Last edit by: Nick Art
Introduction to SAS & Eurobonus / Frequently Asked Questions
Introduction
Scandinavian Airlines System (for short SAS, IATA code SK) is the flag carrier airline of Scandinavia. It's owned for 71% by private owners and 29% by the governments of Sweden (1/7th) and Denmark (1/7th). The government of Norway has recently sold its stake in SAS.
SAS mainly flies to destinations in Europe, particularly within Scandinavia, but also operates on a few long haul routes to Asia and the USA.
SAS is part of the StarAlliance network and has in addition codeshare operations with several airlines.
Fleet
The fleet of SAS consists of mainly short haul material, mainly A320neos, but also several variants of the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 families, although the latter are diminishing in number.
Bombardier CRJ regional jets and ATR turboprops are operated for SAS by the Irish airline Cityjet and Estonian airline XFly. A small fleet of Embraer 195 are operated by subsidiary SAS Link out of Copenhagen.
A fleet of A320neo aircraft is close to being fully delivered to Irish-registered subsidiary SAS Connect (formerly SAS Ireland).
For long haul operations, SAS uses the Airbus A330-300 and A350-900.
An up to date overview of the SAS fleet can be found here.
Hubs and Focus Cities
SAS has three hubs:
Copenhagen (CPH),
Stockholm (ARN) and
Oslo Gardermoen (OSL).
In addition,
Bergen (BGO),
Stavanger (SVG),
Trondheim (TRD) and
Gøteborg Landvetter (GOT)
have been defined as focus cities.
Service classes
Instead of the traditional Economy Class, Economy Extra Class and Business Class, SAS has made up its own service class system.
Short haul
On all short haul, SAS serves the following classes
Experience teaches that Plus, with the exception of full flex tickets, is not considered as a business class fare by any of the airline partners of SAS. As a result, if someone books a flight in SAS plus with a partner airline, the chance is quite big to end up in regular economy. The same goes for re-routings on partner airlines. This also may affect lounge access on Plus tickets: not all partner airlines may allow Plus ticket holders in their lounges.
Frequent Flyer Program / EuroBonus
SAS has its own frequent flier program called EuroBonus. It has been around since 1992. EuroBonus offers frequent fliers the possibilities to earn points. These points can be used to obtain status and /or to save for award travel or products from the gift shop.
After subscribing to EuroBonus, the qualification period starts running. This is an period of 12 months from the month of subscription to the end of the 12th month thereafter. This cycle repeats itself every year.
For example, if someone subscribes in October, his or her qualification period runs from October to September the next year (both inclusive).
Membership levels
EuroBonus offers five levels in its program:
Qualifying segments can be earned on all flights flown by
For point earnings, please see below.
Point earnings
EuroBonus offers 2 kinds of points:
The validity of points varies and is based on the type of point and the membership level.
Basic points can be earned on all flights operated by
* Please note that only 'points for use' can be earned on AirBaltic and Ethiad Airways and only on selected routes.
Booking class
Critical for the determination of how many points will be earned is the booking class in which a flight is booked. A booking class is represented by a single character and can vary per flight segment in your booking.
A regular SAS booking via the SAS website doesn't explicitly state the booking class in the reservation, although it is possible to see in which class the booking will be done:
Step 1:
Select a suitable flight or routing and the available fares will show up. For flights fully operated by SK the booking site will show the points earned on the lower right side for each fare (1). Note that for Eurobonus Status members, the bonus % earned on flights is included in these calculations.
Step 2:
Click the (i) icon on the top of the fare (2). A popup will show up showing the fare rules. The letter is the booking class (3). In the case of more than one flight, the booking class for each flight is displayed in chronological order.
To check the booking classes later on, review the Electronic Itinerary SAS sent via mail:
Or check the booking classes directly under my bookings on the SAS website:
Star Alliance Benefits (for elites in other *A programs flying on SK)
Star Alliance Silver Benefits
You'll get nothing and like it?
