SAS EuroBonus: The Best Sweet Spots for Award Flights

EuroBonus is one of the better frequent flyer programs in Europe, offering a relatively easy-to-achieve SkyTeam Elite Plus status and various options for redeeming points for award flights. Following a bankruptcy protection process, the airline has found a new investor in the form of Air France-KLM and subsequently joined SkyTeam in 2024, being the first of its founding members to leave Star Alliance.

While rules for status qualification have been slightly altered, not many things changed within EuroBonus after the switch. The most attractive redemption Sweet Spot – premium transatlantic flights – remained. On the downside, award tickets with partner airlines have become increasingly unattractive. So if you have (by any chance) millions of points to spend, let’s take a look at where to spend them.

Sweet Spots for Flights with SAS

The most sensible use of points is for flights and upgrades with SAS, not only in business class but also in (premium) economy. Here are some options:

Business Class Scandinavia ↔ North America for 50,000 Miles + €5

SAS has an extensive network to North America, with a total of 10 destinations in the 2025 summer schedule, including nine in the USA and one (Toronto) in Canada.

Since 2023, one-way flights cost exactly half of a round trip. Depending on the travel class, this translates to the following for an award flight across the Atlantic:

• Economy class: 30,000 points
• Premium economy: 40,000 points
• Business class: 50,000 points

It becomes evident that business class offers the best deal by far. Also, there are low additional payments, as there are no fuel surcharges, so you only pay the actual taxes and fees. From the USA, only €5 is charged for a non-stop flight.

If you’re departing from Scandinavia, expect an additional charge of approximately €80 due to taxes, depending on the country. So, for a round trip, you’ll end up with 100,000 points plus about €85.

Taxes from other origins in Europe can be much higher, especially high for flights from the UK, amounting to around €300 (~£261).

However, you will have a hard time finding availabilities for these connection flights, anyway. In most cases, it’s best to simply book an award ticket from/to Copenhagen, Stockholm or Oslo.

Here’s a map with all SAS destinations in North America:

The onboard product varies slighty, depending on whether you fly in the Airbus A330, Airbus A350, or A321LR.

For example, the Airbus A321LR only has a single aisle and varying 2-2 and 1-1 seating, so not every seat offers direct aisle access. Due to the width of the plane, the Airbus A350 offers the most spacious business class cabin. The Airbus A330 has the same seat as the A350, but in a slightly narrower version, making the A350 the most attractive option. You can read a review about the Airbus A350 business class here.

Business Class Europe ↔ Asia for 50,000 Miles + €30

In addition to North America, SAS also flies to three destinations in Asia: Bangkok, Tokyo, and Seoul. Sadly, none of these destinations shows any availability. The mileage price is the same as for flights across the Atlantic.

Economy Roundtrips Europe ↔ Greenland for 30,000 Miles + €107

In summer 2025, SAS starts service to the Greenland’s newest international airport in Nuuk. Because it’s a very unique routing, prices are quite high, even during sales. Using points is therefore a valid option, as roundtrips from Europa are available for 30,000 and roughly €100 in surcharges.

Economy Domestic Flights in Scandinavia for 5,000 Miles + €18

SAS has a dense network of domestic flights in Sweden and Norway. For a one-way flight within the same country, you’ll pay only 5,000 points in economy class (SAS Go) or 10,000 points in premium economy (SAS Plus). Svalbard is counted as part of Norway, and the Faroe Islands are considered part of Denmark. The same prices apply (still) for the regional airline Wideroe, albeit with limited availability.

Of particular interest: Even the cheapest economy tickets include a personal item, a large carry-on, and 23 kg of checked baggage. In contrast, paid tickets already incur an extra charge for a cabin trolley.

Here are some examples:

• Oslo → Svalbard for 5,000 points + €19
• Lulea → Stockholm for 5,000 points + €19
• Spitsbergen → Tromsø for 5,000 points + €24
• Visby (Gotland) → Stockholm → Gothenburg for 5,000 points + €26
• Bodø → Oslo → Kirkenes for 5,000 points + €26
• Malmo → Stockholm → Kiruna for 5,000 points + €27
• Copenhagen → Faroe Islands for 5,000 points + €30
• Faroe Islands → Copenhagen for 5,000 points + €32

Economy or Business Class: Finland/Baltics/Germany/Poland ↔ Scandinavia from 10,000 miles + €23

SAS EuroBonus has the Nordic+ region for award flights, covering Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland. Within this region, one-way flights in economy class cost 10,000 points, and in premium economy, it’s 15,000 points.

