Page Contents<\/p>
- Which Airlines Offer Status Extensions for Life Events?<\/a>
- Aegean<\/a><\/li>
- Aer Lingus<\/a><\/li>
- Air Canada<\/a><\/li>
- Air France-KLM<\/a><\/li>
- Alaska Airlines<\/a><\/li>
- Avianca<\/a><\/li>
- British Airways<\/a><\/li>
- Delta Air Lines<\/a><\/li>
- Iberia<\/a><\/li>
- Qantas<\/a><\/li>
- Virgin Australia<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- Final Thoughts<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n
Which Airlines Offer Status Extensions for Life Events?<\/span><\/h2>\n
At present, 11 airlines have published policies for extending elite status due to a life event.<\/p>\n
Aegean<\/span><\/h3>\n
If you're a new parent and have Silver or Gold status with Aegean, the airline will extend your Miles+Bonus tier status for up to one year. Parents can request the extension until their child's first birthday.<\/p>\n
Even better, there\u2019s no limit to how many times you can take advantage of this benefit \u2014 members can request it once for each child.<\/p>\n
To get started, contact Aegean<\/a> through its email contact form and provide a birth certificate along with supporting details.<\/p>\n
Aer Lingus<\/span><\/h3>\n
You can pause your Aer Lingus AerClub membership because of a new baby or adoption. In addition, you can pause your membership if you have a serious illness.<\/p>\n
To qualify for a membership pause due to a new family addition, you'll need to hold Silver, Platinum, or Concierge status \u2014 complimentary status holders aren't eligible. To apply, submit documentation of the birth or adoption through the carrier's contact form<\/a>. Aer Lingus will approve up to two applications over five years. If a couple applies jointly, they must decide who takes adoption leave.<\/p>\n
Additionally, Ireland\u2019s flag carrier allows members to apply for a status extension due to serious illness. You'll need to hold one of the aforementioned status tiers and submit detailed documentation through the contact form. Specifically, Aer Lingus will need to see a doctor's note stating that you can't fly for at least 16 weeks. And, like with parental leave, you can pause your AerClub membership twice every five years.<\/p>\n
![\"an](\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\")
Credit: Aer Lingus<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n Air Canada<\/span><\/h3>\n
Aeroplan<\/a> elites\u00a0expecting a child through birth, adoption, or foster care can request a status extension while taking a leave of absence from work. This offer is available only to members who earned status organically, not through a \u201cspecial offer\u201d or the \u201cAeroplan Elite Status for a Friend\u201d benefit.<\/p>\n
To apply for Parental Leave, you'll need to provide proof of leave from your employer along with a birth certificate, adoption paperwork, or foster documentation to Elite.Parents@aircanada.ca<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Air France-KLM<\/span><\/h3>\n
Air France and KLM\u2019s joint loyalty program, Flying Blue<\/a>, offers a suite of \u201cFlying Blue Family<\/a>\u201d benefits. These include mileage pooling, award discounts for children, a policy that prevents miles from expiring for kids and teenagers, and parental leave for elite members.<\/p>\n
Assuming you have Silver or Gold elite status, you can email Flying Blue's customer service team to inquire about an extension. There are few public details on parental leave<\/a>, but extensions should be valid for up to one year after the request.<\/p>\n
Alaska Airlines<\/span><\/h3>\n
Dubbed “Status Protect<\/a><\/a>,” Alaska Airlines allows you to extend your Atmos elite status<\/a> for another year during maternity, paternity, or adoption leave. Once you return from leave, reach out to elite.flyer@alaskaair.com<\/a> and provide the necessary details and proof to extend your status.<\/p>\n
I've used this myself, and the process is pretty stress-free, if a little slow over email.<\/p>\n
Note that extending status doesn\u2019t include all the benefits of requalifying normally. For example, members who extend Atmos Titanium status through Elite Leave won\u2019t receive that year\u2019s Choice Benefits.<\/p>\n
This benefit is only available to members who earned Atmos status organically, not through a status match or gifted status.<\/p>\n
Avianca<\/span><\/h3>\n
New mothers with Avianca LifeMiles elite status can receive a 12-month status extension. To qualify, you must hold elite status (Red Plus, Silver, Gold, or Diamond) at the time of birth and submit a birth certificate to Avianca\u2019s contact center.<\/p>\n
Members can use this Elite Maternity<\/a> benefit up to three times. However, the offer does not apply to members who received elite status through an invitation.<\/p>\n
British Airways<\/span><\/h3>\n
Bronze, Silver, or Gold elite status members can utilize British Airways' Status Hold<\/a> benefit. After emailing baby@ba.com<\/a>, you can put your BA status on pause for one year during maternity, paternity, or adoption leave. Additionally, British Airways will credit your account with 1,000 Avios after you add your new child to your Household Account.<\/p>\n
The offer is limited to two applications over five years and is available only to those who haven't received complimentary British Airways Club<\/a> status.<\/p>\n
Credit: Arkin\/Unsplash<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n Delta Air Lines<\/span><\/h3>\n
If you lose your Medallion status or drop to a lower tier due to a life event, Delta's Reclaim My Status program<\/a> may help you regain it. Delta considers several situations to be qualifying life events, though the list may not be exhaustive:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Becoming a new parent<\/li>\n
- Changing jobs<\/li>\n
- Going back to school<\/li>\n
- Experiencing a medical issue<\/li>\n
- Taking time off to care for a friend or family member<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
When you're ready to resume traveling, Delta encourages you to reach out with documentation of your previously earned Delta elite status<\/a> and verification of the life event. After approval, Delta will offer you complimentary status for three months. To keep it past those three months, you'll need to earn enough Medallion Qualification Dollars to extend your status.<\/p>\n
To retain your status beyond the trial period, you'll need to earn the following MQDs:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Silver:<\/strong> $1,250<\/li>\n
- Gold:<\/strong> $2,500<\/li>\n
- Platinum:<\/strong> $3,750<\/li>\n
- Diamond:<\/strong> $7,000<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Delta makes it clear that all life events will be considered for this program.<\/p>\n
Iberia<\/span><\/h3>\n
If you hold Club Iberia Plus status, you won't lose it while on maternity, paternity, or adoption leave. Iberia will extend your status for one more year after you email proof of leave to baby@iberia.es<\/a>. The offer applies to those who earn status based on the published qualification requirements.<\/p>\n
Credit: Iberia<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n Qantas<\/span><\/h3>\n
Qantas elite members who have been working at least six consecutive months to care for a new baby, foster child, or adopted child can take advantage of a Status Hold<\/a> benefit. If your application is approved, Qantas will put your status on hold for up to 18 months.<\/p>\n
On the benefits website, Qantas notes that leave provisions will differ outside Australia and New Zealand. If you reside elsewhere and hold Silver, Gold, Platinum, or Platinum One elite status, contact the carrier's frequent flyer service center to discuss options and eligibility.<\/p>\n
Virgin Australia<\/span><\/h3>\n
Silver, Gold, and Platinum Velocity Frequent Flyer members can pause their elite status for six months to care for a newborn or newly adopted child. You can apply for a pause at any time while the child is under two years old.<\/p>\n
Once the pause ends, you'll keep your existing elite status for an additional 12 months, unless you earn a higher tier.<\/p>\n
- Gold:<\/strong> $2,500<\/li>\n
- Silver:<\/strong> $1,250<\/li>\n
- Aer Lingus<\/a><\/li>
- Aegean<\/a><\/li>
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