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]
#871
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 21,524
This would be a big blow for me because I'm crediting everything to TK since I lost EBG so my activity with SAS is empty since 31 December :/ But it would make sense for them, I guess.
For M&M this is an opportunity to keep me flying LO for a bit longer after I switched to SkyTeam (before the SK announcement) for most of my flights.
For M&M this is an opportunity to keep me flying LO for a bit longer after I switched to SkyTeam (before the SK announcement) for most of my flights.
#872
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: VIE
Programs: SAS EBS / *A Silver, Hilton Diamond, Radisson VIP, IHG Platinum Ambassador
Posts: 3,929
It would be a bit of a moot point anyway, if you already lost EBG. No? As a minimum they would want a picture/screen shot of the an account with a current validity dates. Which of course can be doctored, should one want to engage in those kind of activities. But as a second step, they would probably want to see screenshots for a certain period. Or as oliver2002 mentions, they can go for a full on validation.
#873
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 21,524
#874
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,398
LH M&M used Statusmatch.com in the last match from AZ, that site is still live: https://lufthansa.statusmatch.com/offer_expired.php You can sign up to be notified by them if and when LH starts to match again.
#875
Join Date: Mar 2024
Location: Stockholm
Programs: SAS EBG, TK Gold, BA Silver
Posts: 23
LH M&M used Statusmatch.com in the last match from AZ, that site is still live: https://lufthansa.statusmatch.com/offer_expired.php You can sign up to be notified by them if and when LH starts to match again.
#876
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,398
LH commissioned them in 2022 to do the AZ match. The mircrosite reflects whatever was in force back then.
#877
Join Date: Oct 2011
Programs: EuroBonus Diamond, Delta Skymiles 360, BAEC LTG, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 2,863
Agree with you. It's interesting to me that many of the arguments being presented assume that until now everyone is just miserably connecting because SK wasn't in the *A JV. Actually SK already flies directly to everyplace I need to be. And when I do have to connect, it is usually to *A hub cities anyway.
#878
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Probably not too far away from wherever you are
Programs: SAS EBD, Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Diamond, United MileagePlus Silver, AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 210
Again, I just think people have outsized expectations about how SK will expand as part of the ST JV. Dozens of new cities aren't going to open up suddenly. They have many many issues closer to home to resolve.
#880
Join Date: Oct 2011
Programs: EuroBonus Diamond, Delta Skymiles 360, BAEC LTG, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 2,863
I group ARN and CPH together. SK not flying more from ARN has more to do with the Swedish government's decisions on aviation taxation than solely SK. Where they currently fly are the important cities for me for work and personal travel for US and Europe. Coincidentally, LH is cheaper than SK to German cities so I choose LH. And travel within the US, the cities I have to visit for work would always require a connection in a hub city.
I have no faith in SK and doubt they would expand. I do expect ST partners to expand as I said earlier, routes that didn't make sense before will make more sense now. Another flight to a city in the US that isn't the NYC metro would be a 100% increase in US metro destinations. The expectations aren't in dozens but in single digit incremental destinations. I have no use for the CA flight to PEK or the TG flight to BKK but find incredible use in a KE flight to ICN or any incremental DL metro outside of NYC. The ST TA JV membership is going to allow those airlines to route passengers around their congested hubs in AMS and CDG or offer them faster connections to destinations in the Nordics and Baltics. Currently SK has direct flights for me for about 4% of my travel.
#881
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CDG
Programs: SK Gold, AF Gold, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,748
I genuinely wonder why. Judging by the choice of airlines, it seems your travel is mostly TATL, and as someone who was unquestioningly loyal to *A for a decade (before relocating to CDG), I can attest that DL and especially AF offer a far superior product in any cabin to LH Group or SK itself.
I feel like a lot of prejudice against AF/KL and DL stems from certain preconceived notions that are by now completely outdated.
I feel like a lot of prejudice against AF/KL and DL stems from certain preconceived notions that are by now completely outdated.
#882
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Probably not too far away from wherever you are
Programs: SAS EBD, Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Diamond, United MileagePlus Silver, AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 210
I genuinely wonder why. Judging by the choice of airlines, it seems your travel is mostly TATL, and as someone who was unquestioningly loyal to *A for a decade (before relocating to CDG), I can attest that DL and especially AF offer a far superior product in any cabin to LH Group or SK itself.
I feel like a lot of prejudice against AF/KL and DL stems from certain preconceived notions that are by now completely outdated.
I feel like a lot of prejudice against AF/KL and DL stems from certain preconceived notions that are by now completely outdated.
Flying through AMS and CDG has always been more expensive than flying through CPH, FRA or MUC. When I just focus on TATL, DL's MSP and DTW hubs don't provide me with any significant advantage over United's hubs (especially since none of those are final destinations for me). A* and ST offer similar coverage on the coasts (BOS, MIA, NYC, LAX, SFO, SEA).
So I know some on the forum are touting a direct flight from ARN/CPH to Minneapolis or Detroit as revolutionary, but I don't think it is the flex that they hope it is. And the TPAC and LATAM offerings just aren't as good either in ST. So the more global your travel patterns, the more impacted one likely is with this.
#884
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 34
Hi, I'm a Gold with SAS and am bummed about their move to SkyTeam, as most of my flights in the future probably will happen with Star Alliance (WAW as departure point).
Can you please advise if there is a way for me to keep my status with Miles&More after SAS transitions into SkyTeam? [sorry if this was explained, but I couldn't find the answer]
Can you please advise if there is a way for me to keep my status with Miles&More after SAS transitions into SkyTeam? [sorry if this was explained, but I couldn't find the answer]
#885
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 21,524
Hi, I'm a Gold with SAS and am bummed about their move to SkyTeam, as most of my flights in the future probably will happen with Star Alliance (WAW as departure point).
Can you please advise if there is a way for me to keep my status with Miles&More after SAS transitions into SkyTeam? [sorry if this was explained, but I couldn't find the answer]
Can you please advise if there is a way for me to keep my status with Miles&More after SAS transitions into SkyTeam? [sorry if this was explained, but I couldn't find the answer]