Elite plus vouchers & COVID-19 flight changes
Sep 10, 2020, 7:53 am
#61
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Programs: TK Elite Plus,BAEC GGL,ITA Executive, AFKL Gold,QR Gold,HH Diamond,Bonvoy Gold,ALL Gold
Posts: 14,186
Just to confirm the "old system" did not change, I have just upgraded 2 tickets from Madrid to Bali (the flights dates are july 2021) using the free upgr vouchers through my local sales office. I was told and assured nothing has changed regarding the upgrade procedure. Two days ago the flights on my TK app were in economy class and now they're in J class and we were able to select seats in the BC cabin.
Thanks for sharing your experience with us.
Could I ask you if your upgrade was immediatly cleared after you contacted the sales office, or you needed to wait for a time after the upgrade until it showed Business Class in the TK website?
Sep 10, 2020, 9:30 am
#63
Join Date: Jan 2011
Programs: oneworld, * Alliance, Marriott Bonvoy, HHonors, WoH
Posts: 2,131
Just to confirm the "old system" did not change, I have just upgraded 2 tickets from Madrid to Bali (the flights dates are july 2021) using the free upgr vouchers through my local sales office. I was told and assured nothing has changed regarding the upgrade procedure. Two days ago the flights on my TK app were in economy class and now they're in J class and we were able to select seats in the BC cabin.
P.S My flights in TK app and website were in J too and I selected the seats when ticket was not re-validated to J. I got the actual re-validated ticket yesterday. When you receive a re-validated ticket, then it is done, just a sales office confirmation is not enough.
Last edited by Jaenks; Sep 10, 2020 at 9:36 am
Jan 12, 2021, 2:03 pm
#64
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Programs: TK Elite, Hilton Diamond, BA Silver
Posts: 967
I was planning to book a flight in the coming months so I could use my 2 Elite Plus vouchers and decided to ask TK Customer Service today about the expiration date of the vouchers. I got a quick reply mentioning it will be extended for another 12 months. Great news 
Dear
The Coronavirus pandemic, which has affected the entire world, has had negative effects on the entire world, particularly the aviation sector unfortunately, as a result of which our passengers have also made a number of changes in their travels.
We would like to show that we did not forget our Miles&Smiles program member passengers who have bonds of love with us by preferring Turkish Airlines for their travels, and have taken new measures so that you, our valuable passengers, have no problem at all.
Therefore, in order to avoid loss of any right, the usage period of the free upgrade (voucher) right we have offered to our Elite Plus passengers, which had been extended for 6 months previously, is going to be extended one more time for an additional period of 12 months.
The Coronavirus pandemic, which has affected the entire world, has had negative effects on the entire world, particularly the aviation sector unfortunately, as a result of which our passengers have also made a number of changes in their travels.
We would like to show that we did not forget our Miles&Smiles program member passengers who have bonds of love with us by preferring Turkish Airlines for their travels, and have taken new measures so that you, our valuable passengers, have no problem at all.
Therefore, in order to avoid loss of any right, the usage period of the free upgrade (voucher) right we have offered to our Elite Plus passengers, which had been extended for 6 months previously, is going to be extended one more time for an additional period of 12 months.
Jan 12, 2021, 5:06 pm
#65
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Programs: TK Elite Plus,BAEC GGL,ITA Executive, AFKL Gold,QR Gold,HH Diamond,Bonvoy Gold,ALL Gold
Posts: 14,186
I was planning to book a flight in the coming months so I could use my 2 Elite Plus vouchers and decided to ask TK Customer Service today about the expiration date of the vouchers. I got a quick reply mentioning it will be extended for another 12 months. Great news
Jan 13, 2021, 8:29 am
#66
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,036
I'll share with you the reply I received after I asked why they cancelled my 2019/20 vouchers after 12months (in september 2020), after promising by email, Twitter and website, to extend them by six months:
Based on your request, we have checked your membership account and detected that your first term 2 voucher rights were expired in September 2020.
