Subscribe to Outbreak, a daily roundup of stories on the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on global business, delivered free to your inbox.
Update, April 16, 2020, 3:55 p.m.: Now includes new information for Southwest Airlines.
There are still commercial planes in the skies right now, but many of them are running with few passengers, and in a few cases, none at all. With all unnecessary travel—for business or pleasure—out of the question at the moment in order to curb the spread of COVID-19, cancellations have left many frequent fliers concerned about earned points and status.
Loyalty programs are byzantine in nature, and vary from airline to airline as well as among global alliances between airlines. But one commonality is that most frequent-flier programs log points and dollars spent on seats to award varying tiers of status for the following calendar year. Thus, points for flights taken in 2019 is how a person earned status for 2020.
But that presents a problem for loyalty program members—many of whom are business travelers—trying to achieve status for 2021 now that hundreds of flights have been canceled and most people won’t be taking trips of any kind for the next few weeks and months, at least.
Airlines have been slow to answer questions about frequent-flier programs, instead focusing on dropping fees for changes to reservations or cancellations. But as Delta became the first U.S. carrier over the weekend to announce its plan, followed by United Airlines on Monday, it’s expected that more major airlines will follow suit.
This list will be updated. Fortune has reached out to the top North American carriers, but if you know of a program for additional domestic and international carriers we should add, please email Rachel King at rachel.king@fortune.com
Delta Air Lines
Current Delta Medallion Status will automatically be extended through 2021 whether or not the passenger re-qualifies through travel in 2020. In addition, all 2020 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) will be rolled over in 2021. If the passenger is enrolled in status promotions (usually offered through corporate travel programs), he or she will receive additional flexibility to complete those requirements.
Customers will also have up to two years to use any credits in their accounts. All applicable eCredits will be automatically extended for travel to be completed through May 31, 2022, with no action needed on the passenger’s part. Delta says it is working on a solution to display the new expiration dates on Delta.com, so even if the eCredit for canceled travel has not yet been processed or extended, the flight value is secure.
Additionally, eligible Delta SkyMiles American Express Card Members will get more time to enjoy benefits, including companion certificates and the $100 Delta flight credits. SkyMiles Members with upgrade certificates or $200 travel vouchers will also have additional time to use them. Delta Sky Club members will receive an additional six months of club membership for free.
Delta says it will continue to waive change fees for trips through May 31, 2022, for travel booked as of April 3, 2020. Customers can also change new tickets purchased between March 1 and May 31, 2020, without a change fee, for up to a year from the date of purchase.
United Airlines
All United MileagePlus Premier members will retain the status they earned for 2020 through January 2022. In addition, for the 2021 status year, United says it is reducing thresholds for premier qualification by 50% for each status level, to make reaching a higher status tier easier.
United is increasing the number of ways that Premier members can use their upgrade benefits, including offering a six-month extension for all PlusPoints (the currency used for systemwide upgrades) set to expire on or before Jan. 31, 2021. United is also expanding the availability of Skip Waitlist, an upgrade option that allows Premier 1K members to confirm upgrades at the time of booking, to more international long-haul flights.
Additionally, United says that for the first time ever, it is increasing the maximum number of Premier qualifying points (PQPs) United Explorer and United Club credit card holders can earn through card spending toward status in 2021. From May 1 through Dec. 31, 2020, United will be offering a promotion doubling the maximum points for United Explorer credit card members and quadrupling the maximum points for United Club card members to help customers achieve a higher status tier.
United is extending electronic travel certificates (ETCs), which will now be valid for two years from the time of booking, and waiving redeposit fees for members who booked travel using award miles. The airline is also waiving all redeposit fees for members who book flights through May 31, 2020, and will be waiving fees for all members who cancel their flights at least 30 days before departure for the remainder of 2020.
Annual memberships and subscriptions, such as United Club access as well as Wi-Fi packages, will see expiration dates extended by at least six months.
American Airlines
American Airlines announced plans for its AAdvantage program on Monday, April 13.
If a passenger’s current elite status expires on January 31, 2021, it will be automatically extended through January 31, 2022. Passengers can still earn a higher status through lower elite qualification requirements this year, and the thresholds for 2020 travel will be lower.
Accounts will be updated by May 15, 2020.
Passengers who bought tickets before April 30, 2020, can make changes to their reservations without change fees. Note that passengers are allowed to make a change only once with the change fee waived. But passengers could have to make up the difference in ticket prices when they rebook.
Any unused systemwide upgrades with an expiration date of January 31, 2021, will be automatically extended through July 31, 2021. Members who qualify or re-qualify for Executive Platinum status in 2020 will receive four systemwide upgrades valid through January 31, 2022.
