Oct 3, 2023, 2:27 pm
Last edit by: Nick Art
SAS plans to leave Star Alliance and join SkyTeam
On the 3rd of October SAS announced further steps as part of their SAS FORWARD plan. SAS has raised nearly 12.9 billion SEK as part of their Chapter 11 restructuring process. This will mean current shareholders are wiped out and the company will be delisted.
The new owners include Air France-KLM, Castlelake, Lind Invest and the Danish state.
As such, SAS plans to leave Star Alliance and join Air France-KLM's Sky Team alliance by summer 2024.
FAQ:
What does this mean for EuroBonus?
SAS EuroBonus FAQ:
On October 3rd 2023, SAS announced the intention to eventually join SkyTeam and leave Star Alliance. For now the EuroBonus program remains unchanged. SAS will keep you informed about what to expect over the coming months and will provide updates continuously on the EuroBonus website.
1. What will happen to EuroBonus?
2. What will happen to my EuroBonus points?
3. What will happen to my EuroBonus tier status?
4. What will happen to my EuroBonus Lifetime Gold status?
5. Do I keep my status benefits when I travel on another Star Alliance partner airline?
6. Can I still earn points when I fly on another Star Alliance carrier?
7. What will happen to my existing Star Alliance award bookings?
8. Can I still use my points to redeem on other Star Alliance carriers?
9. Can I still earn points on credits cards and other non-airline partners?
10. Can I still use my EuroBonus points on non-airline partners such as rental cars or hotels?
Will there be opportunities to match with other programs to remain in *A?
Will AF - KLM take over control of SAS?
What is the ratio of the new ownership?
What happens to existing SAS shares?
Will SAS change their HUB strategy or move their HQ to Denmark?
Will SAS join the SkyTeam transatlantic Joint Venture?
How was this decided?
What is the process now?
Sources and links:
- SAS Press Release
- Communication E-Mail sent to EB members can be found in Post 114
- E24 (Information with regards to EuroBonus. Thanks to matin for the find in Post 64)
- Reuters
- AF-KLM Press Release
- SAS EuroBonus FAQ (Thanks again to matin for the find in Post 237)
- DInside on Merger of EuroBonus into FlyingBlue (Thanks to Frederik74 for the find in Post 473)
On the 3rd of October SAS announced further steps as part of their SAS FORWARD plan. SAS has raised nearly 12.9 billion SEK as part of their Chapter 11 restructuring process. This will mean current shareholders are wiped out and the company will be delisted.
The new owners include Air France-KLM, Castlelake, Lind Invest and the Danish state.
As such, SAS plans to leave Star Alliance and join Air France-KLM's Sky Team alliance by summer 2024.
FAQ:
What does this mean for EuroBonus?
- Eurobonus members can still book travel on Star Alliance carriers until the end of the transition period.
Future affiliation with Air France-KLM's Flying Blue frequent flyer programme has not yet been decided.- In the meantime the agreement between SAS and the investing consortium includes a provision for preparations of merging EuroBonus into FlyingBlue once AF-KLM owns more than 50% of the outstanding shares. It thus seems very likely that EuroBonus will ultimately be merged into FlyingBlue, the timeline and details of this are, however, still unclear.
SAS EuroBonus FAQ:
On October 3rd 2023, SAS announced the intention to eventually join SkyTeam and leave Star Alliance. For now the EuroBonus program remains unchanged. SAS will keep you informed about what to expect over the coming months and will provide updates continuously on the EuroBonus website.
1. What will happen to EuroBonus?
- No changes are being made to the program and EuroBonus will remain SAS's loyalty program. As a member, you will continue to earn and use points on SAS as today. Your status and benefits as a EuroBonus member when you fly with SAS will not be impacted. Delivering an attractive loyalty program to SAS's loyal customers will remain the top priority for us and our new owners, even after SAS changes ownership and alliance. SAS intends to eventually leave Star Alliance and join SkyTeam, and adjustments to the program will be made accordingly. As long as SAS is a member of Star Alliance, EuroBonus members can continue to enjoy the same benefits as they do today when flying on a Star Alliance partner airline.
2. What will happen to my EuroBonus points?
- No changes are made to your EuroBonus points. You will keep all points earned until now and will continue to earn and use points just like today.
3. What will happen to my EuroBonus tier status?
- No changes are made to your EuroBonus tier status. You will retain your status and your progress made during your qualification period. Requirements to reach each tier level and benefits included in each tier remain the same.
4. What will happen to my EuroBonus Lifetime Gold status?
- No changes are made to the EuroBonus Lifetime Gold program. EuroBonus Lifetime Gold memberships will be honored even after SAS joins SkyTeam, and all progress made towards Lifetime Gold will be kept.
5. Do I keep my status benefits when I travel on another Star Alliance partner airline?
- While SAS remains part of Star Alliance, you will enjoy the same status benefits as you do today when you fly with a Star Alliance partner When SAS eventually joins SkyTeam, you will also be able to enjoy similar status benefits across the extensive SkyTeam network.
