Stretch your miles: the complete guide to airline coronavirus promotions
As travel starts to slowly ramp back up, airlines are offering lucrative mileage earning and redemptions promotions to entice travelers to book post-coronavirus travel. These promotions offer more ways for travelers to bulk up their mileage balances, accelerate elite status earning, and redeem awards at lower rates.
We’ll give you a look at all the currently available coronavirus promotions offered by airlines in the U.S. and abroad. We’re expecting airlines to offer even more of these promotions in the future, so bookmark this page and check back often for more updates.
One thing you won’t find here is elite status extensions — check out our full coronavirus guides to airline status for more information.
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Air Canada
Aeroplan recently announced a new partnership with Uber Eats, where it will award 2x Aeroplan miles per dollar spent on all Uber Eats purchases made in the U.S. and Canada. To earn miles with this promotion, click through the Uber Eats portal on the Aeroplan website before you order delivery.
There is no expiration date set for this promotion, so we’re hoping that it continues even after the coronavirus outbreak is contained.
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines is offering a 50% bonus on elite qualifying miles on all flights through the end of the year. Simply book a ticket with Alaska and you’ll see the bonus elite miles in your account after completing the flight.
This promotion runs through Dec. 31, 2020 and includes flights booked before the promotion was announced. Unfortunately, the promotion does not include flights booked on partner airlines.
Related: What is Alaska Airlines elite status worth in 2020?
American Airlines
All miles earned with an American Airlines cobranded credit card count towards Million Miler status until the end of the year. This is a great way to earn lifetime AAdvantage elite status even if you're not in the sky.
Southwest Airlines
Like American Airlines, Southwest is offering double points on flights flown by Aug. 31, 2020. You can enroll in this promotion on Southwest’s website and the bonus points will be automatically credited to your account after your flight is completed.
You can earn double points on flights booked before registering for the promotion, but you must enroll by the time your flight departs.
Related: The ultimate guide to Southwest Rapid Rewards
Qatar Airways
While not necessarily a promotion, Qatar Airways is offering a handful of exciting change options to those set to fly on a Qatar Airways ticket. Between now and Dec. 31, 2020, you have three options when changing a Qatar Airways flight:
- You can exchange your refund for Qmiles at a rate of 1 mile per $0.01.
- Change your flight's destination to anywhere within 5,000 miles of your original destination free of charge
- Change the dates of your flight free of charge
- If your flight is involuntarily disrupted, you can cancel your ticket and receive a 10% bonus when the refund is issued as a travel voucher
This policy change gives Qatar travelers the utmost flexibility when it comes to changing or canceling flights — something that’s especially important during these uncertain times. It’s great to see Qatar Airways sweetening the deal with a bonus on travel vouchers, the ability to refund to miles, and free destination changes.
Bottom line
It’s great to see airlines offer these promotions to their loyal customers. These promotions will help travelers get back in the sky, all while helping them earn valuable awards that can help fuel future travel.
We’re expecting airlines to announce more promotions over the summer, and we’ll keep updating this page accordingly. Bookmark this page and check back soon for more promotions.
Feature photo by Scott Varley/Digital First Media/Torrance Daily Breeze via Getty Images
Top offers from our partners
How we chose these cards
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
- First checked bag free
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Rewards Rate
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles50,000 Bonus MilesAnnual Fee
$250Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO© Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.670-850Excellent/Good
Why We Chose It
Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
- First checked bag free
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees