---
title: "What is Soft landing? | Benefit Systems"
description: "A soft landing is the rule that a missed status does not disappear entirely but drops to the next lower tier instead."
source: "aus dem gebauten HTML abgeleitet"
---
# What is Soft landing?

A soft landing is the rule that a missed status does not disappear entirely but drops to the next lower tier instead.

Also called: Tier downgrade protection.

## How it works #

Programmes use the rule to retain frequent travellers after a weak year. How much of the previous year’s activity counts, and whether the drop happens automatically, sits in the programme terms and is rarely advertised. Anyone falling just short of a threshold should know this rule before buying extra flights in December.

## Not to be confused with #

A soft landing is not the same as a status extension: an extension keeps the tier, a soft landing lowers it by one step.

## In German #

The German term is Weiche Rückstufung. [German version of this term](/de/glossar/weiche-rueckstufung)

## Related terms #

- [Elite qualification](/en/glossary/elite-qualification): Elite qualification is the proof that enough flights, qualifying miles or spending have accumulated within a defined period to reach a status tier.
- [Elite status](/en/glossary/elite-status): Elite status is a tier in a loyalty programme that grants extra benefits for a limited period once a qualification threshold has been met.
- [Lifetime status](/en/glossary/lifetime-status): Lifetime status is a tier granted permanently once a cumulative lifetime total is reached, without needing to requalify each year.

## Articles that use this term #

- [How many flights do you need for airline elite status?](/en/knowledge/elite-qualification)
- [When airline elite status gets you nothing](/en/knowledge/when-status-gets-you-nothing)