Thresholds for cashing in on Executive Platinum rewards will also be lowered. Previously, members who qualified for Executive Platinum status received a choice of one reward upon reaching 150,000; 200,000; and 250,000 Elite Qualifying Miles (EQMs), respectively. Those bars are being lowered to 90,000; 120,000; and 150,000, respectively.
Southwest Airlines
Southwest announced plans for its Rapid Rewards program on April 16.
The airline is bestowing all of its Rapid Rewards Members with 15,000 tier qualifying points and 10 flight credits toward A-List and A-List Preferred status; and 25,000 Companion Pass qualifying points and 25 flight credits toward Companion Pass status.
Current A-List and A-List Preferred Members will have their current earned status through December 31, 2021. Current Companion Pass Members will have their benefits extended through June 30, 2021.
The airline already stands alone as the sole U.S. carrier that does not impose change or cancellation fees in nearly all cases (except no-shows).
Travel credits that have expired or would have expired between March 1 and June 30, 2020, or travel credits that were created because of a cancellation between March 1 and June 30, 2020, now won’t expire until June 30, 2021. Travel credits that are created between March 1, 2020 and September 7, 2020, will have an expiration date of September 7, 2022.
Rapid Rewards members don’t need to take any action, but Southwest warns it will be some time before these changes are displayed in member accounts.
Air Canada
Air Canada announced plans for its Altitude program on Monday afternoon. All Altitude status for 2020 will automatically be extended through to the end of 2021. Should a member reach a higher status before the end of 2020, they will enjoy it upon qualification, and maintain it through 2021 as well. Members have opportunity to gift status to a friend or family member.
Altitude members also have the opportunity to earn Aeroplan miles while staying at home through a special program running through April 30. For every five Aeroplan Miles a member donates to a charity engaged in fighting the COVID-19 crisis, he or she will receive one Altitude Qualifying Mile—up to a maximum of 25,000 Aeroplan Qualifying Miles (AQMs)—all of which count towards 2021 status.
Air Canada also pushed back expiration dates for Aeroplan miles. Any miles that would have expired between now and May 14 now will not. But effective May 15, the airline’s expiration policy will be reinstated, meaning that miles will expire if an eligible transaction has not been completed prior to this date.
Passengers who booked flights up through April 15, 2020, for travel through April 30, 2021, can make a one-time change to existing bookings without a fee—up until two hours before your flight. Rebooked travel needs to take place before April 30, 2021.
Anyone who made a booking with an Air Canada Flight Pass—a prepaid package of electronic one-way flight credits for travel within a selected geographic zone during a specific period—can change or cancel their reservations one time, for free, up to two hours before the original departure. All Flight Passes with an expiration date between March 13 to April 30, 2020, have been extended until July 31, 2020. Unlimited Flight Pass customers can put their unlimited Flight Passes (and monthly installment payments) on hold, and can reactivate them once the customer is ready to resume travel.
Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways will also expanding coverage for its loyalty program, Privilege Club, by extending or reinstating tier status for 12 months, for memberships due to expire before January 31, 2021. Members can retain current tier benefits such as upgrades, Shop & Pay with Qmiles, extra baggage, lounge access, and more, for up to one year.
Ticketed passengers with can make changes to their travel plans or exchange tickets for vouchers for reservations through September 30, 2020 for free, up to 3 days prior to departure. This includes award flights.
Alaska Airlines
The expiration date for travel credits deposited before March 1, 2020 will be extended by six months. Passengers do not need to travel before that six-month extension date, but they do need to book their tickets by then.
The airline says it is “working as quickly as possible” to display these updates in customer accounts.
For passengers who canceled, or will cancel, their flights due to COVID-19 impacts in March, April, or May, travel credits will be extended through July 5, 2021 for travel through May 31, 2022. New ticket purchases made before May 31, 2020, can be changed or canceled without a fee, but fare differences may apply. Non-refundable tickets will receive credit towards a future flight.
For passengers who do opt to travel between now and May 31, 2020, Alaska says it is creating extra space in the main cabins by blocking off all middle seats on large aircraft and aisle seats on smaller aircraft.
More coronavirus coverage from Fortune:
—Why Iceland’s approach to coronavirus testing may be better than America’s
—Everything you need to know about the coronavirus stimulus checks
—From glow sticks to surgical masks: Businesses pivot to tackle coronavirus-era shortages
—The world’s largest coronavirus lockdown is off to a rocky start
—The oil sector is quickly running out of storage for its unprecedented surplus
—The $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus package isn’t green, but it helps
—Listen to Leadership Next, a Fortune podcast examining the evolving role of CEOs
—WATCH: World leaders and health experts on how to stop the spread of COVID-19
Subscribe to Outbreak, a daily roundup of stories on the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on global business, delivered free to your inbox.
