S7 Airlines has decided to extend all S7 Priority loyalty program statuses for an additional year. All members above the basic Classic level have the opportunity to maintain their status until early 2022. Furthermore, all upcoming flights this year can now be used not for confirmation, but to upgrade your membership level in the program, reports Travel.ru's own correspondent.
The carrier's decision was driven by a 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 numerous routes. As a result, for most passengers in 2020, maintaining their current program level by simply flying the required number of miles or flights is unrealistic.
Technically, S7 Priority status renewal isn't automatic—members will only receive a certificate by email for the required number of miles. They can apply it to their account by the end of the year, thereby extending their current status until February 2022. However, they may decide they'll reach their desired level through flights anyway—in which case the certificate can be gifted to another passenger, thus upgrading their status. Only one certificate can be applied to each program account.
S7 Priority is a unique program, offering seven membership levels beyond the basic one (the vast majority of competing programs from other airlines offer only two or three additional levels). As a result, many passengers reach levels above the basic one, and progression between the first five levels is fairly quick.
The introduction of status extension certificates will allow many of these passengers to upgrade their status in 2020 after taking only a small number of flights throughout the year. The certificate will extend their current status, and any flights taken before the end of 2020 will count toward that status upgrade. As a reminder, earning your first bonuses in the S7 Priority program is relatively easy: Classis Expert status, which entitles you to baggage allowance at any fare, is achieved after 12 flight segments or 12,000 miles, while Classis Master status, which allows you to choose your seat without paying, is available after 8 flight segments or 8,000 miles.
Two months earlier, Aeroflot made a similar decision to extend elite status for a year. However, like most international airlines, this airline limited itself to automatic renewals, without offering flexible certificate offers.
Source: travel.ru