SAS to leave Star Alliance and join SkyTeam on 1/9/24

[kpc]

Just received this email:

Hi kpc,

Today, we announced an exciting and transformative step to build on SAS’ 75-year long history and position our airline at the forefront of the industry for years to come.

We are securing an investment in the reorganized SAS of USD 1,175 million from Castlelake, L.P., Air France-KLM, and Lind Invest together with the Danish state. The investment will provide us with the financial resources to be an even stronger airline for our customers and communities across Scandinavia and other markets.

In connection with this milestone, we intend to eventually join the airline alliance SkyTeam, at which time we will exit Star Alliance. While we are proud to have been a founding member of Star Alliance, we are confident that joining SkyTeam will further strengthen our customer offering.

Importantly, nothing is changing as of now. We still need to obtain regulatory approvals and meet certain conditions to complete the investment transaction and change alliance. Here’s what that means for our airline and for you as a EuroBonus member:
You can continue to book flights with us as usual. We look forward to continue welcoming passengers in Scandinavia today, and well into the future as we move forward as an even stronger airline. Until we complete the transaction, we remain part of Star Alliance. You as a EuroBonus member will continue to enjoy your usual benefits when flying on our partner airlines, and you will be able to accrue and redeem points on Star Alliance partners - just like today. Award bookings with our partners remain valid. As a EuroBonus member, you can continue to accrue and redeem points on SAS and on non-air partners. Your status and benefits as a EuroBonus member when you fly with SAS will not be impacted. We will keep you informed about what to expect over the coming months and will provide updates on the EuroBonus website under latest news.

We are proud of our legacy as Scandinavia’s leading airline since 1946 and look forward to continue serving you for years to come.

Thank you for your continued loyalty.

Sincerely,

Anko van der Werff
President & CEO, SAS

 

[AIRwin]

Falling Star but the Sky has not fallen

 

[RooFlyer]

So Air France is taking operational control of SAS? In all my flying around Europe, including Scandinavia several times, I think I've only ever flown SAS once (although I was mainly flying OW back then). *A flyers will miss it in flying around Scandinavia but not to and from it, given the coverage of LH group.

 

[kpc]

I found it useful having SAs part of Star Alliance...could redeem Sq pts ( and Lifemiles) for flights and could attach my Sq Gold status to my SAS flights to acccess the SAS Gold Lounges.

 

[MARTINE]

So Air France is taking operational control of SAS? In all my flying around Europe, including Scandinavia several times, I think I've only ever flown SAS once (although I was mainly flying OW back then). *A flyers will miss it in flying around Scandinavia but not to and from it, given the coverage of LH group.

I got that email too. In the early days (30 years ago) we relied on SAS quite a bit when visiting Scandinavian family and they used to be the only option for limited stops.
THA from MEL - BKK then SAS BKK to CPH
Once SQ did the flight MEL SIN CPH was much better.
I still flew them a bit if we did group trips w family within Europe but never found them that good in terms of customer focus or care. Due to a phase in their history (when I used them most) they were part owned by govts of Norway/Sweden and Denmark which dictated how many crew from various countries had to be on each flight - draw your own conclusions regarding where the customer fitted into this
There were past failed attempts to merge with KLM/Swissair and Austrian airlines
Will be interesting to watch what happens

 

[jase05]

Personally I’m quite happy with the movement.
I made the move to VS a while back and SAS was already a partner where I could earn points and TP’s but no other real benefits. Now as a SkyTeam member hopefully redemptions open up and other perks such as lounge access etc. We have a few flights to book with SAS for an upcoming trip so will be handy

 

[OZDUCK]

They seem to have been hovering on the verge of bankruptcy for years. We have flown them once - Stockholm to Oslo in an all economy B737. We took off and landed safely and on time plus we got a cup of tea or a cup of water. All we needed for that flight.

 

[kpc]

They seem to have been hovering on the verge of bankruptcy for years. We have flown them once - Stockholm to Oslo in an all economy B737. We took off and landed safely and on time plus we got a cup of tea or a cup of water. All we needed for that flight.

