Head-to-Head: BMO VIPorter World Elite Mastercard vs. WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard

Welcome Bonus

The welcome offers on these two cards fluctuate according to current promotions. At the moment, they offer the same number of points, but with different features to consider.

With the WestJet RBC^® World Elite Mastercard‡, you can earn up to 70,000 WestJet points:

• 70,000 WestJet points when you spend $5,000 or more in the first three months
• An annual companion voucher from $119 after your first purchase
• A free first checked bag for you and up to 8 guests

Plus, get an annual round-trip companion voucher after spending $5,000 on the card.

Based on our assessment, one WestJet point is worth 1 cent. So, this welcome offer is worth $700.

When you sign up for the BMO VIPorter World Elite^®* Mastercard^®*, you can earn up to 70,000 VIPorter points, plus a few extra gifts:

• 20,000 points after $5,000 in purchases within the first 110 days of account opening;
• 20,000 points after $9,000 in purchases within the first 180 days of account opening;
• 30,000 points after $18,000 in purchases within the first 365 days of account opening;
• A round-trip companion pass (second ticket free, excluding taxes and fees, on a Porter flight);
• $1,000 in eligible spending for your VIPorter status;

Based on our valuation of VIPorter points (1.5 cents per point), this welcome bonus, including small extras, corresponds to an approximate total value of $1,249.

Advantage: BMO VIPorter World Elite^®* Mastercard^®*

In terms of value, the BMO VIPorter World Elite^®* Mastercard^®* has the best welcome offer! However, you’ll need to spend $18,000 over 12 months (average monthly spend of $1,500 for one year) to earn all the points and benefits of the offer. This is much higher than the competing option, where you only have to spend $5,000 to obtain nearly the entire welcome offer.

Minimum Income

The WestJet RBC^® World Elite Mastercard‡ requires a minimum individual income of $80,000 per year or an annual family income of $150,000.

The BMO VIPorter World Elite^®* Mastercard^®* requires a minimum individual income of $80,000 per year or an annual family income of $150,000.

Draw

As they are both Mastercard World Elite cards, the minimum income requirement is identical!

Annual Fee

The WestJet World Elite Mastercard RBC^® has an annual fee of $139.

The BMO VIPorter World Elite^®* Mastercard^®* has an annual fee of $199, but it’s waived for the first year thanks to its current welcome offer.

Advantage: WestJet RBC^® World Elite Mastercard‡ but…

The annual fee for the WestJet RBC^® World Elite Mastercard‡ is less than the BMO VIPorter World Elite^®* Mastercard^®*.

However, with the current promotion refunding the annual fee for the first year, your preference will probably be for the BMO VIPorter World Elite^®* Mastercard^®*.

Earning Points

The WestJet RBC^® World Elite Mastercard‡ and the BMO VIPorter World Elite^®* Mastercard^®* each offer different levels of point accumulation.

Accumulation Levels

With the WestJet RBC^® World Elite Mastercard‡, you earn WestJet points on the following purchases:

• 2 WestJet points on flights with WestJet or WestJet Vacations
• 1.5 WestJet points on all regular purchases

We value a WestJet point at 1 cent.

With the BMO VIPorter World Elite^®* Mastercard^®*, you earn VIPorter points on the following purchases:

• 3 VIPorter points for every dollar spent on purchases with Porter
• 2 VIPorter points for every dollar spent:
• • Gas and transport
  • At the grocery store and restaurant
  • Hotel stays

1 VIPorter point for every dollar spent on everything else.

We value a VIPorter point at 1.5 cents.

Advantage: BMO VIPorter World Elite^®* Mastercard^®*

VIPorter points and WestJet points are two different kinds of points, each with different values:

• 1 VIPorter point = $0.015
• 1 WestJet point = $0.010

So we have to do a little math to figure out which of the two accumulates the most value, depending on our consumption habits. Take the following examples:

At first glance, the gap seems small. However, the BMO VIPorter World Elite^®* Mastercard^®* pays 50% more than its rival. Considering the accumulation of sums over a year, this difference can really be significant.

Redeeming Points

These two credit cards earn different points for different airline programs, but the principle remains the same when it comes to how you use them.

