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At the outbreak of COVID-19, we saw nearly every status program offering extensions and reduced requirements for elite status. Then, travel started to rebound a bit. As restrictions return and the Omicron variant spreads, numerous hotel and airline loyalty programs are offering elite status extension into 2023. These are the details for your favorite loyalty programs.
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Airlines
Air Canada Aeroplan
Aeroplan will extend elite status for all members through the end of 2022, rolling over your status from 2021. This applies even if you haven't requalified. There's no need to take action; the extension is automatic.
If you did qualify for an elite tier in 2021, Status Qualifying Miles (SQM), Status Qualifying Segments (SQS) and Status Qualifying Dollars (SQD) will roll over to 2022. Those who earn status through credit card spend will not have these elements rolled over.
Air Canada also will extend eUpgrade credits. If you earn these on or before August 31, 2022, they will now expire on January 15, 2023. eUpgrade credits earned on or after September 1, 2022 will expire on January 15, 2024.
On the flip side, remember that Aeroplan will double the SQD requirements for those outside of Canada in 2022. This will more closely align with requirements for Canadian members.
Aegean Airlines
While not an extension, the Miles+Bonus program is keeping its reduced qualification requirements through May 21, 2023. Current requirements are 25% lower than in typical years.
- Silver
- Qualify with 9,000 tier miles, instead of the typical 12,000
- Retain this tier with 6,000 tier miles, instead of the typical 8,000
- Gold
- Qualify with 18,000 tier miles, instead of the typical 24,000
- Retain this tier with 9,000 tier miles, instead of the typical 12,000
Alaska Airlines
We have a complete guide to Mileage Plan here. This guide covers how to earn status with Alaska Airlines, whether by flying exclusively with them or also flying with partners. You can read the guide for normal qualification requirements.
In 2022, the requirements are reduced as follows:
- MVP: 20,000 elite-qualifying miles or 30 segments (at least 2 segments must be on Alaska-operated flights)
- MVP Gold: 40,000 elite-qualifying miles or 60 segments (at least 4 segments must be on Alaska-operated flights)
- MVP Gold 75K: 75,000 elite-qualifying miles or 90 segments (at least 6 segments must be on Alaska-operated flights)
- MVP Gold 100K (new tier launching in 2022): 100,000 elite-qualifying miles or 140 segments (at least 24 segments must be on Alaska-operated flights)
Alaska is also extending elite status through April 30, 2022 for anyone who didn't requalify in 2021. These members will have the opportunity to retain status until December 31, 2022 if they complete the following during the first four months of 2022:
- MVP members: 5,000 miles
- MVP Gold members: 10,000 miles
- MVP Gold 75K members: 20,000 miles
American Airlines
AA is revolutionizing elite status requirements for 2022. As part of this, for travelers who didn't requalify for elite status in 2021, your status will be extended through February 28, 2022. And you'll have until the end of February 2022 to requalify for elite status through the old Elite Qualifying Miles/Dollars/Segments method.
Avianca
The airline made status qualification easier in 2022, reducing tier requirements by as much as 40%. You need to meet the following requirements for status in 2022:
- Red Plus: 6,500 qualifying miles
- Silver: 11,500 qualifying miles
- Gold: 23,500 qualifying miles
- Diamond: 40,000 qualifying miles
Remember that 80% of the qualifying miles requirement must be earned through Avianca-operated flights.
British Airways
The airline has issued another round of extensions, and full details are here. We've seen status extension of 12 months for those with the following Tier Club collection end dates:
- July 1, 2020-March 31, 2022
- April 1-June 30, 2022
This means everyone with British Airways Flying Club status will retain it until at least the first half of 2022. That's if we don't see any further extensions. And members of any status level with Tier Point collection dates in the first half of 2022 will enjoy an elite status extension into early 2023.
Remember that the airline also reduced the Tier Point requirements by 25% through December 31, 2022. This should help you requalify to keep your status for the future.
Delta Air Lines
We previously covered how to earn status with Delta in 2021 to retain it for 2022 and beyond. An interesting perk of Delta's status extension into 2023 is that those who “earn” status in 2021 and 2022 will have their seat upgrades clear ahead of those who have status via an extension.
Along with the fast track offers and “boost” earnings (covered here) in 2021, Delta has made changes for 2022. Through December 31, 2022, you can earn Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs), Medallion Qualification Segments (MQSs), and Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs) on award tickets. This includes both award redemptions and miles + cash redemptions.
Lastly, remember that Delta rolled over MQMs from 2020 into 2021 and all MQMs from 2021 into 2022.
Emirates
The Dubai-based airline is offering elite status extension for all members through 2023 as a one-year extension on your status expiration / review date. This applies to all status review / expiry dates through June 2022 and is valid as a one-year extension.