Star Alliance Gold Benefits
Priority check-in: Yes
Fast-track security pass: Yes (for everyone on same itinerary; excludes SK-operated fast-track security)
Extra baggage allowance: Yes (HBO fares might be excluded)
Preferred seats: Yes
Lounge access: Yes (for traveler and one guest; SAS-operated or Star Alliance-affiliated lounges only)
Priority baggage handling: Yes
Priority standby: Yes
Priority boarding: Yes (for everyone on the same itinerary)
Introduction
Scandinavian Airlines System (for short SAS, IATA code SK) is the flag carrier airline of Scandinavia. It's owned for 71% by private owners and 29% by the governments of Sweden (1/7th) and Denmark (1/7th). The government of Norway has recently sold its stake in SAS.
SAS mainly flies to destinations in Europe, particularly within Scandinavia, but also operates on a few long haul routes to Asia and the USA.
SAS is part of the StarAlliance network and has in addition codeshare operations with several airlines.
Fleet
The fleet of SAS consists of mainly short haul material, mainly A320neos, but also several variants of the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 families, although the latter are diminishing in number.
Bombardier CRJ regional jets and ATR turboprops are operated for SAS by the Irish airline Cityjet and Estonian airline XFly. A small fleet of Embraer 195 are operated by subsidiary SAS Link out of Copenhagen.
A fleet of A320neo aircraft is close to being fully delivered to Irish-registered subsidiary SAS Connect (formerly SAS Ireland).
For long haul operations, SAS uses the Airbus A330-300 and A350-900.
An up to date overview of the SAS fleet can be found here.
Hubs and Focus Cities
SAS has three hubs:
Copenhagen (CPH),
Stockholm (ARN) and
Oslo Gardermoen (OSL).
In addition,
Bergen (BGO),
Stavanger (SVG),
Trondheim (TRD) and
Gøteborg Landvetter (GOT)
have been defined as focus cities.
Service classes
Instead of the traditional Economy Class, Economy Extra Class and Business Class, SAS has made up its own service class system.
Short haul
On all short haul, SAS serves the following classes
- SAS Go is what should resemble regular economy. The following is included in SAS Go
- 23 kg. luggage
- on line check in and on site check in
- Buy on board (coffee and tea are included in the ticket price)
- seat selection (may come with additional costs)
- SAS Plus is a hybrid form of economy extra and business class and includes the following features
- seating in the front of the plane
- no guaranteed free middle seat
- choice of food and beverages from the on board menu is included
- priority check in counter usage
- fast track security where applicable
- priority luggage labels on your hold luggage
- higher point earnings
- lounge access where available
- priority boarding where applied
Experience teaches that Plus, with the exception of full flex tickets, is not considered as a business class fare by any of the airline partners of SAS. As a result, if someone books a flight in SAS plus with a partner airline, the chance is quite big to end up in regular economy. The same goes for re-routings on partner airlines. This also may affect lounge access on Plus tickets: not all partner airlines may allow Plus ticket holders in their lounges.
Frequent Flyer Program / EuroBonus
SAS has its own frequent flier program called EuroBonus. It has been around since 1992. EuroBonus offers frequent fliers the possibilities to earn points. These points can be used to obtain status and /or to save for award travel or products from the gift shop.
After subscribing to EuroBonus, the qualification period starts running. This is an period of 12 months from the month of subscription to the end of the 12th month thereafter. This cycle repeats itself every year.
For example, if someone subscribes in October, his or her qualification period runs from October to September the next year (both inclusive).
Membership levels
EuroBonus offers five levels in its program:
- Basic is the standard entry level for everyone who subscribes to the program.
- Silver is the level for everyone who has flown 10 one way flight segments or gathered 20.000 basic points within one qualification period on qualifying flights. This comes with the status Star Alliance Silver.
- Gold is the level for everyone flying 45 qualifying flight segments or gathering 45.000 basic points within one qualification period on qualifying flights
- Diamond is the highest tier available by basic point earnings or flight segments flown. 90 segments or 90.000 points in one qualification period are required.
- Pandion is an invitation only level for the best customers of SAS. Not much is formally known about the requirements for achieving this level.
- Lifetime Gold: While not in itself a separate status level, Gold status can be achieved for life by maintaining Gold status or higher for 10 consecutive years.
Qualifying segments can be earned on all flights flown by
- SAS, with the exception of SAS flights with numbers ranging 3000 - 3999 and 6000 - 9999. More information can be found here
- Widerøe, with the exception of all flights within Norway that are carried out on PSO agreements. An overview of eligible routes can be found here.
For point earnings, please see below.
