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On September 1, 2024, SAS left Star Alliance for SkyTeam. Since then, SAS awards have been increasingly made available to book through SkyTeam partners. Yesterday, we covered how you can now book SAS awards with Delta SkyMiles. But there's an even more appealing option using one of the easiest-to-earn mileage currencies around.
Here's what you need to know about this new mileage redemption option.
Flying Blue SAS Award Booking Timeline
Almost immediately after SAS joined SkyTeam, Flying Blue (the joint loyalty program of Air France and KLM) started making SAS awards available to mileage collectors, but you had to book over the phone. Thankfully, that was quickly resolved. Now, most of SAS' network is available for booking online.
When you try booking with miles on Air France or KLM's website, you'll see SAS itineraries mixed in. If you see a SAS option that can get you where you need to go, it'll likely be available for great value. Sometimes, that value is even more pronounced than you'll get on Air France or KLM.
Great Value SAS Awards Using Flying Blue Miles
How does flying to 19,200 Flying Blue miles plus about $32 in taxes and fees sound for a one-way flight between New York (JFK) and Copenhagen? It sounds better than 20,000 Flying Blue miles plus over $100 in taxes and fees. The latter is the rate Air France or KLM regularly charges for awards on its own flights.
After you get to Copenhagen, perhaps you want to head to London (LHR). SAS awards between CPH to LHR are available from 5,000 miles in economy or 12,100 miles in business class. At most, you'll pay around $60 in taxes and fees.
Or, you could head from Copenhagen on to Tokyo (HND) for just 27,100 miles in economy in either direction.
Alternatively, how about flying across the Atlantic Ocean in SAS business class for as few as 40,900 miles? We like the way those numbers look.
Generally speaking, SAS awards command lower taxes and fees than awards on Air France or KLM. That's not always the case, but it's true most of the time. So, if you can book a Flying Blue award on SAS, you should be able to unlock fantastic value and save on the out-of-pocket costs.
Top Off Your Air France/KLM Flying Blue Account
Figuring these new sweet spots aren't relevant as you don't have Flying Blue miles? Well, Flying Blue miles are easier to collect than most mileage currencies — including Delta SkyMiles. That's mainly a function of several 1:1 transfer partners:
If you're eyeing an SAS award and are short the miles necessary, you can also buy Flying Blue miles outright — although we don't recommend it unless there's a substantial bonus or discount.
Or, you apply for the Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard® and earn 70,000 bonus miles and 40 XP after you make $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of your account opening, plus 60 XP upon approval. If you value Flying Blue miles, the Air France KLM Mastercard is an easy way to earn miles on your everyday spending with little effort.
Related: Do Flying Blue Miles Expire?
Final Thoughts
There are so many ways to get to Europe using points and miles that it's hard to keep track of them all. But the newest way to get there using Flying Blue miles is one to keep in mind: You can fly between the U.S. and Europe for fewer miles and pay less out of pocket than if you booked similar awards on Air France or KLM. In other words, don't sleep on SAS; the value is excellent.
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