6. Can I still earn points when I fly on another Star Alliance carrier?
- While SAS remains part of Star Alliance, you will be able to earn EuroBonus Basic points when flying on a Star Alliance airline partner flights
7. What will happen to my existing Star Alliance award bookings?
- Existing bookings remain unchanged and will be honored even if you fly after SAS eventually leaves Star Alliance
8. Can I still use my points to redeem on other Star Alliance carriers?
- While SAS remains part of Star Alliance, we will allow you to use EuroBonus points to book Star Alliance award trips
9. Can I still earn points on credits cards and other non-airline partners?
- Yes
10. Can I still use my EuroBonus points on non-airline partners such as rental cars or hotels?
- Yes
- While SAS remains part of Star Alliance, members of other Star Alliance member programs will keep their status benefits while flying on SAS, and will be able to spend their miles/points on SAS flights
Will there be opportunities to match with other programs to remain in *A?
- Most likely yes, but it will have yet to be seen what opportunities will present itself.
Will AF - KLM take over control of SAS?
- After a minimum of two years and pending regulatory permission, AF - KLM may increase its stake to grant it controlling power over SAS. However, the current situation indicates that there are agreements within the consortium, which would de facto give AF - KLM control with regards to certain aspects of SAS operations (as seen by the announcement to leave *A and join ST).
What is the ratio of the new ownership?
- Castlelake: 32%
- AF - KLM: 19.9%
- Danish State: 25.8%
- Lind Invest: 8.6%
- Remaining equity to be distributed to existing creditors.
What happens to existing SAS shares?
- This process makes current SAS shares lose their value. Some existing shareholders expressed displeasure about the decision and are questioning wether an American court can rule on making existing shares of SAS lose their value. It remains to be seen if legal action is taken.
Will SAS change their HUB strategy or move their HQ to Denmark?
- This is as of yet unconfirmed but it seems likely that SAS might focus on CPH and move its HQ.
Will SAS join the SkyTeam transatlantic Joint Venture?
- This is the stated goal of AF-KLM CEO, but will require regulatory approval.
How was this decided?
- There was a bidding process and two bids were received. Private Equity company Apollo Global Invest had expressed interest in taking control of the airline.
- The decision on the bids was taken roughly 30 minutes before the press conference on October 3rd as stated by Dilling.
What is the process now?
- Nothing changes immediately. As of now SAS is still a member of Star Alliance and will continue to operate normally for the foreseeable future.
- The announcements made today reflect the future plans, which are subject to approval by many different entities and regulatory bodies. These include the courts in the US to approve the Chapter 11 process, courts in Sweden which will have to approve the restructuring (and invalidation of shares), as well as the following, as taken out of the SAS press release: "(...) antitrust authorities, civil aviation authorities, the European Commission, and EFTA Surveillance Authority (as applicable), SAS leaving Star Alliance, the implementation of a Swedish Reorganization at the SAS AB level, and other customary conditions. There currently remains uncertainty in respect of satisfying such conditions and obtaining required approvals (...)".
- We should hear more about if this is going through in the next couple of weeks.
- SAS plans to exit Chapter 11 in Q2 2024 and leave Star Alliance and join SkyTeam before summer 2024.
Sources and links:
- SAS Press Release
- Communication E-Mail sent to EB members can be found in Post 114
- E24 (Information with regards to EuroBonus. Thanks to matin for the find in Post 64)
- Reuters
- AF-KLM Press Release
- SAS EuroBonus FAQ (Thanks again to matin for the find in Post 237)
- DInside on Merger of EuroBonus into FlyingBlue (Thanks to Frederik74 for the find in Post 473)
SAS to leave Star Alliance and join SkyTeam [eff. 01 Sep 2024]
Oct 13, 2023, 8:14 am
#361
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Paris
Programs: Flying Blue (Platinum), Eurobonus (Diamond), Marriott (Titatinum), British Airways Exec Club (Gold)
Posts: 69
Oct 13, 2023, 9:21 am
#362
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CPH
Programs: UAMP S, TK M&S E (*G), Marriott LTP, IHG P, SK EBG
Posts: 11,154
Oct 13, 2023, 4:45 pm
#364
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 21,542
There was a tendency for some agents to recommend you go get an on arrival visa. Somehow I suspect that was an uplift and a referral fee. .
Oct 14, 2023, 12:43 am
#365
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Paris
Programs: Flying Blue (Platinum), Eurobonus (Diamond), Marriott (Titatinum), British Airways Exec Club (Gold)
Posts: 69
No, it is not new, it has been available for Danes at least since 2015. It used to be limited to 15 days, now 45, can't say I remember when that changed, and you can't have entered Vietnam 30 days prior. If you have entered 30 days prior you have to have a visa, though I suspect that may have gone away, when I flew a few weeks ago, JAL did not as usual ask when I was last in Vietnam.
There was a tendency for some agents to recommend you go get an on arrival visa. Somehow I suspect that was an uplift and a referral fee. .