Point earnings
EuroBonus offers 2 kinds of points:
- Basic points
These are points that count towards membership levels. - Points for use (sometimes referred to as Extra points) These are the points that can be used for award travel and as a currency for buying products.
The validity of points varies and is based on the type of point and the membership level.
- Basic points are valid during one qualification period.
- Points for use (sometimes referred to as Extra points) are valid for 5 years for all memeber levels except Diamond and Pandion: those levels have no point validity. After losing Pandion or Diamond level benefits the counter for validity is reset to 5 years.
Basic points can be earned on all flights operated by
- SAS. All flights, with the exception of flights with number 3000 - 3999 and 6000 - 9999
- Widerøe. All flights, with the exception of PSO routes. An overview of eligible routes can be found here
- Atlantic Airways. Please note that no points are earned on flight numbers RC001-399 and RC1000-9999.
- StarAlliance partners. Point earnings is possible on all StarAlliance partners. Please note that not all booking classes may be eligible on all carriers. A detailed overview of earnings per airline can be found here.*
* Please note that only 'points for use' can be earned on AirBaltic and Ethiad Airways and only on selected routes.
Booking class
Critical for the determination of how many points will be earned is the booking class in which a flight is booked. A booking class is represented by a single character and can vary per flight segment in your booking.
A regular SAS booking via the SAS website doesn't explicitly state the booking class in the reservation, although it is possible to see in which class the booking will be done:
Step 1:
Select a suitable flight or routing and the available fares will show up. For flights fully operated by SK the booking site will show the points earned on the lower right side for each fare (1). Note that for Eurobonus Status members, the bonus % earned on flights is included in these calculations.
Step 2:
Click the (i) icon on the top of the fare (2). A popup will show up showing the fare rules. The letter is the booking class (3). In the case of more than one flight, the booking class for each flight is displayed in chronological order.
To check the booking classes later on, review the Electronic Itinerary SAS sent via mail:
Or check the booking classes directly under my bookings on the SAS website:
Star Alliance Benefits (for elites in other *A programs flying on SK)
Star Alliance Silver Benefits
You'll get nothing and like it?
Star Alliance Gold Benefits
Priority check-in: Yes
Fast-track security pass: Yes (for everyone on same itinerary; excludes SK-operated fast-track security)
Extra baggage allowance: Yes (HBO fares might be excluded)
Preferred seats: Yes
Lounge access: Yes (for traveler and one guest; SAS-operated or Star Alliance-affiliated lounges only)
Priority baggage handling: Yes
Priority standby: Yes
Priority boarding: Yes (for everyone on the same itinerary)
SAS & EuroBonus Introduction / Frequently Asked Questions
#317
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: In between PTY, MEX and CPH
Programs: Flying Blue Plat, SAS Eurobonus Silver, Connect Miles Gold, Marriott Lifetime Plat, Hyatt Disc.
Posts: 587
I just checked in on a SK flight tomorrow afternoon. I'm *G with one of the Latin American airlines. When I opened the boarding pass in my mailbox, I noticed that underneath the flight details and barcode it says:
FAST TRACK: Available at CPH security.
I'm flying a Go light fare intra European (Q).
Since when do *G members get access to any kind of fast track in CPH - and are they referring to SK fast track or CPH Express?
FAST TRACK: Available at CPH security.
I'm flying a Go light fare intra European (Q).
Since when do *G members get access to any kind of fast track in CPH - and are they referring to SK fast track or CPH Express?
#318
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Preferable @30.000 feet
Programs: More than one
Posts: 1,673
I just checked in on a SK flight tomorrow afternoon. I'm *G with one of the Latin American airlines. When I opened the boarding pass in my mailbox, I noticed that underneath the flight details and barcode it says:
FAST TRACK: Available at CPH security.
I'm flying a Go light fare intra European (Q).
Since when do *G members get access to any kind of fast track in CPH - and are they referring to SK fast track or CPH Express?
FAST TRACK: Available at CPH security.
I'm flying a Go light fare intra European (Q).
Since when do *G members get access to any kind of fast track in CPH - and are they referring to SK fast track or CPH Express?
#319
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: In between PTY, MEX and CPH
Programs: Flying Blue Plat, SAS Eurobonus Silver, Connect Miles Gold, Marriott Lifetime Plat, Hyatt Disc.
