Sep 26, 2023, 6:55 pm
Last edit by: Bohemian1
What is the birthday perk thing?
Some Aeroplan members are offered a selection perks via an email on or around their birthday.
Does everyone get this offer on their birthday?
No. The offer seems to be targeted somewhat randomly. You may get it one year, but not the next. No one here understands for sure how the offer is awarded.
So, what are these perks?
The offers seem to vary, but as of the last Wiki edit, here is a summary of the ones reported:
25% OFF BASE FARES + A PREFERRED SEAT
When you book a domestic, transborder, or Caribbean flight by XXX for travel by YYY (subject to availability)
EARN 5X ON A BIRTHDAY RIDE!
Earn 5X the points on your next Uber Comfort, UberXL, Uber Premier or Uber Black ride by XXX
UP TO 10% OFF VACATION PACKAGES
When you book a vacation package with Air Canada Vacations® to select destinations by XXX for travel by YYY.
Note: As of last Wiki edit, this appears to have been replaced by the following ACV offer:
UP TO 8,000 BONUS PTS ON VACATION PACKAGES
Spend up to $999 per member for 2,000 bonus pts, spend $1,000‑$1,999 for 3,000 pts, or spend $2,000+ for 8,000 pts.
500pts
With a purchase of $50 or more via the Aeroplan eStore.
100pts
Celebrate simply! Get 100 bonus points (250 points for some) for your special day.
The following perk was reported shortly after the birthday perk was launched, but appears to be no longer offered:
500pts
When you load your linked Starbucks Rewards account with $50 or more.
Sounds great! So, do I get ALL of those perks?
No, you get your choice of one of them.
Is there a catch?
Sort of. Several of the perks come with date restrictions. The 'XXX' date referenced above is usually about 30 days after your actual birthday. The YYY date is usually about 7 months after your birthday. More or less. And the 25% off can't be used for J fares.
Some Aeroplan members are offered a selection perks via an email on or around their birthday.
Does everyone get this offer on their birthday?
No. The offer seems to be targeted somewhat randomly. You may get it one year, but not the next. No one here understands for sure how the offer is awarded.
So, what are these perks?
The offers seem to vary, but as of the last Wiki edit, here is a summary of the ones reported:
25% OFF BASE FARES + A PREFERRED SEAT
When you book a domestic, transborder, or Caribbean flight by XXX for travel by YYY (subject to availability)
EARN 5X ON A BIRTHDAY RIDE!
Earn 5X the points on your next Uber Comfort, UberXL, Uber Premier or Uber Black ride by XXX
UP TO 10% OFF VACATION PACKAGES
When you book a vacation package with Air Canada Vacations® to select destinations by XXX for travel by YYY.
Note: As of last Wiki edit, this appears to have been replaced by the following ACV offer:
UP TO 8,000 BONUS PTS ON VACATION PACKAGES
Spend up to $999 per member for 2,000 bonus pts, spend $1,000‑$1,999 for 3,000 pts, or spend $2,000+ for 8,000 pts.
500pts
With a purchase of $50 or more via the Aeroplan eStore.
100pts
Celebrate simply! Get 100 bonus points (250 points for some) for your special day.
The following perk was reported shortly after the birthday perk was launched, but appears to be no longer offered:
500pts
When you load your linked Starbucks Rewards account with $50 or more.
Sounds great! So, do I get ALL of those perks?
No, you get your choice of one of them.
Is there a catch?
Sort of. Several of the perks come with date restrictions. The 'XXX' date referenced above is usually about 30 days after your actual birthday. The YYY date is usually about 7 months after your birthday. More or less. And the 25% off can't be used for J fares.
Aeroplan birthday perk
May 22, 2022, 5:23 pm
#136
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: NAN, YVR
Programs: AC *SE, Westjet PLAT, UA Prem, Alaska MVP, Marriott Ambassador, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 311
May 24, 2022, 1:10 am
#137
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE 2MM; UA MP Premier Silver; Marriott Bonvoy LT Titanium Elite; Radisson; Avis PC
Posts: 35,255
The rules are by brand and not by what you paid for it. I think you get the gist.
May 24, 2022, 11:09 am
#138
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,324
I've flown 0% earning business flexible fares.
Latitude bookings with the buddy pass do not earn anything.
May 24, 2022, 9:40 pm
#139
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE, Hilton Gold, Golf Canada Top 3%
Posts: 188
May 24, 2022, 9:47 pm
#140
Join Date: May 2020
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SE, AA PlatPro, Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy Plat & LT Gold, Hilton Gold, National EE
Posts: 878
May 25, 2022, 12:51 am
#141
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,324
The buddy, who paid $0, earns nothing.
Heck, there are 15% (ish, I can't remember the number) employee discount codes that result in no earnings.
There are tons of ways to fly "eligible fare brands" but not actually be eligible for earnings.
I can't speak for eUpgrades, as I have no personal experience with them on any "special" bookings (my specials were always in J).
But don't just "assume" a "Flex" booking allows eUpgrades any more than you would assume it earns 100% if it includes a segment on UA.
"Promos" make things weird.
Heck, there are 15% (ish, I can't remember the number) employee discount codes that result in no earnings.
There are tons of ways to fly "eligible fare brands" but not actually be eligible for earnings.
I can't speak for eUpgrades, as I have no personal experience with them on any "special" bookings (my specials were always in J).
