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How Does the Air Canada Buddy Pass Work?
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A couple things regarding the actual steps to use buddy pass:
You can select Economy Basic and still apply the buddy pass now, doesn’t need to be Standard or higher.
You just need to *book* by the expiry date, but your travel dates can be later than the expiry.
The buddy pass option shows up as a floating action button saying “Credits and Discounts” in the web interface, which is not immediately obvious.
Lastly, you must select CAD currency to apply the buddy pass on the website. I’m based in the US and when I had USD selected, the buddy pass option didn’t show up.
Where on the Air Canada website should we see the option to select the Buddy Pass when searching flights? We have been looking and can’t find the option anywhere.
Hi Ricky,
Great article! Can a buddy pass be applied on a multi-city round trip (not open jaw) all within Canada. (YYZ to YYT to YHZ. then back to YYZ)
Disregard my earlier submission. I now see the restrictions. Thanks
Hi Ricky, I have a Buddy Pass that’s going to expire soon. To maximize the value I tried to use it on an open-jaw itinerary (YYZ-TPA/YYC-TPA – I already have a YYZ-YYC ticket), but the site doesn’t seem to allow it. Do you know if open-jaw and/or multi-city itineraries don’t qualify.
I also tried it on a YYZ-SJU return itinerary, but that didn’t work either. Puerto Rico seems like it’s North America to me, but maybe AC doesn’t see it that way?
By the way, I’ve just discovered your site, and I can’t thank you enough for all the comprehensive advice you offer. You’ve given my several great ideas on how to maximize value on my Aeroplan points. Thanks!
Only Canada, the 50 US states, and Mexico are eligible for the Buddy Pass redemption. And I don’t believe open-jaw trips of the type you’ve described are allowed, unfortunately.
Air Canada seems to have changed the user interface on their site so now it’s much more clearly indicated whether you can use a Buddy Pass on an itinerary. It now clearly indicated that you can’t use it to Puerto Rico, nor can you use it on an open-jaw itinerary.
Hi Ricky
I have 2 buddy passes in my account (core and premium)
When I go to book my family of 4 from YVR to HNL it will only let me use 1 pass.
I have not seen anywhere that you can only use one pass per booking.
Am I missing something?
Thanks
hello, i signed my mom up for the td aeroplan card. how long till the buddy pass is credited to her account. she has completed the spend requirement. looking to book a flight for her and my aunt. thanks
TD has taken notoriously long to credit the Buddy Pass, often several months.
Thanks Ricky. I was just looking for my buddy pass and still not posted (after 3 months)
How do you earn more buddy passes? For instance, I get 1 for signing up for the credit card, how do I get another one?
Sign up for one of each of the other two tiers of card types.
Hi Ricky and team! Thanks for all the info! I’m wondering, if I use a buddypass roundtrip to Hawaii, could I add a stopover (ex. LAX or SFO)? Any additional fees for the second person? Thanks!
Itineraries with stopovers wouldn’t qualify for using a Buddy Pass, unfortunately.
Hi, how do I know my buddy pass is available to be used? Thank you
You’ll see it in the Benefits section on your Aeroplan dashboard.
Thank you Ricky!!!
Thanks for this very informative page. You noted under the “Core cards” that
for CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite, one can earn “Air Canada Buddy Pass upon spending $3,000 in the first four months … ” Should it be spending of $1000 rather than $3000? Or perhaps,, it has recently been reduced to $1000?
I opened the former CIBC Aerogold card in June of 2020. Would I be eligible for the TD Aeroplan Buddy Pass offer?
Can I buy a ticket for my daughter and use the buddy pass for her child?
If the Buddy Pass was earned on your credit card, no. The primary cardholder must be one of the travellers.
I would like to use buddy pass for my trip from Toronto to Hawaii.
But my problem is we are flying from Toronto to Hawaii and then taking cruise from Hawaii back to Vancouver. So I would only need return flight back from Vancouver to Toronto. So I am not sure how I should use my buddy pass?
If I book a Air Canada Ticket from Hong Kong To Moncton NB (1 stop in Toronto) Can I book to full itinerary and apply the Buddy Pass to the Toronto to Moncton portion or do I have to book a separate flight from HK-Toronto and then Toronto-Moncton? (Currently booking separate HK-Toronto and Toronto-Moncton using the Buddy Pass is more then booking the full itinerary)
You’d need to book them separately to apply the Buddy Pass to the Toronto–Moncton sector. If that costs more, then it wouldn’t be a good use of the Buddy Pass and you’re better off booking the whole thing together and saving the Buddy Pass for another use.
Very informative. If my wife buys a ticket and brings me on a Buddy Pass, can I use my eUpgrades to upgrade us? So it’s her ticket, me on her Buddy Pass. She has no status so no eUpgrades. I have status so can I use my eUpgrades to get us both up front?
