WestJet’s Miracle Miles Christmas Video 2022

WestJet is known for its viral marketing videos, and the airline has just released its 2022 Christmas Miracle video. Grab a tissue…

WestJet’s 2022 Christmas Miracle surprise

With WestJet’s Christmas Miracle concept, the Calgary-based airline publishes a video annually that spreads some sort of Christmas cheer, typically in the form of giving gifts or uniting families and friends. More often than not, the videos make me cry, or at least make me have to work hard to hold back tears. This year is no different.

This year, WestJet has used its Christmas Miracle video to launch its newest community investment program, Miracle Miles. This is intended to transform ordinary flights into an opportunity for guests to give back to their communities.

The initiative grants anyone onboard select flights with $1 for every mile flown to give to an eligible charity or non-profit organization of their choice.

The first Miracle Miles trip took place on November 26, on flight WS551 from Winnipeg to Calgary. Onboard the flight, a total of 128 guests and six crew members traveled 677 nautical miles, and collectively donated a total of $90,718 to Canadian charities of their choice.

This wasn’t a one-time thing, though. WestJet will do the same thing on select flights across Canada during the holiday season. The airline plans to donate over $150,000 to charities across Canada this December. These flights will be kept a surprise until cruising altitude.

Here’s how Angela Avery, WestJet EVP and Chief People, Corporate & Sustainability Officer, describes this initiative:

“At WestJet we are proud to serve a diverse array of communities all year long. In the holiday season we know there is joy to be found in both giving and receiving, so for this year’s Christmas Miracle, we wanted to offer our guests and WestJetters the opportunity to give back to the people and places that are most meaningful to them by supporting a charity or non-profit organization of their own choosing. We hope to bring a little extra joy this holiday season through the power of Miracle Miles by giving guests and WestJetters the opportunity to support the organizations near and dear to their hearts.”

You can see the video for yourself below. Be sure you grab some tissues — I had to take some deep breaths to avoid crying.

How does this compare to WestJet’s other videos?

WestJet’s Christmas Miracle video this year is both creative and touching. While this concept has always been about surprising others and giving back, in this case it’s particularly touching since each passenger could give to a charity that means a lot to them.

Just for some context on some past videos, I think WestJet’s most memorable Christmas Miracle concept was the 2013 one, where the airline essentially engaged in real-time giving over the course of a flight.

Last year’s video was also pretty great. Since the pandemic kept many families apart, the airline surprised people with tickets to see their families for the holidays.

There have been several other good ones, but nothing quite as original as that. On a lighter note, in addition to the Christmas Miracle videos, WestJet is also known for its hilarious April Fools’ videos. The carrier’s 2012 video about child-free cabins was pretty hilarious.

Bottom line

In WestJet’s 2022 Christmas Miracle video, the airline has launched its Miracle Miles initiative. With this, the airline surprised passengers on a flight by giving them $1 to donate to their favorite charity for every mile flown. The airline gave away over $90,000 to charity on this flight alone, and plans to give away another $150,000 in December, as this will be repeated on other flights.

Very well done, WestJet!

What do you make of this year’s WestJet Christmas Miracle video?