Originally Posted by
NickB
SAS has an established FFP and the transition to a different FFP is. as Digicola said, somewhat more complex and not directly comparable. Clearly, merging fo the FFPs is on the "to do" list but I would have thought that there would be other things higher up in that list, such as harmonising route network, controlling costs in core operation, etc..., hence why I agree with DIgicola that a merging by end of 2025, let alone 2024, seems to me rather, ahem, 'ambitious'.
But it's not like keeping Eurobonus doesn't require any work at all. You'd have to integrate the programme with other SkyTeam airlines, deal with the new booking system, change benefits, etc. It's not much easier (and I'd argue it's even harder) than merging of the programmes, which will really just mean status match + points transfer from EB to SK.
The main difference is that if they switch to FB on the day they join SkyTeam, they will have to do all that work just once. If they try to keep EB for a while, they will spend months (and a lot of money) to integrate the programme into SkyTeam, only to then spend additional months (and additional money) on the merger anyway. Basically they'd have to go through that complicated process twice. That's why I don't see much logic in keeping EB alive after SK joins ST (mind you, I'm not making any predictions as to when that may be), if the long term plan is to close EB and FB instead.