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WestJet and Qatar Airways Codeshare: What It Really Means for Your Points

WestJet and Qatar Airways Codeshare: What It Really Means for Your Points
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On August 10, 2026, the Canadian Transportation Agency cleared WestJet to sell codeshare flights to Qatar. The licence names no partner carrier, no route and no on-sale date. Above all, it creates no loyalty reciprocity: your WestJet points earn and redeem today exactly as they did before.

If you already earn WestJet points on your everyday spending, our guide to the best WestJet credit cards remains the right starting point, whatever this file turns into.

In brief

  • On August 10, 2026, the Canadian Transportation Agency issued WestJet a licence for scheduled international service with large aircraft, to operate codeshare flights on routes covered by the Canada-Qatar air transport agreement.
  • The decision names no partner carrier. Qatar Airways is the most likely candidate, since the two airlines already have an interline agreement, but WestJet has confirmed nothing publicly.
  • No route and no ticket on-sale date have been announced.
  • Qatar Airways appears on neither of the two partner lists WestJet publishes, not for direct booking and not for codeshare. Earning, redeeming and elite status recognition between the two programs are not on the table at this stage.
  • If a codeshare with Qatar Airways does materialize, it would simplify connections to Asia and the Middle East through the Doha hub, but nothing is bookable on that basis yet.

What the CTA actually approved

In a decision dated August 10, 2026, the Canadian Transportation Agency granted WestJet a licence to operate scheduled international service with large aircraft, by codeshare, on routes covered by the air transport agreement between Canada and Qatar.

That agreement stems from an Agreed Minute signed by both governments on September 19, 2024. The Agency found that WestJet meets the requirements of the Canada Transportation Act and the terms of the Canada-Qatar arrangement, then issued the licence.

A licence of this kind is an administrative authorization, not a commercial announcement. It establishes that WestJet has the right to sell these flights. It says nothing about whether it will sell them, with whom, or when.

Why Qatar Airways keeps coming up

WestJet and Qatar Airways already have an interline agreement. Moving to a codeshare is the logical next step in that kind of commercial relationship, and that is why the trade press has pointed to Qatar Airways as the likely partner since mid-August.

Neither airline has confirmed it. The Agency decision itself refers only to routes covered by the Canada-Qatar agreement, without naming a carrier.

WestJet connections at Calgary airport

The three grey areas

Three elements remain unconfirmed, and we will not invent them:

  • The routes: WestJet has announced no specific destination.
  • The on-sale date: no timeline has been communicated.
  • Loyalty: nothing indicates that earning, redeeming or elite status recognition between WestJet Rewards and Qatar Airways Privilege Club is planned as part of this codeshare.

The detail the licence leaves out

This is the point we wanted to verify before writing anything about your points. WestJet publishes two separate partner lists, and Qatar Airways is on neither.

In other words, the Agency licence clears WestJet to add a 10th line to its codeshare list. It says nothing about adding a 5th line to the list that actually matters for your points, the one where you earn.

The two lists move independently. Five carriers sit on the codeshare list without appearing on the direct booking one: Aeromexico, Air Transat, Condor, Japan Airlines and Korean Air. A codeshare with Qatar Airways would follow the same logic by default, absent a separately announced loyalty agreement.

What it changes for your points

In the short term, nothing. Your WestJet points keep accruing on WestJet flights, with the four direct booking partners, and through spending on a co-branded card.

If a codeshare with Qatar Airways does happen, two scenarios are possible:

  • Codeshare alone: you book a Toronto-Doha-Bangkok on a single WestJet ticket, bags checked through, but your points do not move on the segment operated by Qatar Airways.
  • Codeshare plus a loyalty agreement: earning and redeeming would become possible on those flights. That is the interesting scenario, and it is precisely the one that has not been announced.

To place yourself in each program, read our complete guide to WestJet Rewards elite status and our ultimate guide to Qatar Airways Privilege Club.

How to position yourself

The best way to benefit from a possible opening toward Doha is to already hold a healthy WestJet points balance the day the announcement lands. Everyday earning makes the difference, not waiting.

The WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard‡ remains one of the best entry points to the program for a Canadian traveller who flies the airline regularly.

