12 month status extension for Gold card holders rolling out - Silver awaiting info
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: YHZ
Posts: 281
12 month status extension for Gold card holders rolling out - Silver awaiting info
Hello all,
I am in that group of Gold members whose status was extended to May 23/24. At the time this was done, many other major airlines extended their members for an entire year. Does anyone know if it's possible that Aegean will extend again to make it one year?
I am in that group of Gold members whose status was extended to May 23/24. At the time this was done, many other major airlines extended their members for an entire year. Does anyone know if it's possible that Aegean will extend again to make it one year?
#2
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Heraklion, Greece
Posts: 7,557
Everything is possible this year, but don't necessarily count on that!
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: YHZ
Posts: 281
#4
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: VIE
Programs: QR Privilege Club (Gold), Aegean M+B (Gold), Hilton Honors Gold, Mariott Bonvoy Gold Elite
Posts: 73
I was thinking the same these days. With lockdowns in place in some countries in Europe, and a high level of uncertainty as to what happens next, it's next to impossible to plan a status run anytime soon.
I'm "in".
I'm "in".
#7
Community Director
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Norwich, UK
Programs: A3*G, BA Gold, BD Gold (in memoriam), IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 8,448
Honestly, I don't think anything we do as individuals or collectively will move A3 on a general level. They will want to have a certain number of Golds and Silvers to generate loyalty both to A3 and *A generally. A FFP is a profit centre for every airline, even if not flying the 'host' carrier, so they will try to maintain active members.
They've already taken the first step by extending for 6 months and reducing the status miles required. They increased the number of purchasable status miles. They then offered double miles during a period when travel within Europe was broadly possible. If that's enough to bring their required numbers then likely that'll be it. If it isn't then they'll come up with something else. That could be one of several things - a further six months extension and re-start everyone from November again. A further reduction in the status miles requirement. A relaxation of the number of A3 flights needed.
In my case I had SK flights to the US which would have requalified me back in May. Even without that I also had enough booked A3 flights to re-qualify at the lower tier mile level, coupled with the double miles. The SK flights were obviously canned. Two days before I was due to fly to SKG they closed the airport and so those went as well.
Right now I have another trip to ATH booked for March (not on A3), with some internal flights when I'm there to push me over the line. If Europe is still not open, or the UK still requires self-isolation on return from Greece, then I will have to drop those trips as well.
At that point I'd probably write to A3 pointing out that I would have re-qualified many times over and ask if there was some discretion on an individual basis. I'd also think that if it was still essentially impossible for me to re-qualify then A3 would have a numbers problem again and would be looking at it more broadly.
They've already taken the first step by extending for 6 months and reducing the status miles required. They increased the number of purchasable status miles. They then offered double miles during a period when travel within Europe was broadly possible. If that's enough to bring their required numbers then likely that'll be it. If it isn't then they'll come up with something else. That could be one of several things - a further six months extension and re-start everyone from November again. A further reduction in the status miles requirement. A relaxation of the number of A3 flights needed.
In my case I had SK flights to the US which would have requalified me back in May. Even without that I also had enough booked A3 flights to re-qualify at the lower tier mile level, coupled with the double miles. The SK flights were obviously canned. Two days before I was due to fly to SKG they closed the airport and so those went as well.
Right now I have another trip to ATH booked for March (not on A3), with some internal flights when I'm there to push me over the line. If Europe is still not open, or the UK still requires self-isolation on return from Greece, then I will have to drop those trips as well.
At that point I'd probably write to A3 pointing out that I would have re-qualified many times over and ask if there was some discretion on an individual basis. I'd also think that if it was still essentially impossible for me to re-qualify then A3 would have a numbers problem again and would be looking at it more broadly.
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Netherlands
Programs: KL Platinum; A3 Gold
Posts: 28,547
"Aegean, regardless of whether you extend my status by another 6 months or not, I won't be doing any more Star Alliance flying until after May" doesn't exactly sound like you are holding all the cards in that negotiation!
#10
Join Date: Jun 2016
Programs: aegean gold , klm explorer
Posts: 502
I bought the remaining tier milles when they went on sale. I had a bunch more flights, so that was a facepalm moment.
Then the lockdown went in, got vouchers for everything and I turned out alright.
I did a round-trip athens, jtr-ath-bru and dus-skg-ath-ams this year. I could fly to Stockholm on sas plus flight, but just buying the milles seems easier at this point.
Then the lockdown went in, got vouchers for everything and I turned out alright.
I did a round-trip athens, jtr-ath-bru and dus-skg-ath-ams this year. I could fly to Stockholm on sas plus flight, but just buying the milles seems easier at this point.
#11
#15
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: EWR/PHL/JFK
Programs: A3*G, AS MVPG, UA, AA
Posts: 592