Posts: 587
It depends which airline you are flying with. If it's one of the airlines where SK is ground handling company *G normally get the benefit of using the SK fast track. If SK is not the ground handing company it will be CPH express. In some cases you can actually use both.
I have just never seen that on my boarding pass before and frankly wasn't aware that it was even a benefit. Thought it was reserved for SKs own FFs.
#320
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 21,160
It used to be for Plus and Business bookings plus Eurobonus Gold, Diamond, and Pandion only. I guess good news if that has been expanded. Unless the lines get hopelessly chaotic.
#321
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Posts: 909
I've got a few of newbie questions about eurobonus awards on star alliance partners...
1. Is it still true that if you transit outside of the region then you pay the more expensive rate or has this been removed
2. Can I call to get different flights? I'm looking at a route A-B-C that has multiple services from A-B but the online version is only showing the A-B flight with the shortest connection time to the B-C flight. I'd like to take an earlier flight from A-B and possibly even build a long transit but will SAS allow this over the phone even if B is outside of the region of A and C? I saw an old post that giving the agents the specific flights used to be possible but not any more?
3. What are the change/cancellation fees. As far as I can tell it's just the service fee which is €60?
1. Is it still true that if you transit outside of the region then you pay the more expensive rate or has this been removed
2. Can I call to get different flights? I'm looking at a route A-B-C that has multiple services from A-B but the online version is only showing the A-B flight with the shortest connection time to the B-C flight. I'd like to take an earlier flight from A-B and possibly even build a long transit but will SAS allow this over the phone even if B is outside of the region of A and C? I saw an old post that giving the agents the specific flights used to be possible but not any more?
3. What are the change/cancellation fees. As far as I can tell it's just the service fee which is €60?
#322
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: AGH
Posts: 5,976
2. Can I call to get different flights? I'm looking at a route A-B-C that has multiple services from A-B but the online version is only showing the A-B flight with the shortest connection time to the B-C flight. I'd like to take an earlier flight from A-B and possibly even build a long transit but will SAS allow this over the phone even if B is outside of the region of A and C? I saw an old post that giving the agents the specific flights used to be possible but not any more?
3. What are the change/cancellation fees. As far as I can tell it's just the service fee which is €60?[/QUOTE]
Yes, it is only the service fee... I think more around 375 SEK/person
#323
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Posts: 909
[QUOTE=fassy;31972196]Never had any problem to get booked on flights of my choosing as long as X, I or O award inventory was accessible in the inventory.
Ok cheers good to know. I checked X inventory via SAS website and the award hacks website https://awardhacks.se/Home/starresult both giving positive results for the flights I want.
Yep cheers my mistake. It's billing in Euro so it's actually €50 online.
#324
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Preferable @30.000 feet
Programs: More than one
Posts: 1,673
As far as I know, it's always been an unpublished benefit that SK granted *G fast track access in CPH and ARN for SK operated flights. For flights where they are ground handling company I know it has worked in the past, but I'm not sure it still does. OSL use to be the same, but they now has a proper *G gold track so here there are no questions anymore.
#325
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Preferable @30.000 feet
Programs: More than one
Posts: 1,673
I've never heard about this, but I know airports and countries have different fees depending whether the flight is domestic, short haul or long haul and the fees also varies from country to country and airport to airport.
#326
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: AGH
Posts: 5,976
But I do not have any recent experience with SAS to that regards, best option is to call and ask.
#327
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 21,160
As far as I know, it's always been an unpublished benefit that SK granted *G fast track access in CPH and ARN for SK operated flights. For flights where they are ground handling company I know it has worked in the past, but I'm not sure it still does. OSL use to be the same, but they now has a proper *G gold track so here there are no questions anymore.
#328
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
It can’t have been always, as I have been denied FastTrack by SK@CPH as a BD*G/CO*G/A3*G/UA*G/O6*G flying SK economy class.
SK Fast Track at CPH and ARN denied me access as partner airline *G flying SK economy class so many times over the years that I had more or less given up on trying to use partner airlines*G status for SK FastTrack security when flying SK in economy class from CPH and ARN.
At ARN, the Amex Cent and Plat cards get me FastTrack security regardless of carrier, and the same for GOT, MMX, HEL. Not sure if CPH is the last hold out of the big 4 Continental Scandinavian airports when it comes to those Amex cards and expedited security screening, but CPH is the one where I would most welcome a change while OSL doesn’t matter as much to me.
