We have seen various airlines take different strategies towards the CoVid-19 and retaining their customers after this is over. For instance, Indian carrier Vistara has just frozen status for the time being while expiring points and vouchers, Air India has stopped expiry of points and extended status to August 2020 at the moment.

Qatar Airways’ loyalty programme, Privilege Club, is extending or reinstating their Member’s tier status for 12 months, for memberships due to expire before 31 January 2021. Members can retain their current tier benefits such as upgrades, Shop & Pay with Qmiles, extra baggage, lounge access, and more, for 12 months.

Qatar Airways’ Privilege Club recently announced a tier extension offer of up to six months to its members but has doubled this to one year in recognition that its members continue to be impacted by travel restrictions and flight reductions resulting from COVID-19.

Additionally, Gold and Platinum members can now enjoy their Qcredits for longer, as they will now remain valid for two years, as long as the tier is retained. Qcredits for Gold and Platinum members can be spent on upgrades, extra baggage, and lounge access. Following feedback from members, Privilege Club has also updated its policy to provide more flexibility to members with Qcredits by making them refundable.

Bottomline

Good on Qatar Airways to have added a free year, no questions asked, unlike some other airlines which are still humming and hawing trying to figure out what would they like to do on the status of their members. Travel demand won’t come back the next day after this is over, and people will take their time coming back to the market.

So, in this case, it does not harm Qatar Airways in any which way to add a free year, since expenses will only be incurred when used, and in the current situation, no one would be using much. But people walk away with a pleasant feeling instead of being trusted with an extra year and come back to show their faith in the brand.

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