Last edit by: Gajan
URL to information: https://www.flyingblue.nl/en/news/coronavirus-updates
Update 16/4/20
Update 15/4/20
From the Q&A that will be shared later today:
2. Will I keep my current level in my next qualification period?
In case your qualification period ends between March 2020 and February 2021, you will keep your current level even if you don’t reach the XP objective. Some examples:
A Silver member with a qualification period ending in April 2020:
· If you have gained 120 XP, your counter will be offset by 100 XP to maintain Silver and you keep a surplus of 20 XP.
· If you have gained 65 XP, we will credit the missing 35 XP and then offset your counter with 100 XP to reset your XP counter to 0 and maintain your Silver level.
A Gold member with a qualification period ending in April 2020:
· If you have gained 220 XP, your counter will be offset by 180 XP to maintain Gold and you keep a surplus of 40 XP.
· If you have gained 120 XP, we will credit the missing 60 XP and then offset your counter with 180 XP to reset your XP counter to 0 and maintain your Gold level.
A Platinum member with a qualification period ending in April 2020:
· If you have gained 450 XP, your counter will be offset by 300 XP to maintain Platinum and you keep a surplus of 150 XP.
· If you have gained 250 XP, we will credit the missing 50 XP and then offset your counter with 300 XP to reset your XP counter to 0 and maintain your Platinum level.
3. When will I see this XP measure in my online account?
Not until the first day in your new qualification period will you see in your online account that your current level is maintained. In your activity overview, you’ll find either ‘XP offered by Flying Blue’ with the number of XP that are credited to reach the XP objective, or ‘Counter offset’ with the XP objective deducted from your counter. A new card will be sent to you before your current card expires. The validity date of your digital card will be updated at the end of your current qualification period.
4. I want to upgrade to a higher level. Will I also be compensated?
Our measures enable Elite members to maintain their current level. It is not applicable for members who wish to upgrade to a higher level.
5. Will I keep my current XP balance in my next qualification period?
We will automatically offset the number of XP needed to maintain or upgrade a level. Any surplus XP will remain on your account. Some examples:
A Silver member with a qualification period ending in April 2020:
· If you have gained 120 XP, your counter will be offset by 100 XP to maintain Silver and you keep a surplus of 20 XP.
· If you have gained 65 XP, we will credit the missing 35 XP and then offset your counter with 100 XP to reset your XP counter to 0 and maintain your Silver level.
A Gold member with a qualification period ending in April 2020:
· If you have gained 220 XP, your counter will be offset by 180 XP to maintain Gold and you keep a surplus of 40 XP.
· If you have gained 120 XP, we will credit the missing 60 XP and then offset your counter with 180 XP to reset your XP counter to 0 and maintain your Gold level.
A Platinum member with a qualification period ending in April 2020:
· If you have gained 450 XP, your counter will be offset by 300 XP to maintain Platinum and you keep a surplus of 150 XP.
· If you have gained 250 XP, we will credit the missing 50 XP and then offset your counter with 300 XP to reset your XP counter to 0 and maintain your Platinum level.
6. What will happen to my years counting towards Platinum for life?
If you keep your current level during your next qualification period based on our special measures that membership year will count towards the 10 consecutive years needed to qualify for Platinum for life. For example:
· You have been a Platinum member for 9 consecutive years, and your current qualification period will end on 31 December 2020. Because of our measures, you will be maintained and reach 10 consecutive years of Platinum. On 1 January 2021, your new qualificaiton period starts and on 1 April 2021, we will change your level to Platinum for life.
· You have been a Platinum member for 7 consecutive years, and your current qualification period will end on 31 December 2020. Because of our measures, you will be maintained. On 1 January 2021, your 8th consecutive year of Platinum will start.
Update 16/4/20
At this stage measurements which have been taken are for status maintain only. We are well aware that customers can also be impacted by less chance for an upgrade and/or reduced opportunities to carry over XP to the next year. We are constantly monitoring the evolution of the situation and are adjusting our policies accordingly. Should there be additional measures to compensate those impacts too, we will let our Flying Blue members know as soon as possible.
In challenging times like today, travelling has become more difficult due to reasons beyond your control. In these trying times, we want to remove any uncertainty you may have about your Flying Blue Elite level.
