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Members of the South African Airways Voyager loyalty program will not be able to redeem accrued miles for awards until July 31, 2020.
This is due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic (Covid-19), which has led to a blockade and flight bans in South Africa, according to a letter received by Voyager members, dated Friday, May 7.
The moratorium period can be extended if necessary. However, members can continue to earn miles with other program partners during this time, the letter states.
Additionally, the expiration date of all qualified companion tickets will be extended for an additional year, due to current global travel restrictions. Future fulfillment of companion tickets will be announced upon Voyager’s future completion. ”
Fin24 previously reported that the Minister of Tourism, Mmamaloko Kubayi-Ngubanet, hopes that domestic flights can probably only be resumed in September this year, and international flights possibly only next year.
READ: SAA reduction notices were unfair, court rules
According to the letter to Voyager’s loyalty members, the purpose of the temporary moratorium to redeem awards is to evaluate various options for the future of the program “in the best interest of the companies associated with the loyalty program and their members”.
SAA entered voluntary commercial rescue in December, with the aim of seeing if the airline could be saved. The future of the airline is not yet clear.
In the absence of a trade bailout plan, the issuance of Section 189 notices beginning a consultation process on the proposed reductions in SAA was unfair regarding the procedure, the Labor Court found Friday.
The Department of Public Enterprises last week said it had cornered an international aviation company to help with the formation of a new airline to replace SAA. So far, however, no additional funding announcements have been made.
“All relevant stakeholders are deliberating carefully on the way forward for the commercial rescue of SAA,” the letter tells Voyager members.
“Ongoing travel restrictions and reduced flights have limited options for members to use their miles. As a result, there has been a significant increase in the redemption of miles for essential goods and electronic calling services,” the letter noted.
This unexpected lawsuit has made it difficult for the airline to maintain Voyager operations with limited availability for all members to redeem their miles.
