March 19, 2026
Have you ever tried to earn enough WestJet points to cover your flight? I have and it feels nearly impossible.
WestJet’s reward system is straightforward but unforgiving: 100 WestJet Rewards = $1. With WestJet’s higher fairs, you need a significant number of points, especially if you’re flying a family. I used my WestJet Elite MasterCard for everything, and by the end of the year I managed to save $400 off a flight. That’s when I started asking myself, is there better way?
While you can earn WestJet points directly through the RBC co branded cards or the RBC Avion cards, using partner airlines is a much more effective strategy. In many cases, WestJet’s partner airlines offer far better value when booking with points.
WestJet Airlines Partners:
WestJet currently partners with the following airlines:
- Delta
- KLM
- Air France
- Qantas
- Virgin Atlantic
If you book and fly directly with Delta, Air France, KLM and Qantas you want to make sure you enter your WestJet Rewards ID during booking so you still earn WestJet points. If you don’t have a WestJet Rewards ID account, signing up is free and only takes a few minutes.
Earning Points Through Partner Airlines:
You may be wondering how you actually earn points for these partners airlines. I’m going to focus on Delta, KLM, and Air France. Technically two programs since KLM and Air France share the Flying Blue program.
These are the easiest partners to use because they are American Express transfer partners. Currently, there isn’t an easy way for Canadians to earn Qantas or Virgin Atlantic miles.
- Amex to KLM- Air France: 1000 Amex Rewards = 1000 KLM- Air France Flying Blue points
- Amex to Delta: 1000 Amex Rewards = 750 Delta SkyMiles
As you can see Delta has a weaker transfer ratio, so it’s important to compare pricing between KLM – Air France and Delta before deciding which partner to use. While Delta is normally more expensive, there are occasional times they offer really great deals.
How do you book with a partner airline:
Create an account with Delta or KLM – Air France, just like you would with WestJet Rewards.
Go to the airlines website and select:
- “Shop with Miles” on Delta
- “Book with Miles” on KLM- Air France
At this stage you don’t need to transfer any points yet, you can browse flights to look for the best option.
If you don’t select “book with miles” it will say there are no available flights if that airport is not a Delta or KLM- Air France hub as it won’t be searching for partner airline flights.
An Example: Regina to Cancun
For one passenger in January 2027, flying Econo fare:
- WestJet: $1050.10 or 105,000 WestJet points
- KLM: 41,000 points + 230 in taxes and fees
- Delta: 64,000 miles + 229 in taxes and fees
There will always be taxes and fee’s paid in cash, and unfortunately in Canada these tend to be higher than what someone in the U.S might pay.
Why I love this Strategy:
Personally, I find it a lot easier to earn 41,000 Amex points to transfer to KLM- Air France than it is to earn 105,000 WestJet points.
American Express generally offers higher welcome bonuses than RBC, making points much easier to accumulate. They also offer transfer bonuses, making your points even more valuable. If you’ve read my previous posts, you’ll know I primarily use the American Express Cobalt card, which earns 5X points on groceries, making this strategy even more effective.
-Alexis