Choosing the right SkyTeam frequent flyer program can be tricky, but also a game-changer for your travel strategy. SkyTeam is a group of 18 airlines (as of 2025) that work together. This group includes big names like Delta with its many U.S. flights, Aeroméxico and Aerolíneas Argentinas covering Latin America, Air France known for fancy cabins, SAS for its Nordic service, and Virgin Atlantic with its unique style. In this guide, we’ll look at the top programs to help you see which ones offer the best deals, easiest ways to book tickets with points, top perks for loyal flyers, and the best value for your points.

We use information from real travelers on AwardFares and official airline rules to help you pick the program that’s best for you. Let’s get started!

SkyTeam Program Explorer

Get a quick snapshot of our top-rated SkyTeam programs. Select a program from the dropdown to see its key details and what makes it stand out.

Air France-KLM Flying Blue

Alliance: SkyTeam
Best For: Monthly Promo Rewards & transatlantic deals
Key Perk: Excellent credit card transfer partner flexibility
Search for Flying Blue award flights

Main Points

  • Dynamic vs. Fixed Pricing: SkyTeam is home to both systems. Programs like Flying Blue and Delta use dynamic pricing (costs vary), while SAS EuroBonus and Korean SKYPASS offer predictable, fixed-price award charts.
  • Transfer Partners are King: The best value often comes from programs like Flying Blue and Virgin Flying Club, which are transfer partners with major credit cards (Amex, Chase, Citi, Capital One), making it easy to earn points.
  • SAS is a Game-Changer: SAS joining SkyTeam adds a valuable program with a fixed award chart and unique perks like the Amex 2-for-1 voucher, though its future is uncertain.
  • Watch Out for Surcharges: Many SkyTeam programs, particularly Flying Blue and Virgin Atlantic, pass on significant carrier-imposed surcharges, which can make “free” flights expensive.
  • Best Program Depends on You: For US travelers, Delta is a strong contender. For European deals, Flying Blue is a must. For fixed-value redemptions, SAS EuroBonus is top-tier.

In This Article

SkyTeam Programs at a Glance

The table below shows a quick comparison of some of the main SkyTeam airline rewards programs. You can tap the column names to sort the table by status levels, how point costs are set, or fees.

Program Name Status Tiers Points Expiry (months) Places Flown Directly (Roughly) Miles Pricing Other Partner Airlines (Not in SkyTeam) Fees for Stopovers Extra Fees on Award Flights Lifetime Status
SAS EuroBonus 3 60 120+ Fixed 3 No Medium Yes
Delta SkyMiles 4 Never 300+ Dynamic 2 No Low Yes
Flying Blue 3 24 300+ Dynamic 18 No Medium Yes
SKYPASS 3 120 125+ Fixed 8 No Medium Yes
Aeroméxico Rewards 3 Never 90+ Hybrid 3 Yes High No
Flying Club 3 Never 30+ Dynamic 17 No (except London) High No
Dynasty Flyer 3 36 160+ Fixed 5 Yes Medium No

What Are the Best Frequent Flyer Programs in SkyTeam? (Our 2025 Picks)

1. Flying Blue (Air France/KLM)

Flying Blue

Flying Blue, the loyalty program of Air France and KLM, is a powerhouse within SkyTeam due to its flexibility and regular award sales. While it uses dynamic pricing, the monthly Promo Rewards often feature incredible deals, like US-Europe Business Class from 55,000 miles one-way. It also tends to have better premium cabin award availability than many partners.

Why it shines:

  • Promo Rewards: Monthly rotating discounts of up to 50% on award tickets to various destinations.
  • Top-Tier Transfer Partner: It’s one of the few programs that partners with all major transferable currencies (Amex, Chase, Citi, Capital One, Bilt), making it incredibly easy to earn miles.
  • Good Availability: Often releases more Business Class award seats on its own flights compared to what partners can access.
  • Family Pooling: Combine miles with up to 8 family members for free.

What’s new with Flying Blue in 2025?

