RBC ION+ Visa vs. WestJet RBC Mastercard

RBC ION+ Visa vs. WestJet RBC Mastercard

Check these Canadian credit cards that offer perks and limited insurance with low annual fees.

Key Comparisons

RBC ION+ VisaWestJet RBC Mastercard
Estimated Credit ScoreN/A660
Annual Fees$48$39
Interest Rate19.99%19.99%
Insurance CoverageYesYes
Pros1. Earn an extra 12,000 Avion points simply for being approved for the card in the first place. 

2. Cardholders can earn 3x Avion Points for every $1 spent on rideshares and EV charging as well as the usual gas and daily transit categories.

3. Mobile Device and Purchase Security Insurance – receive 2 years of coverage up to $1,000 in the event that it is lost, stolen, inadvertently damaged, or suffers a mechanical failure.
1. $50 WestJet Dollars sign-up bonus after your first purchase.

2. $50 Additional WestJet dollars when you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months.

3. Free first checked bag for you and up to 8 other people on the same reservation. 

4. Earn 1% back on all other purchases.

5. Annual companion voucher costs $199 and is good for a round-trip flight within Canada and the continental U.S.
Cons1. A disappointing insurance coverage because it only has one type of insurance.

2. An interest rate of 19.99% for new purchases and 22.99% for cash advances and balance transfers. You should therefore stay away from this card if you have a tendency to carry a balance on your credit card.

3. The value for redeeming with travel is lower than other RBC cards, requiring you to redeem 172 points to save $1 on travel (instead of 100). 
1. Lacks travel medical and trip cancellation insurance. 

2. Reward redemptions are restricted to WestJet flights and vacation packages. 

3. You won’t get free checked bags or priority boarding with this card.

Key Benefits of RBC ION+ Visa 

Mobile Device and Purchase Security Insurance

When you use this credit card to purchase a mobile device, you will receive 2 years of coverage up to $1,000 in the event that it is lost, stolen, inadvertently damaged, or suffers a mechanical failure. This coverage applies to cell phones in particular. Automatically doubles the manufacturer’s original Canadian warranty by up to an additional year, for a total of five years, and covers qualifying card purchases against loss, theft, or damage within 90 days of purchase.

Welcome Bonus and Annual Fee

The RBC ION Visa offers a straightforward introductory bonus. Following the approval of your account, you will gain 6,000 points. You may easily get $60 in incentives with that. The fact that this card has no annual charge is a major benefit. You won’t incur any expenses by keeping this card on hand. Additionally, there are no income restrictions, which makes it simpler for people to qualify for the card.

Bonus and Points

There are special bonus categories available with the ION Visa. Bonus points for in-app purchases and purchases made for digital games? In the Canadian marketplace, that is novel. Additionally, they pretty much have all of your streaming content covered. Your non-category purchases will still earn you 1 point for every $1 spent. With each Avion Rewards point having a value of up to one cent, you may expect a fantastic return on your purchases of 1% to 1.5% with a credit card with no annual fee.

Key Benefits of WestJet RBC Mastercard 

Westjet Dollars

Get 50 welcome WestJet dollars when you make your first purchase, earn 1% of all eligible purchases made with your card, and get 1.5% back when you use your card to pay for flights or vacation packages offered by WestJet. When you pay the full base cost with WestJet dollars, Member Exclusive fares provide excellent value with exclusive savings. With options to book in Economy, Premium, and Business, you can save on more seats on more flights. When making a reservation, log in to see if any Member Exclusive fares are available. Redeem your WestJet dollars to pay for flights or WestJet Vacations packages4 to locations around North America, Central America, the Caribbean, and Europe. There are no blackout dates, and your WestJet dollars never expire.

Perks

Get a yearly round-trip companion voucher with the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard. Simply book one round-trip ticket for yourself, and a discounted rate for a second passenger on the same itinerary is available starting at $119 CAD (plus taxes, fees, charges, and other air transportation expenses) inside Canada and the continental United States. Travel throughout the remainder of the WestJet network is also available starting at $399 CAD (plus taxes, fees, charges and other Air Transportation Charges). You can also use your companion voucher to pay for a Premium fare. You’ll get one step closer to obtaining status with each purchase you make using the card. Gain access to additional privileges including lounge access, early boarding, advance seat selection, higher WestJet dollar earn, and more.

Welcome Bonus and Insurance

With the RBC® World Elite Mastercard, you can receive up to 450 welcome WestJet dollars. After making their first purchase within three months, new cards will receive 250 WestJet dollars. They will also receive an additional 200 WestJet dollars if they spend $5,000 CAD in the first three months following activation. That might save you $450 on your upcoming WestJet flight’s base ticket.