News Releases

Airline unveils its second annual Christmas video

CALGARY, Dec. 9, 2013 /CNW/ - WestJet today released the airline's second annual holiday video - The WestJet Christmas Miracle - showing how WestJet and Santa teamed up to delight unsuspecting travellers with a real-time holiday surprise.

WestJet's Digital Command Centre and a team of more than 150 merry WestJetters became Santa's helpers, delivering personalized gifts to guests arriving in Calgary as part of a true holiday miracle.

"This year, we wanted to turn our holiday campaign into a tradition by doing something that's never been done before," said Richard Bartrem, WestJet Vice-President, Communications and Community Relations.  "Inspired by the notion of real-time giving, we wanted to surprise our guests with meaningful, personalized gifts when they least expected them. Being able to show our guests how much we care with gift-giving, a tried and true holiday tradition, resonates with WestJetters as much as our guests."

Last year, WestJet's inaugural holiday video reached nearly 500,000 views in just weeks. Once the video reached the milestone of 25,000 views, the airline donated flights to a family in need through WestJet's community investment program.  This year, WestJet Cares for Kids will continue this tradition by donating flights through Ronald McDonald House Charities, one of WestJet's six partner charities, once the video reaches 200,000 views. Canadians can help to reach this goal by sharing the WestJet Christmas Miracle video with friends and family.

Nineteen hidden cameras captured guests at Toronto and Hamilton International Airports confiding their Christmas wishes with a virtual Santa Claus while waiting to board flights to Calgary. Guests were surprised upon arrival when a festively decorated baggage carousel came to life.  On this special day, it was not just their suitcases that arrived, but the gifts they had asked for merely hours before.

The WestJet Christmas Miracle video was made possible in part by WestJet's trusted partners, Best Buy Canada, Calgary International Airport Authority, Toronto Pearson International Airport and John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport.

About WestJet
WestJet is Canada's most preferred airline, offering scheduled service to 88 destinations in North America, Central America, the Caribbean and Europe. 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 towards 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 MasterCard will earn WestJet dollars even faster.

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SOURCE WestJet

Video with caption: "Video: Today, WestJet released its second annual holiday video - the WestJet Christmas Miracle - surprising lucky travellers with real-time giving, made possible with the help of WestJet's Digital Command Centre and a team of more than 150 WestJetters.". Video available at: http://youtu.be/zIEIvi2MuEk

Video with caption: "Video: WestJet Virtual Santa reacts to travellers' unique gift requests in footage from the cutting room floor of WestJet's second annual holiday surprise video - The WestJet Christmas Miracle.". Video available at: http://youtu.be/1A1gukKsKiQ

Video with caption: "Video: An exclusive video interview with Richard Bartrem, WestJet Vice-President, Communications and Community Relations, speaking to the inspiration and logistics behind the airline's second annual holiday surprise video, The WestJet Christmas Miracle. In the spirit of holiday giving, WestJet surprised travellers with a real-time holiday miracle with the help of WestJet's Digital Command Centre and a team of more than 150 WestJetters.". Video available at: http://youtu.be/hK_ENXzI-zE