I guess it's not too bad as long as you're a frequent flyer. Is it worth it to garner $1500 before you can begin earning points?

ok... the minimum spend is $1500 to get your points.
that's $125 per month

I guess that they're trying to meet their costs by having you spend a certain amount.

Actually, you have to spend $1500 annually from the year you signed up. I saw this news weeks ago here in this site. I'll paste the article for you.

Hope this helps.

Introducing Canada's WestJet Frequent Flyer Program

A program called Frequent Guest Program (FGP), Westjet clients will get "WestJet dollars" that customers can use with no blackout dates for future WestJet travel to any WestJet destination.

how it works:
Customers can earn WestJet dollars at 2.5% of the sum you spend on any WestJect flights published fares (this excludes fees, taxes, and surcharges) when you spend no less than $1,500 in a year. When WestJet members garner $1,500 on the whole annual qualifying year (this is the 12-month period which starts from the date you apply in the program) they will recieve a $50 value of WestJet dollars to spend and they will also start earning 1% on cash spent on WestJet Vacation packages, but the amount used for WestJet vacations does not qualify for your annual spend of $1,500. If the member's annual spend reaches a total of $4,500 they will get $165 value of WestJet dollars plus a "Canadian JetAway" companion flight to anywhere within Canada where WestJet flies, including 4 vouchers for complimentary advance seat selection and 2 airport lounge passes. WestJet members only need to spend $3,000 to get the Canadian JetAway perks as an introductory offer to last until Dec. 31, 2010.

When Frequent Guest Program members' reaches $6,000 on annual spends, they will get a $230 value of WestJet dollars plus another "Jet-Away" complimentary companion flight to anywhere WestJet flies, including 4 additional advance seat selection vouchers and 2 more airport lounge passes.

And if you're spending reaches a total of $7,500 within your membership year, you will recieve an additional $300 vale of WestJet dollars. Remember each membership year starts anew toward your at least $1,500 annual spend, which is equal to approximately 4 roundtrip tickets every year. So this program is not meant for you if you don't fly that much.

WestJet dollars accumulated can last for five years and will Expire if not used at the end of the 5th year after the member earned them. You can earn additional WestJet dollars using RBC MasterCard and other bonus offers.

Where did you hear about the $1500 pre-spend?

I was on RBC's credit card site http://www.rbcroyalbank.com/cards/index.html looking for that information .. it just says the following:

I believe you need to spend $1500.00 on flight tickets or something like that before you can start to earn reward points.

I just saw this news about westjet getting it's own rewards credit card:
You can now earn westjet dollars, when you use this RBC MasterCard.
The annual fee is $39.

It also says here:
The airline is offering two different RBC-branded MasterCard reward programs. One offers rewards of 1.5 per cent in WestJet dollars, as well as travel insurance, hotel discounts and upgrades for an annual fee of $79. It comes with an initial bonus of 100 WestJet dollars.

WestJet Airlines unveils credit card, frequent flyer program after delays

By Lauren Krugel (CP) – Mar 8, 2010

CALGARY — WestJet Airlines Ltd. unveiled Monday its long-delayed credit card and frequent-flyer programs as it competes with rival Air Canada for more lucrative business travellers.

The programs were initially to be introduced last June, but were put on hold until kinks in WestJet's new reservation system could be worked out.

"It's been a long time coming," said Patrick Sojka, founder of Rewards Canada, a website that weighs various travel rewards programs.

Customers can earn "WestJet dollars" for purchases they make on a new Royal Bank (TSX:RY) MasterCard, that then may be used for flights or vacation packages.

The dollars earned may also be put toward seat sales and will not be subject to blackouts or seat restrictions, WestJet (TSX:WJA) said.

VIA google news