But don't just "assume" a "Flex" booking allows eUpgrades any more than you would assume it earns 100% if it includes a segment on UA.
"Promos" make things weird.
May 27, 2022, 7:50 am
#142
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: I'm From Here
Programs: AC*SE & MM/*Wood Gold/HHonors Diamond/Marriott Silver/AirMiles Gold
Posts: 4,567
Received my, on my birthday this AM.
Same as everyone, 25%, 500points, etc.
Even though I get the preferred seat for free, the 25% off made the most sense given I'm travelling most of June
Either way, Happy Birthday to me
Same as everyone, 25%, 500points, etc.
Even though I get the preferred seat for free, the 25% off made the most sense given I'm travelling most of June
Either way, Happy Birthday to me
May 31, 2022, 7:49 am
#143
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: YQB
Programs: AC SE100K-1MM, Bonvoy Gold, HHonors Diamond, VIA Premier, NEXUS/GE
Posts: 816
Had confetti when logging in my account for a week before my actual birthday.
And on my actual birthday, I received an email to pick a birthday gift: 25% off base fare domestic, US, Caribbean or up to 10% off AC Vacations package or 500 points when spending $50 at the eStore or 100 points.
The 25% off will be useful.
Thank you AC/Aeroplan
And on my actual birthday, I received an email to pick a birthday gift: 25% off base fare domestic, US, Caribbean or up to 10% off AC Vacations package or 500 points when spending $50 at the eStore or 100 points.
The 25% off will be useful.
Thank you AC/Aeroplan
May 31, 2022, 9:38 am
#144
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: YVR - MILLS Waypoint (It's the third house on the left)
Programs: AC*SE100K, wood level status in various other programs
Posts: 6,226
I think maybe that I need to change my birthday to sometime next month and see if I get more than just confetti this time. How hard could that be?
May 31, 2022, 10:07 am
#145
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: YQB
Programs: AC SE100K-1MM, Bonvoy Gold, HHonors Diamond, VIA Premier, NEXUS/GE
Posts: 816
My parents, both FOTSG, received the total package 🤷♂️🤷♂️.
Jun 1, 2022, 11:24 am
#147
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SE MM, Bonvoy Plat, Hilton G,Nexus, Amex MR Plat,IHG Plat
Posts: 4,422
I tried to use the code for a Mexico booking and it says the code is expired. Mexico is included in the Ts an Cs. Is it because one of the flights is operated by United even though the fare is sold on AC.com ?
Jun 1, 2022, 6:09 pm
#148
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Gotham city
Programs: AC SE, HH Diamond
Posts: 79
Discount code received - and was expired….
Received my code on May 14th (12 hours after selecting that option).
Book by June 13. Travel completed by Nov 14th.
Tried to use it today and error message that it is expired.
Spoke to concierge, she kindly contacted help desk who indicated the promo code expired May 31 not June 13.
Concierge is following up to get me a new code… hopefully soon.
My favourite part of the experience was the concierge’s shock that this could happen when she said “I am so surprised because Air Canada IT systems are always perfect”. That alone made my day.
Book by June 13. Travel completed by Nov 14th.
Tried to use it today and error message that it is expired.
Spoke to concierge, she kindly contacted help desk who indicated the promo code expired May 31 not June 13.
Concierge is following up to get me a new code… hopefully soon.
My favourite part of the experience was the concierge’s shock that this could happen when she said “I am so surprised because Air Canada IT systems are always perfect”. That alone made my day.
Jun 2, 2022, 10:12 am
#149
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: YLW
Programs: AC- SE100 1MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, National Executive, Nexus/GE
Posts: 4,307
It makes sense as one person is flying for free except for the taxes paid.
Jun 2, 2022, 10:21 am
#150
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: YLW
Programs: AC- SE100 1MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, National Executive, Nexus/GE
Posts: 4,307
The buddy, who paid $0, earns nothing.
Heck, there are 15% (ish, I can't remember the number) employee discount codes that result in no earnings.
There are tons of ways to fly "eligible fare brands" but not actually be eligible for earnings.
I can't speak for eUpgrades, as I have no personal experience with them on any "special" bookings (my specials were always in J).
But don't just "assume" a "Flex" booking allows eUpgrades any more than you would assume it earns 100% if it includes a segment on UA.
"Promos" make things weird.
Heck, there are 15% (ish, I can't remember the number) employee discount codes that result in no earnings.
There are tons of ways to fly "eligible fare brands" but not actually be eligible for earnings.
I can't speak for eUpgrades, as I have no personal experience with them on any "special" bookings (my specials were always in J).
But don't just "assume" a "Flex" booking allows eUpgrades any more than you would assume it earns 100% if it includes a segment on UA.
"Promos" make things weird.
Last year the regular Go Canada employee fares were increased from 10% to 15% and I think I used perhaps six of them and all received SQM,SQS & SQD and I did upgrade on a couple of those flights. There are some employee discount codes that are generous so they give you nada.
This year the regular Go Canada employee Fares are back down to 10% and I have two now, have not used any yet due to the frequent discounts floating around from various providers.
Who doesn't like a sale, so I like buying AIr Canada on sale, lol
Last month AMEX sent out two 15% discount codes which I used on my current flights.
I like buying the AIr Canada gift cards when on sale and then using a discount code to get 20% or 25% off fares. ( yes I am cheap or financially thrifty, depending on your outlook, lol)