– I have one million and 10,000 points, says journalist and Eurobonus expert Kaspar Synnevåg.
Together with Henrik Hylland Uhlving, he runs the podcast “Klassereisen”, which among other things is about how to get the most out of the bonus program.
That SAS is in its second week of strike and ultimately risks bankruptcy, he believes is worrying.
– I would say there is reason to be concerned. Not only because SAS can go bankrupt, but also because they can make changes to the Eurobonus program, says Synnevåg.
– AROUND THE WORLD: Kaspar Synnevåg and Henrik Hylland Uhlving traveled the world in first class using Euro bonus points. Photo: Private
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Predict a number of changes
Synnevåg is used to SAS regularly adjusting the price of how many bonus points it costs for a flight.
– But with poor finances, they may raise prices considerably, he says.
In addition to price adjustments, he believes there may also be changes associated with longer flights.
– SAS buys the long journeys in business class through other Star Alliance companies. There may also be changes here, especially when it comes to how many tickets will be available.
Although the changes may have a negative effect on everyone who collects points, he also emphasizes that the Eurobonus program is valuable for SAS.
– There are several examples of airlines that have struggled and sold the bonus program on. Then the saved points will survive, says Synnevåg.
Are you wondering what SAS itself says about the Eurobonus program? Read the company’s answer further down in the case.
– ON THE GROUND: Many of SAS’s planes are currently on the ground during the strike. Photo: Javad Parsa / NTB
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May lose four trips to the US
Since the SAS strike became a fact, Anders Gusland Hansen (37) has pondered whether he should take action.
– I have landed on having some ice in my stomach, Hansen says.
He is a Eurobonus member and at the time of writing has 260,000 saved bonus points.
– COLLECTOR: Anders Gusland Hansen from Oslo says that he collects an average of 150,000 points a year. Photo: Private
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– The bonus points can be four trips to the USA round trip in business class. The alternative is to buy a grill in the store, and then I choose to wait in case I can get some really good experiences for my points, says Hansen.
– FREE TRIP: Last week, Anders Gusland Hansen traveled to New York with bonus points Photo: Private
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Has begun to prepare
Hansen says that he pays a couple of thousand a year for two credit cards. Therefore, he has decided that he will not lose anything if he loses the points.
– I have earned most by shopping for food or household items. These are things I have to trade anyway, so the only thing I risk is having to start from scratch and earn bonus points somewhere else, he says.
He hopes SAS will survive the crisis, but has already begun preparing for bankruptcy.
– I have already started to focus more on other benefit programs instead of Eurobonus, in case SAS goes the puck.
SAS: – No need to worry
According to SAS, the Eurobonus program has just over seven million members. They estimated in their latest annual report that the members’ bonus in total is worth around 1.7 billion Swedish kroner, but SAS will not answer how large a share of their tickets is bought with bonus points.
– We do not publish information about the number of points or shares that are purchased with points for competitive reasons, writes press manager at SAS, Tonje Sund, in an e-mail to TV 2.
The press officer states that SAS has no plans to change the bonus scheme. Furthermore, she does not want to answer TV 2’s questions about what happens if the airline should end up in bankruptcy.
– SAS’s Eurobonus members do not have to worry. We are not planning any changes to Eurobonus.
– By the way, we do not want to speculate in the future, our focus now is to save the company, and get the passengers back on the air, Sund writes.
This is what the Euro bonus terms say:
The terms were last updated and published in 2020.
- To the extent permitted by local laws or regulations, these Euro bonus terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with Swedish law: EB has the right to terminate or replace the Euro bonus program with one month’s notice.
- If the Euro bonus program is terminated due to legislation, court rulings, orders from public authorities or the like, the Euro bonus program may cease immediately without notice and earned points will expire immediately without any form of compensation.
- If one of our business partners is declared bankrupt, or is otherwise unable to fulfill its obligations to us or our Euro bonus members, no retroactive claims can be made and we will decide how and if the points for ordered but not used trips, will be transferred back to your EuroBonus account.
Source: SAS / Euro bonus program
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– Time will tell
Senior legal adviser Thomas Iversen in the Consumer Council says one must expect that the bonus points are lost, if SAS goes bankrupt.
– SAS has now begun the process of financial restructuring of the company, which includes bankruptcy protection. Time will tell how the bonus points manage through the restructuring.
Without further comparison, he points out that the bonus points at Norwegian survived when they restructured the company in 2021.
– SAS was clear that their bonus program would be in operation while the restructuring was in progress. This means that you can also use the points in the future.
If you are afraid of burning inside with points, Iversen thinks you should prioritize using them up.
You should do this now
Bonus hunter and journalist Kaspar Synnevåg has some clear thoughts about what is wise to do now.
– If you think SAS survives the strike, I would book trips with Eurobonus as soon as possible. Then you get good tickets before they possibly raise the prices. At least I’ll do that, he says.
According to him, you get the bonus points back anyway if the flight is canceled. The same does not apply in a bankruptcy.
Synnevåg thinks it is smart to act quickly, and points out that there have been two years of little travel during the pandemic.
– If SAS were to do well, everyone will book Eurobonus tickets as soon as there is a safer market, and then many of the seats will be taken.
He also reminds that the points do not last forever, and advises everyone to use them before the expiration date. Regardless of the outcome of the SAS strike, there is one thing in particular he advises against all Eurobonus customers doing now.
– The last thing I would do is use the points in the store. Realize that someone is doing it now to make sure you get to use them, but it is incredibly expensive and you get much more value for the points if you use them on flights.
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