The provided source material details birthday promotions offered by Harkins Theatres and AMC Theatres, focusing on loyalty program rewards for members. These offers include free popcorn, drink upgrades, and monetary awards for concession purchases, available to customers who sign up for specific membership programs. Information regarding these promotions is derived from news articles and deal aggregator sites, with specific terms and redemption methods varying between the two theater chains.
Harkins Theatres Birthday Offers
Harkins Theatres provides birthday rewards to members of its "My Harkins Awards" loyalty program. The specific nature of the reward appears to vary based on the source of information, though the requirement to sign up prior to one's birthday is consistent.
According to one source, members who sign up for the My Harkins Awards program receive a free medium popcorn voucher. This offer is valid for one use and must be redeemed within 30 days of the member's birthday. To redeem the offer, members must present the voucher through the My Harkins Awards app or provide their associated phone number at the time of purchase. A valid ID may be required to verify the birthday. The offer cannot be combined with other promotions or discounts.
A separate source indicates that members of the My Harkins Awards program receive a "$5 Birthday Treat Award." This award can be used for popcorn, drinks, snacks, and other treats. The source does not specify the redemption window or whether the $5 value is a fixed discount or a credit applied to an account.
In addition to standard birthday rewards, Harkins Theatres celebrated its 80th anniversary with a month of special deals. These deals included free drink upgrades on any size fountain drink (buy a small, get a medium) from September 13 through September 20. During that same period, the chain offered free refills on large and extra-large popcorn.
Furthermore, Harkins Theatres offered a week of free movies during its anniversary celebration. Two alternative titles were shown per theater. Tickets were limited to two per person per show and were available in person at the box office on the day of the showing. Specific locations and times were provided via a linked list. For example, the Chino Hills 18 location showed "The Bourne Legacy" and "Epic," while the Moreno Valley 16 location screened "Oblivion" and "The Croods." Tickets were distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
AMC Theatres Birthday Perks
AMC Theatres offers birthday perks to members of the "AMC Stubs" program. To receive the birthday reward, customers must sign up for the program and provide their birthday information through the app or website.
Once enrolled, the birthday reward is automatically loaded onto the member's account during their birthday month. The specific perk varies by source. One source states the reward is a free large popcorn. Another source claims the perk includes both a free large popcorn and a free large fountain drink.
The free popcorn reward must be used within the member's birthday month and is redeemable at participating AMC Theatres locations. Other conditions and exclusions may apply as per AMC Theatres' terms and conditions.
Loyalty Program Context
The provided material suggests that theater chains use loyalty programs and anniversary celebrations to drive customer engagement and retention. Harkins Theatres, a privately owned, family company, emphasizes customer loyalty through programs such as "Loyalty cups" (offering $1.50 refills) and "Loyalty T-shirts" (which grant free popcorn to wearers). These initiatives, introduced during previous anniversaries, are described as being "amazingly successful" despite impacting the bottom line.
Conclusion
Harkins Theatres and AMC Theatres both offer birthday rewards to loyalty program members. Harkins members may receive a free medium popcorn or a $5 treat award, while AMC Stubs members receive a free large popcorn (and potentially a drink). Both chains require advance sign-up for their respective programs. Harkins has also historically offered extensive free movie screenings and concession upgrades during major anniversary celebrations.