We have put the following actions in place:
- We will maintain all Flying Blue Elite members with a qualification period ending between March 2020 and February 2021 for another 12 months.
- We will prevent all Miles from expiring between now and the end of 2020 for all our Explorer members.
We have put the following actions in place:
- We will maintain all Flying Blue Elite members with a qualification period ending between March 2020 and February 2021 for another 12 months.
- We will prevent all Miles from expiring between now and the end of 2020 for all our Explorer members.
2. Will I keep my current level in my next qualification period?
In case your qualification period ends between March 2020 and February 2021, you will keep your current level even if you don’t reach the XP objective. Some examples:
A Silver member with a qualification period ending in April 2020:
· If you have gained 120 XP, your counter will be offset by 100 XP to maintain Silver and you keep a surplus of 20 XP.
· If you have gained 65 XP, we will credit the missing 35 XP and then offset your counter with 100 XP to reset your XP counter to 0 and maintain your Silver level.
A Gold member with a qualification period ending in April 2020:
· If you have gained 220 XP, your counter will be offset by 180 XP to maintain Gold and you keep a surplus of 40 XP.
· If you have gained 120 XP, we will credit the missing 60 XP and then offset your counter with 180 XP to reset your XP counter to 0 and maintain your Gold level.
A Platinum member with a qualification period ending in April 2020:
· If you have gained 450 XP, your counter will be offset by 300 XP to maintain Platinum and you keep a surplus of 150 XP.
· If you have gained 250 XP, we will credit the missing 50 XP and then offset your counter with 300 XP to reset your XP counter to 0 and maintain your Platinum level.
3. When will I see this XP measure in my online account?
Not until the first day in your new qualification period will you see in your online account that your current level is maintained. In your activity overview, you’ll find either ‘XP offered by Flying Blue’ with the number of XP that are credited to reach the XP objective, or ‘Counter offset’ with the XP objective deducted from your counter. A new card will be sent to you before your current card expires. The validity date of your digital card will be updated at the end of your current qualification period.
4. I want to upgrade to a higher level. Will I also be compensated?
Our measures enable Elite members to maintain their current level. It is not applicable for members who wish to upgrade to a higher level.
5. Will I keep my current XP balance in my next qualification period?
We will automatically offset the number of XP needed to maintain or upgrade a level. Any surplus XP will remain on your account. Some examples:
A Silver member with a qualification period ending in April 2020:
· If you have gained 120 XP, your counter will be offset by 100 XP to maintain Silver and you keep a surplus of 20 XP.
· If you have gained 65 XP, we will credit the missing 35 XP and then offset your counter with 100 XP to reset your XP counter to 0 and maintain your Silver level.
A Gold member with a qualification period ending in April 2020:
· If you have gained 220 XP, your counter will be offset by 180 XP to maintain Gold and you keep a surplus of 40 XP.
· If you have gained 120 XP, we will credit the missing 60 XP and then offset your counter with 180 XP to reset your XP counter to 0 and maintain your Gold level.
A Platinum member with a qualification period ending in April 2020:
· If you have gained 450 XP, your counter will be offset by 300 XP to maintain Platinum and you keep a surplus of 150 XP.
· If you have gained 250 XP, we will credit the missing 50 XP and then offset your counter with 300 XP to reset your XP counter to 0 and maintain your Platinum level.
6. What will happen to my years counting towards Platinum for life?
If you keep your current level during your next qualification period based on our special measures that membership year will count towards the 10 consecutive years needed to qualify for Platinum for life. For example:
· You have been a Platinum member for 9 consecutive years, and your current qualification period will end on 31 December 2020. Because of our measures, you will be maintained and reach 10 consecutive years of Platinum. On 1 January 2021, your new qualificaiton period starts and on 1 April 2021, we will change your level to Platinum for life.
· You have been a Platinum member for 7 consecutive years, and your current qualification period will end on 31 December 2020. Because of our measures, you will be maintained. On 1 January 2021, your 8th consecutive year of Platinum will start.
