WestJet RBC World Elite MasterCard rated number one travel rewards card in Canada

Top ranking received from MoneySense magazine

CALGARY, Sept. 10, 2013 /CNW/ - The WestJet RBC World Elite MasterCard is Canada's best travel rewards card for 2013, according to an annual review and ranking of credit cards in the September issue of MoneySense magazine.

The MoneySense credit card ranking examines more than 200 credit cards based on consumer goals and spending patterns. Overall value is determined based on sign-up bonuses, fees and added perks specific to the travel category to determine how far your travel card will take you over a five year period.

"WestJet has worked diligently to create a rewards program that aligns directly with our award-winning guest experience," said Bob Cummings, WestJet's Executive Vice-President, Sales, Marketing and Guest Experience. "From the beginning we have taken great care in developing a transparent and simple rewards program and the WestJet RBC World Elite MasterCard worked very well with our concept. Receiving the number-one ranking in the travel credit card category from MoneySense tells us that we have provided the public with the kind of service, experience and value they have come to expect from WestJet, RBC and MasterCard."

The number-one-ranked WestJet RBC World Elite MasterCard allows cardholders to earn WestJet dollars for every purchase made. WestJet dollars act as cash and can be redeemed in any amount, to anywhere WestJet flies, at any time.  The card also offers a welcome bonus of $250 WestJet dollars and a yearly companion flight for $99, plus applicable taxes, fees and charges.

"There is tremendous choice in the marketplace and the top ranking by MoneySense  speaks to how hard we worked with WestJet to provide Canadians with a travel rewards card that is easy and simple to earn and redeem your WestJet dollars," said Linda Mantia, Executive Vice-President, Cards and Payment Solutions, RBC.  "The WestJet RBC World Elite MasterCard provides choice, flexibility and convenience on where, when and how you want to travel with WestJet, while also giving you the added value of an annual opportunity to save on a big trip with our companion offer."

For a limited time, cardholders of the WestJet RBC World Elite MasterCard and the WestJet RBC MasterCard have even more reasons to celebrate with an exclusive opportunity to earn double WestJet dollars in return for using their card to buy WestJet flights or vacation packages this fall. Cardholders could earn up to 6.5 per cent back in WestJet dollars when travelling with WestJet and using their card between now and December 15, 2013.

About WestJet
WestJet is Canada's most preferred airline, offering scheduled service to 87 destinations in North America, Central America and the Caribbean. Powered by an award-winning culture of care, WestJet pioneered low-cost flying in Canada. Recognized nationally as a top employer, WestJet now has more than 9,600 WestJetters across Canada. Operating a fleet of more than 100 Boeing Next-Generation 737 and Bombardier Q400 NextGen aircraft, WestJet strives to be one of the five most successful international airlines in the world. This year, WestJet launched its new regional airline, WestJet Encore.

About WestJet Vacations
WestJet Vacations provides guests with affordable, reliable and easy-to-book travel experiences to 55 destinations in 18 countries, including the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean. Leveraging WestJet's fun and friendly image, extensive network and remarkable guest experience, WestJet Vacations offers guests a great flight schedule and a wide variety of hotel and resort options to create fun and affordable vacation experiences.  For more information visit www.westjetvacations.com.

About WestJet Rewards
WestJet Rewards members earn WestJet dollars on WestJet flights, vacation packages and more. WestJet dollars can be used like cash toward the purchase of WestJet flights and WestJet Vacations packages on any date to any WestJet or WestJet Encore destination with no blackout periods, even on seat sales. More flights equal more benefits, including bonus WestJet dollars and Jet-Aways. Guests who use their WestJet RBC World Elite MasterCard and WestJet RBC MasterCard will earn WestJet dollars even faster.

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ABOUT RBC
Royal Bank of Canada (RY on TSX and NYSE) and its subsidiaries operate under the master brand name RBC. We are Canada's largest bank as measured by assets and market capitalization, and are among the largest banks in the world, based on market capitalization. We are one of North America's leading diversified financial services companies, and provide personal and commercial banking, wealth management services, insurance, and investor services and wholesale banking on a global basis. We employ approximately 80,000 full- and part-time employees who serve more than 15 million personal, business, public sector and institutional clients through offices in Canada, the U.S. and 44 other countries. For more information, please visit rbc.com. RBC supports a broad range of community initiatives through donations, sponsorships and employee volunteer activities. In 2012, we contributed more than $95 million to causes worldwide, including donations and community investments of more than $64 million and $31 million in sponsorships.

APERÇU DE RBC
La Banque Royale du Canada (RY sur TSX et NYSE) et ses filiales exercent leurs activités sous la marque RBC. Elle est la plus importante banque au Canada au chapitre de l'actif et de la capitalisation boursière et l'une des plus importantes banques à l'échelle mondiale au chapitre de la capitalisation boursière. Elle est l'une des principales sociétés de services financiers diversifiés en Amérique du Nord et offre, à l'échelle mondiale, des services bancaires aux particuliers et aux entreprises, des services de gestion de patrimoine, des services d'assurance, des services aux investisseurs et des services bancaires de gros. Nous comptons environ 80 000 employés à temps plein et à temps partiel au service de plus de 15 millions de particuliers, d'entreprises, de clients du secteur public et de clients institutionnels au Canada, aux États-Unis et dans 44 autres pays. Pour de plus amples renseignements, visitez le site rbc.com. RBC appuie une grande diversité d'initiatives communautaires par des dons, des commandites et le travail bénévole de ses employés. «En 2012, RBC a versé plus de 95 millions de dollars à des initiatives communautaires partout dans le monde, dont plus de 64 millions de dollars en dons et 31 millions de dollars sous forme de commandites d'événements communautaires.

SOURCE: WestJet