SAS Exits Star Alliance On August 31 & Joins SkyTeam On September 1, 2024
SAS has today announced its exit date from Star Alliance and when the airline joins the rival SkyTeam, of which Air France-KLM is a founding member (SAS’ partial owner).
SAS’s last day as a Star Alliance member is August 31, and the airline will become a SkyTeam member on September 1, 2024. Eurobonus will, for now, be SAS’ frequent flier program, but it will likely be replaced by Flying Blue once Air France—KLM’s takeover is complete.
You can access SAS here and SkyTeam here.
Why This Alliance Change?
SAS has gone through a bankruptcy reorganization, and one of the new shareholders is SkyTeam member Air France- KLM, which will eventually be the majority owner. It plans to absorb the loyalty program into its groupwide Flying Blue.
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SAS Announcement:
SAS ANNOUNCES NEXT STEP IN ITS ALLIANCE TRANSITION JOURNEY
SAS today announces exciting details about the next chapter in its future commercial relationships. SAS will remain in Star Alliance through August 31, 2024, and customers can start enjoying benefits with most SkyTeam airlines beginning September 1, 2024.
Following this transition starting September 1, 2024, SAS EuroBonus members will enjoy loyalty benefits similar to those offered today with Star Alliance airlines with most of SkyTeam’s airlines.
SAS is in advanced negotiations with SkyTeam and many of its member carriers to develop and grow extensive commercial relationships. We look forward to giving our customers access to 19 new airlines and more than 1,060 destinations around the globe. Customers will enjoy continued access to their favorite cities and regions, while enjoying more travel options to previously unserved destinations.
“We are thrilled to progress on our alliance transition journey and pave the way for delightful new destinations and loyalty program benefits across the world. Our focus now is to guide customers and our EuroBonus members on each step during this transition. We look forward to sharing more details as our journey progresses, with the aim to create a smooth transition to an exciting travel future with us,” says Chief Commercial Officer at SAS, Paul Verhagen.
We have worked closely with both Star Alliance and SkyTeam and many of their members over the last 6 months to ensure a smooth transition for all customers and our EuroBonus members. All customer benefits of Star Alliance, including earn and burn of EuroBonus points, lounge access and other benefits along the customer journey will remain through August 31, 2024. EuroBonus will remain SAS’ loyalty program, also after SAS leaves Star Alliance.
SAS Eurobonus Conversion Information:
From Star Alliance to Skyteam
Here’s where we’ve gathered everything you need to know about SAS’ commercial relationship transition journey.
How will this change impact EuroBonus?
EuroBonus will remain SAS’ loyalty program and the current rules and regulations for traveling on SAS will remain largely the same. Your membership, including your level in the program and points earned, will not be affected.
In general, as a EuroBonus member, you’ll still enjoy the same benefits and point earnings based on your membership level when you fly on a Star Alliance airline until 31 August 2024. And from 1 September 2024, you’ll enjoy similar benefits with most SkyTeam airlines
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.
Below is the latest information about how the move will impact EuroBonus members.
EuroBonus benefits when you travel on a partner airline
For departure until 31 August 2024:
EuroBonus members flying on a Star Alliance airline will enjoy the same benefits as they do today based on their Star Alliance Silver or Gold status.
For departures from 1 September 2024:
EuroBonus members will enjoy similar benefits with most SkyTeam airlines
EuroBonus Silver members will enjoy benefits such as extra baggage allowance and priority check-in with most SkyTeam airlines
EuroBonus Gold and Diamond members will enjoy benefits such as lounge access, fast track and priority boarding with most SkyTeam airlines.
More details will be shared as soon as possible.
Earning EuroBonus points when you travel on a partner airline
For departures until 31 August 2024:
EuroBonus members flying on a Star Alliance airline will earn Basic points just as they do today.
Until 8 September 2024, EuroBonus members will be able to claim missing points for flights on Star Alliance airlines that they have completed until 31 August 2024. After 8 September 2024, it will no longer be possible to claim missing points for flights on Star Alliance airlines. To avoid having to claim missing points, make sure your EuroBonus number has been added to your booking before departure.
For departures from 1 September 2024:
EuroBonus members will no longer earn Basic points when flying on a Star Alliance airline, but instead earn Basic points when flying on most SkyTeam airlines. More details about earning points will be provided on SAS’ EuroBonus partners page
EuroBonus members will be able to claim missing points for flights departing from 1 September 2024 on most SkyTeam airlines at the earliest 8 days and at the latest 6 months after the flight.
Using EuroBonus points to travel on partner airlines
On Star Alliance airlines
Bookings:
Until 31 August 2024, EuroBonus members will be able to book Bonus trips on Star Alliance airlines using the Star Alliance Bonus Trip booking tool, even if the travel date is after 31 August 2024.
