Those who follow closely how the aviation industry works had little doubt that this agreement would come into existence. It was, so to say, the missing piece of the puzzle. Air France-KLM has just signed a codeshare and interline agreement with SAS Scandinavian Airlines. Here’s what the news is all about and what it translates to for passengers and frequent flyers.
What is The Air France-KLM Agreement all About?
I would drill down the agreement to three main key points:
- The interline agreement
- The codeshare agreement
- Reciprocal loyalty program benefits
So, let’s start off from point one of the list. Before doing so though, just keep in mind (for non-aviation fanatics) that this all comes as the result of the SAS Star Alliance exit that will bring Scandinavian into SkyTeam from September 1st 2024. That decision came to be following Air France-KLM’s investment in the Scandinavian carrier. A vital injection of cash that took the airline out of a tricky situation.
Going back to point one, the airlines have signed an agreement which is of strategic importance. It aligns SAS’s and AF-KLM’s operations. Passengers will now be able to travel across the airlines’ networks with one booking. Say you must travel from Copenhagen to Cagliari. There are no direct SAS flights. However, you can book a ticket that includes an SAS flight to Paris and an Air France flight to Cagliari with seamless connectivity.
The codeshare agreement, on the other hand, will allow the airlines to sell each other’s services as if they were their own. The first stage of the agreement will see 33 SAS destinations an 33 AF-KLM destinations involved. Only in a second stage will intercontinental long-haul flights be included.
Lastly, the reciprocation of loyalty program benefits is another key agreement for the integration of SAS into the Air France-KLM universe. EuroBonus and Flying Blue statuses will be put on the same level. Elite members will gain access to all Air France, KLM, and SAS lounges. Accrual and redemption of miles on all three airlines will also be possible.
This will all become effective September 1st. That is the date SAS will officially become a SkyTeam member and leave Star Alliance.
All Ready For Scandinavian Airlines’ SkyTeam Entry
These agreements were the missing pieces to the puzzle that will see SAS join SkyTeam on September 1st 2024. They will allow a deeper and more integral collaboration in operations between SAS and Air France-KLM.
In some countries the departure of SAS from Star Alliance will reduce options for usage of American Express MR points. For instance, here in Italy, where I live, Scandinavian is the only European Star Alliance airline to which I could transfer my AMEX MR points to. I’ll have to put up with a little less flexibility and options. 🙂
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