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It pays to be born. Beyond a complimentary dessert at your favorite restaurant, there are plenty of free birthday travel promotions that should be on your radar. Whether it’s extra bonus miles, hotel discounts or even upgrades on long-haul international flights, you’d be surprised how much you could potentially save on your special day.
Getting excited to celebrate? Don’t worry, we already did the hard work. Check out our list of places that offer the best birthday freebies.
Southwest Airlines
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Even though you may not get anything for free when turning a year older, Southwest Airlines loves to celebrate other holidays at 30,000 feet in the air. Travelers have reported receiving free premium drinks when flying on New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, Valentine's Day and other holidays.
Plus, Southwest does celebrate its own birthday on June 18. So make a note and feel free to plan around it during the summer.
Compare Southwest Consumer Credit Cards
| Credit Card | Annual Fee | Intro Bonus | Perks | Learn More |
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$69 |
$400 statement credit + 40,000 pts.Southwest Rapid Rewards Points
Earn a $400 statement credit and 40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 4 months from account opening. Dollar Equivalent: |
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Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card |
$99 |
$400 statement credit + 40,000 pts.Southwest Rapid Rewards Points
Earn a $400 statement credit and 40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 4 months from account opening. Dollar Equivalent: |
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This product is currently not available via Slickdeals. All information about this product was collected by Slickdeals and has not been reviewed by the issuer. |
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$149 |
$400 statement credit + 40,000 pts.Southwest Rapid Rewards Points
Earn a $400 statement credit and 40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 4 months from account opening. Dollar Equivalent: |
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China Airlines
This may not seem like a lot, but a discount is a discount. If you book a flight during your birthday month with China Airlines, you’re eligible to receive 5% off economy tickets and 10% off on business class routes in Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, Guam, Palau, Hong Kong and China.
You just have to sign up for the airlines’ loyalty program to take advantage of the promotion (it’s free to sign up).
Marriott
Marriott
The more you stay at Marriott hotels, the higher your loyalty status will be. In the past, some members have received a free future night for their birthday, though this appears to be paused for now.
There are no guarantees, but it could pay off to indicate your birthday on your account to increase the odds of receiving an offer like this someday. The best part is that the night might count toward the number of stays you have to accrue for a certain loyalty status. To put things in perspective, you only need 10 nights to gain Marriott’s lowest Silver status.
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Kimpton Hotels
Kimpton St Honoré Paris/IHG
Some customers have reported getting birthday surprises from Kimpton Hotels. These could include balloons or dessert placed in their room after giving the property a heads up they were celebrating a birthday. This isn't guaranteed every time, but it doesn't hurt to let the hotel know it's your big day and see if they reward you with something special.
Recommended Travel Credit Cards
| Credit Card | Intro Bonus | Annual Fee | Rewards Rate | Learn More |
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60,000Chase Ultimate Rewards Points
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Dollar Equivalent: $1,380 (60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points * 0.023 base) |
$95 |
1x- 5xPoints
Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more. |
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$400 statement credit + 40,000 pts.Southwest Rapid Rewards Points
Earn a $400 statement credit and 40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 4 months from account opening. Dollar Equivalent: |
$69 |
1x - 2xPoints
Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2X points on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car rental partners. Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming. Earn 1X points on all other purchases. |
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$200Cash Bonus
Earn $200 in cash back after you spend $1500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back. |
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1% - 5%Cashback
Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. Special Travel Offer: Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2026. |
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75,000Citi ThankYou® Points
Limited Time Offer: Earn 75,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $750 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com. Dollar Equivalent: $1,350 (75,000 Citi ThankYou® Points * 0.018 base) |
$95 |
1X-10XPoints
10x on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked through CitiTravel.com 3x -- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases 3x -- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Restaurants 3x -- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Supermarkets 3x -- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Gas and EV Charging Stations 1x -- Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on All Other Purchases |
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Vegas Hotels
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If Vegas is on your birthday itinerary, it’s worth checking if you can get a little something for free as you celebrate another year. For example, the Wynn Las Vegas offers complimentary credit to use at its properties, along with a dinner credit for many of its locations, to those with Platinum or Black Wynn Rewards Tier membership.
The Plaza makes it even easier to score a freebie with its birthday discount, which just requires using the provided promo code when you make a reservation.
The next time you're in Vegas, let the hotel or restaurant know it's your big day, and see if any surprises come your way.
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Alaska Airlines
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Again, it’s not much, but with Alaska Airlines you might be able to save up to 5% off tickets for you and a friend. The promo codes are reportedly unique to each member account and emailed to you around your birthday. It doesn’t hurt to get an already affordable flight for even cheaper.
Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines is also known to offer birthday freebies for travelers, from a host of hot and cold drink options to birthday cake, as a former flight attendant recently detailed on Tiktok.
@geiwosushi Reply to @_xiaotheng_ PART 2: 🍝🥪🍎🍬🍰🍦#fyp #singaporeairlines #tiktoksg ♬ original sound - OMGXIAOQIAN
To score the free cake on your birthday, you’ll want to let the airline know in advance so they can bring it on board, but in general, free drinks and some foods are available most of the time on Singapore Airlines, birthdays included.
Disney
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Leave it to the happiest place on Earth to make your birthday magical. At Disney World and Disneyland, guests receive a free birthday button so the staff can properly greet you as you make your way through the grounds. It’s also an easy way for employees to know when they should give you the series of freebies from the different theme parks.
A few examples include a free pretzel at Disneyland’s Wetzel’s Pretzels with no purchase necessary, or a special offer at the Lego store. However, you have to sign up for the loyalty program beforehand. At Disney World, you might snag complimentary birthday desserts at an array of restaurants or an Icee from Club Cool in Epcot.
Additionally, outside franchises like Starbucks and Earl of Sandwich scattered around both parks sometimes honor their company’s birthday freebies for loyalists. It may only save you a few dollars, but nothing beats a free Frappuccino or Earl’s popular roast beef sandwich.
How I Booked a Trip for Four to Disneyland for Almost Nothing Using Points
Cruises
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If you love the water, you might be able to swing a free cruise on your next birthday. While you’re unlikely to get a free oceanfaring weeklong cruise for free, some companies offer free harbor cruises on your birthday. Captain Cook Cruises, in Sydney, Australia, does, and they also offer a dining discount on birthdays. If you’ll be stateside for your big day, City Cruises in San Diego also offers a similar harbor tour the week of your birthday.
Tell People It's Your Birthday
As seen here, not all birthday promotions are officially advertised, so one of the best ways to score a deal on your big day may be just to ask. If you're flying, dining at a favorite restaurant or visiting a hotel, it could pay to let people know it's your birthday.
Best case scenario, you'll get a free piece of cake or a nice discount. Worst case, someone will wish you happy birthday—and while that won't do much for your bank account, it's always nice to hear.
Make sure you’re always getting the best prices when you travel by setting a Deal Alert. We’ll let you know as soon as there’s a new offer for your favorite airline or hotel.
Slickdeals Money Staff
The Slickdeals Money editorial team is dedicated to helping readers navigate the personal finance space. We’re passionate about educating our readers on the very best financial tools & products on the market today.
