Summary
- EuroBonus members can continue booking flights as usual until SAS exits Star Alliance at the end of August.
- Elite status holders with SAS will maintain benefits when flying on Star Alliance partners until August 31st, 2024.
- SAS will transition to the SkyTeam alliance on September 1st, with EuroBonus members able to redeem points on SkyTeam carriers.
The largest airline in Scandinavia has confirmed it will be leaving the Star Alliance at the end of August in preparation to join the SkyTeam alliance. The move has been widely speculated since Air France-KLM announced it was investing in Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) and brings significant changes for frequent fliers.
What is changing right now?
The flag carrier of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden will continue to use its EuroBonus frequent flyer program following its exit from the alliance. The airline confirmed today that EuroBonus members can continue to book flights as usual. Since the airline will remain a part of Star Alliance until the end of August, EuroBonus members will continue to accrue or redeem points on Star Alliance partners and other SAS partner airlines until then.
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Reciprocal benefits will be available to most SkyTeam carriers starting September 1st.
Elite status will also be unaffected in the immediate future. Members who hold Silver or Gold status through SAS will enjoy the same benefits and point earnings when they fly on a Star Alliance airline until August 31st, 2024. Notably, passengers can redeem points for trips on Star Alliance Airlines if they book before September, even if the travel date is after the airline exits the alliance. According to the airline, the transition will increase options for passengers while maintaining stability for frequent fliers in the interim:
“While we are proud to have been a founding member of Star Alliance, we are confident that joining SkyTeam will further strengthen our customer offering.
“Importantly, nothing is changing as of now.”
Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying
The airline confirmed that members of other Star Alliance airlines’ loyalty programs will enjoy the same membership benefits when they fly on SAS and can spend miles/points on SAS flights as long as SAS is part of Star Alliance. Passengers with an Amex 2-for-1 voucher can continue using it for Star Alliance Bonus trip bookings until August 31st.
What is changing this fall?
Beginning September 1st, EuroBonus members will be able to redeem points on travel across SkyTeam alliance carriers. EuroBonus Silver members will enjoy benefits such as extra baggage allowance and priority check-in. EuroBonus Gold and Diamond members will enjoy benefits such as lounge access, fast track, and priority boarding with most SkyTeam airlines.
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Passengers won’t know where they are going until they are airborne.
Given the turnaround time, all the new partnership agreements might not be fully operational by September. The airline indicates that EuroBonus members will enjoy similar benefits when flying on “most SkyTeam airlines” as they do today when they fly on a Star Alliance airline. According to Scandinavian Airlines, discussions are already well underway:
“SAS is in advanced negotiations with SkyTeam and many of its member carriers to develop and grow extensive commercial relationships. We look forward to sharing more details as our journey progresses, with a view to creating a smooth transition to an exciting travel future.”
Photo: Craig Russell | Shutterstock
EuroBonus members will be able to claim missing points for flights on Star Alliance airlines that they have completed before August 31st only until September 8th, 2024. After that, crediting points for flights on Star Alliance Airlines to a EuroBonus account will no longer be possible.
What about the future?
It remains within the realm of possibility that SAS could eventually migrate its members to the Flying Blue loyalty program. Currently used by Air France, KLM, and Transavia, the frequent flyer program is one of the largest in Europe.
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AF-KLM’s new ownership stake could mean major changes for frequent flyers.
Simple Flying previously revealed that according to the loan conditions, such a deal could be possible in the future:
“[SAS] shall facilitate a merger of the loyalty programs between SAS and Air France-KLM (Eurobonus/Flying Blue) at any time after Air France-KLM secures more than 50 percent of the outstanding shares.”
Photo: Olaf Schulz | Shutterstock
Such a move is not automatically bound to happen. The group currently only has around 20% of the shares, and any increase to a controlling position would be heavily scrutinized by regulators in the European Union and beyond. However, the door to merge with one of Europe’s most valuable loyalty programs remains open.
