The COVID-19 pandemic is ravaging the airline industry as you're no doubt well aware. With the vast majority of Americans holed up at home, passenger numbers have plummeted a staggering 96% and airports across the country are eerily empty. In fact, United Airlines says it's expecting fewer people to fly during the entire month of May 2020 than on a single day last May.
If you're a frequent flyer, you're probably wondering how all this will impact your airline miles. Can you get points reinstated for flights canceled as a result of the pandemic? Will you be able to hold on to any that are due to expire soon? What are all the ways you earn miles without traveling? Don't worry, we've got you covered with our easy overview of the key schemes.
1. Get your points refunded
Airlines operating domestic flights and international flights arriving in the US are obliged to offer refunds for coronavirus-related cancellations according to guidance issued by the Department of Transportation, and this should cover points as well as monetary refunds.
Different airlines have different policies and qualifying time frames, however.
American Airlines is offering automatic mileage refunds and waiving processing fees for tickets purchased via the AAdvantage program up to 31 May 2020 for travel through to 30 September 2020, as well as for tickets redeemed on or after 1 June 2020. In most cases you now don't have to phone to get your points back, they'll be recredited to your account automatically, typically within 48-hours of canceling your booking. But if you do need to call, get the right number at aa.com/phones.
United is providing points refunds and waiving all redeposit fees for anyone traveling with their awards until the end of May. Plus, United is waiving all redeposit fees for award ticket cancellations made more than 30 days before departure for the remainder of 2020.
Members of Delta's SkyMiles program can have airline miles returned that were redeemed for flights booked up to 30 September 2020, and there are no redeposit fees to boot.
READ MORE: 6 tips to stay healthy if you really need to travel right now
2. Enjoy extended elite status and expiration dates
Airlines are further helping out by extending elite loyalty status, which allows you access to perks such as cabin upgrades and no baggage fees, usually once you've accrued a certain number of miles.
Elite American Airlines AAdvantage members will enjoy privileged status now until the end of January 2022. On top of this, the airline has boosted rewards and relaxed qualification standards.
Likewise, Delta has extended SkyMiles Medallion elite status to qualifying members through 2022 and given them the opportunity to roll over points added this year.
As we write, JetBlue is actually the only major US airline that hasn't yet offered to extend elite status or lower qualifying amounts for its top-tier program.
Delta, United and JetBlue set no time limit on redeeming airline miles and some airlines that do have extended expiration dates.
Spirit Airlines, for example, has extended the expiration date of its Free Spirit miles from the usual three months through to 30 September 2020.
3. Collect points while you shop online
For obvious reasons the last thing you should be doing right now is traveling anywhere, plus given how cheap flights are at the current time, you'd be pretty much wasting any points redeemed. Luckily, there are plenty of ways you can accrue airline miles from the comfort of your couch.
You can support the US economy and earn miles by indulging in some retail therapy online via an airline affiliate shopping portal, which will redirect you to partner sites where you collect points for each purchase. American Airlines' AAdvantage Eshopping, Delta's SkyMiles Shopping, United's MileagePlus Shopping, and JetBlue's TrueBlue Shopping are just a few of the top portals out there. Partners range from big names such as Macy's and Nordstrom to cult boutiques.
4. Eat-in and earn at home
If you haven't done so already, it's definitely worth signing up for a dining program and ordering food for takeout or delivery direct from local affiliated restaurants. Like airline shopping portals, these programs, which include AAdvantage Dining, Delta SkyMiles Dining, United MileagePlus Dining and TrueBlue Dining, allow you to accumulate frequent-flyer miles for each meal purchased, whether you're in quarantine or otherwise.
As is the case with the portal shopping, participating in a dining program is a great way of keeping any existing miles active, definitely something worth bearing in mind if you have points that may expire.
You can also keep your points active by donating some to charity, transferring miles from a hotel or credit card program, or redeeming a bunch for a gift card or other product.
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5. Sign up for a credit card or bank account
Another way you can collect points without traveling is by getting your hands on a premium credit card that offers a sign-up bonus and frequent-flyer points, or a co-branded airline rewards credit card. (Only do so if you can afford to and be sure to use it sensibly.)
One of the best is the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, which offers two points on dining and one point on other purchases. Other options include the American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp Card, Delta SkyMiles Gold and Blue American Express Cards, and United Explorer Card.
Staying with financial products, you might also want to consider opening a new checking account or transferring your existing one. By way of example, Bank Direct's AAdvantage account offers new customers 10,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles and the chance to earn thousands of miles each year.
Some banks such as Texas Capital Bank's Bask Bank account allow you to collect points by saving money too.
Other tricks include getting friends and family to sign up for a loyalty program. Many airlines reward referrals handsomely, while some will even gift you thousands of points if one of the people you've referred merely clicks on a link.
With so many savvy ways of conserving and accruing points, you really shouldn't be worried about losing any or missing out on increasing your balance during this difficult time we're living through.
*Details correct at the time of writing but please check terms and conditions carefully.