Yeah they are not the best airline when it comes to onboard service...have taken 5 flights with SAS in last 12 months, 3 in J.....the SAS Gold lounges are nice but very average food.. I guess I would miss the ability to use Lifemiles / Sq miles to book award seats.

 

[HS-TQE]

ITA Airways has been speculated to take SAS place in *A with Lufthansa set to extend their stake in ITA

 

[jase05]

ITA Airways has been speculated to take SAS place in *A with Lufthansa set to extend their stake in ITA

Be interesting to see if TAP Portugal fly the Star nest if IAG end up buying them out. Could be a bit of a European shuffle

 

[docjames]

Pretty major news - founding *A member departing the alliance. Consolidation ongoing of the AF-KLM into a bigger behemoth. Wonder how long until AF-KLM seek a higher % (or maybe not with sufficient ”control” otherwise).

Agree LH will now push even harder to integrate ITA Into *A.

 

[ANstar]

Perhaps part of AFKLs strategy to still capture some of the connecting market now that AMS is reducing the amount of flights and putting ridiculous taxes on transit pax (50odd euro)?

 

[openseat]

Since it's most likely that ITA comes under Lufthansa control and probably Star Alliance, it's a swap.

 

[jase05]

Any idea on dates they are leaving Star Alliance yet?
Have LHR-OSL-TOS booked them in March and currently Star Alliance airlines use T2 and have used a couple of lounges there previously plus was looking at the T2 HGI for an overnight stay. I’m presuming that SAS will eventually get shuffled over to another terminal but would love to get some clarity before then

 

[clifford]

Any idea on dates they are leaving Star Alliance yet?

It's a good question.

I have a UA award booking for early April ARN-MMX and if this doesn't go ahead it might be quite interesting.

 

[jase05]

Was reading yesterday that when AF/KLM reach 50% ownership of SAS they will ditch Eurobonus and bring them into the Flying Blue mix

 

[jase05]

Just received this email from SAS
Finishing up with Star Alliance on August 31st
Join SkyTeam on September 1st although like the hitch potch SkyTeam is it says “most” members will apply benefits.
Having recently flown SAS I though my they were very ordinary so hopefully we see some improvement down the track

 

[henrus]

In my opinion SAS had one of the best Star Alliance programs in the Pacific.

25,000 miles return in Y anywhere in the Pacific or 50,000 miles return in J. 60% required for a oneway 15k in Y or 30k in J.

Where is was a real benefit is that their Pacific includes Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Tahiti, Mariana Islands, Marshall Island, Palau, Micronesia, New Caledonia, NZ, Niue, Tonga and Somoa; however unlike others you can transit outside of the region if it's the most logical route meaning Australia to Japan to Micronesia or Australia to the US to Tahiti was allowed.

 

[kgreenuq]

I used SAS a little during the Noughties and always found them efficient but a little soulless (and Arlanda's so far out of Stockholm). Seemed like almost everyone on board was flying J, with business class extending all the way back to the over-the-wing exit doors.

 

[jase05]

I used SAS a little during the Noughties and always found them efficient but a little soulless (and Arlanda's so far out of Stockholm). Seemed like almost everyone on board was flying J, with business class extending all the way back to the over-the-wing exit doors.

Had 3 Euro J flights with them recently and thought they were fairly average.
Seats seemed really tight and they don’t block the middle J seat so was squashed up. Snacks/meals were on one flight but terrible on the other two. Staff were really not interested in their job it seemed and it seemed like a huge chore to get a beverage. Every flight wasn’t on time and check in was a debacle at both CDG and KKN with CDG not even having a lounge we could use so we sat cramped in the horribly small gate area. Oh an to top it off J only gets you boarding group 2 or 3 so another fail for me as half the flight seemed to be group 1
The OSL lounge was ok and nice cold beer on tap though and OSL is a great airport IMO