Written on 27^th April 2020

Traveller loyalty programmes: Which airlines and hotels will extend your status? 

There are so many questions right now and not many answers. We don’t know when we will be able to travel freely again, or what that will look like when we do. So rather than ponder and speculate, we’re bringing you the facts that we can on issues you’re asking about.  

One question our Travel Executives and Account Management team are getting asked is around loyalty schemes and frequent flyer programmes. You may have gone from a frequent flyer to an infrequent flyer overnight, but that doesn't mean that your status has done the same.  

Below are the details on our main partner airlines and hotels and the range of options they are giving to extend the privileges you’ve built up.  

Airlines 

American Airlines 

American Airlines are extending the elite status of their AAdvantage members as follows: 

• Extending elite status for AAdvantage members until Jan. 31, 2022.  
• Reducing elite status qualifications for 2020.  
• Extending Admirals Club® memberships purchased from American for 6 months. 
• Introducing up to $400 special credits for future travel on American Airlines Vacations packages for elite members. 
• Every dollar spent on an eligible AAdvantage co-branded credit card through the end of 2020 will count for one mile toward Million Miler℠ status.  
• Award reinstatement fees waived for travel through September 2020. 

More information, along with T&Cs can be found on the American Airlines site 

British Airways 

BA have taken the decision to lower Tier Point thresholds by 30% for all Members due for Tier upgrade or renewal in April, May and June. The lower Tier qualification thresholds are:  

• Bronze: 210 Tier Points  
• Silver: 420 Tier Points  
• Gold: 1050 Tier Points 

In addition, a six month extension is being applied to any Gold Upgrade Vouchers, Companion Vouchers and Travel Together Tickets earned via a BA credit card. 

You can find more information at britishairways.com 

Cathay Pacific 

Cathay Pacific are adding 12 months to the status of Marco Polo Silver, Gold and Diamond members, while 'mid-tier benefits' such as first and business class lounge passes expiring between May and December 2020 will be extended for an additional 12 months.  

Delta 

Medallion Members will have their status extended an additional year, to 31st January 2022. In addition to this all Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) from 2020 will roll over into 2021. 

Delta have also said that they will be extending other program benefits, including select Delta SkyMiles® American Express Card benefits and Delta Sky Club Memberships. More information on this is available on the Delta website 

Emirates  

Emirates Skywards Silver, Gold and Platinum members with a tier review date prior to 1 March 2021 will retain their current status for a further 12 months with just 80% of the usual travel requirements. Any members who had a tier status review between March 2020 and September 2020 who are unable to retain their existing tier, will have their existing status extended until 31 December 2020. 

They have also extended Skywards Miles validity until 31st December 2020. These points can be redeemed up to 11 months in advance for an extensive range of rewards, including flight tickets on Emirates and partner airlines, flight upgrades, hotel stays, and money-can’t-buy experiences. 

More information on Emirate’s response can be found on their website 

Qantas 

Qantas have extended their frequent flyer status for a full year. If eligible, your Frequent Flyer status will automatically be extended for 12 months. You will receive a confirmation email sent to your preferred email address on your Qantas Frequent Flyer account. You will also then be able to view your new status expiry date on the digital membership card in the Qantas App. 

They are also waiving the need for members to clock up four Qantas flights in order to retain their status.  

More information can be found on qantas.com 

Singapore 

Singapore Airlines are renewing PPS Club and Solitaire PPS Club membership for one membership year, as well as extending PPS Rewards that will be expiring between July and December 2020 to be valid till 31 March 2021. 

Further information and details can be found at singaporeair.com 

United 

United are changing several policies to extend and enhance benefits for their MilegePlus members. This includes: 

• Extending 2020 Premier status to 31st January 2022 
• Reducing thresholds for Premier qualification for the 2021 status year by 50% for each status level, to make reaching an even higher tier easier. 
• Doubling PQP for United Explorer cards and quadrupling PQP for the United Club cards. 
• Increasing the ability to upgrade by extending PlusPoints expiration dates by six months and expanding Skip Waitlist or 1K® and Platinum members. 
• Extending all annual membership and subscription benefits by six months. 
• Giving all electronic travel certificates 24 months to be used 
• Removing some redeposit fees for the rest of the year 

More information, along with terms and conditions, can be found on the United website 

Virgin Atlantic 

Virgin Atlantic are extending the status of all Silver and Gold Flying Club members by 6 months. This means you will now have 18 months to earn the tier points you need to maintain your current status or achieve new status. 

