This is often a headache for business travellers who are premium members of an airline frequent flyer programme. All it takes is for the airline to change alliance for the benefits within that alliance to disappear.
Star Alliance has this time decided to anticipate the disappearance of premium members from the SAS Scandinavian AirlinesEurobonus. With the entry of the Air France-KLM to acquire stake in Scandinavian carrierSAS immediately became a member of Skyteam. With all the equivalences offered to passengers on the frequent flyer programmes of the alliance's member airlines.
Star Alliance has also announced that some member airlines are offering a "match/status challenge" frequent flyer programme. Members of SAS EuroBonus with eligible frequent flyer status can apply for equivalent status in a programme of certain Star Alliance member airlines.
The offer is attractive to customers in Europe who want the seamless connectivity and unrivalled frequent flyer benefits offered by Star Alliance. Star Alliance airlines operate more than 3,650 flights a month to Scandinavia departing from 26 hubs worldwide. They offer their customers connections to more than 1,070 international destinations. This represents the largest number of flights operated by an airline alliance.
14 Star airlines accept Eurobonus members
18 Star Alliance member airlines offer direct flights to and from Scandinavia. These include Aegean Airlines, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, ANA, Austrian, Brussels Airlines, Croatia Airlines, Egyptair, Ethiopian Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Swiss, TAP Air Portugal, THAI, Turkish Airlines and United.
14 of them have decided to take part in the status exchange campaign. They are Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Ethiopian Airlines, Lufthansa Group airlines, South African Airways, TAP Air Portugal, THAI, Turkish Airlines and United Airlines. The statuses can be combined with the equivalent gold and silver levels, as appropriate.
" With 25 member airlines, only Star Alliance is best placed to offer benefits to frequent travellers from the Nordic countries." said Renato Ramos, Vice President Strategy, Star Alliance.
Status holders can make transparent requests equivalence with the programmes of the above-mentioned airlines. They can also take part in a competition to move up to a higher status by the end of November 2024.