  • Subscribe to Miles: A monthly subscription service to acquire miles at a discounted rate.
  • New Partner Integration: SAS’s entry into SkyTeam opens up new redemption opportunities across Scandinavia.
  • BEWARE: The program has seen some devaluations, with certain awards priced higher to fund increased availability.

Pro Tip

Use our Flying Blue Promo Rewards Finder to quickly explore discounted awards each month. See more of our Flying Blue resources here.

Flying Blue Homepage.

2. SAS EuroBonus

SAS EuroBonus

With SAS’s move to SkyTeam in 2024, EuroBonus has instantly become one of the most compelling programs in the alliance. Its primary strength is its predictable, fixed-price award chart, which stands in stark contrast to the dynamic pricing of its new peers. This makes finding high-value redemptions, like Business Class from Europe to the US for 50,000 points, a matter of finding availability, not chasing a fluctuating price.

Why it shines:

  • Fixed Award Chart: One of the few major programs left with predictable pricing for award flights.
  • Valuable Companion Vouchers: Amex cardholders in Scandinavia can get a 2-for-1 voucher, booking premium cabins on partners for half the points.
  • Upgrade Perks: The SAS Mastercard’s FlyPremium benefit offers free upgrades to SAS Plus or Business on award tickets.
  • Family Pooling: Easily pool points with family members to reach award goals faster.

What’s happening with EuroBonus in 2025:

  • New SkyTeam Redemptions: Members can now book flights on SkyTeam partners like Delta, Air France, and KLM, unlocking a global network.
  • Points Expiration: A strict 5-year expiration policy on all points, regardless of account activity.

Important Update: The Future of EuroBonus

Air France-KLM is set to become the majority owner of SAS, creating significant uncertainty for the future of the EuroBonus program. A full merger into the Flying Blue program is highly likely. This could mean the end of predictable, fixed-price award charts and unique perks like the Amex 2-for-1 voucher.

Read our definitive guide: The End of SAS EuroBonus? The Definitive Guide.

SAS Homepage.

3. Delta SkyMiles

Delta SkyMiles

For US-based travelers, Delta SkyMiles is often the default SkyTeam program, and for good reason. Its most compelling feature is that miles never expire, making it perfect for infrequent flyers or those saving for a big trip. With a massive domestic and international network, Delta offers unparalleled connectivity from the United States.

Why it shines:

  • Miles Never Expire: Your hard-earned miles are safe forever.
  • Vast Network: Extensive coverage within the U.S. and strong global reach through SkyTeam and other unique partners like LATAM.
  • No Last-Minute Fees: Delta doesn’t charge extra for booking award flights close to departure.
  • Frequent Award Sales: Keep an eye out for flash sales that can offer excellent value, such as domestic flights for under 5,000 miles.

What’s happening with SkyMiles in 2025?

  • Focus on Spending: Elite status is now earned exclusively through Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs), emphasizing spending over flying.
  • Credit Card Path to Status: Co-branded American Express cards offer a direct way to earn MQDs through everyday spending.
  • Pricing Volatility: Dynamic pricing remains, meaning premium cabin awards can be extremely expensive, though economy deals can be found.

Expert Tip

The key to unlocking value with SkyMiles is flexibility. Set up alerts on AwardFares for your desired routes to catch the frequent, unannounced award sales that can dramatically lower the cost of your trip.

Delta Homepage.

4. Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Though a newer member of SkyTeam, Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club has long been a favorite of points and miles enthusiasts for its incredible partner award chart sweet spots. While its own flights can come with hefty surcharges, using Virgin points to book partners is where the program truly shines. Like Delta, Virgin Points never expire.

Why it shines:

  • Incredible Partner Value: Offers some of the best redemptions in the industry, such as ANA First Class to Japan or Delta One to Europe for a fraction of what other programs charge.
  • Excellent Transfer Partners: Partners with all major transferable point currencies, making it very easy to accumulate points.
  • Points Never Expire: A great program for accumulating points over time without fear of loss.
  • Unique Style: From chic clubhouses to on-board bars, Virgin offers a premium experience with a bit of flair.

What’s happening with Flying Club in 2025?