They are also extending the validity of any current companion, upgrade or Clubhouse vouchers by six months. Vouchers will not be reissued, however will still be able to be used.  

Further details are on the Virgin Atlantic website 

Virgin Australia 

Following the recent announcements that Virgin Australia have appointed voluntary administrators, Velocity Frequent Flyer, while owned by the Group, is a separate company and is not in administration. 

All elite members will be offered 12 months extension on their existing status. This is in addition to the airline's earlier offer to provide a monthly boost of status credits over at least a three-month period. 

You can find out more about the Velocity programme on their website 

 

Hotels 

Accor 

Existing Accor ALL status holders will receive a 50% credit of the elite nights and status points needed to maintain their current tier. This is silver to Diamond tiers and will be applicable throughout 2020. 

Status not directly earned through staying with Accor – such as the complimentary Silver that comes with Accor Plus and the gratis Gold that comes with the Ibis Business Card – will still receive the bonuses. 

Find out more at all.accor.com 

Hilton 

Hilton have paused the expiration of all points scheduled to expire between now and May 31, 2020. 

• 2019 Status Extension. All members whose 2019 status was scheduled to be downgraded on March 31, 2020—whether it’s Diamond, Gold or Silver—will automatically receive an extension through March 31, 2021. 
• 2020 Status Extension. Your 2020 member status will be extended through March 31, 2022. This means members will continue to enjoy all the Diamond, Gold or Silver benefits they have access to today for the next 24 months. 
• Points Extension. The expiration of points will be paused on all Points scheduled to expire between now and December 31, 2020. 
• Weekend Night Rewards Earned on Eligible Hilton Credit Cards. Hilton have extended the expiration date of all unexpired Weekend Night Rewards as of March 11, 2020, and all new ones issued until August 30, 2020, through the end of next summer (August 31, 2021).  

There is more information on the updates as they are announced at Hilton.com 

Hyatt 

Hyatt are extending their World of Hyatt benefits globally. Some of the changes are: 

• They are suspending the forfeiture of points through December 31, 2020. 
• Status and benefits will be extended for all existing elite members without having to re-qualify. 
• Free-night redemptions will continue to be at standard rates for the rest of this year, as the introduction of on-peak / off-peak redemption has been postponed. 

Further information on the group’s Coronavirus policies can be found on the Hyatt website 

IHG 

IHG have extended their elite status for the whole of 2021, with benefits carrying on until January 2022 when the annual status reset happens. 

Top tier Spire Elite members will automatically receive an additional ‘choice’ benefit of either 25,000 free IHG Rewards Club points or to gift Platinum Elite status to a friend. 

Please note that this is not active now.  It will take IHG a few weeks to extend memberships and, for Spire Elite members, attach the new ‘choice’ benefit to your account 

Members will be contacted with more information, or you can visit the IHG website to find out more. 

 Marriott 

Marriott have paused points expiration until August 31, 2020 allowing Members ample time to redeem their points.  

They have also extended the expiration of suite night awards (SNAs) with an expiration date of December 31, 2020 by one year to December 31, 2021.  

Members who currently have an active Free Night Award (FNA) expiring in 2020 as part of their credit card benefit, annual choice benefit, promotions or travel package will be able to use it through January 31, 2021.  

You can keep updated on all loyalty program changes through the Marriott Bonvoy member benefits website. 

 

Corporate Schemes 

PartnerPlusBenefit  

Lufthansa’s corporate bonus programme has suspended the expiry of Benefit Points until further notice. 

They have included an update on their website 

BA On Business  

BA have protected businesses On Business tier status for the rest of the year. If you do not spend the amount needed by the end of 2020 to remain in your current tier, your status will be maintained. 

Any unused On Business reward flights can be claimed as a voucher to the value of your original booking, which can be put towards a future On Business reward flight booking. Refund options are also available. 

All the terms and conditions, as well as additional links can be found on their dedicated site 

There are currently no changes to Bluebiz, SkyBonus and Business Extra schemes. 

 

 

This is a continually evolving situation and we’re working closely with our partners to bring you any changes and amends as soon as they are announced.  

For other airlines and hotel chains, please refer to their individual websites or speak to your Travel Executive who can give you the latest industry updates.