Hawaiian Airlines
International Pualani Elite members will have their elite benefits extended through February 28, 2023. However, domestic members will not have their elite status extended beyond the current February 28, 2022 extension period.
Japan Airlines (JAL)
The airline extended miles and e-credits into 2023. Additionally, those with elite status received the following bonuses to help them requalify.
In February 2021:
- JMB Diamond: 40,000 bonus FLY ON Points
- JGC Premier: 28,000 FLY ON Points
- JMB Sapphire: 15,000 FLY ON Points
- JMB Crystal: 8,000 FLY ON Points
In October 2021:
- JMB Diamond: 35,000 bonus FLY ON Points
- JGC Premier: 17,000 FLY ON Points
- JMB Sapphire: 10,000 FLY ON Points
- JMB Crystal: 4,000 FLY ON Points
Lastly, select members received an email stating that JAL would update its website in mid-January to reflect elite status extension into 2023. This will not apply to all members, but here's what we know:
- Members will enjoy the same FLY ON status for the 2022 service year as they had in 2021.
- This offer is via an invitation to select members only.
- The 2022 service year ends on March 31, 2023.
- For those invited, no action is required.
For anyone not targeted, the standard, pre-pandemic status requirements are back in effect.
JetBlue
The airline offered elite status extension into 2021 and reduced requirements in 2021, but so far there is no word on extension running from 2022 into 2023. These are the ways to earn Mosaic status in 2022:
- 12,000 Mosaic Qualifying points + 30 segments
- 15,000 Mosaic Qualifying points
- Spend $50,000 on the JetBlue Plus Card or JetBlue Business Card
2022 will also include the introduction of the new tier called Mosaic+. You can earn this status as follows:
- 45,000 Mosaic Qualifying points
- Spend $150,000 on the JetBlue Plus Card or JetBlue Business Card
Lufthansa
In addition to elite status extension through February 2022 (for those who don't requalify in 2020 or 2021), Lufthansa also announced double status miles on all flights with Lufthansa Group airlines in 2021. This includes Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian, Eurowings, and Brussels Airlines. You also earn double HON Circle miles when flying in first or business class.
In 2022, however, pre-pandemic earning requirements are back in effect. You need the following to attain status:
- Frequent Traveller: 35,000 status miles or 30 scheduled flight segments
- Senator: 100,000 status miles
- HON Circle Members: 600,000 HON Circle miles in two consecutive calendar years (i.e., this year and last year)
Malaysia Airlines Enrich
The airline has extended points expiration, status, lounge access vouchers, and even reduced status qualification requirements.
Elite status is extended through March 2023, and 2022 status-earning requirements are cut by 30%. Additionally, Golden Lounge access vouchers set to expire were extended through December 31, 2022.
Qatar Airways
From the info page here, we see that all members at all tiers (Silver, Gold & Platinum) will have their Privilege Club status maintained until December 31, 2022. On whatever date your status is set to expire in 2022, the airline will take action to extend your status through the end of 2022. No action is required.
Members who participated in a status match in the past will also benefit from elite status extension. These status match members originally participated in 2020, and this will be the 2nd time that Qatar Airways has extended Privilege Club status for these member. Status for these people will be extended to December 31, 2022 — the same as traditional elite members. These members had seen their status expire for a short while, but your account should now reflect the updated information.
Singapore Airlines
From an email sent to members and an announcement online, the airline is offering elite status extension well into 2023 — even into early 2024.
For any Silver and Gold elite status memberships expiring between March 2022 and February 2023, your status will be extended for 12 months. That means some elite members will see their status carried over to February of 2024. This is in addition to the pause on miles expiration.
Southwest Airlines
The airline offered double Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) on all flights from September 3 to November 30, 2021. You had to register for this promotion, though. This hopefully made earning the Companion Pass simpler for members in 2021.
For those wanting to earn elite status without flying, you can get a boost from Southwest co-branded credit cards. Earn 1,500 tier-qualifying points for every $10,000 you spend on a Southwest credit card in 2022.
Other than this, there's no word as of yet on reduced qualification requirements or status extensions going forward.
United Airlines
The airline reduced elite status requirements in 2021 and 2022 by 25-30% per element. It also surprised some members with elite status extension through 2023 — though not everyone got this.
These are the reduced status requirements for 2022:
- Silver: either 3,000 PQPs and 8 PQFs — or 3,500 PQPs
- Gold: either 6,000 PQPs and 16 PQFs — or 7,000 PQPs
- Platinum: either 9,000 PQPs and 24 PQFs — or 10,000 PQPs
- Premier 1K: either 13,500 PQPs and 36 PQFs — or 15,000 PQPs
For more details about how to earn status with United MileagePlus, read our guide here.