Featured
Annual fee
$139
Our valuation
$700
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$700Total$700Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to 70,000 points
Ends Nov 4, 2026
Apply Now

on RBC's website

With the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard, you can earn up to 70,000 WestJet points as a welcome bonus:

  • 30,000 WestJet points as a welcome bonus with your first purchase
  • 30,000 WestJet points when you charge at least $5,000 in eligible purchases to your card within the first three months
  • 10,000 additional WestJet points after your credit card account’s first anniversary

The offer ends on November 4, 2026.

The benefits in numbers

An annual companion voucher from $119
Charge at least $5,000 in purchases to your card each year and you receive a World Elite Companion Voucher for a round-trip flight, starting at a $119 base fare, plus taxes, fees, surcharges and other air transportation charges. You can exchange it instead for a 30% flight discount for one traveller, a $200 credit towards a WestJet Vacations or Sunwing Vacations package, or airport lounge passes. The exact number of lounge passes granted is to be verified against the RBC terms in force.

A free first checked bag for up to nine people
The first checked bag is free for the primary cardholder and up to 8 guests on the same reservation, on WestJet flights. For a family of four, that is four bags on every leg.

Status Lift: $200 in tier qualifying spend per $5,000
Your everyday purchases move you towards Silver, Gold and even Platinum status. You earn $200 in tier qualifying spend for every $5,000 in purchases charged to the card, up to 50 times per year.

Up to 2 WestJet points per dollar

  • 2 points per dollar on WestJet flights, WestJet Vacations and Sunwing Vacations packages
  • 2 points per dollar at grocery stores and on transportation, including gas, EV charging, public transit and rideshare
  • 1.5 points per dollar on all other everyday purchases

The annual fee is $139, plus $59 per additional card.

Finally, you benefit from extensive insurance coverage: out-of-province or out-of-country emergency medical insurance, travel accident insurance, trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance, flight delay and delayed baggage insurance, hotel or motel burglary insurance, rental vehicle collision and damage insurance.

Annual fee

Primary card$139
Additional card$59

Annual income required

Individual$80,000
Household$150,000

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 2xGroceries
  • 2xGas & EV
  • 2xTransit
  • 2xWith the partner brand
  • 1.5xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,098
2nd Year Value$263

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Included
Travel medical (55-64)Included
Travel medical (65+)Included
Trip CancellationUp to $1,500
Trip InterruptionUp to $5,000
Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $2,500
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceIncluded
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

If your travel is not limited to WestJet, the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card covers a wider range of airlines while staying inside the same RBC ecosystem. We compared the two in detail.

Featured
Annual fee
$120
Our valuation
$1,050
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$1,050Total$1,050Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to 70,000 points
Ends Nov 25, 2026
Apply Now

on RBC's website

For a limited time, the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card offers a welcome bonus of up to 70,000 Avion points, worth up to $1,500 in travel.

  • 35,000 points upon approval of your application
  • 20,000 points when you charge $5,000 in purchases to your account within the first six months
  • 15,000 points on the first anniversary of your account

You can redeem your Avion points for flights with more than 500 airlines, with no blackout periods or seat restrictions, or transfer them to partner programs such as American Airlines AAdvantage, The British Airways Club, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles and WestJet Rewards.

The card earns you 1.25 points per dollar on eligible travel purchases and 1 point per dollar on all your other eligible purchases. It also includes extensive insurance coverage: emergency medical, trip cancellation and interruption, collision coverage for rental vehicles, and mobile devices.

The annual fee is $120.

Annual fee

Primary card$120
Additional card$50

Annual income required

Individual$60,000
Household$100,000

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 1.25xTravel
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,369
2nd Year Value$271

Transfer partners

  • American Airlines AAdvantageAirline
  • British Airways ClubAirline
  • Cathay Asia MilesAirline
  • WestJet RewardsAirline

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Included
Travel medical (55-64)Included
Travel medical (65+)Included
Trip CancellationUp to $1,500
Trip InterruptionUp to $5,000
Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Lost BaggageUp to $500
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $2,500
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,500 / 1 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

We are following this file

We will update this article as soon as WestJet or Qatar Airways confirms routes, an on-sale date, or a loyalty agreement between WestJet Rewards and Qatar Airways Privilege Club.

WestJet and Qatar Codeshare – Frequently Asked Questions

Does WestJet already fly to Doha?

