S7 Airlines has decided to extend the validity of all S7 Priority loyalty program member statuses for an additional year. All members with any level above the basic Classic level have the opportunity to keep it until the beginning of 2022. In addition, all upcoming flights this year can now be used not for confirmation, but to increase the level of participation in the program, reports our own correspondent Travel.ru.
The carrier's decision was driven by the desire to maintain the loyalty of frequent flyers amid the coronavirus pandemic. The pandemic has led to a sharp reduction in the number of flights and the closure of many routes. As a result, it is unrealistic for most passengers in 2020 to maintain their current level in the program by simply flying the required number of miles or flights.
Formally, the extension of the status in S7 Priority is not automatic - members will only receive a certificate by email for the number of miles required to extend the status. They can apply it to their account until the end of the year, thereby ensuring the extension of the current status until February 2022. But they may also decide that they will still reach the desired level with flights - and then the certificate can be given to another passenger, ensuring an increase in their level in the program. Only one certificate is allowed to be applied to one account in the program.
S7 Priority is a unique program in its own way, with seven levels of participation, in addition to the starting basic one (the lion's share of competing programs from other airlines get by with only 2-3 additional levels). As a result, many passengers have a level higher than the basic one, and the transition between the first five levels happens quite quickly.
The introduction of status extension certificates will allow many such passengers to increase their status in 2020 by making only a small number of flights during the year. The certificate will ensure the extension of the current status, and any flights until the end of 2020 will work to increase it. Let us remind you that it is relatively easy to get your first bonuses in the S7 Priority program: Classis Expert status, which gives the right to carry baggage at any rate, is achieved after 12 flight segments or 12,000 miles, and Classis Master status, which allows you not to pay for choosing a seat, is available after 8 segments or 8,000 miles.
Two months earlier, Aeroflot made a similar decision to extend elite statuses for a year. However, this company, like most foreign ones, limited itself to automatic extension, without flexible offers with certificates.
Source: travel.ru