For Travel

WestJet points earned with the WestJet RBC^® World Elite Mastercard‡ are credited to the WestJet Rewards membership account.

The WestJet member can then redeem these WestJet points to deduct all or part of the cost of:

• A vacation package with WestJet Vacations;
• When booking with Sunwing Vacations;
• The basic fare for a flight with WestJet;
• A flight with its partners (Air France, Delta Air Lines and Qantas Airways), with whom it has a codeshare agreement.

Each month, VIPorter points earned with the BMO VIPorter World Elite^®* Mastercard^®* are credited to the VIPorter member account, a few days after the monthly statement is issued.

Then, the VIPorter member can spend their VIPorter points to purchase an airline ticket on Porter flights, but also with two other partners:

• Air Transat
• Alaska Airlines

Advantage: WestJet RBC^® World Elite Mastercard‡

WestJet points are a little more flexible than VIPorter points, especially when it comes to purchasing WestJet vacation packages and the number of partners you can access. Plus, WestJet points can be used to pay for the entire ticket, even taxes and other fees. So when you pay with WestJet points, you get a totally free ticket.

This is not the case with Porter, where the territory is more limited and there is no travel agency for packages. In addition, the VIPorter program does not offer the option of paying taxes and fees with points.

However, I recommend that you check the destinations served by Westjet and Porter. Someone living in Western Canada will find more routes available with WestJet, while someone living in Eastern Canada will have more choices with Porter.

Other Benefits

With the WestJet RBC^® World Elite Mastercard‡ you can also enjoy a number of other benefits:

• Complimentary first-checked baggage for you and up to 8 people travelling on the same reservation;
• Companion voucher issued each year after spending $5,000, allowing a guest to enjoy a reduced fare (taxes and fees payable):
• • $119 or $219 for travel in Canada and the United States (except Hawaii)
  • $399 or $499 for other WestJet flights
  • Or exchange it for 2 free accesses to WestJet partner airport lounges, a 30% discount on a flight for a solo traveler, or a $200 credit applicable to a WestJet Vacations or Sunwing package;

Link the RBC card to the Petro-Points program to save 3¢ / liter on gas;

With the BMO VIPorter World Elite^®* Mastercard^®*, you can also take advantage of several other benefits:

• Benefits apply to a maximum of 8 companions travelling on the same reservation:
• • First checked bag free
  • Free carry-on baggage on all Porter flight fares
  • Complimentary seat selection in PorterClassic.
  • Priority security screening.
  • Priority rebooking on another flight in case of a delay
  • Exclusive check-in.
  • Early boarding

No expiration of VIPorter points.

Advantage: WestJet RBC^® World Elite Mastercard‡ but…

These advantages are hard to beat!

The WestJet RBC^® World Elite Mastercard stands out from its competitor because its companion voucher is obtained after $5,000 in spending on the card each year.

The BMO VIPorter World Elite^®* Mastercard^®* stands out for its two annual companion passes, which allow you to save on a second airline ticket.

Unfortunately, you have to spend at least $9,000 to get the first companion pass through the welcome offer, and another $50,000 each year on the card for the second, which is quite high. This is a considerable sum compared to its competitor.

In return, the BMO VIPorter World Elite^®* Mastercard^®* is virtually the only credit card in Canada that gives you high status with an airline, effortlessly. Additionally, it offers privileges such as priority at security, check-in and boarding, not to mention free seat selection. These benefits can greatly enhance your travel experience!

As for the rest, it all depends on you and your personal needs.

Insurance

Insurance
Trip Cancellation Insurance	None	Up to $1,500 per person
Trip Interruption Insurance	Up to $5,000 per trip	Up to $5,000 per trip
Out-of-Province/Country Emergency Medical Insurance	No maximum, but must be at a reasonable cost, insured for 15 days.	Up to $5,000,000 for 21 days
Flight delay insurance	Up to $500 after 4 hours	Up to $500 after 4 hours
Delayed Baggage Insurance	Up to $500 per person after 4 hours	Up to $500 per person after 6 hours
Lost or stolen luggage insurance	Up to $500* see conditions	Up to $500 per person
Hotel Burglary Insurance	Up to $2,500	Up to $1,000
Car Rental Theft and Damage Insurance	Up to $65,000	Up to $65,000
Travel Accident Insurance	$500,000	$500,000
Purchase Protection Plan	1 additional year	1 additional year
Buyer’s Assurance Protection Plan	90 days	90 days

Advantage: BMO VIPorter World Elite^®* Mastercard^®*

The two cards are very similar in terms of insurance.

