Canada's top travel rewards card gets a boost

New campaign features work of renowned cartoonist for The New Yorker

CALGARY, May 29, 2014 /CNW/ - Taking a page from one of the world's most iconic publications, WestJet has launched a campaign to promote its WestJet RBC World Elite MasterCard that features original work by Lee Lorenz, longtime cartoonist and former cartoon editor of The New Yorker magazine.

The campaign features six original cartoon illustrations depicting some of the most common complaints voiced by holders of other travel rewards cards and programs, including the complexity of earning and redeeming points or miles, the high amounts and time required to be able to redeem, and the lack of available seats for redemption on non-stop flights. The 12-week campaign titled "Get This Card" is designed to raise awareness about the advantages of the WestJet RBC World Elite MasterCard and WestJet Rewards.

"Lee's cartoon illustrations are brilliant in their simplicity and yet they tell a story by themselves," said Lauri Feser, WestJet Vice-President, Marketing. "They are the perfect fit for the storyline of our WestJet Rewards program and its centerpiece, the WestJet RBC World Elite MasterCard. The program is designed to address the most common pain points for consumers, and it is its simplicity and high value that is winning Canadians over."

As members of WestJet rewards, WestJet RBC World Elite MasterCard cardholders earn WestJet dollars on their purchases that can be used like cash toward their next WestJet flight or WestJet Vacations package. WestJet dollars can be redeemed at any time and partial redemptions can be applied to new bookings.

As an additional incentive, WestJet RBC World Elite MasterCard cardholders receive a welcome bonus of $250 WestJet dollars after they use their card the first time.  Cardholders also receive an annual companion flight for $99 (plus applicable taxes, fees and charges) on any WestJet marketed and operated flight anywhere in Canada or the continental U.S. (excluding Hawaii and Puerto Rico).

WestJet is the only national airline in Canada that still owns and operates its rewards program. WestJet Rewards offers members online, direct and immediate access to seats on any WestJet flight at any time, with no restrictions or blackout periods, including the ability to redeem WestJet dollars on seat sale fares.

In 2013, MoneySense magazine ranked the WestJet RBC World Elite MasterCard as the best travel rewards card in Canada. The same year, the WestJet RBC World Elite MasterCard and the WestJet RBC MasterCard ranked first and second in Reward's Canada's annual Canada's Choice vote for Top Airline Credit/Charge card, based on a survey of Canadian consumers.

Lee Lorenz published his first cartoon illustration in Colliers in 1956 and two years later, at the age of 25, joined the staff of The New Yorker. He was the magazine's art editor from 1975 to 1993 and cartoon editor from 1993 to 1997. More than 1,800 of his cartoon illustrations have been published by The New Yorker over the years. Lorenz and his wife live in Connecticut.

The campaign featuring Lee Lorenz's cartoon illustrations can be seen online, in targeted search engine segments and in select print publications until mid-summer 2014.

Media note: Lee Lorenz is available for media interviews by telephone. For more information or to arrange an interview, contact [email protected]

About WestJet
We are proud to be Canada's most-preferred airline, powered by an award-winning culture of care and recognized as one of the country's top employers.  We offer scheduled service to more than 85 destinations in North America, Central America, the Caribbean and Europe. Through our regional airline, WestJet Encore, and with partnerships with airlines representing every major region of the world, we offer our guests more than 120 destinations in more than 20 countries.  Leveraging WestJet's extensive network, flight schedule and remarkable guest experience, WestJet Vacations delivers affordable, flexible travel experiences with a variety of accommodation options for every guest. Members of our WestJet Rewards program earn WestJet dollars on flights, vacation packages and more.  Our members use WestJet dollars towards the purchase of WestJet flights and vacations packages on any day, at any time, to any WestJet destination with no blackout periods ̶ even on seat sales.  For more information about everything WestJet, please visit www.westjet.com.

Recent recognition includes:
2014 Value Airline of the Year (Air Transport World magazine)
2014/2013/2012 Canada's Most Attractive Employer (Randstad)
2013 Highest equity score: airline, vacation package supplier brands (Harris/Decima EquiTrend Study)
2013 Gold Stevie Award Best Transportation Company (American Business Awards)
2013 Chairman's Circle Award: WestJet Vacations (CPSC)
2013 Canada's Most Preferred Airline (Leger Marketing)
2013 WestJet RBC MasterCard ranked #1 in Canada (Money Sense magazine)

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Image with caption: "WestJet has launched a new marketing campaign to promote its WestJet RBC World Elite MasterCard featuring original cartoon illustrations by legendary New Yorker magazine cartoonist Lee Lorenz." (CNW Group/WestJet)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140529_C7148_PHOTO_EN_40895.jpg

Image with caption: "WestJet has launched a new marketing campaign to promote its WestJet RBC World Elite MasterCard featuring original cartoon illustrations by legendary New Yorker magazine cartoonist Lee Lorenz." (CNW Group/WestJet)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140529_C7148_PHOTO_EN_40894.jpg

SOURCE: WestJet

Media Relations, 1-888-WJ-4-NEWS (1-888-954-6397), [email protected].