If you have the Air Canada Buddy Pass, you can bring a friend with you for just the cost of taxes, as long as you are both flying within North America on an Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, or Air Canada Express flight. This special pass is not for Aeroplan flight rewards, so remember that. After you get the pass, you’ll have to wait up to 10 weeks for it to show up in your Aeroplan account. Once it’s there, you have a year to use it.
But, you can’t use it on a flight you have already booked. To use the Buddy Pass, you have to book your flight on the Air Canada website or mobile app or call the reservation line at 1-888-247-2262.
What is Air Canada Buddy Pass?
The Air Canada Buddy Pass is a special perk from the Aeroplan program. If you get a specific Aeroplan credit card, you can access this benefit. Here’s how it works: when one person buys a full-price Economy ticket on any Air Canada route, a second person can join them and only has to pay for taxes and other third-party fees. The main ticket price for the second person is free.
However, there are some restrictions. You can’t use the Buddy Pass when you’re using Aeroplan points to get a flight reward. Also, it’s only for Economy Class, not the premium sections.
But there’s more to know about this buddy pass. It’s valid for round-trip Economy tickets on all Air Canada flights, including their Rouge and Express services. You can use it to fly anywhere in North America. And when Aeroplan says North America, it means places such as Hawaii and Mexico too. You can also choose from different ticket types like standard or flex.
For the Air Canada Buddy Pass, there are no dates when you can’t use it. So, if you want to fly during the busy summer or Christmas season when tickets are pricier, you can.
If you are an Aeroplan Elite member, you might be thinking about upgrades. Well, you can use your eUpgrade credits or other benefits from your membership level to move to a better cabin, even if you’re using the Buddy Pass.
However, there are a few things the Buddy Pass doesn’t offer. You won’t earn any Aeroplan points when you use it. It is strictly for Air Canada flights, so you cannot use it for Air Canada Vacation packages or flights with Air Canada’s partners in the Star Alliance.
Lastly, the Buddy Pass is for new credit card applicants. If you already have a card, you won’t get the Buddy Pass unless you apply for a new one that offers it. And remember, it’s only for Air Canada flights, not other airlines.
How to Get Air Canada Buddy Pass
If you are an Aeroplan Credit Cardholder, you have the privilege of getting a Buddy Pass. This means when you book an Economy ticket, you can get another ticket for your companion at no base fare.
Here’s how it works:
- Book an Economy ticket to any destination in North America where Air Canada operates. This includes places like Canada, the continental United States, Hawaii, and Mexico.
- With your Buddy Pass, you can then get a second ticket for your friend. The base fare for this ticket is $0.
- For the second ticket, all you need to cover are the taxes and any third-party charges.
How to Book with Buddy Pass Air Canada
In this section. I will show you how to get the Air Canada Buddy Pass. it is not a hectic process. Also, you need to know about the eligibility which I have discussed as you read further.
1. Start the Process
First, you’ll need to sign in to your Aeroplan account. Once you are in, search for a travel destination. Remember, you should be looking for a trip with at least 2 passengers.
Alternatively, if you’d rather speak to someone directly, you can call the Air Canada call center. The contact number is 1-888-247-2262. They can help you redeem your Air Canada Buddy Pass.
2. Choose Your Flight
After you have searched, you’ll see a bunch of results. On this page, there’s a button that says ‘Select Companion/Buddy Pass’. Click on that. This is important to note: your buddy pass is good for Air Canada flights that go to places in North America. This includes Canada, the continental United States, Hawaii, and even Mexico.
3. Select the Fare
Now, you will have to pick the type of fare you want. You have a few options: Economy Basic, Standard, Flex, Comfort, or Latitude fare. Choose the one that suits your needs best.
4. Finalize the Booking with Air Canada Buddy Pass
Once you have made all your choices, it’s time to confirm the flight. You will pay the regular fare for the first ticket. For the second ticket, the fare is $0. That’s right, it’s free! But, you’ll still need to pay any taxes and charges from third parties for that second ticket. And that’s it. You have successfully booked with your buddy pass on Air Canada.
What to Know About Air Canada Buddy Pass 2024
- The Buddy Pass is for a round-trip for a friend when both of you book together. If you book one-way, the return is lost.
- It’s for travel within North America, including Canada, the US, Hawaii, and Mexico. Not for Central America or the Caribbean.
- Your friend pays taxes and fees above the base fare. No blackout dates and sale fares are okay.
- Both of you get the same fare type and benefits.
- You can’t use the Buddy Pass with premium seats, Aeroplan rewards, group bookings, or other discounts.
- Redeem the Buddy Pass when buying a ticket. If you have multiple, the soonest expiring one is used.
- Book before the pass expires, but you can travel later.
- The pass can’t be transferred or exchanged for money.
- Changes to bookings must be made for both travelers at once. If not, the pass might be lost.
- If you change or cancel, you’ll pay fees and fare differences.
- Friends using the pass can’t earn points or miles.
- Elite Status benefits apply if the fare allows.
- Air Canada might charge extra for certain bookings. Unused passes are lost if the related credit card is closed or changed.
- Air Canada’s terms apply (aircanada.com/conditionsofcarriage).
- The bonus Buddy Pass is for certain cardholders. If you’ve had a similar card and bonus in the past year, you can’t get this offer. The offer might change or end at any time.