Virgin Atlantic
In September 2021, the airline announced another six months of elite status extension. So, all elite members will maintain their elite status through March 31, 2022.
Then, from April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023, Virgin Atlantic is also making it easier to qualify for status:
- Silver: 300 Tier Points (down from 400 in normal years)
- Gold membership: 800 Tier Points (down from 1000 in normal years)
Since March 2020 and until further notice, Flying Club Silver and Gold members get 24 months to earn the required Tier Points to maintain their status.
Hotels
Choice Privileges
Choice is not offering an elite status extension into 2022 or 2023. The requirements for earning status in 2022 are as follows:
- Gold status: 10 nights
- Platinum status: 20 nights
- Diamond status: 40 nights
Hilton Honors
Hilton is offering elite status extension for all levels through March 31, 2023. This comes after previous extensions, the full details of which we covered here.
Additionally, 2022 status requirements are reduced as follows:
- Silver: 7 nights, 3 stays, or 17,500 base points
- Gold: 28 nights, 14 stays, or 52,500 base points
- Diamond: 42 nights, 21 stays, or 84,000 base points
Remember that all nights stayed in 2021 will be rolled over into 2022 to help you get a head start. Full details on milestone rewards and rollover credits can be found here.
Hyatt
World of Hyatt elite status requirements were reduced by 50% in 2021. While not an extension, remember that elite status with Hyatt is always valid through February of the year after your status year — so status earned in 2021 ends on February 28, 2023.
As of yet, there is no word on reduced requirements or extensions of status in 2022. World of Hyatt has selectively extended status for some members, but this is by invitation only it seems. You can see details on some of this here.
IHG
IHG Rewards is offering elite status extension for all tiers through February of 2023. Additionally, 2022 status requirements were cut by roughly 1/4 with the following requirements — but only through March 2022:
- Gold Elite: 7,000 qualifying points or 7 nights
- Platinum Elite: 30,000 qualifying points or 30 nights
- Spire Elite: 55,000 qualifying points or 55 nights
Starting sometime in March 2022, IHG is relaunching its program with new elite status tiers:
- Silver Elite: 10 qualifying nights
- Gold Elite: 40,000 qualifying points or 20 qualifying nights
- Platinum Elite: 60,000 qualifying points or 40 qualifying nights
- Diamond Elite: 120,000 qualifying points or 70 qualifying nights
Marriott
The hotel chain is offering elite status extension through February 2023. Other than this, the only change to status tier requirements was reducing the spending requirement for Ambassador Elite status in 2021. This normally requires $20k in spending per year but was reduced to $14k for 2021. However, the normal $20k requirement is back for 2022.
In 2021, Marriott also gave members 50% of the nights required for their pre-pandemic status level. This gave members a boost toward earning status for 2022. However, no such bonus was given for earning status in 2022.
Wyndham
Status requirements were reduced by roughly 40% in 2021, and these same numbers are sticking around for 2022. Here are the requirements:
- Gold: 3 nights
- Platinum: 9 nights
- Diamond: 24 nights
For more details, read our guide to Wyndham Rewards.
Car Rental Programs
Avis
Avis sent an email to all Avis Preferred members stating that status will be extended “for another year through January 15, 2023.” This is regardless of a member's 2021 rental/qualifying activity.
Enterprise
For members with Silver, Gold, and Platinum elite status and whose tier status was set to expire on February 28, 2022, you will receive a one-year extension. For these members, status will now expire on February 28, 2023.
Hertz
Hertz Gold Plus Rewards extended elite status and reduced requirements in 2021.
- Five Star: 10 rentals, down from 12 rentals or $2,000 in spending
- President's Circle: 15 rentals, down from 20 rentals or $4,000 in spending
The company hasn't made any announcement about 2022 yet.
National
For members with Executive and Executive Elite status and whose status was set to expire on February 28, 2022 will receive a one-year extension. For these members, status will now expire on February 28, 2023. Additionally, Emerald Club Program Free Days that would expire on December 31, 2021 have been extended to December 31, 2022.
Trains
Amtrak Guest Rewards
Amtrak is offering elite status extension through February 28, 2023 for anyone who currently holds Select, Select Plus, or Select Executive status. Moreover, status is easier to obtain in 2021. That's because Amtrak doubled the amount of Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) members earn in 2021. In normal years, you earn 2 TQPs per dollar spent, but the earning rate is 4 per dollar in 2021.
Our Take
It's great to see numerous hotel and airline loyalty programs offering elite status extensions into 2023. While travel has rebounded in some ways, it's not fully back to what it was. Travel restrictions and reduced services have kept many elites at home, flying and traveling less than they normally would. Rather than losing your elite status, some programs are helping you maintain it — either with reduced requirements or an outright extension.
What's your favorite loyalty program? Are you satisfied with how they're handling elite status right now?
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