How Airline and Hotel Loyalty programs are changing due to COVID-19, coronavirus.

Given the global situation concerning COVID-19 (the coronavirus), frequent travelers have stayed at home and are practicing social distancing instructions in order to prevent further spread of the illness. As we hope for the safe health of others, we're all dreaming of a return to normal travel. While no one can quite predict when that might be, travel companies have made moves to keep their programs active and members engaged. Here's a list by Ramsey Qubein on what to know about travel loyalty program changes, elite status, and qualifications moving forward.

Accor Live Limitless

Accor’s loyalty program is crediting 50 percent of the status nights and points required to requalify for your current status level. This automatically gets you halfway toward the same status for next year.

Aeroplan

Air Canada is pausing the expiration of miles until May 14, which means if you had miles set to expire before then, they now last until mid-May. Altitude members are receiving additional eUpgrade credits in their accounts, which are valid until May 31, 2021.

Best Western Rewards

Best Western was one of the first to extend status for members until January 31, 2022. This means that your current status remains the same unless you earn a higher level this year. Plus, anyone who was downgraded in status based on travels in 2019 will be boosted to their previous level until January 31, 2022, as well.

Cathay Pacific Marco Polo Club

Cathay is automatically adding monthly increments of points between now and April to get travelers closer to status thresholds even when they cannot travel. In addition, those with lounge passes, upgrade certificates, and Gold Companion Card nominations will receive six-month extensions to use them.

Choice Privileges

Any points set to expire have been extended through the end of May 2021.

Delta SkyMiles

If you have upgrade and companion certificates that were supposed to expire this spring, the validity has been extended through the end of the year.

Emirates Skywards

The airline is lowering elite threshold requirements between now and May 2020 by 20 percent.

Etihad Guest

The airline is delivering bonus tier miles on a monthly basis to pad member balances and help them toward annual elite thresholds during the travel slowdown.

Flying Blue

Miles will no longer expire this year, and for those with status expiring this spring, elite status requirements are being lowered by 25 percent.

Hilton Honors

Any points that were scheduled to expire between now and May 31 will be extended.

IHG Rewards Club

IHG was a first mover in making status easier for travelers. Travelers now have lower requirements to earn elite status. For example, Gold Elite status now requires 7,000 qualifying points (instead of 10,000) or seven qualifying nights (instead of 10) this year to earn status. Top-tier Spire Elite status only requires 55,000 qualifying points (instead of 75,000) or 55 nights (instead of 75).

Marriott Bonvoy

If you have free night or Suite Night awards (used for room upgrades on eligible stays) in your account, these will be extended until December 31, 2021. In addition, any points set to previously expire will be extended to the same date.

Qantas Frequent Flyer

Status is being extended for current elite members by 12 months.

Radisson Rewards

Current elite status has been extended through February 2022, and any upcoming points expiration has been extended through the end of August.

Shangri-La Golden Circle

The current elite status is being extended for another year to December 31, 2021.

Virgin Flying Club

Elite status is being extended by six months.

World of Hyatt

Proposed changes to award categories (the designated number of points needed to redeem for a free night’s stay) will not go into effect this month as planned. Instead, it will be postponed to 2021. That’s good news for stays at many luxury hotels, where the free-night points rate was going to increase.

Why haven’t other brands made adjustments yet?

Given the uncertainty of the current situation, some airlines or hotels may be waiting to see the extent of travel disruption before making an announcement. Even currently announced loyalty program adjustments may change again before the end of the year. As we wait for the curve to flatten, be expecting more change to occur to our favorite hotel and airline programs.

Applying for Global Entry // Details for Hawaii Residents

WHAT IS GLOBAL ENTRY?

Global Entry is the US government’s way of approving "trusted travelers" to gain quicker access through customs after international travel. Global Entry includes TSA Precheck, which provides an expedited passage through security at many US airports.

Global Entry makes traveling much quicker and more seamless. Landing from an international trip is a breeze, with just a few moments on the fast-pass line at customs through the Global Entry kiosks.

Also included is the TSA Precheck benefits, which are frequently used when traveling domestically. You will really appreciate the time you save not having to wait in long security lines. Also, you don’t have to fill up three bins with personal items, since you can keep my shoes, coat, and belt on and don’t have to remove liquids and laptop from your bag.

The way it works is, you go to these kiosks, present your machine-readable passport or U.S. permanent resident card, have your fingerprints scanned for identity verification, and complete a customs declaration. You’ll then get a receipt and be sent on your way to the baggage claim area.

