ITA Airways extends Volare: deadline postponed pending settlement of "marriage" with Lufthansa

Before he was born TFC in Italy no one, or hardly anyone, spoke to frequent flyers.

Of course, there was the forum Million Miles, there were some projects that had failed to get off the ground, such as FrequentFlyerItaly Of my friend (and namesake) Matteo, but there was nothing comparable to the publishing project that we have set up in these 5 years.

Today we are talking about more than 20,000 daily accesses to the site and to a community of hundreds of thousands of users. We didn't do anything special: we simply copied What has been happening abroad for years, viz. Talk about loyalty programs, points, award tickets, benefits and rules of the game.

Obviously Flying, the Italy's leading loyalty program with over 3 million members, could only be the one we write about most often and analyze in greater detail, highlighting the following merits and demerits.

Especially in recent 12 months, since the entry into the share capital of Lufthansa has become official and in view of its natural expiration date of December 31, 2025. In recent weeks, then, it has become a real "obsession".

History of the Volare program

Volare is born in October 2021, on the same day as the birth of the Italian company. It is also launched because of the Ban imposed on ITA from acquiring MilleMiglia program. At first it is only on paper: one status match To retrieve passenger data, then, a few months later, the official debut.

The program starts from scratch: no business partners, no points, no prize tickets. Slowly growing membership, comes theaccrual and the Cash & points ticket.

Months pass, membership increases, and, at July 2023, are presented the American Express co-branded credit cards. The presentation is given by Lazzerini (ITA) and Quarenghi (American Express Italy): irony, both will leave a few months later respective positions. The status are renewed ex officio, year after year.

I loyalty programs in Italy have regulations complicated by Italian law, and this leads to situations difficult to imagine For those watching us from abroad. Thus, in August 2024, is announced the program extension and the Renewal of the validity of points until December 2025.

A February 2025, Lufthansa officially announces:

"Flying will merge into Miles&More, ITA will leave SkyTeam and the Italian airline will adopt the group's loyalty program."

In spring comes the first targeted status match: Miles&More takes "only" real passengers, those who fly, not those who benefited from automatic renewals. In summer comes the prize tickets, which, however, are nothing more than the slavish transposition of the Cash & Miles.

At October comes the second status match, this time open to all. At the same time Miles&More renews status even to those who had joined the first campaign.

We come to today: with less than 14 days to go, ITA Airways has just announced, on the website and in the personal area Volare, the extension for another 3 months, then through March 30.

Volare renewal: everything you need to know

The regulation has been updated and the new deadline for the Volare program is now set at March 30. "Only" 3 months, which will serve as bridge to the future, in full compliance with the Italian regulations, which-as mentioned-does not make these operations easy. If we then contextualize everything in the larger scenario of the Sale of ITA by the Italian government to the Lufthansa group, you can see how complex the situation is.

As per the regulations the Qualifying Flying Points will not expire on December 31 and thus the status qualification is extended to March 30;

I reward points, or those that can be used for ticketing, are renewed and it will be possible to use them until April 30, 2026, but with a distinction:

• You will be able to use them for prize tickets and cash&points until March 30
• It will be possible to spend them with partners until April 30

All the flights made after January 1 may be credited on Flying and the status benefits will be usable through March 30.

A all users, for the fifth consecutive year, lo status will be renewed ex officio, or rather extended until March 30, 2026.

Volare renewal and American Express co-branded credit cards.

The question credit cards is not secondary. Agreements of this kind bring a lot of money in the companies' coffers and are therefore extremely delicate. In recent months we have seen how American Express has almost "hidden" the ITA papers pending regulatory clarification.

The certainty is, at least until March 30, will continue to be guaranteed the benefits under the regulation: points accumulation, lounge access, priority, etc.

However, the question remains open points back, or the re-credit of Volare points provided as a benefit of the cards Gold and Platinum, in case the crediting is to take place. after the end of the program.

Barbone's comment.

I never hid the fact that, in my opinion, it was better to keep Flying and Miles&More To the point of total fusion. Paradoxically, even today, the Lufthansa group could back out and do not complete the takeover Of the Italian company. I, however, stopped at the linguistic high school And I don't have a master's degree in "business economics of fidelity programs owned by a government In a company that is to be sold to a foreign corporation."

The fact remains that get to 12 days before the deadline To give this information was, in my opinion, untransparent and unfair towards (more or less loyal) customers. Indeed, better late than never, but inform the members in time had to be done. If not with details at least inviting the use of points given the impending deadline.

I honestly wouldn't know what to say: accumulate qualifying points on a program that might, but also might not, die on March 30 leaves more than one doubt. Knowing that there are no partners where to exploit the status, if not Lufthansa or United, and that no Star Alliance airline will credit points on Volare card, prompts me to recommend. without hesitation by credit on Miles&More.

Also because - as I have already said - Obtaining and maintaining a status on Miles&More will be MUCH more complicated, and leave with 3 months delay will be for many a handicap difficult to overcome.

For everyone else, however, it is good to know that they have 4 more months to use the accumulated points. The advice, however, remains the same: set up Miles&More card on all ITA flights

In the meantime, let me also advise you to start using the Mastercard Gold Miles&More at least you get ahead.

Article updated 3:28 p.m.

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