainer: 5,000 miles for short-haul flights like Toronto–Montreal, or 5,500 miles for Vancouver–Calgary.
Flying Blue does pass on fuel surcharges, so it’s possible we’ll see an increase, but that has not yet occurred. While the WestJet companion voucher is effectively becoming more expensive to use, redeeming points remains a viable alternative.
Takeaway
WestJet’s new $60 surcharge makes the companion voucher even less compelling. Given that the voucher already offered limited savings in many cases, this added fee further tilts the equation away from using it.
Instead, redeeming points, particularly through Flying Blue, may offer better value. If you do plan to use your companion voucher, book before April 8 to avoid the added cost.