In general, if a passenger with status/eUps is on a booking made by someone else without status or eUps, they can use them to upgrade (attach your Aeroplan number on the booking). You may need to go through the Elite help desk, but in theory, this should be possible.
Hi Ricky,
I booked round trip tickets and both passengers flow the outbound segment. For some reason, primary passenger has to change inbound flight date, is the companion ticket still valid on original inbound date?
Ricky,
If I have TD Aeroplan Infinite Visa starting 2021 February 01, then Buddy Pass to be deposited on my Aeroplan account on 2021 June 01. Then I cancel the TD Visa on 2021 October 01.
My question: Can I still use Buddy Pass even though the TD Visa has been cancelled?
Thanks!
From the T&Cs:
“Unused passes will automatically be cancelled on the date the credit card is closed, regardless of reason for closure, or if the credit card account is changed to a different product.”
Best to redeem your Buddy Pass first before cancelling.
Hi Ricky, do you have to complete the flight or just book and then can cancel the card? What if I book a flight a year out with the buddy pass but then cancel the card shortly after confirming the booking, will the future flight buddy pass still work?
Has anyone received the TD Visa Infinite Aeroplan card Buddy Pass?
Do you have a link for the full T&C? I want to know if the primary cardholder has to be travelling? e.g. If Alex is the cardholder, can he book (and pay) for travel by Bob and Charlie?
The Buddy Pass T&Cs can be found in the terms of any of the co-branded credit cards that offer it. From those terms: “The bonus Buddy Pass entitles a companion to accompany the Primary Cardholder for a $0 base fare…”; the primary cardholder must be travelling.
Does the full price fair have to be paid for using the Aeroplan card which is associated with the Buddy pass? Or for example could you buy the full price ticket on an HSBC Word Elite card, redeem HSBC points for the first flight and use the Buddy pass for the second flight?
You can pay for the full price ticket using any credit card, so yes, you could redeem HSBC Rewards points for it and use the Buddy Pass for the second passenger.
I have the TD infinite privilege and have qualified for the signup and received the 50k points. No buddy pass was told it would hit the aeroplan account 3 months from sign up. Other cardholders with TD and Amex told the same thing?
Ricky,
if I already applied for aeroplan CIBC visa infinite 2 months ago and have received 10000 points, not the Buddy pass, could I apply for the TD AEROPLAN VISA INFINITE and receive the points and the Buddy pass?
As I understand it, yes, the Buddy Pass cannot be overlapped within the same card family but the welcome bonus in general can be.
If I apply for TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite in January 2021. Am I eligible for a second buddy pass in January 2022 prior to renewal?
Nope, it’s a one-time benefit as part of the signup bonus.
Ricky, can you combine offers from 2 of the credit cards? E.g. if I apply for CIBC Aeroplan visa infinite and TD Aeroplan visa infinite, can I stack the bonus points and buddy passes?
I am very interested in the answer as I was juggling with the idea myself. I ordered the CIBC Aeroplan infinite card 2 MONTHS AGO ( for which I received only aeroplan points) and I was thinking of asking FOR a TD AEROPLAN INFINITE IN EARLY JANUARY.
Caribbean?
Canada, US, Mexico only.
Can you add a buddy after the original booking? I’m thinking of the case where work is flying you somewhere and you want to bring your spouse but your work uses a travel agency to book flights.
The two passengers need to be on the same reservation, so that doesn’t seem possible to me unfortunately.
I’ve been wondering the same thing as well. I think you need to book the revenue fare on the AC site however which puts those of us that travel for business (with a travel agency) at a disadvantage.
Is the Buddy Pass redeemable for Caribbean flights? It says North America doesn’t it?
It’s the definition of North America as contrasted with Central America and the Caribbean. So no, it includes Canada, United States, Mexico, and that’s it.
Sorry if this is naive, but would US Virgin islands count as US?
Nope, 50 states only.
When using the buddy pass, would the eUPS (for both) have to be from the primary travelers account OR could they processed from the “buddy’s” account OR a combination of both ?
Based on my understanding of eUps, they can be applied to the status member and one other traveller on the same reservation. So all three options you’ve described should work.
Hey Ricky, thanks for this summary, very timely and helpful. Given that the buddy pass still requires us to pay the taxes and fees out-of-pocket, do you have any insights on which routes/airports/countries have higher or lower taxes/fees? Or what informs the rates for these taxes/fees? E.g. landing fees, country security taxes, etc. Thanks!
They’re generally pretty manageable. For Canada departures, it’s about $50–100 per direction in economy class, or up to $150 per direction in business class.
Some countries around the world have higher departure taxes (UK, Germany, France, a bunch of countries in Africa, etc.) but that wouldn’t apply to the Buddy Pass here.
Gotcha, thanks Ricky!
Great Article! Thanks.