We booked a cheap EU to N America business class on SAS, all tickets are confirmed and everything, just before the SAS conversion from *Alliance to SkyTeam. Cost was just a tad above $3K for 2.

Itinerary:
OSL-EWR-SEA (EWR to SEA on AS F)
YVR-EWR-OSL (YVR to EWR on AC J)

Now we are getting a notice about change, removing the YVR-EWR leg. It is quite a substantial removal since YVR to EWR is trans-continental.

Questions:
1. What are our rights in this case?
2. I believe we can change at no extra cost, does it have to be limited on the inbound leg - since that is the one that has the major change?
3. If we flew the first/outbound leg, OSL-EWR-SEA, can we deal with the change later - or will SAS assume that we accepted the change since we flew the first 2 2 segments?

Be nice to be able to change the 1st segment - w/o stopover in EWR, but we'd settle for being able to still fly out of the West coast (LAX, SFO or SEA) back to Norway next summer.

They can't just remove the leg, they sold you a ticket from YVR to OSL. So they will need to put something else there. You can't wait with dealing with the change until next summer, as that would probably been seen as you having accepted the changes given.

Technically, changes should probably only be for the return portion, but it probably depends quite a bit on the agent what you can be allowed to do. If it was me, I'd look at 1 what would be your route you'd want back replacing the missing leg from YVR. 2. If I could change everything, what would I like.
Then call and start from asking for 2, and see how it goes. If no nice on changing the first two legs, then get to the point of getting a proper itinerary back

Definitely feels like some info is missing which inhibits the ability to give better help.

I have never seen any airline just cancel a segment of a leg with no replacement offered for that segment (but keeping the rest). Especially if you booked a round trip ticket and not two separate one way tickets.

In those situations where they may stop flying somewhere entirely with this much advance notice, they're more likely to cancel the entire journey.

OP, what alternatives did SAS offer you? (they must offer alternatives, even if that alternative is a refund because they can't find another option for you). You have about two weeks from the date of notification to respond to them orn or else they can consider their recommendation as accepted.

In any case, with this limited info, CPH Flyer gives excellent advice.

As the return involves a departure from Canada the airline is legally required to rebook you on their next flight or a flight on any airline they have a commercial agreement with.

You should push SAS to reroute you on either DL or a Skyteam parter. It is also unlawful for SAS to charge you extra for this.

Just look up Canada passenger rights for a full explanation.

There is exactly one non stop flight a day between YVR and EWR, on Air Canada. EWR is not exactly SkyTeam Central, does Delta even fly to EWR? Unless there is to be an added connection, it is probably best to go YVR AMS OSL.

But what was the reason for the dropped leg? Change of timing from SK, change of timing from AC? We probably do need some more details.

KL doesn't fly to EWR anymore, AF still does but it wouldn't be great routing to go YVR-EWR-CDG-OSL when you can fly YVR-AMS-OSL or YVR-SEA-AMS-OSL since the KL YVR-AMS isn't daily.

I believe SK operates with a "if we don't hear from you within 14 days, you've accepted". Not sure how legal that technically is.

AF also flies from YVR to CDG (and believe you have VS as well).

Thank you for all the replies. I never received any email notifications and my SAS app still list the original times. The website shows that there are changes - and the proposed flights - I hardly can make heads or tails of it.

This is what I see:

So are they only offering EWR-OSL for May 24 to replace the original YVR-EWR-OSL? May need to call and just get some clarity ....

.... and to add to the misery, enduring a 4 hr 45 min delay at IST right now thanks to TK.

The third option is what you are looking for, choose another flight free of charge. That's when they will show what options you have. I would call as it is easier to discuss with a human than a website if none of the offered options suit you. Option 2 is indeed to drop the leg from the west coast, but there is no obligation to pick it. You can always try option three and see if it suggests something acceptable, and if not, then call.