Singapore Airlines has become the latest carrier to extend elite loyalty status benefits, in the light of global travel restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
The carrier says it will renew all Krisflyer Elite and PPS Club member statuses for a further 12 months at the end of their membership year.
The benefit applies to all memberships due to expire between March 2020 and February 2021.
Earlier this week Qatar Airways announced a similar extension to member statuses of its Privilege Club scheme, while British Airways is reducing Executive Club Tier Point thresholds by 30 per cent for all members due for renewal in April, May and June.
In addition SIA says that the validity of any expiring PPS and Elite Gold Rewards will be extended until March 31, 2021.
The announcement was part of a wider message sent to customers by Singapore Airlines’ CEO Goh Choon Phong, in which he said that public health measures “have crippled the airline industry and presented us at Singapore Airlines with the greatest challenge in our history”.
This week the carrier published its pared-back international flight schedule for April, including London, Los Angeles, Frankfurt and Zurich – although an advisory on the airline’s booking system notes that only citizens and permanent residents are permitted to enter or transit through Singapore due to the current ban on all short-term visitors.
Concerning flight cancellations and refunds, Goh Choon Phong said:
“In view of the uncertainty amid the Covid-19 outbreak, the value of the unused portion of your tickets will be retained as flight credits when your flight has been cancelled or if you would like to postpone your travel.
“You can use those credits to make a new booking any time from now until March 31, 2021. We have also waived no-show and rebooking fees. Please contact us here when you firm up your new travel plans.”
Signing off, Mr Goh said:
“For more than 70 years, SIA has set the standard for in-flight products and services in the aviation industry. It remains unclear when the Covid-19 outbreak will be brought under control. But when it does, you can be sure that we will be ready to welcome you back on board and deliver, once again, the exceptional service that you have come to expect and are familiar with.
“Until then, please stay safe and healthy.”
