From a press update from their COVID-19 statement earlier today, Air France KLM group’s Flying Blue program will be extending elite status for their elite members whose status is expiring from March this year to February next year for another 12 months. As for basic Explorer level members, all of their points won’t expire until the the end of this year.

“Coronavirus (COVID-19) Related Updates

In challenging times like today, travelling has become more difficult due to reasons beyond your control. In these trying times, we want to remove any uncertainty you may have about your Flying Blue Elite level.

We have put the following actions in place:

We will maintain all Flying Blue Elite members with a qualification period ending between March 2020 and February 2021 for another 12 months.

We will prevent all Miles from expiring between now and the end of 2020 for all our Explorer members.

We will continue to monitor the situation closely as it evolves. We are committed to sharing details and updates with you as soon as they become available. In case you have any questions about the implications regarding your situation, please see the frequently asked questions about this topic below:

If the travel date of your Reward Ticket or Promo Reward Ticket was before 31 May, 2020.

The rebooking, reissuing, or refund of your ticket must be completed on or before 30 September, 2020.

The rebooked travel date must be before 30 November, 2020.

For trip cancellations with Reward Tickets or Promo Tickets:

Penalty fees for trip cancellations are waived.

Whether you have a Reward Ticket or Promo reward ticket, your Miles will be re-credited to your Flying Blue Member account and airport taxes on the credit card used for payment.

Ticketing fees are non refundable.

For change of travel dates with Reward Tickets or Promo Tickets:

Flights booked with Air France and KLM, you will be reissued a ticket with same route, airline and booking class.

Flights booked with other airlines partners flights or in combination with AF/KLM flights, you will be reissued a ticket with same route, airline and booking class. If we are unable to reissue a ticket with the same route, airline and booking class, we will issue a new one upon your request.

We will continue to monitor the situation closely as it evolves. We are committed to sharing details and updates with you as soon as they become available.”

How would the status extension be counted towards Platinum for life?

If you you keep current level during your next qualification period based on this special covid-19 measurements, this 12 months grace period elite status extension will count towards the 10 consecutive years needed to qualify for Platinum for life.

Everything is going very fast these days, that’s to say for the survival of many airlines.

The CEO of Air France made assumptions to the French Newspaper La Tribune a few days earlier presented that while almost the entire Air France and KLM fleet is grounded, there was still talk of ensuring a very ambitious offer in July and August, putting 70 to 80% of the long-haul seats initially planned for this summer back on before the Covid crisis, 80 to 90% on medium-haul and 65 to 75% on short-haul.

Benjamin Smith, Air France

After a minimal activity in June where only 20% of the total capacity could be insured, Ben Smith intends to return to service in July 40% of the offer initially planned before the crisis, then 60% in August, before reaching 75% in the fourth quarter at best. Which still seems terribly ambitious, at least for this summer.

Like many, the CEO of Air France-KLM plans a slow and gradual recovery.