No. WestJet operates no direct flight to Qatar. The licence obtained on August 10, 2026 covers codeshare only, meaning the sale of segments operated by another carrier under a WestJet flight number.

Can I book a WestJet flight to Doha yet?

Not on the basis of this codeshare. No route and no on-sale date have been announced. The existing interline agreement between WestJet and Qatar Airways already lets you combine flights from both carriers on one ticket, but each segment keeps the code of the airline operating it.

Will I earn points on Qatar Airways?

Nothing indicates it at this stage. Qatar Airways is not among the four WestJet Rewards direct booking partners, nor among the nine codeshare partners WestJet publishes. A licence from the Canadian Transportation Agency grants no earning rights on its own.

Will my WestJet elite status be recognized?

No reciprocal status recognition between WestJet Rewards and Qatar Airways Privilege Club is planned to date. A codeshare is a commercial distribution agreement, separate from a loyalty agreement, and the two do not necessarily come together.

What is the difference between interline and codeshare?

An interline agreement lets you combine two flights on one ticket with bags checked through to your destination, each segment keeping its operating carrier’s code. A codeshare lets WestJet sell, under its own flight number, a segment actually operated by a partner, which simplifies booking and connection handling.

Which airlines are WestJet partners?

WestJet publishes two separate lists. For direct booking, where earning points is possible: Delta Air Lines, Air France, KLM and Qantas. For codeshare: Aeromexico, Air France, Air Transat, Condor, Delta Air Lines, Japan Airlines, KLM, Korean Air and Qantas.

Which card earns WestJet points?

The WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard‡ remains one of the best entry points to the program for a traveller who flies the airline regularly. Our comparison of the best WestJet credit cards covers the other options based on your spending profile.

Our featured card

Featured
Annual fee
$139
Our valuation
$700
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$700Total$700Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to 70,000 points
Ends Nov 4, 2026
Apply Now

on RBC's website

With the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard, you can earn up to 70,000 WestJet points as a welcome bonus:

  • 30,000 WestJet points as a welcome bonus with your first purchase
  • 30,000 WestJet points when you charge at least $5,000 in eligible purchases to your card within the first three months
  • 10,000 additional WestJet points after your credit card account’s first anniversary

The offer ends on November 4, 2026.

The benefits in numbers

An annual companion voucher from $119
Charge at least $5,000 in purchases to your card each year and you receive a World Elite Companion Voucher for a round-trip flight, starting at a $119 base fare, plus taxes, fees, surcharges and other air transportation charges. You can exchange it instead for a 30% flight discount for one traveller, a $200 credit towards a WestJet Vacations or Sunwing Vacations package, or airport lounge passes. The exact number of lounge passes granted is to be verified against the RBC terms in force.

A free first checked bag for up to nine people
The first checked bag is free for the primary cardholder and up to 8 guests on the same reservation, on WestJet flights. For a family of four, that is four bags on every leg.

Status Lift: $200 in tier qualifying spend per $5,000
Your everyday purchases move you towards Silver, Gold and even Platinum status. You earn $200 in tier qualifying spend for every $5,000 in purchases charged to the card, up to 50 times per year.

Up to 2 WestJet points per dollar

  • 2 points per dollar on WestJet flights, WestJet Vacations and Sunwing Vacations packages
  • 2 points per dollar at grocery stores and on transportation, including gas, EV charging, public transit and rideshare
  • 1.5 points per dollar on all other everyday purchases

The annual fee is $139, plus $59 per additional card.

Finally, you benefit from extensive insurance coverage: out-of-province or out-of-country emergency medical insurance, travel accident insurance, trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance, flight delay and delayed baggage insurance, hotel or motel burglary insurance, rental vehicle collision and damage insurance.

Annual fee

Primary card$139
Additional card$59

Annual income required

Individual$80,000
Household$150,000

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 2xGroceries
  • 2xGas & EV
  • 2xTransit
  • 2xWith the partner brand
  • 1.5xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,098
2nd Year Value$263

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Included
Travel medical (55-64)Included
Travel medical (65+)Included
Trip CancellationUp to $1,500
Trip InterruptionUp to $5,000
Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $2,500
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceIncluded
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

Our editorial integrity

Our reviews and rankings are based on an objective assessment. Advertisers do not influence our content. We may receive compensation through some links; our analysis and opinions remain independent.