Birthday Rewards at Airport and Campus Restaurants: Do the Same Offers Apply?

Often, no. At airports and on college campuses, many restaurants are licensed locations. That means a contractor runs the store under the brand's name.

These stores often don't accept the app birthday rewards you get at a regular restaurant of the same chain. The menu, logo and packaging may look the same, but the rewards program may not work there. Chick-fil-A, Starbucks and TOGO'S all describe some limit of this kind in their own rules.

It helps to know which stores accept rewards before your birthday reward runs out.

Verification note: Program terms and availability can change. This page was checked against linked sources on September 17, 2026.

Why Airport and Campus Stores Handle Rewards Differently

Big chains don't run every store with their name on it. Chick-fil-A says its licensed locations are run by third-party food-service contractors, not by its franchise owners. Chick-fil-A's support page on licensee locations says guests can't earn points or redeem rewards through the Chick-fil-A App at those stores.

Airports, universities, hospitals and office buildings often choose this setup. A food-service company runs the store and sells the brand's menu. The loyalty program is separate from the menu, so it doesn't always come along.

As a result, the same order can earn a reward at a restaurant near campus but not at the student union.

How Chick-fil-A, Starbucks and TOGO'S Handle Birthday Rewards

• *Chick-fil-A.** Members at every tier get a birthday reward once they save a birthday in their account. Chick-fil-A's redemption guide says rewards work at participating restaurants. They don't work at Chick-fil-A Express or licensed locations, including airports, college campuses, office complexes and hospitals. Because every tier gets the birthday reward, this limit applies to every member.
• *Starbucks.** The Starbucks Rewards Terms of Use say Green Level members get one free handcrafted drink, food item or bottled drink on their birthday. The reward works only at participating Starbucks stores. Licensed Starbucks stores, such as those in airports, hotels and grocery stores, may not accept reward redemptions or give Stars.
• *TOGO'S.** The TOGO'S Rewards Terms & Conditions list restaurants in stadiums, airports, hospitals, hotels, college campuses, gas stations and military bases as possible non-participating locations. The TOGO'S birthday reward is a credit of up to $10 toward a sandwich, wrap or salad.

How to Check a Specific Location

Each store decides whether it takes part. Starbucks and TOGO'S say a store "may not" accept rewards or refer to "participating locations," but they don't list every store that is excluded. The only way to know about a particular airport or campus store is to check before you order.

• Open the brand's app and see whether the store can be picked for mobile ordering with a reward.
• In the Starbucks store locator, use the "Redeem Rewards" filter to find stores that accept rewards.
• Ask the cashier whether the store accepts app rewards before you pay.
• Treat a store inside an airport terminal, hospital, stadium or campus building as licensed until you confirm otherwise.

Timing Your Birthday Reward Around Travel or the School Term

Your time window matters if your birthday falls on a travel day or during the semester. Starbucks' terms give Reserve Level members 30 days from their birthday to use the reward. That leaves time to find a store that accepts it.

If your reward is good only for a short time, plan ahead so you're near a regular store while it's still valid. Chick-fil-A's customer support points to the simplest approach: use your birthday reward at a regular franchise or company-run restaurant. For a student, that could be a store just off campus.

For a traveler, it could be a store near home or near the hotel instead of the terminal.

What a Licensed Store Can Still Offer

At a licensed store, you can usually still buy from the brand's menu. The difference is the loyalty program. Chick-fil-A says you can't earn points at its licensed locations, and Starbucks says licensed stores may not give Stars.

If you buy something there, it may not count toward your next reward. If collecting points matters to you, save regular purchases for stores that take part. Treat a meal at the airport or on campus as a plain cash purchase.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Chick-fil-A Express accept Chick-fil-A One rewards?

No. Chick-fil-A's customer support lists Chick-fil-A Express as a place where rewards can't be redeemed.

What can I get with the TOGO'S birthday reward?

According to the TOGO'S rewards terms, it's a credit of up to $10 toward a sandwich, wrap or salad at participating locations.

Can I earn Starbucks Stars at an airport store?

Maybe not. Starbucks licensed stores, including airport stores, may not give Stars. Use the locator's "Redeem Rewards" filter to find a store that does.