No new bookings on Star Alliance airlines will be allowed after 31 August 2024.
Valid Amex 2-for-1 vouchers can be used for Star Alliance Bonus trip bookings until 31 August 2024.
Rebooking:
Until 31 August 2024, you can rebook your Star Alliance Bonus trip until 24 hours before the departure of the outbound flight, subject to availability, just as today, even if your departure date is from 1 September 2024. Once you’ve started your trip, however, you will not be able to rebook your return trip.
From 1 September 2024, you can rebook your Bonus trip to a SAS or certain SkyTeam airline flights (subject to availability) by contacting SAS Customer Service. Just as today, you can rebook your trip up to 24 hours before the departure of the outbound flight. Please note that you can’t rebook your return flight once you’ve started your trip.
Just as today, if any points used in your original booking have expired by the time you rebook your trip, new points will be taken from the original EuroBonus account.
Cancellation:
You can cancel your Star Alliance Bonus trip (until 31 August 2024 and after 1 September 2024) just as today, up to 24 hours before the departure of the outbound flight by contacting SAS Customer Service. Once you’ve started your trip, however, you can’t rebook your return trip.
All non-expired points and vouchers will be returned to the original EuroBonus account.
On SkyTeam airlines
Bookings:
From 1 September 2024, you’ll be able to use your EuroBonus points to book Bonus trips on most SkyTeam airlines for travel from 1 September 2024.
You’ll also be able to use an Amex 2-for-1 voucher when booking a Bonus trip on most SkyTeam airlines.
Rebooking:
Bonus trips booked on SkyTeam airlines will be rebookable.
Just as today, if any points used in your original booking have expired by the time you rebook your trip, new points will be taken from the original EuroBonus account.
Cancellation:
You’ll be able to cancel your Bonus trip on a SkyTeam airline just as today, up to 24 hours before the departure of the outbound flight. All non-expired points and vouchers will be returned to the original EuroBonus account.
Star Alliance Press Release:
Star Alliance will continue its tradition of exceptional global connectivity and superior customer experience in Scandinavia
Since its founding in 1997, Star Alliance and its member airlines have maintained a significant presence in Northern Europe. Loyal customers who travel to and from Sweden, Denmark, and Norway have come to appreciate the many benefits of the superior customer experience and loyalty reciprocation that Star Alliance member airlines proudly provide globally, and in Scandinavia.
SAS Scandinavian Airlines plans to exit Star Alliance on August 31, 2024. On behalf of our member airlines, we thank SAS and its employees for contributing to the superior customer experience for which Star Alliance is globally renowned.
During this transition, the experience of our customers is top of mind. Star Alliance, its member airlines, and SAS intend to ensure that this change is seamless for customers, particularly with respect to previously booked flights. Members of frequent flyer programs should consult their individual airline programs directly with specific questions related to mileage accrual and redemption for travel within the Star Alliance network.
Going forward, 17 Star Alliance member airlines will continue to offer direct flights to and from Scandinavia, including Aegean Airlines, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Austrian, Brussels Airlines, Croatia Airlines, EgyptAir, Ethiopian Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Swiss, TAP Air Portugal, Thai, Turkish Airlines, and United. These Star Alliance member airlines will operate more than 3,700 flights per month to Scandinavia from 23 hubs worldwide, offering customers connections to more than 1,100 international destinations — the most by any airline alliance. In the future, Star Alliance member airlines may bring additional service to Scandinavia.
On September 1, Star Alliance will have 25 member airlines dedicated to fulfilling and enhancing their customers’ global journeys. Star Alliance continues to hold its position as the world’s largest and foremost global airline alliance, providing over 17,000 daily departures and serving more than 1,100 airports across 187 countries. In Scandinavia, Star Alliance and its member airlines will continue to provide customers with a wide choice of travel options and focus on delivering a superior customer experience.
Conclusion
SkyTeam recently saw Virgin Atlantic join, and SAS will be a full member soon. In the past decade, Oneworld has also seen new members join: Sri Lankan, Malaysia Airlines, and Qatar Airways. Star Alliance has become a stale alliance, although stronger than SkyTeam.
I see no other reason for SAS’ alliance switch than the new ownership structure and the eventual folding of Eurobonus into Flying Blue, which is easier when they are both part of the same alliance.
Star Alliance is a better alliance than SkyTeam, so this switch is a loss to Eurobonus members that utilize Star Alliance airlines. Once SAS has exited, there will surely be status match opportunities from Star Alliance Airlines, and we will cover them all.
You have to keep in mind that ITA, former Alitalia, is headed to Star Alliance from SkyTeam once the Lufthansa takeover is complete, and Air Europe will switch from SkyTeam to Oneworld if IAG’s takeover is successful.
