The recent acquisition of a 19.9% stake in SAS by the Air France-KLM Group has prompted EuroBonus members to reassess their loyalty program affiliations. This strategic move also includes SAS officially joining SkyTeam as of September 1, 2024. As a result, many travelers (including us at AwardFares) are evaluating whether to stick with EuroBonus or switch to Flying Blue.

This guide breaks down the pros and cons of both loyalty programs, helping you decide which is better for your travel style and goals.

EuroBonus: Navigating the Transition to SkyTeam

EuroBonus is SAS’s frequent flyer program and, historically, part of Star Alliance. With the recent transition to SkyTeam, EuroBonus enters a new chapter and may evolve further in the coming months.

Key Features:

  • Alliance: SkyTeam (from September 1, 2024)
  • Point Earning: Based on fare and flight distance
  • Redemption: Flights, upgrades, EuroBonus Shop
  • Notable Perks:
    • Amex 2-for-1 vouchers
    • MasterCard Fly Premium
    • Free Wi-Fi for Gold+ members
    • Points + cash tickets
    • Gold for Life
    • EuroBonus Pandion tier

Flying Blue: The SkyTeam Native

Flying Blue is the loyalty program of Air France, KLM, and others. It offers flexible earning, broad redemptions, and unique elite benefits.

Key Features:

  • Alliance: SkyTeam
  • Mile Earning: Based on money spent
  • Redemption: Flights, upgrades, hotels, car rentals, shopping
  • Notable Perks:
    • Monthly Promo Rewards
    • Platinum for Life
    • Up to 8 lounge guests
    • Upgrade vouchers for Ultimate tier

Program Comparison: EuroBonus vs. Flying Blue

Feature SAS EuroBonus Flying Blue
Alliance SkyTeam SkyTeam
Earning Method Fare + Distance Revenue-based (money spent)
Redemption Options Flights, upgrades, EuroBonus Shop Flights, upgrades, hotels, experiences
Expiration 5 years 24 months (with no activity)
Status Levels Member, Silver, Gold, Diamond, Pandion Explorer, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Ultimate
Qualification Segments or points Experience Points (XP)
Family Pooling Yes Yes (Miles Pool for friends and family)
Credit Cards Nordics only Available in many European + US markets
Unique Perks 2-for-1 vouchers, Wi-Fi, Gold for Life, Pandion Promo Rewards, Platinum for Life, Lounge Guests

Which Program is Best?

Finding the perfect travel rewards program can feel overwhelming, but don’t worry! There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, as the best program depends on your individual travel habits. Factors like how often you fly, where you go, and your spending habits all play a role.

In this section, we’ll break down both programs across several key areas to help you make an informed decision.

Based on Money Spent and Distance Flown

This table helps you choose the best program for earning points/miles, considering both how much you spend (economy vs. premium fares) and how far you fly (short vs. long-haul).

The point of this assessment is to compare the different types of award charts for various types of travel: Flying Blue’s chart is dynamic and centered on money spent on the ticket, while SAS EuroBonus considers both distance and fare class.

  Ultra-low Fares Medium/Regular Fares Business Class/Premium Fares
Short-Haul Flying Blue Flying Blue SAS EuroBonus
Medium-Haul Flying Blue SAS EuroBonus SAS EuroBonus
Long-Haul SAS EuroBonus SAS EuroBonus SAS EuroBonus

Takeaway:

For ultra-low fares (Basic Economy and Deals):

  • Short-Haul: Flying Blue might be better as even low spending can accumulate meaningful miles.
  • Medium-Haul and Long-Haul: Flying Blue is more beneficial on medium-haul due to spending-based accumulation, but for long-haul flights, the increased distance makes SAS EuroBonus slightly better due to its distance-based earning, which becomes significant over long distances.

For standard fares (spending average prices)

  • Short-Haul: Flying Blue continues to perform well here due to its spending-based rewards.
  • Medium-Haul and Long-Haul: As ticket prices and distances increase, SAS EuroBonus becomes more advantageous because its combination of distance and fare class potentially yields more points.

For Premium Fares

  • Short-Haul: SAS EuroBonus tends to offer better value as the high fare class combined with even short distances earns a substantial number of points.
  • Medium-Haul and Long-Haul: SAS EuroBonus strongly outperforms in these categories due to higher multipliers for more expensive fare classes and longer distances flown.

Based on Home Country and Destinations

Next, let’s see how program benefits vary by your home country and travel plans. We’ll consider factors like co-branded credit cards, regional promotions, and how valuable miles/points are for redemptions in specific areas. This will help you decide which program offers the most value for your travel preferences.