Cost of Air Canada Buddy Pass
With the Air Canada Buddy Pass, you won’t have to pay anything extra except for taxes and certain third-party charges. Air Canada, under its new Aeroplan, has done away with carrier surcharges. This means you’ll only be responsible for costs like airport or local fees. Buddy Pass from Air Canada does not come with such extra charges.
It’s important to note, though, that getting the Buddy Pass isn’t exactly free. You can obtain it by reaching the minimum spending limit on specific co-branded credit cards. While you need to spend to get the pass, you can use the card for any purchase.
Air Canada Buddy Pass 2024 Eligibility
To get the Buddy Pass, you must spend between $1,000 and $1,500 within the first 90 days after you open your account. Here are some Aeroplan credit cards that have offered the Buddy Pass before:
- CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege
- TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite
- American Express Aeroplan Card
- CIBC Aeroplan Visa Business
- TD Aeroplan Visa Business
- CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite
There are many Aeroplan cards that give you the chance to earn an Air Canada Buddy Pass. After you meet the spending requirement, your Buddy Pass will be added to your Aeroplan account. You can then use this pass when you look for flights on Aircanada.com or the Air Canada App.
Remember, the Buddy Pass is added to the main cardholder’s Aeroplan account.
Also, choosing a card depends on what you want. The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card, CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card, and American Express Aeroplan Card are good choices with nice welcome bonuses and free checked bags.
However, if you often fly with Air Canada, think about getting the American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card for more perks.
How Many Air Canada Buddy Pass Can I Get?
The Aeroplan Buddy Pass is a special offer you get when you sign up for certain credit cards. But remember, it’s a one-time offer for each card, not something you get every year. If two people, like a couple, both get their own qualifying credit cards, they can each get a Buddy Pass. This is handy for families with four members.
Here’s what the rules say:
You can only get this Buddy Pass offer if you’re signing up for an Aeroplan card for the first time. If you’ve had the same type of Aeroplan card before and got a Buddy Pass as a welcome bonus in the past year, you can’t get another one. But, there’s a catch. This once-a-year rule is only for the same type of card.
For instance, let’s say you get these three different cards in one year:
- TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite (which is a basic card)
- CIBC Aeroplan Visa Business (meant for small businesses)
- TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege (a fancier, premium card)
Each of these cards falls under a different category with Aeroplan. So, by getting one of each type, you can actually get three Buddy Passes in a year. Now, not everyone might want so many passes.
Also, you can change the Buddy Pass into 30,000 Aeroplan points. So, every welcome bonus with a Buddy Pass is like getting an extra 30,000 points. If you were to sign up for all three cards listed above and change your Buddy Passes into points, you’d end up with a whopping 185,000 Aeroplan points! And for the first year, you’d only be paying $599 in total fees for these cards.
Air Canada Buddy Pass Expiry Date
Your Buddy Pass from Air Canada has a validity of one year from the day it’s added to your account. However, the cool part is that even if your travel dates are after the expiry of the pass, you can still use it. Just ensure you book your ticket within that one-year window.
For instance, if you get your Buddy Pass on December 17, 2024, it will be valid until December 16, 2024. So, if you are planning a trip to Mexico in 2024, you can book it for any date up to December 16, 2024, using your Buddy Pass. Just remember to book it by December 16, 2024.
*Note!
Unlike the eUpgrades Credits, the Buddy Pass does not carry over to the next year, even if you have a top-tier Aeroplan credit card. And if you have a special status, use your Buddy Pass, especially if you get discounts on Aeroplan bookings.
How Much Can You Save with the Air Canada Buddy Pass?
The Air Canada Buddy Pass can help you save a good amount of money on your travels. I have included some examples to see how much you might save.
Consider a family of 4 in Victoria dreaming of Disney World in Orlando. The regular fare for the selected dates is a whopping $1179.29. But with the Buddy Pass, two tickets cost $1,300.59. If you use two Buddy Passes for the family, the total is $2,601.18, saving you a massive $2,115.98.
Air Canada Buddy Pass
Using the Air Canada Buddy Pass for a trip from Toronto to Maui, the total cost for one person is $737.58. But with the Buddy Pass, the second person’s ticket is just the taxes, fees, and charges, which is $89.59. So, for two travelers, the total comes to $827.17. This means you save $647.99! And if you have two Buddy Passes, the savings double to $1,295.98.
Do you consider escaping the cold or planning a romantic getaway? Two direct flights from Toronto to Los Cabos, Mexico would be $1,021.62 with the Buddy Pass, saving you $703.
This is a common route for families traveling in the summer. A single ticket from Vancouver to Toronto costs $850.66. But with the Buddy Pass, the cost for two people is $957.32, saving you $744. Traveling in the summer suddenly feels more affordable.
Conclusion
When you purchase a full-priced Economy ticket on any Air Canada route, a companion can accompany you, and they only have to handle taxes and other third-party charges. The ticket price for this second person is absolutely free. But there are conditions. The Buddy Pass isn’t valid when redeeming Aeroplan points for flight rewards, and it’s strictly for Economy Class.
The pass covers round-trip Economy tickets on all Air Canada flights, including their Rouge and Express services, and it’s valid for destinations across North America. This includes locations such as Hawaii and Mexico. There are no blackout dates, so peak seasons are fair game. If you’re an Aeroplan Elite member, you can even upgrade using your eUpgrade credits.
However, the Buddy Pass has its limitations. It doesn’t earn you any Aeroplan points, is exclusive to Air Canada flights, and is available only for new credit card applicants.
Read also: Air Canada Family and Friends Discount 2024!