If it works the way it should, you'll be off the plane, reunited with your baggage, and on your way home in no time. Just be aware though that even if you're accepted into the Global Entry program, CBP does caution that "members may still be selected for further examination when entering the United States." You should also know that if you apply for and get accepted into Global Entry, you’ll automatically be enrolled in TSA PreCheck.

HOW TO ENROLL:

1. Visit the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Trusted Traveler Program website and create a Login.gov account.

Before starting your Global Entry application, you must create a Login.gov account here.

2. Complete your Global Entry application

The application takes about 20 minutes to complete. You’ll need several documents, including your valid passport or U.S. permanent resident card and driver’s license or other ID. You’ll have to fill out a comprehensive history, including your current and previous addresses for the past five years, employment history for the past five years, and international travel history for the past five years.

Once you complete your application and are “conditionally approved,” you will be asked to schedule your in-person interview.

3. Pay the $100 Fee

The fee for applying for Global Entry is $100. When you consider the time you save going through security with TSA Precheck and going through US customs after traveling internationally, it’s well worth the money. BELOW is a List of Credit cards that will reinburse you the Global Entry Fee.

4. Schedule and attend your in-person interview

After completing the Global Entry Application and paying the fee, you must now check the interview availability for your closest Global Entry Enrollment Center location (most are at airports) before applying. Alternatively, you can complete your Global Entry interview on a return flight from an international trip, which you don’t need to make an appointment in advance for. *This applies those at the HNL International Airport. 

5. Attend Your in-person Interview

My interview was scheduled 2 months after my application was submitted at the Daniel Inouye International Airport. Yelp didn’t help much getting me there, so I provided some pictures and direction on how to get there. *HAWAII RESIDENTS, LOOK BELOW

You will need to bring your valid passport and driver’s license or other ID to your interview. They will also take a copy of your fingerprints. The interview itself takes a mere 10 minutes! I was expecting heavy screening and interrogation, but all they did was confirm my identity and take a picture.

Once you’ve completed your interview, you will be approved to begin using Global Entry. You will receive your Global Entry card in the mail 7-10 business days after approval, but don’t have to wait for it to arrive to have the benefits.

BEST CREDIT CARDS FOR GLOBAL ENTRY AND TSA PRECHECK

Here is a list of credit cards that re-imburse your Global Entry Fee.

1. Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card

   • Global Entry/TSA Pre✓® fee reimbursement details: Receive up to a $100 credit once every four years when you use your card to pay your Global Entry OR TSA Pre✓® application fee.

2. The Platinum Card® from American Express

   • Global Entry/TSA Pre✓® fee reimbursement details: Receive up to a $100 credit once every four years when you use your card to pay your Global Entry OR TSA Pre✓® application fee. This benefit is also available to additional card members on the account. 

3. The Chase Sapphire Reserve

   • Global Entry/TSA Pre✓® fee reimbursement details: Receive up to a $100 credit once every four years when you use your card to pay your Global Entry OR TSA Pre✓® application fee.

4. Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Visa® credit card

   • Global Entry/TSA Pre✓® fee reimbursement details: Receive up to a $100 credit once every four years when you use your card to pay your Global Entry OR TSA Pre✓® application fee.

5. Mastercard® Black Card

   • Global Entry/TSA Pre✓® fee reimbursement details: Receive a $100 automatic statement credit for the cost of the Global Entry and TSA Pre✓® application fee.

6. Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard®

   • Global Entry/TSA Pre✓® fee reimbursement details: Receive up to a $100 credit once every five years when you use your card to pay your Global Entry OR TSA Pre✓® application fee.

7. United℠ Explorer Card

   • Global Entry/TSA Pre✓® fee reimbursement details: Either $100 or $85 statement credit for the application fee when you apply for either Global Entry or TSA Pre✓®, every four years.

8. IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card

   • Global Entry/TSA Pre✓® fee reimbursement details: Receive up to a $100 credit once every four years when you use your card to pay your Global Entry OR TSA Pre✓® application fee.

FOR BUSINESSES

1. The Business Platinum® Card from American Express

   • Global Entry/TSA Pre✓® fee reimbursement details: This card reimburses you once every four years for your TSA Pre✓® or Global Entry application fees, and that credit is available to each cardholder on the account so your employees can also take advantage of this offer. 

2. Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card

   • Global Entry/TSA Pre✓® fee reimbursement details: This card reimburses you once every four years for your TSA Pre✓® or Global Entry application fees.