15 Airlines With Family-Friendly Elite Class Policies

Whether it’s becoming a parent, a sudden illness, or any number of other factors, frequent flyers sometimes suddenly become less likely to fly.

If circumstances force you to stay for an extended period of time, you may be concerned about the potential threat to your elite status. Some airlines are sensitive to the hectic adjustment period of parenthood, acknowledging medical issues and demonstrating their commitment to long-term loyalty by implementing elite retention policies.

For parents planning to expand their family or having to stay put for medical reasons, we’ve compiled a guide to 15 airlines with elite seat-holding policies.

Lingus Aviation

Aer Lingus AerClub members with Silver, Platinum or Concierge status can apply to extend their status due to serious illness or the birth or adoption of a child. Status can be extended during maternity leave for the birth or adoption of a child. For illness, you must have a doctor’s letter confirming that you are unable to fly for a minimum of 16 weeks.

To qualify, you must upload documentation from your doctor (or birth certificate or adoption papers) to the Aer Lingus contact form. Aer Lingus will grant up to two extensions within a five-year period.

Full details are available on AerClub FAQ Page.

American Airlines

Although American Airlines does not have an official status retention policy for maternity or parental leave, I contacted the airline and received the following statement.

“We understand that our members experience major life events that may impact their travel schedules,” the spokesperson said, “and we ask that they contact us when this occurs. We will review these with our members on a case-by-case basis.”

Air France and KLM

Be part of the company Blue Flying Family program, new parents can put aside their elite status.

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If you are a Silver, Gold, Platinum, or Ultimate member and find your status level drops to a lower tier during medical, maternity, childbirth, or adoption leave, you can request to maintain your previous level. To do this, you will need to submit a customer service request to Air France-KLM Fly Blue through the program contact form. Note that this benefit is only available if you have a Flying Blue Family account.

Related: Flying Blue adds discounted child award tickets and other family benefits

Alaska Airlines MVP, MVP Gold, and MVP Gold 75K Elite Members who are new parents can pause their status for one year during pregnancy and take parental leave thanks to Alaska Elite Leave Program.

To request a suspension of your status, email Alaska Airlines at [email protected] with your full name, date of birth, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan the amount and proof of pregnancy or parental leave, such as a note from your employer or doctor. Eligible types of parental leave include maternity leave, parental leave, and adoption leave.

Once your year is up, you will be able to pick up where you left off and continue working to re-qualify. However, keep in mind that those who achieved elite status as a gift or match status will not be eligible.

United Airlines

While United does not publish its policy online, we reached out to the airline and received the following statement.

“We understand that each of our MileagePlus members has a different situation, and our goal is to work with members and provide extensions when appropriate,” a United spokesperson said. “That’s why we’ve equipped our agents to provide status extensions for maternity/paternity leave.”

This is consistent with the experience reported by Summer hulldirector of content at TPG. She reached out to United after welcoming her second daughter to the family and the airline expanded United MileagePlus Premium Platinum status for the next year.

Delta Airlines

Delta SkyMiles There is a program called “Get my status back“And anyone whose SkyMiles elite status has been reduced or lost due to a major life event — like welcoming a baby, changing jobs, getting sick, etc. — can apply to have their status reinstated.

Those who qualify will receive three months of complimentary elite status and must travel a certain amount of distance on Delta within that time frame to renew their elite status. You may be required to submit supporting documentation for your request. Make sure you are ready to start traveling again before submitting your request.

Related: Delta’s ‘Reclaim My Status’ Program: How to Get Your Elite Status Back After a Life Event

Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian offers an elite status extension program that allows you to Keep your Pualani elite status for one year after a qualifying medical event. A medical event includes parental leave or a health condition lasting 12 weeks or longer that prevents you from flying.

To receive a status extension, simply submit a request. Once your eligibility is verified, Hawaiian will extend your elite status for one program year.

Like many other programs, those with additional elite status, including talent status and fit status, are not eligible to renew elite status.

You can extend your elite status for 12 months after welcoming a child into your family by emailing a copy of your medical report, maternity leave certificate or court ruling in the case of adoption, guardianship or foster care to [email protected]. For the other parent to be eligible to extend their current Iberia Plus level, at least eight weeks of leave must be taken during the validity of the level. The level will not be extended until the leave has been established.

This benefit does not apply to status achieved through criteria other than standard program criteria and cannot be used for two consecutive periods.

To apply for this benefit, use the airline contact form and select “email”. In the category field, select “Miles+Bonus”, then select “My Status” for the category and attach the required supporting documents:

• Mother: birth certificate
• Father: birth certificate and proof of parental leave

The Aegean Sea also has a family friendly air miles program when it’s time to redeem your miles.

Qantas Airlines

Qantas has “Keep the status quo,“a family benefit that allows eligible Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Platinum One members to suspend their status for up to 18 months.

Stay in Status is available to parents who take at least six consecutive months of parental leave from paid work to spend time with their growing family. Qantas acknowledges that six months of leave is extremely unusual in the United States. If your parental leave is less than six months, contact Regular customer service center to discuss eligibility options.

The great thing about this generous offer is that you can still earn Qantas points and status as normal during this time. You’ll also still have lounge access.

The benefit is also extended to foster and adoptive parents. Eligibility is determined through an application, which requires members to provide supporting documentation from a doctor confirming the pregnancy or the child’s birth certificate, along with a letter from their employer confirming at least six consecutive months of parental leave. Eligible members are limited to a maximum of two approved Stay in Status applications within a five-year period.

With Air Canada “Expand altitude status“With this program, parents can extend their elite benefits for at least 12 months.

Eligibility is simple: Parents simply email proof of parental leave from their employer, the child’s birth certificate, and proof of adoption or foster care to [email protected].

British Airways

British Airways has a policy of allowing Bronze, Silver and Gold Executive Club Members to maintain your status during maternity leave, parental leave, or adoption leave.

New parents interested in this situation should email all supporting documentation, including a doctor’s letter or the new baby’s birth certificate (or adoption-related documents) to [email protected] along with your full name and British Airways Executive Club number. As an added benefit, British Airways will even reward your little one with 1,000 Avios when you enroll them in your Household Account.

Please note that this benefit is limited to a maximum of two approved reservations per Executive Club elite member within a five-year period.

Virgin Australia

Virgin Australia offers a “very generous”Suspend Membership“where Platinum, Gold and Silver members who want to spend time caring for (or preparing for) a child under 2 to join their family (including adoption) can apply to pause their membership account for six months to maintain their elite status when they are ready to fly again.

Both parents can apply to suspend membership for six months until the child turns 2 years old. Apply via Member Contact Center.

While no formal documentation is required, approval is at the discretion of the airline. Verification may be required if requested.

To renew your membership, Virgin Atlantic encourages parents who are expecting a child through birth or adoption to contact our customer care centre at [email protected] with your name, membership number and birth or adoption certificate.

All members requesting status extension will have to submit a separate request.