We would like inform , in order to avoid loss of any right, the status periods of our passengers whose membership status is Classic Plus, Elite, or Elite Plus, which had been extended for 6 months previously, is going to be extended one more time for an additional period of 12 months and since only the 2nd term upgrade vouchers are extended during this process, it's usual for your first term vouchers to be expired.
I wasn't aware that "first-term" and "second-term" vouchers were an issue, or that they were treated differently.We would like inform , in order to avoid loss of any right, the status periods of our passengers whose membership status is Classic Plus, Elite, or Elite Plus, which had been extended for 6 months previously, is going to be extended one more time for an additional period of 12 months and since only the 2nd term upgrade vouchers are extended during this process, it's usual for your first term vouchers to be expired.
And I'm no closer to understanding why they didn't stick to what they said they'd do.
They go on to say:
Therefore, your Elite Plus membership status extended until February 2023 and you have 2 vouchers which can be used until February 2023.
I'm a tad concerned this means I have only two vouchers for the next 2 years. But I'm not sure if i have the courage to enquire further 
The convoluted reasoning in the echelons THY is well known. I'm reasonably certain they think the tweaks they have introduced have been to the advantage of their frequent flyers, to leave them untouched in terms of the impacts of Covid. In fact they are badly designed tweaks implemented so carelessly they are having a negative impact!
Jan 13, 2021, 4:10 pm
#67
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Programs: TK Elite Plus,BAEC GGL,ITA Executive, AFKL Gold,QR Gold,HH Diamond,Bonvoy Gold,ALL Gold
Posts: 14,186
I'll share with you the reply I received after I asked why they cancelled my 2019/20 vouchers after 12months (in september 2020), after promising by email, Twitter and website, to extend them by six months:
And I'm no closer to understanding why they didn't stick to what they said they'd do.
They go on to say:
The convoluted reasoning in the echelons THY is well known. I'm reasonably certain they think the tweaks they have introduced have been to the advantage of their frequent flyers, to leave them untouched in terms of the impacts of Covid. In fact they are badly designed tweaks implemented so carelessly they are having a negative impact!
Based on your request, we have checked your membership account and detected that your first term 2 voucher rights were expired in September 2020.
We would like inform , in order to avoid loss of any right, the status periods of our passengers whose membership status is Classic Plus, Elite, or Elite Plus, which had been extended for 6 months previously, is going to be extended one more time for an additional period of 12 months and since only the 2nd term upgrade vouchers are extended during this process, it's usual for your first term vouchers to be expired.
I wasn't aware that "first-term" and "second-term" vouchers were an issue, or that they were treated differently.We would like inform , in order to avoid loss of any right, the status periods of our passengers whose membership status is Classic Plus, Elite, or Elite Plus, which had been extended for 6 months previously, is going to be extended one more time for an additional period of 12 months and since only the 2nd term upgrade vouchers are extended during this process, it's usual for your first term vouchers to be expired.
And I'm no closer to understanding why they didn't stick to what they said they'd do.
They go on to say:
Therefore, your Elite Plus membership status extended until February 2023 and you have 2 vouchers which can be used until February 2023.
I'm a tad concerned this means I have only two vouchers for the next 2 years. But I'm not sure if i have the courage to enquire further The convoluted reasoning in the echelons THY is well known. I'm reasonably certain they think the tweaks they have introduced have been to the advantage of their frequent flyers, to leave them untouched in terms of the impacts of Covid. In fact they are badly designed tweaks implemented so carelessly they are having a negative impact!
The website still states that all Elite Plus vouchers are extended at least until 1 October 2021 which is not the truth if we have people ( including myself ) that have their 1st term vouchers expiring in 2020.
Jan 13, 2021, 4:28 pm
#68
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,036
I wish that TK wrote that they only extended 2nd term vouchers on their website for clarification.
The website still states that all Elite Plus vouchers are extended at least until 1 October 2021 which is not the truth if we have people ( including myself ) that have their 1st term vouchers expiring in 2020.
The website still states that all Elite Plus vouchers are extended at least until 1 October 2021 which is not the truth if we have people ( including myself ) that have their 1st term vouchers expiring in 2020.
Maybe I'm being even slower than usual, or maybe M&S operates in a sphere beyond human understanding
Jan 16, 2021, 8:28 am
#69
Join Date: Jan 2011
Programs: oneworld, * Alliance, Marriott Bonvoy, HHonors, WoH
Posts: 2,131
A few days ago my friend(corporate club member) purchased economy ticket. Since normally his upgrades are taken care by assigned person, I told him to try the ordinary way through the Call Center just for experience. For warm up he got the information from service agent, that due to the current situation one leg is one voucher. 
Of course a friendly advise to her was given and she confirmed that made a mistake. The vouchers expire date is in the autumn of 2022 and for some reason they were blocked, so she could not finish the upgrade and the call was transfered to other department. Then they sent a message to another department to unblock urgently vouchers. After two hours my friend got email that due to the system error vouchers were blocked and now they are unblocked to proceed with the upgrade. During the next phone call the upgrade was done, seats were selected.
Of course a friendly advise to her was given and she confirmed that made a mistake. The vouchers expire date is in the autumn of 2022 and for some reason they were blocked, so she could not finish the upgrade and the call was transfered to other department. Then they sent a message to another department to unblock urgently vouchers. After two hours my friend got email that due to the system error vouchers were blocked and now they are unblocked to proceed with the upgrade. During the next phone call the upgrade was done, seats were selected.
Jan 16, 2021, 1:01 pm
#70
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Kent, UK
Programs: M&S Elite+, BAEC Silver
Posts: 3,679
A few days ago my friend(corporate club member) purchased economy ticket. Since normally his upgrades are taken care by assigned person, I told him to try the ordinary way through the Call Center just for experience. For warm up he got the information from service agent, that due to the current situation one leg is one voucher. Of course a friendly advise to her was given and she confirmed that made a mistake. The vouchers expire date is in the autumn of 2022 and for some reason they were blocked, so she could not finish the upgrade and the call was transfered to other department. Then they sent a message to another department to unblock urgently vouchers. After two hours my friend got email that due to the system error vouchers were blocked and now they are unblocked to proceed with the upgrade. During the next phone call the upgrade was done, seats were selected.
Of course a friendly advise to her was given and she confirmed that made a mistake. The vouchers expire date is in the autumn of 2022 and for some reason they were blocked, so she could not finish the upgrade and the call was transfered to other department. Then they sent a message to another department to unblock urgently vouchers. After two hours my friend got email that due to the system error vouchers were blocked and now they are unblocked to proceed with the upgrade. During the next phone call the upgrade was done, seats were selected.
Jan 16, 2021, 5:50 pm
#71
Join Date: Jan 2011
Programs: oneworld, * Alliance, Marriott Bonvoy, HHonors, WoH
Posts: 2,131
I never heard about blocking the vouchers. Those were the words that were used in oral by two agents and written in email explaining the reason of the upgrade error and about unblocking. She knew how to add them but system did not allowed to finish it.
May 3, 2021, 1:56 am
#72
Join Date: May 2016
Location: IST, LHR
Programs: TK E+, AA PLAT
Posts: 481
I wish that TK wrote that they only extended 2nd term vouchers on their website for clarification.
The website still states that all Elite Plus vouchers are extended at least until 1 October 2021 which is not the truth if we have people ( including myself ) that have their 1st term vouchers expiring in 2020.
The website still states that all Elite Plus vouchers are extended at least until 1 October 2021 which is not the truth if we have people ( including myself ) that have their 1st term vouchers expiring in 2020.
Just got off the phone with a call center agent and was told my voucher 20/21 expired last week, and the voucher for 21/22 will not be available in my account until October????
It seems to me that the vouchers for 2021/22 were extended by 6 months, but the 2020/21 were not. This obviously leaves me in the peculiar situation where one of the major benefits of the Elite Plus membership is not made available to me; as I have not used a single voucher in this membership period, and neither can I, should I want to. How can that be possible?
I must say, my experience trying to use the vouchers over the last could of years have been so cumbersome that I almost wished they would do away with them altogether. And it has made me wonder what the actual benefits of the E+ membership is, for me personally at least.
Last edited by boosh; May 3, 2021 at 9:07 am Reason: Clarity