There was a tendency for some agents to recommend you go get an on arrival visa. Somehow I suspect that was an uplift and a referral fee. .
Oct 14, 2023, 1:13 am
#366
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 21,542
I guess my immigration officer in late September did not get the memo about duration, as he only gave me the usual 15 days. Not that it mattered I was only there for 3.
Oct 14, 2023, 4:28 am
#367
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: NCL
Programs: UA 1MM/*G. DL Gold for one more year.
Posts: 5,305
As a frequent visitor to CPH, usually with KL, I'm struck by the irony of my reaction to this news. In a normal scenario, it would have been an exciting improvement to be able to use the services of the airport's main carrier rather than the contractors of a minor one. But SK is so far gone that I am feeling quite upset about losing the current ST contractor setup. Instead of fast-track security for Skyteam Elite Plus members, it's going to be SAS Fast Track which does not admit frequent travellers from partners. The decline of the SAS Gold lounge at CPH has been painful to watch over the years. The Aviator Apartment is comfortable, quiet, and clean and offers a spread of food selected with thought, care, and a fairly generous budget that beats the current *A and OW offerings at CPH by some considerable margin (and certainly the KLM Crown Lounge at AMS as well). The only improvement will be a shorter walk from the train to the check-in counter.
Last edited by Passmethesickbag; Oct 14, 2023 at 9:16 am Reason: Grammar
Oct 14, 2023, 5:47 am
#368
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AS 75K, DL Silver, UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Platinum + LT Gold
Posts: 10,626
Just wanted to comment I love transiting at CPH. That is all.
Transfer of international flights are like domestic flights, sometimes even a few gates apart.
Transfer of international flights are like domestic flights, sometimes even a few gates apart.
Oct 15, 2023, 12:28 am
#369
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 500
As a frequent visitor to CPH, usually with KL, I'm struck by the irony of my reaction to this news. In a normal scenario, it would have been an exciting improvement to be able to use the services of the airport's main carrier rather than the contractors of a minor one. But SK is so far gone that I am feeling quite upset about losing the current ST contractor setup. Instead of fast-track security for Skyteam Elite Plus members, it's going to be SAS Fast Track which does not admit frequent travellers from partners. The decline of the SAS Gold lounge at CPH has been painful to watch over the years. The Aviator Apartment is comfortable, quiet, and clean and offers a spread of food selected with thought, care, and a fairly generous budget that beats the current *A and OW offerings at CPH by some considerable margin (and certainly the KLM Crown Lounge at AMS as well). The only improvement will be a shorter walk from the train to the check-in counter.
Oct 15, 2023, 4:02 am
#370
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: NCL
Programs: UA 1MM/*G. DL Gold for one more year.
Posts: 5,305
You're absolutely right, I was not born with the gift of prophecy. Of course it's theoretically possible that SAS will vacate Terminal 1 and join Skyteam's little contractor operation in Terminal 2. The three check-in counters and the Aviator Apartment would become pretty crowded though.
Oct 15, 2023, 4:32 am
#371
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Paris
Programs: Flying Blue (Platinum), Eurobonus (Diamond), Marriott (Titatinum), British Airways Exec Club (Gold)
Posts: 69
My guess is rather than ST carriers will move to SAS lounges and terminals and that *A ones will go in the opposite direction. It would possibly make the lounges less crowded as there are much less ST flights to ARN or CPH than *A ones.
Oct 15, 2023, 11:31 pm
#373
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,410
None of the fundamentals that plague SAS have been really resolved in the Ch11 process. They have restructured the debt and the leasing liabilities. The underlying problems are all still there and AFKL will have a big job on their hand.
Oct 16, 2023, 2:38 am
#374
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Paris
Programs: Flying Blue (Platinum), Eurobonus (Diamond), Marriott (Titatinum), British Airways Exec Club (Gold)
Posts: 69
Today it's just a sales partnership, nothing more, and the only thing SAS got out of it is money to survive for a couple of years.
Oct 16, 2023, 11:25 am
#375
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: CPH/BOD
Programs: Eurobonus
Posts: 109
AFKL will do absolutely nothing. They just put money in the machine and will leave SK to their own devices to restructure. If it's successful then AFKL will eventually buy SAS, if not they will let it die.
Today it's just a sales partnership, nothing more, and the only thing SAS got out of it is money to survive for a couple of years.
Today it's just a sales partnership, nothing more, and the only thing SAS got out of it is money to survive for a couple of years.
I admit I have no expertise or extraordinary insight here but I highly doubt AFKL are investing a load of money into SAS in the hopes they magically turn around their loss-making business ways by continuing to do the exact same thing. What would be AFKL's incentive to do this? I imagine AFKL see a chance of integrating SK strategically into the concern and optimising business ways to create a profitable third arm for the business. Their minority stake would be expected to increase to a majority after the CH11 process, when Castlelake would get their pay-out and AFKL would be able to see a stable company on top of which they can grow their third distinct-but-integrated arm.