*** This Air Canada Buddy Pass is no longer available. However, we leave this article as an archive.

TheAir Canada Buddy Pass accompanied some welcome offers from Aeroplan credit cards. During 2020, 2021 and early 2022, it was part of several offers and you may have gotten one.

Here are the key points to know about the Air Canada Buddy Pass:

• It’s a buy-one-get-one Pass
• You only pay taxes and third-party charges on the second ticket
• Available for one year before it expires
• Though travel can be booked for a date beyond that year
• Available anywhere Air Canada flies in North America (including Hawaii and Mexico).
• Valid for travel any time for any economy fare, including fares on sale
• Ability to upgrade, depending on status level and fare purchased
• Does not apply to bookings made with Aeroplan points.
• The companion will not earn any Aeroplan points on his or her ticket obtained with the companion pass.

The Air Canada Buddy Pass has been designed for people travelling as a couple or with friends. It’s simple: you only pay the taxes and third-party charges on the second ticket.

If you split the cost, it’s like each of the two travellers got a 50% discount on their flight!

So it’s good to be a couple, have a travel buddy, or you may have to find one within the milesopedia community!

What’s more, the traveler who holds the credit card, such as the Aeroplan^MD* American Express^MD or TD^® Aeroplan^® Visa Infinite* Card, will allow the other traveler to check a bag free of charge too! So you can save even more!

This is one of the many perks reserved for some Aeroplan credit cardholders.

The Air Canada Buddy Pass is perfect for families. For example, Audrey and I have two children.

We can both apply for the CIBC Visa Infinite Card.

We each earn an Air Canada Buddy Pass in our respective Aeroplan account.

When we’re ready to book our trip, Audrey will use her Air Canada Buddy Pass for our daughter. And I’ll use mine for our son!

So, our two children will travel almost for free thanks to the Air Canada Buddy Pass!

As with points and miles redemption, the value you get from the Air Canada Buddy Pass will depend on YOUR use. The example coming from Air Canada certainly leaves one wondering:

In this example, Air Canada has found a savings of over $1,300 with the Air Canada Buddy Pass.

When searching directly for the same flights on the Air Canada website, as of November 10, 2020, to get that same fare in Economy Class, it is necessary to choose the Comfort Fare, coming with maximum flexibility. This naturally increases the bill! Making the Air Canada Buddy Pass even more attractive.

Of course, choosing a Comfort fare can give you the hope of getting an upgrade with your Aeroplan Status or using eUpgrade credits.

On milesopedia.com, however, we prefer to value benefits closer to reality. This is true both for Aeroplan points and Air Canada Buddy Pass valuations!

Here are a few examples of how the Air Canada Buddy Pass can be used for:

• 2 passengers (with one Air Canada Buddy Pass)
• 4 passengers (with two Air Canada Buddy Passes for a family use as explained above)

We choose the same travel dates as Air Canada for a flight between Toronto and Honolulu (December 20 to 27, 2020). But by selecting a fare that the majority of our readers would have chosen!

For example, this flight at the Standard Fare: $597.46 (including $89.48 of taxes).

In this case, the Air Canada Buddy Pass has a $507.98 value!

Another example of a flight between Montreal and Victoria (May 14 to May 21, 2021) at the Standard fare:$ 797.78 (including $ 165.78 in taxes).

In this case, the Air Canada Buddy Pass has a $ 632 value!

Another example with a flight between Quebec City and San Francisco (May 14 to May 21, 2021) at the Standard fare: $ 472.87 (including $ 110.88 in taxes).

In this case, the Air Canada Buddy Pass has a $ 362 value!

This is a question that comes up frequently in the milesopedia community. To find the buddy pass in your account, go to the“Benefits” section:

You will be able to click on your Buddy Pass to see its expiry date:

To use a buddy pass on a booking, you will need to search for an eligible itinerary in North America for 2 people. At the top of the screen, Air Canada will ask you to apply your buddy pass to this reservation at the top of the screen.

You will have to be strategic in your use of the buddy pass: the more expensive the ticket, the more advantageous it is to use a buddy pass. This is the case, for example, with this itinerary to Hawaii during the Christmas season.

With the buddy pass, this itinerary costs $1,642 for 2 people (or $821 per person):

Without the buddy pass, this itinerary costs $3,084 for 2 people (or $1,542 per person):

In this example, the buddy pass provides a savings of $1,442.

Another example is this direct flight between Montreal and San Francisco.

With the buddy pass, this itinerary costs $687 for 2 people (or $343 per person).

Without the buddy pass, this itinerary costs $1,200 for 2 people (or $600 per person):

In this example, the buddy pass provides a savings of $513.

*** This Air Canada Buddy Pass is no longer available. However, we leave this article as an archive.

In our examples close to what you would book, the Air Canada Buddy Pass saves you money:

• between $362 and $1,442 for two passengers
• between $724 and $2,884 for four passengers

Of course, it could be even more than that, depending on the fare and the destination. But rarely less!

The Air Canada Buddy Pass is therefore a great advantage offered by various credit cards such as the Aeroplan^MD* American Express^MD Card or the TD^® Aeroplan^® Visa Infinite* Card (the latter being free for the first year via this promotion)!