SAS exits Star Alliance — 31 Aug 2024
SAS leaves Star Alliance for SkyTeam on 1 Sep 2024, ending Star earn/redeem on SAS metal, but adding SAS award space to Flying Blue. This change affects redemptions on SAS metal for Maharaja Club and KrisFlyer members.
SAS, a founding member of Star Alliance since 1997, exited the alliance on 31 August 2024 and joined SkyTeam on 1 September 2024. As a result, earn and redeem options on SAS metal for Star Alliance members, including those with Maharaja Club and KrisFlyer, are no longer available. The move to SkyTeam means that SAS’s network in Copenhagen, Stockholm, and Oslo is no longer part of the Star Alliance award map. Instead, Indian award bookers will need to rely on Lufthansa Group connections to access Scandinavia via Star Alliance. However, the shift to SkyTeam brings a consolation - Flying Blue, a transfer partner for Axis and Amex, will offer SAS award space. Our take: If you have Maharaja Club or KrisFlyer miles and were planning to redeem them on SAS metal, you’ll need to adjust your plans. Consider transferring your miles to Flying Blue to access SAS award space on the SkyTeam side. For those with existing bookings on SAS, be sure to review your itinerary and make any necessary changes before the alliance switch takes effect.