Home Country/Destination Flying Blue SAS EuroBonus
Scandinavia (Home) Good for flights to/from Europe; limited credit cards Best option; extensive credit card options, optimal for regional travel within Scandinavia
Europe (Home) Best option; numerous credit card options, excellent for intra-European flights Good, especially for travel to/from Scandinavia
Europe to Asia Excellent; strong network via partners, beneficial for flights to Asia Good; benefits from SkyTeam network
Europe to Americas Excellent; offers robust rewards for transatlantic flights, especially via Air France and KLM Good; SkyTeam benefits but fewer direct options than Flying Blue
North America (Home) Best; extensive partner airlines, multiple credit card options Limited; less advantageous due to fewer direct flights and partners
Asia (Home) Good; strong partnerships with Asian airlines, good redemption options Limited; fewer direct connections compared to Flying Blue
Home Base / Route Best Program Why
Scandinavia EuroBonus Local perks, cards, strong intra-Europe redemptions
Europe (general) Flying Blue Broader partners, easier card access, more promos
Europe to Asia Flying Blue Strong SkyTeam links to Asia + Promo Rewards
Europe to Americas Flying Blue Robust transatlantic presence via AF/KLM
North America Flying Blue More partners, better card availability
Asia Flying Blue More connectivity and SkyTeam access

Key Points

  • Scandinavia as Home Country: SAS EuroBonus undoubtedly wins here. It is tailored to the needs of Scandinavian travelers, offering extensive local benefits, credit card options, and promotions. Redemption options within Scandinavia and Europe are particularly valuable.
  • Europe as Home Country: Flying Blue generally offers greater flexibility and benefits for European members, with a wide range of airline and non-airline partners across the continent.
  • Long-Distance Flights (Europe to Asia/Americas): Flying Blue tends to be more advantageous due to its strong connections with Air France and KLM, which have extensive networks in these regions. Additionally, Flying Blue often runs promotions that enhance mile earning and redemption on these routes.
  • North America and Asia as Home Countries: Flying Blue offers more benefits due to its extensive network of partner airlines and more frequent direct flights to various destinations in Europe. Additionally, the availability of co-branded credit cards in these regions makes accruing and redeeming miles more accessible and lucrative.

Based on Status

EuroBonus and Flying Blue both reward frequent flyers with tiered memberships, offering a path to unlock valuable perks and accelerate your points/miles accumulation. Earning your way up the tiers can bring exciting benefits like priority boarding, lounge access, and even free flight upgrades. The key difference between the programs lies in how you qualify for these tiers. EuroBonus uses a combination of the amount you spend and the fare class you choose, while Flying Blue focuses primarily on the total amount spent on your tickets.

SAS EuroBonus

Tier Perks Bonus Multiplier
Silver Lounge access on SAS, priority check-in 1.10x
Gold Lounge access (SAS + SkyTeam), extra baggage, fast track 1.25x
Diamond Complimentary upgrades, 30% point discounts, gifts to others 1.25x
Pandion Invitation-only, top-tier treatment 1.25x
SAS EuroBonus Status Tiers.

Flying Blue

Tier Perks Bonus Multiplier
Explorer Priority boarding, extra baggage 1.25x
Silver Lounge access (AF, KLM, SkyTeam), preferred seating 1.50x
Gold Lounge access, extra baggage, short/medium upgrades 1.80x
Platinum Full upgrades, Platinum for Life after 10 years 2.00x
Ultimate Lounge access for 8 guests, upgrades, dedicated assistant 2.25x
Flying Blue Status Tiers.

What if SAS EuroBonus Gets Replaced by Flying Blue?

As expected during major shifts, there are rumors and speculation that in the future, SAS EuroBonus might be ditched or shut down, with Flying Blue replacing it. There’s usually very little point behind speculating, but here are some insights in case that happens, based on what has happened historically with other airline mergers or acquisitions.

  1. Integration into Flying Blue: Members of EuroBonus might have their accounts and points transferred to Flying Blue. This means a new set of rules for earning and redeeming points, and a different network of destinations and services.
  2. Status Alignment: The transition could involve mapping EuroBonus membership tiers to corresponding Flying Blue levels. This might affect how quickly members can earn status and the benefits associated with each tier.
  3. Changes to Benefits and Perks: This may mean new partnerships with hotels, car rentals, and other travel-related services. In addition, co-branded credit cards will be adjusted, for example, in countries with SAS co-branded cards.

Historically, several notable mergers and acquisitions have led to the integration of airline loyalty programs:

  • Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines: After Delta acquired Northwest in 2008, Northwest’s WorldPerks program was absorbed into Delta’s SkyMiles program. The transition involved transferring WorldPerks member balances to SkyMiles and aligning benefits under the SkyMiles framework.
  • United Airlines and Continental Airlines: When United merged with Continental in 2010, Continental’s OnePass program was merged into United’s MileagePlus. Members of OnePass saw their accounts transitioned to MileagePlus, with efforts made to match tier statuses and balance points.
  • American Airlines and US Airways: After their merger in 2013, US Airways’ Dividend Miles program was eventually integrated into American’s AAdvantage program. This included a comprehensive transition plan for transferring miles and aligning elite status levels.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

Merge EuroBonus and Flying Blue accounts: is it possible?

No, merging a Flying Blue account with a SAS EuroBonus account isn’t possible. You can hold memberships in both programs simultaneously, but only earn qualifying activity for one program at a time. Despite Air France-KLM’s acquisition of a stake in Scandinavian Airlines and SAS joining the SkyTeam alliance, Flying Blue and EuroBonus currently remain separate programs.

Is it possible to transfer EuroBonus Points to Flying Blue?

No, it is not possible to transfer EuroBonus points to Flying Blue. Both programs remain independent, even though they are now part of the SkyTeam alliance. You can credit qualifying SkyTeam activity to either program, but not both.

Is it possible to transfer Flying Blue miles to EuroBonus?

No, you cannot transfer Flying Blue miles to EuroBonus. The two programs operate independently, despite both being part of the SkyTeam alliance. You can choose to credit qualifying SkyTeam activities to one of the programs, but not to both simultaneously.

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