Emirates Extends COVID-19 Rebooking Policy & Frequent Flyer Status

Emirates has extended its COVID-19 booking policies and is now offering existing travelers a 36-month window to rebook flights. Frequent flyers who have been unable to fly will also see their status extended to 2022 and miles not expire until at least 31st August 2021. Let’s find out more.

Emirates is offering travelers more incentives to book flights now and change later if they cannot travel. Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying

More room

As COVID-19 continues to impact international travel, Emirates has updated its rebooking policies. Passengers who have booked flights before 30th September 2020 for flights before 31st December 2021 will now get 36 months to rebook the date of their flight, a 12 month extension on the current policy. This means that passenger could hypothetically move their summer trip to 2024 if they wanted to.

Passengers who booked flights on or after 1st October 2020 will continue to have the option to rebook for 24 months. Unlike other airlines, Emirates does not charge any fees or fare different for rebooked tickets. Moreover, travelers can also change their flights to any destinations within the same region.

Emirates is now giving all passengers the flexibility to travel any time within 36 months of booking their ticket. Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying

The destination change could prove lucrative to many passengers in the coming months. Emirates divides the world into eight regions, such as Europe, North America, Far East, West Asia, and others. This means if France’s border remains closed, passengers can switch their flights to Greece instead (which plans to reopen its border).

While this is not as generous as Qatar’s 5,000 mile promotion, it does open the door for travelers to book cheap routes and later change to more expensive routes. For now, most borders remain closed until at least this summer.

Frequent flyer loyalty

For travelers loyal to Emirates, the carrier is reciprocating the love. All Silver, Gold, and Platinum tier travelers will see their status extended to 2022. The airline has been routinely extending status every few months to ensure those who can’t fly aren’t disadvantaged by the current situation.

In addition to status, those sitting on Emirates miles can also breathe a sigh of relief. Any miles that were due to expire in April 2020 have now been extended until 31st August 2021. This means you must book tickets by 31st August, although the date may be well into the future. This date has also been routinely extended due to restrictions since many cannot travel just yet.

While Emirates is welcoming passengers back, travel remains restricted worldwide due to rising cases and the risk of new variants. Photo: Emirates

For now, frequent flyers do not need to worry about their miles or status until next year. However, with growing optimistic about a limited resumption of leisure travel this summer, it might be a good time to dust off your passport and membership cards.

Insurance still in place

Emirates was one of the early airlines to include travel insurance with all tickets purchased with the airline. The insurance policy is now in place beyond March 31st, 2021, with no end date. While it is not a substitute for separate travel insurance, the Emirates policy does add another layer of safety for travelers.

What do you think about Emirates’ COVID-19 ticket policies? Let us know in the comments!

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