COVID-19: status extensions confirmed
#391
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 158
Hi all. I upgraded from silver to gold in March this year (literally one of the last few fights before shut down), so my expiry date is March 2021 and I'm just missing out from the extension program. I am pretty bummed out because I'm not sure I'll be able to renew. Already 3 trips cancelled this year so far... I only have a BUD-JFK left for February 21 - not even sure it's going to happen and also that's not going to be 180 - I'd have hit plat if I hadn't had to cancel everything ). Not only that, also I have got gold benefits for pretty much nothing since I'm not flying Has anyone with a similar expiry date as mine tried to contact FB to see if they would consider extend them given the circumstances?
This feels like the cherry on top of this year already sucking!
Congrats you've just been upgraded to benefits you won't be able to use this year!
Gajan, are you able to have FB change my expiry date from March 2021 to February 2021 per chance
This feels like the cherry on top of this year already sucking!
Congrats you've just been upgraded to benefits you won't be able to use this year!
Gajan, are you able to have FB change my expiry date from March 2021 to February 2021 per chance
#392
Moderator: Flying Blue (Air France & KLM)
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Rotterdam, NL
Programs: Flying Blue (AF/KL)
Posts: 4,711
#393
Join Date: Jun 2020
Programs: FlyingBlue
Posts: 2,416
I actually tried that, by email first, then on the phone on the dedicated Plat line after re-scheduling a bunch of canceled flight.
The answer was twice the same "tough luck, suck it up, you should thank us for extending memberships". When I pointed to the (otherwise nice and very competent) person I had on the phone that subtracting full XP amount at the normal date is not an extension, and does not even represent the slightest commercial gesture, she just mumbled in agreement and suggested to "fly more later in late 2020 to catch up with the canceled flights since march".
In other words, they are fully aware of the issue and decided not to help FF who could maintain their status by flying a lot in 2019.
Don't brace yourself for any help in 2021 either -- I know I'm not.
Cheers,
Maalloc
#394
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 166
Renew status end of March 2021.
Also curious, what will happen for people who will have an statut with an expiry date end of March 2021 or beginning April 2021. In 2019 / 2020, there were not really impacted by the COVID. In 2020 / 2021, they lost at least 3 months. I think it will be difficult for them to renew the statut.
#395
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Netherlands
Programs: KL Platinum; A3 Gold
Posts: 28,679
(The OP claims that they won't get the first year for free due to having another Amex. That wasn't my experience a few years back; either way, the fee for one year, if it must be paid, is still a much cheaper way of getting the 30XP that seem to be so desired).
As long as the existing Amex isn't already an AFKL Flying Blue Amex - I don't think you could order more than one and collect the XPs on two different cards. (Delighted to be proved wrong on that one, though!)
#396
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: France
Posts: 73
Also curious, what will happen for people who will have an statut with an expiry date end of March 2021 or beginning April 2021. In 2019 / 2020, there were not really impacted by the COVID. In 2020 / 2021, they lost at least 3 months. I think it will be difficult for them to renew the statut.
If you're asking about people whose qualification period ends in March or April 2021, there are two situations: (1) their previous qualification period ended in March or April 2020, and thus they have already had the chance to benefit from the current coronavirus measures (not only status extensions, but also the 25% lower XP requirements announced in mid-March specifically for this group of FB members, unless they took this back when they made the more general announcement for everyone in mid-April?), or (2) they leveled-up in March or April 2020, and thus fall into the "don't need any help" category that FB has decided to do nothing for, so far.
I upgraded from silver to gold in March this year (literally one of the last few fights before shut down), so my expiry date is March 2021 and I'm just missing out from the extension program. […] Has anyone with a similar expiry date as mine tried to contact FB to see if they would consider extend them given the circumstances?
#397
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Somewhere between BHX and HUY
Programs: Flying Blue Plat, Eurobonus Silver, ALL Gold
Posts: 1,671
The idea behind the current measures is that everyone in the program has exactly one chance to benefit. Your chance would have been to reach the end of your original qualification period, whenever that was, and get a free extension of your Silver status. Obviously, this would have been useless to you, since you had enough XP not only to maintain Silver, but even to reach Gold. Like I said above, FB is currently not planning to do anything for members like you. Feel free to contact them, but you won't be telling them anything they don't already know perfectly well.
If I had stayed silver my qualification period would have been Oct-Oct. So I would have had at least until October to get some flying in, and more chance to qualify gold for next year. So yeah, even that would have been better imho.