Even here, (even in economy class) large carry-on and 23 kg of free baggage are included. Layovers are free, making distant destinations like the Faroe Islands, Svalbard, Kirkenes, etc., particularly interesting.

Here are a few price examples:

• Economy class (SAS Go):
  • Helsinki → Stockholm → Tromso → Svalbard for 10,000 points + €29
  • Umea → Stockholm → Hamburg for 10,000 points + €26
  • Stockholm → Warsaw for 10,000 points + €38
  • Helsinki → Copenhagen → Oslo → Spitsbergen for 10,000 points + €39
• SAS Plus/Business Class¹:
  • Vilnius → Stockholm → Oslo → Kirkenes for 15,000 points + €23
  • Vaasa (Finland) → Stockholm → Copenhagen → Warsaw for 15,000 points + €41
  • Hamburg → Copenhagen → Faroe Islands for 15,000 points + €35

¹Until September 2025, SAS does not offer short-haul business class. The best you can get is SAS Plus, with regular economy seating and better catering. From September onward, you can also expect an middle-seat on international flights. However, domestic flights (like Oslo – Svalbard) are still limited to SAS Plus.

Upgrades to Premium Economy & Business Class

For those with a paid ticket, SAS allows bidding for upgrades to premium economy or business class. This can be done either through the “Manage Booking” section on the website or during the check-in process.

Payment can be made in points or cash, with points having a value of approximately 1 to 2 Eurocents. EuroBonus status customers receive a bonus of 10% to 30% on their bid, improving their chances. However, this process is somewhat of a gamble, and an upgrade is often confirmed only a few hours before departure.

Minimum bids are approximately:

• Economy → premium economy from about 15,000 points
• Economy → business from about 35,000 points
• Premium economy → business from about 25,000 points

These are rough guidelines, as the price varies significantly depending on the route, booking class, occupancy, etc.

Sweet Spots for Award Flights with SkyTeam

Award flights with partner airlines have traditionally been less attractive than with SAS itself. That has not changed after the airline joined SkyTeam. For example, even French domestic flights (with Air France) start at 20,000 points, Spanish domestic flights (with Air Europa) cost 40,000 points. You can fly premium economy to America for the same amount with SAS. The entire award chart is available here on SAS’ website.

To book award flights with partner airlines, you have to access a special booking search. SAS’ regular points search won’t display these.

Here are a few examples of what is currently possible:

• Delta Air Lines business class: Ontario (Los Angeles) → Shanghai for 99,000 points + €54 oneway
• Korean Air business class: Tokyo → Delhi for 30,000 points + €83 oneway
• Delta Air Lines economy : Seattle – Cancun for 25,000 points + €161 roundtrip
• Delta Air Lines economy : New York – San Francisco for 25,000 points + €108 roundtrip
• Xiamen Air economy: Xiamen/Chongqing → Osaka for 15,000 points + €60 oneway

One-way tickets cost 60% of roundtrip fares, making return tickets more attractive.

Redemptions with Air Europa, China Eastern and Vietnam Airlines are especially unattractive, as these airlines double the number of required points in SAS’ awards table.

Check Availability with Awardhacks.se

Unfortunately, SAS has been releasing relatively few seats for award flights lately, especially in business class on long-haul routes. Therefore, here’s a tip on how to find an award flight (with flexible dates).

SAS offers a Low Fare Calendar directly on their website, showing you when cheap flights are available throughout the year, including award flights:

Fortunately, there is a good, free alternative. Awardhacks.se provides you with up-to-date availability in business class, allowing you to search flexibly for a route, such as all routes from Scandinavia to the USA:

Upon request, AwardHacks will also email you when new seats become available for your desired connection.

And for those who simply want to check availability for their preferred date, you can also use our search form:

Conclusion

The list of sweet spots at EuroBonus is relatively small. Redeeming miles is almost only worthwhile for flights with SAS, and availability is often not promising. However, for those fortunate enough to find something suitable, EuroBonus points can offer a very good deal.

This is especially true for transatlantic flights, but also within Scandinavia. While some routes may have affordable paid tickets (thanks to competition from Norwegian), this is not always the case. SAS has a uniquely extensive route network, especially in Norway and Sweden.

With partner airlines on the other hand, there are only a few sweet spots, so it’s better to redeem the points within SAS’ network. In contrast to airlines like Lufthansa, whose program recently abandoned their home market, SAS EuroBonus is especially attractive for people who live – or often travel to – Scandinavia.

Translated and edited by Ditmar

Cover Picture: Ditmar Lange