Does anyone know what the benefit is in buying westjet dollars ?

There isn't usually one. Unless perhaps you just needed a few more westjet dollars to buy one of their 'Member Exclusive Fares', and only IF that flight were significantly cheaper than their normal fare price, which is pretty rare these days.
By and large, buying westjet Dollars (which is done through a third party partner, Points dotcom) is a terrible deal.
Every now and then westjet sends out their '30% off' offer for buying westjet Dollars which takes it from a terrible deal to slightly less terrible. But still terrible.

Chris I knew it didn’t make sense. Seems ridiculous to even offer it.

I have to imagine it does fool some people. At first glance, it sounds attractive. Before digging into it, they make it sound like you're buying westjet Dollars for 35% off of a 1 to 1 exchange (1 real Canadian dollar for 1 westjet Dollar). But in reality you're getting a discount on a really horrible 2 to 1 exchange (2 Canadian dollars for 1 westjet Dollar).

It’s way to create a revenue stream , like selling annual gym
memberships in advance, or selling prepaid service at a car dealership. Definitely to the benefit of westjet, not you.

west jet dollars and companion flights are a scam, I have yet to be able to use any and have tried many times, restrictions and only being able to use a fraction of my dollars for flights. Don't fly west jet if you can lol

Sarah That’s strange, I’ve had the opposite experience no problems whatsoever

Sarah we use companion fare and WJ dollars all the time No problem

Jerry
Sarah never had an issue with companion fare as it’s done right online.

They aren’t a scam. They are actually a great reward program if you get your points through a credit card. I actually just used my westjet dollars for our all inclusive trip and it significantly discounted our trip (which was already discounted because of the birthday sale). We use our westjet dollars whenever we fly and have never had any issues or restrictions

Sarah only a scam for those who don't fly, haha. We use them all the time with no problem.

Sarah I’ve used WJ dollars w/o issue - I’ve also exchanged companion flight voucher for 4 lounge visits.

Thank you for all the positive feedback, I am flying to Edmonton in a month will try again. I have the credit card and tried to book a few times and found zero savings. I hope to benefit one day lol cheers to travel everyone

This is not one of the loyalty programs you want to buy points from

If you buy the dollars while there’s a discount it’s worthwhile. Around new years they had 30% off west jet dollars, or something like that

Chelsea explain why ? Lol

When I was looking at the pricing it seemed as tho you were buying dollar for dollar, now looking at the drop down example below where the dollars are more expensive, it’s not lucrative at all

Chelsea exactly. So silly. I thought there was a hidden trick to use the dollars but it’s a scam.

We use WJ dollars that we earn by using our WJ Mastercard.
Actually buying them didn’t make economic sense when I looked into it.

I use my dollars earned from my Mastercard all the time, to get free flights between Kelowna and Vancouver. Works for me.

Use my westjet dollars all the time and have used my companion fares with no issue. No restrictions. You can apply the westjet dollars to any flight you want

Lynne thanks but that wasn’t the question.

Never knew you could actually buy the westjet dollars instead of earning them. Thanks for the insight! Not surprised they aren’t worth buying.

I have the opposite experience
Have used both companion fare and west jet dollars for years to get to Mexico.
Have saved quite a bit.