So yeah I appreciate that "I had a chance to renew silver which already happened", but it doesn't make me feel much better at all Will try get in touch with FB see if they can put themselves in my shoes!
#398
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Somewhere between BHX and HUY
Programs: Flying Blue Plat, Eurobonus Silver, ALL Gold
Posts: 1,671
Have contacted them via their webform now, see where it goes. There are max 500 characters so I'm not sure If I could make the case compelling enough, but will report when I hear back!
#399
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Montreux CH
Programs: FB Platinum, M&M FTL, BA Blue
Posts: 11,602
Would be best if they were able to just gently lower the requalification requirements for next year. If we needed a few less XPs to get through 2021 that would help greatly.
Just to be sure I am on the right side of the coin and have not missed anything, my status needs to be renewed by end October 2020. So far I have 212XPs but as I understand it, the missing 88 will be credited/waived when we reach that time, assuming I don't complete any flights before then. Is that how it stands or have I missed any changed?
Just to be sure I am on the right side of the coin and have not missed anything, my status needs to be renewed by end October 2020. So far I have 212XPs but as I understand it, the missing 88 will be credited/waived when we reach that time, assuming I don't complete any flights before then. Is that how it stands or have I missed any changed?
#400
Join Date: Jun 2020
Programs: FlyingBlue
Posts: 2,416
Would be best if they were able to just gently lower the requalification requirements for next year. If we needed a few less XPs to get through 2021 that would help greatly.
Just to be sure I am on the right side of the coin and have not missed anything, my status needs to be renewed by end October 2020. So far I have 212XPs but as I understand it, the missing 88 will be credited/waived when we reach that time, assuming I don't complete any flights before then. Is that how it stands or have I missed any changed?
Just to be sure I am on the right side of the coin and have not missed anything, my status needs to be renewed by end October 2020. So far I have 212XPs but as I understand it, the missing 88 will be credited/waived when we reach that time, assuming I don't complete any flights before then. Is that how it stands or have I missed any changed?
If you are Gold and chasing for Plat, you'll be out ouf luck since your Gold XP will be deducted and you will just be left with the remaining points.
#401
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Montreux CH
Programs: FB Platinum, M&M FTL, BA Blue
Posts: 11,602
Well, indeed. I was just thinking selfishly, about my own situation. To be honest, I think it's a problem that is impossible to resolve if they want to please everybody. We will just have to live with it and hope that things get better going forward.
#402
Join Date: Jun 2020
Programs: FlyingBlue
Posts: 2,416
I'm sure your suggestion of lowering the threshold for all travellers would make everyone happy.... They used to do that in early April (if memory serves me well) before switching to the current "extension" scheme.
#403
Join Date: Sep 2014
Programs: Flying Blue Plat, Air Europa Silver, IHG Plat, Accor Plat
Posts: 1,009
I'm not sure I agree with that analysis. The obvious way to please platinums, golds and silvers who were active enough to build up an XP buffer is to maintain their XP balance as-is at the end of this year. Then this important subset of elite members will stay loyal in 2021.
#404
Join Date: Jun 2020
Programs: FlyingBlue
Posts: 2,416
I'm not sure I agree with that analysis. The obvious way to please platinums, golds and silvers who were active enough to build up an XP buffer is to maintain their XP balance as-is at the end of this year. Then this important subset of elite members will stay loyal in 2021.
-50 % would be generous, -30% would be a nice gesture... I don't understand how pissing off active flyers and make them feel less rewarded than casual customers builds up loyalty to the brand.
Airline business is definitely something special.
#405
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Montreux CH
Programs: FB Platinum, M&M FTL, BA Blue
Posts: 11,602
Let's not go there again, I want this thread to stay open so that I can get updated info about this situation. We still don't how things will pan out this summer, so let's just see how it goes for now.
Don't disagree with any of the above, but there's just nothing we can do about it right now. Don't forget, it's an evolving situation, for better or worse. So things could easily and unexpectedly change in our favour a bit later.
Don't disagree with any of the above, but there's just nothing we can do about it right now. Don't forget, it's an evolving situation, for better or worse. So things could easily and unexpectedly change in our favour a bit later.
Last edited by Concerto; Jun 30, 2020 at 4:00 pm Reason: further thoughts