I've been a longtime holder of both SAS EuroBonus American Express and SAS EuroBonus MasterCard, but recently I think I found a better points-earning solution and thought I'd share.

As you guys likely well know, the SAS EuroBonus American Express earns 20 EuroBonus points/100 SEK spent (i.e. 5 SEK/point) and costs 1000 kr/year (first year 500 kr); the MasterCard earns 10 EuroBonus points/100 SEK spent (i.e. 10 SEK/point) and costs 395 kr/year (first year free, waived for Gold/Diamond).

A month or so ago, Coop overhauled their membership program, and SAS is now a partner <https://www.coop.se/MedMera-kortet/Partnersidor/SAS/>. The exchange rate is listed as 60000 MedMera points to 12000 EuroBonus points. One of their payment cards, Coop MedMera Mer <https://www.coop.se/MedMera-kortet/B...t/MedMera-Mer/>, earns 1 MedMera point/1 SEK spent, up to 2 MedMera points/1 SEK at Coop and partners. At the above exchange rate, that's <5 SEK/point, which is just as good if not better as the AmEx. Plus, the Coop MedMera Mer is a MasterCard, which is more widely accepted than AmEx. The annual fee is only 249 kr/year (first year free), which is cheaper than either SAS card.

Additionally, Coop MedMera Mer is one of the partner cards at Betalo <https://www.betalo.se/pris-amp-korttyper-12.html>, a service that lets you pay Bankgiro/Plusgiro by credit card, which means (as far as I can tell) there is absolutely no charge for using it. That opens up even more points earning opportunities, e.g. when paying the rent, utilities, loans, etc.

Additionally #2, the Coop new membership program has a point-doubling incentive twice a year <https://www.coop.se/MedMera-kortet/S...la-dina-poang/>, so even more points. It only works on "basic" points earned at Coop, though.

The only unique benefit of the SAS EuroBonus AmEx is that 50% coupon, which is a pain to use. I've gotten them for the past 3 or 4 years now and never successfully used it once, because I tend to travel most at the end of the year (and the coupon expires before that), or because there's no reward seat availability when I do try to book something with it.

The SAS EuroBonus AmEx does seem to have best-in-class travel insurance. Fortunately I've never had to use it. Coop MedMera Mer also lists extended travel insurance as a benefit. A cursory glance finds that the SAS AmEx still wins but MedMera Mer coverage is sufficient for my needs.

A final benefit of the Coop MedMera Mer is that I was able to replace three cards in my wallet (the SAS AmEx, the SAS MasterCard, and my Coop medlemskort) with just the one.

I don't know how well the MedMera-to-EuroBonus exchange will actually work out when it goes live later this year, but based on all of the above, so far it seems like a no-brainer to switch. If I've missed anything, I would love to know.