Beleaguered low-cost carrier Norwegian has announced it is restructuring and will suspend its Reward loyalty programme. The airline an email sent out to members of its frequent flyer scheme. It said the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic had affected them and the global aviation industry.
In January, Norwegian said it was ending its transatlantic routes from Europe to North America, making 2,000 staff redundant. Its European short-haul business has been cut to a fraction of its pre-pandemic size. A return to pre-COVID passenger numbers is seen to be a long way off.
Norwegian said legalities surrounding its corporate restructuring in Ireland and Norway required it to suspend earning and redemptions for its loyalty programme.
Here are the three main changes that will affect all members of Norwegian’s frequently flyer programme.
1. Pausing of Reward program benefits with Norwegian while in reconstruction process
We will be pausing the Norwegian airline-related benefits of our loyalty program. Your membership will remain active, but during this time it will not be possible for you to earn or spend CashPoints or Rewards on Norwegian’s products or services (flight tickets, extra baggage etc.). You will still be able to earn CashPoints with our other Reward partners.
2. Following the pause, a potential limit on CashPoint spend
Once the pause has ended, you’ll be able to earn and redeem CashPoints and Rewards on Norwegian’s products and services, but we will reserve a right to limit the spending of CashPoints as means of payment until the impact of the ongoing pandemic is under control and Norwegian’s commercial activities can return to a new normal.
3. An extension of CashPoints and Rewards validity
We recognise that the above changes, as well as the ongoing pandemic and government travel restrictions, may not allow you to earn and spend your CashPoints and Rewards as you would normally. With this in mind, we will be giving all members with CashPoints due to expire on 31 December 2021 the opportunity to extend the validity of those CashPoints by one full year. You will receive more information about this.
The expiration of Rewards has been paused since last year, as well as the number of flights needed to qualify for Rewards adjusted, and this will continue until further notice.
Norwegian also said they’re updating their Reward Terms and Conditions to reflect the updates to the program.
Have you been affected as Norwegian suspends its Reward loyalty programme? Let us know in the comments below.
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