At ARN, the Amex Cent and Plat cards get me FastTrack security regardless of carrier, and the same for GOT, MMX, HEL. Not sure if CPH is the last hold out of the big 4 Continental Scandinavian airports when it comes to those Amex cards and expedited security screening, but CPH is the one where I would most welcome a change while OSL doesn’t matter as much to me.
Last edited by GUWonder; Jan 20, 2020 at 4:18 pm
#329
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: In between PTY, MEX and CPH
Programs: Flying Blue Plat, SAS Eurobonus Silver, Connect Miles Gold, Marriott Lifetime Plat, Hyatt Disc.
Posts: 587
It can’t have been always, as I have been denied FastTrack by SK@CPH as a BD*G/CO*G/A3*G/UA*G/O6*G flying SK economy class.
SK Fast Track at CPH and ARN denied me access as partner airline *G flying SK economy class so many times over the years that I had more or less given up on trying to use partner airlines*G status for SK FastTrack security when flying SK in economy class from CPH and ARN.
At ARN, the Amex Cent and Plat cards get me FastTrack security regardless of carrier, and the same for GOT, MMX, HEL. Not sure if CPH is the last hold out of the big 4 Continental Scandinavian airports when it comes to those Amex cards and expedited security screening, but CPH is the one where I would most welcome a change while OSL doesn’t matter as much to me.
SK Fast Track at CPH and ARN denied me access as partner airline *G flying SK economy class so many times over the years that I had more or less given up on trying to use partner airlines*G status for SK FastTrack security when flying SK in economy class from CPH and ARN.
At ARN, the Amex Cent and Plat cards get me FastTrack security regardless of carrier, and the same for GOT, MMX, HEL. Not sure if CPH is the last hold out of the big 4 Continental Scandinavian airports when it comes to those Amex cards and expedited security screening, but CPH is the one where I would most welcome a change while OSL doesn’t matter as much to me.
Went to SK fast track and shower my boarding pass to a staff member. She told me that “CPH fasttrack is the CPH Express lane by the main security checkpoint”.
I thought it sounded weird but walked there and tried to scan my BP in the express lane. It denied me entry and a nice staff member asked to see my BP. She told me to go back to SK!
Explained they had me denied me entry and sent me to CPH express. She then had me scan my BP in the regular line and proceeded to let me through the express lane. It seemed very “ad hoc” so there’s definitely some confusion around this.
I have another SK flight from CPH a few weeks from now. Will try challenge the SK fast track people a little more then.
#330
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
So this is what happened:
Went to SK fast track and shower my boarding pass to a staff member. She told me that “CPH fasttrack is the CPH Express lane by the main security checkpoint”.
I thought it sounded weird but walked there and tried to scan my BP in the express lane. It denied me entry and a nice staff member asked to see my BP. She told me to go back to SK!
Explained they had me denied me entry and sent me to CPH express. She then had me scan my BP in the regular line and proceeded to let me through the express lane. It seemed very “ad hoc” so there’s definitely some confusion around this.
I have another SK flight from CPH a few weeks from now. Will try challenge the SK fast track people a little more then.
Went to SK fast track and shower my boarding pass to a staff member. She told me that “CPH fasttrack is the CPH Express lane by the main security checkpoint”.
I thought it sounded weird but walked there and tried to scan my BP in the express lane. It denied me entry and a nice staff member asked to see my BP. She told me to go back to SK!
Explained they had me denied me entry and sent me to CPH express. She then had me scan my BP in the regular line and proceeded to let me through the express lane. It seemed very “ad hoc” so there’s definitely some confusion around this.
I have another SK flight from CPH a few weeks from now. Will try challenge the SK fast track people a little more then.
Nor is there any of that benefit for all *Gs at ARN.
At OSL, however, there is Gold/Fast Track for all *Gs flying * airlines in economy class out of OSL; but the *Gs on SK get the SK FastTrack while *Gs on other * carriers (beside SK) use a a separate priority security screening access. At least according to this:
https://www.staralliance.com/en/gold-track
So SK@CPH seems worse than SK@OSL in regards to granting priority screening to partner airline *Gs.
And CPH is worse than ARN in regards to granting priority screening to Amex Platinum and Centurion card holders.