Scandinavian Airlines, commonly referred to as SAS, is the flag carrier of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Established as a collaboration among the three countries, SAS has played a significant role in shaping the aviation industry in the Nordic region. Central to its offering is the EuroBonus program, a loyalty scheme that rewards frequent travelers with a variety of benefits. This article explores the history of Scandinavian Airlines and its EuroBonus program, highlighting its benefits, status credit requirements for tier upgrades, and partner affiliations.
The EuroBonus program was launched in 1992 as SAS’s frequent flyer program, aimed at rewarding loyal customers with points for their travel. Over the years, EuroBonus has evolved into a comprehensive loyalty scheme with a wide range of benefits and redemption options.
Status Tiers and Credits
EuroBonus offers several status tiers, each with increasing benefits. Members can move up through the tiers by accumulating Basic Points, which are earned based on distance flown and fare class. Here’s a breakdown of the requirements for each tier:
- EuroBonus Member: Entry-level membership with access to basic rewards and earning potential.
- EuroBonus Silver:
- 20,000 Basic Points or 10 one-way flights with SAS
- EuroBonus Gold:
- 45,000 Basic Points or 45 one-way flights with SAS
- EuroBonus Diamond:
- 90,000 Basic Points or 90 one-way flights with SAS
Benefits of EuroBonus Program
| Benefits | Silver | Gold | Diamond |
| Earn & use points | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Point sharing points | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Extra checked bag | Yes | 2x | Yes |
| Priority check-in | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Priority boarding | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Discount on regular trips paid with points | 5% | 10% | 30% |
| Higher bid for SAS Upgrade | 10% | 20% | 30% |
| More Basic points from flights | 10% | 25% | 25% |
| more Bonus points when you fly | 25% | 50% | 75% |
| Priority customer service | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Seat selection | X | Yes | Yes |
| Fast track | X | Yes | Yes |
| Free lounge access | X | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed seat | X | Yes | Yes |
| Free WiFi onboard | X | Yes | Yes |
| Give away a memberhsip | X | 1 | 2 |
| No point expiration | X | X | Yes |
| Free rebooking on day of departure | X | X | Yes |
| No booking fees for SAS Bonus trips | X | X | Yes |
Partner Airlines and Affiliations
SAS’s EuroBonus program benefits greatly from its partnerships, especially its membership in the Star Alliance. Here are some of the key partners:
Other Partners: Beyond airlines, EuroBonus has partnerships with a range of hotels, car rental agencies, and retail brands. Members can earn points through stays with Radisson, rental cars from Hertz and Avis, and purchases from various retailers.
Star Alliance Members: EuroBonus members can earn and redeem points with any of the 26 Star Alliance member airlines, including:
- Lufthansa
- United Airlines
- Singapore Airlines
- Swiss International Air Lines
Turkish Airlines
Non-Star Alliance Partners: EuroBonus has also partnered with several non-Star Alliance airlines, providing additional earning and redemption opportunities. These include:
- Widerøe (regional Norwegian airline)
- Etihad Airways
- airBaltic
Points Calculation
SAS EuroBonus points, referred to as Basic Points, are earned based on the distance flown and the fare class of your ticket. The points you earn vary depending on whether you’re flying domestically within Scandinavia or internationally, and in which class of service.
Domestic Flights within Scandinavia (Denmark, Norway, Sweden)
Distance Bands:
- 0-600 miles
- 601-1,200 miles
- 1,201+ miles
Fare Classes and Multipliers:
- Economy Class:
- Low Fare: 100% of miles flown
- High Fare: 125% of miles flown
- Premium Economy: 150% of miles flown
- Business Class: 200% of miles flown
International Flights
Distance Bands:
- 0-600 miles
- 601-1,200 miles
- 1,201-3,000 miles
- 3,001-5,000 miles
- 5,001-7,000 miles
- 7,001+ miles
Fare Classes and Multipliers:
- Economy Class:
- Low Fare: 100% of miles flown
- High Fare: 125% of miles flown
- Premium Economy: 150% of miles flown
- Business Class: 200% of miles flown
- First Class: 300% of miles flown (Note: SAS does not offer First Class, but partners may)
Example Calculations
Domestic Flight: Oslo (OSL) to Stockholm (ARN)
This route is approximately 330 miles one-way.
- Economy Class:
- Low Fare: 330 miles × 100% = 330 Basic Points
- High Fare: 330 miles × 125% = 413 Basic Points
- Premium Economy:
- 330 miles × 150% = 495 Basic Points
- Business Class:
- 330 miles × 200% = 660 Basic Points
International Flight: Copenhagen (CPH) to New York (JFK)
This route is approximately 3,858 miles one-way.
- Economy Class:
- Low Fare: 3,858 miles × 100% = 3,858 Basic Points
- High Fare: 3,858 miles × 125% = 4,822.5 Basic Points
- Premium Economy:
- 3,858 miles × 150% = 5,787 Basic Points
- Business Class:
- 3,858 miles × 200% = 7,716 Basic Points
- First Class (On Partner Airlines):
- 3,858 miles × 300% = 11,574 Basic Points
The exact Basic Points you will earn depend on the distance flown and the fare class. The above examples provide a clear method for calculating Basic Points for different flight scenarios within the EuroBonus program.