  • High Surcharges Persist: Be prepared for high carrier-imposed surcharges, often $250+ one-way on premium cabin awards on Virgin’s own flights.
  • Partner Chart Devaluations: While still valuable, some partner award charts (like Delta) have seen devaluations, so it’s important to verify pricing.

Pro Tip

The best use of Virgin Points is almost always on partner airlines. A one-way Business Class flight on Air France/KLM booked via Virgin can cost just 50,000 points, often with lower surcharges than booking through Flying Blue itself.

Flying Club Homepage.

5. Korean Air SKYPASS

Korean Air SKYPASS

Korean Air’s SKYPASS is the go-to program for booking premium cabins to Asia. It is renowned for its excellent service and, most importantly, for releasing significantly more Business and First Class award availability on its own flights to its members than to partners. If you want to fly Korean Air’s top-tier products, you need SKYPASS miles.

Why it shines:

  • Unmatched Premium Availability: The best program for finding award space in Korean Air’s coveted Business and First Class cabins.
  • Fixed Award Chart: Uses a predictable, region-based award chart with reasonable off-peak pricing.
  • Free Stopover: Allows one free stopover on a one-way award ticket, perfect for exploring two destinations like Seoul and another city in Asia.
  • Family Pooling: Combine miles with up to 8 family members.

What to watch out for:

  • Hard-to-Earn Miles: Difficult to earn miles outside of flying, with Bilt Rewards being the only major US transfer partner.
  • Strict Expiration: Miles have a hard 10-year expiration date from the time they are earned.
  • First Class Exclusivity: Korean Air First Class can only be booked with SKYPASS miles.
Korean Air Homepage.

Other SkyTeam Programs to Consider

Aeroméxico Rewards

Aeroméxico Rewards A solid choice for travelers based in Latin America, Aeroméxico Rewards offers the benefit that points never expire. However, the program is hampered by a clunky website, a confusing mix of fixed and dynamic award pricing, and high carrier-imposed surcharges on many international routes.

China Airlines Dynasty Flyer

China Airlines Dynasty Flyer Dynasty Flyer can offer good value for travel to and from its hub in Taipei, with decent premium cabin availability on its own flights and a distance-based award chart. Its main drawbacks are a 36-month mileage expiration policy and a lack of major credit card transfer partners, making miles difficult to earn.

Explore the Best Programs by Alliance

While this guide focuses on SkyTeam, a truly effective points strategy involves leveraging all three major alliances. See how SkyTeam’s best stack up against the competition with our dedicated guides.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Your Questions Answered

Which SkyTeam program is best for a US-based traveler?

Delta SkyMiles is the most straightforward choice due to its vast US network and the fact that miles never expire. However, for booking premium cabins, Air France-KLM Flying Blue and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club are often superior choices, as their points are much easier to earn via credit card transfers from partners like Amex, Chase, and Capital One.

How has SAS joining SkyTeam affected the alliance?

SAS’s entry adds a high-quality European carrier and, more importantly, a program (EuroBonus) with a valuable fixed-price award chart. This provides a fantastic alternative to the dynamic pricing models of Flying Blue and Delta. It also brings unique perks like the 2-for-1 Amex companion voucher into the SkyTeam ecosystem, though the program’s long-term future is uncertain.

Can I transfer points between different SkyTeam programs?

No, you cannot directly transfer miles from one airline’s program to another (e.g., from Delta SkyMiles to Flying Blue). The power of the alliance is that you can use the miles from one program (like Flying Blue) to book an award ticket on a partner airline (like Delta).

What's the best way to avoid high surcharges on SkyTeam awards?

This requires a bit of strategy. First, avoid booking awards on airlines known for high fees, like Virgin Atlantic and British Airways (a non-SkyTeam partner bookable via Virgin). Second, check redemption costs across multiple programs. For example, booking a Delta flight via Virgin Atlantic often has lower surcharges than booking the same flight through other partners. Lastly, flights originating in certain countries (like Brazil) have regulations that cap or prohibit these fees.

Find the best award flights, no matter which program.

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