The BMO VIPorter World Elite^®* Mastercard^®* offers a few more generous coverages than its competitor. In addition, it offers trip cancellation insurance, which the WestJet RBC^® World Elite Mastercard‡ card does not.

The BMO VIPorter World Elite^®* Mastercard^®* requires that the cost of the travel expense be charged to the card the majority of the time (except for cancellation and interruption insurance, which requires only a portion). However, its insurance coverage for medical expenses is among the best for its duration.

If you want a credit card that covers your travels, even when only a small portion of the expenses have been charged to it, I recommend this article on The best credit cards for travel insurance with rewards points.

Bottom Line

So? Which card is the winner? In addition to the possibility of both being used at Costco, you have a choice.

For its great flexibility thanks to WestJet points, the WestJet RBC^® World Elite Mastercard‡ is distinguished by:

• A wide variety of destinations, especially if you live in Western Canada;
• Lower annual fees;
• Petro-Canada fuel rebates and free DashPass subscription;
• Accelerated points accumulation at Rexall and Petro-Canada;
• The flexibility of WestJet points for airfare or to pay for your All-inclusive in the South;
• Its companion voucher is obtained annually after $5,000 in purchases charged to the card.

While the BMO VIPorter World Elite Mastercard has a lot going for it:

• Its variety of destinations, especially if you live in Eastern Canada;
• Your annual fee is fully refunded in the first year thanks to our welcome offer;
• Redeem points for free flights to many destinations on Air Transat;
• Accelerated accumulation and VIPorter points;
• Easy access to VIPorter Venture status.
• Its discounts on fuel at Shell, car rentals, and hotels;
• His credit card with a cute raccoon mascot on top;
• Free cabin baggage and seat selection.

Frequently Asked Questions about the BMO VIPorter World Elite Mastercard and the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard

Here are frequently asked questions in the milesopedia community about this card.

Both cards currently offer up to 70,000 points as a welcome bonus, but the total package favours the BMO VIPorter World Elite Mastercard, which adds a round-trip companion pass for a combined value of approximately $1,249. The WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard also includes an annual companion voucher after $5,000 in spending, but the total first-year value is closer to $700. BMO VIPorter wins on overall welcome value once the companion pass is factored in, especially for travellers based in Eastern Canada who can quickly use it.

The BMO VIPorter World Elite Mastercard earns 3 VIPorter points per $1 on Porter Airlines flights, 2 points per $1 on groceries, restaurants, hotels and gas, and 1 point per $1 elsewhere. The WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard earns 2 WestJet dollars per $1 on WestJet flights and 1.5% back on all other purchases. BMO VIPorter has stronger category bonuses on groceries, restaurants and gas, while WestJet RBC offers a simpler flat-rate everyday earn that suits people who do not want to track categories.

The BMO VIPorter World Elite Mastercard is the obvious choice for Eastern Canada travellers, since Porter Airlines’s network is concentrated in Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes (Toronto-Billy Bishop, Montreal, Halifax, Ottawa, etc.). Cardholders also get accelerated VIPorter status, priority boarding and free seat selection on Porter flights — perks that simply do not exist on the WestJet card. For frequent Porter Airlines flyers based in Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa or the Maritimes, the BMO VIPorter card delivers more value year after year thanks to status acceleration.

The WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard is purpose-built for Western Canada travellers, with WestJet’s network spanning Calgary, Vancouver, Edmonton and many smaller Western destinations. The annual companion voucher lets you bring a guest for as little as $119 on select routes, and WestJet dollars apply directly to flight costs as cash. The lower $139 annual fee (vs. $199 for the VIPorter) also makes it more accessible for casual flyers who only take 1 or 2 WestJet trips per year.