Following a year of little travel, most airlines have taken the decision to extend travellers’ loyalty benefits and statuses so that they won’t be penalised or downgraded to a lower tier.
Here’s a round-up of some of these extensions:
- Air France KLM
In light of COVID-19, Air France KLM announced measures for Flying Blue members. All Explorer members’ miles will not expire until the end of 2021, the levels of all Elite members will be extended for 12 months, while miles and experience points are doubled for all flights up to December 31, 2020.
- British Airways
British Airways has decreased the number of tier points needed by British Airways Executive Club members by 25% and has done the same for upgrade thresholds too, making that next tier more achievable. The lower tier qualification thresholds are Bronze: 225 tier points or 18 eligible flights, Silver: 450 tier points or 37 eligible flights and Gold: 1 125 tier points.
- Cathay Pacific
In April last year, Cathay Pacific announced that it would renew all Marco Polo Club memberships that expire between May 2020 and April 2021 – and reissue all unused mid-tier benefits that expire during the same time period – for another 12 months. This will be extended through 2021 so that all memberships and unused mid-tier benefits expiring in 2021 will be renewed or reissued.
- Delta Air Lines
Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members will be able to maintain their current status through 2021. All Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) from 2020 are also being rolled over to 2021 to qualify for 2022 Medallion Status.
Six-month extensions are also given to Delta Sky Club Individual and Executive memberships as well as to Delta SkyMiles American Express Card Members, with expiry dates from March 1, 2020 onwards
- Emirates
Emirates Skywards Silver, Gold and Platinum members have had their tier review dates extended to enable an additional 12 months at their current status. The loyalty programme has also extended the validity of any Skywards Miles due to expire from April 2020 until March 31 2021.
- Etihad
Etihad has been giving Etihad Guest members monthly bonus tier miles to ensure their statuses are not downgraded and has also reduced the tier requirements. Expired miles have also been reinstated, transferring to friends and family enabled and the GuestSeat change fee was removed.
The loyalty programme also relaxed its mileage expiration policy so that miles only expire after 18 months of inactivity and can be kept active by buying, earning, redeeming, or transferring miles.
- Lufthansa Group
Lufthansa Group has announced that guests on a Miles & More frequent flyer level valid until February 2021 will automatically get an extension of the same level by one year until February 2022 (ie the level will be preserved even if the customer has not earned enough miles during the year).
In addition, HON Circle Miles earned in 2019 will be re-credited to guests in early 2021.
- Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways announced in January that it would extend Qatar Airways Privilege Club members’ tier status until December 31, 2021. This applies to Silver, Gold and Platinum members whose tier is due to end this year and who have not earned enough Qpoints to retain it.
- SAA
SAA has extended all Voyager tier statuses till December 31, 2021.
- Virgin Atlantic
Early in 2020, Virgin Atlantic extended Flying Club statuses by six months, and then by a further six months later in the year, giving an extra year to build up tier points and to retain or earn their status. As of September last year, passengers have also been able to earn tier points on every flight, including redemptions.
