EuroBonus: Difference between revisions
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==Membership Levels== |
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EuroBonus has four membership levels. The entry level is "Basis", followed by "Silver", which is attained by earning 20,000 bonus points in a year. Benefits include business class checkin and extra baggage allowance on some flights, as well as 15% more bonus points. Following that is "Gold", which requires 55,000 bonus points in a year. Benefits include all Silver benefits, plus priority security at certain airports and access to SAS and Star Alliance lounges. There is also an exclusive membership tier, called "Pandion", which is awarded personally to 1,500 selected customers by the CEO of SAS. Each Pandion membership is reevaluated yearly, and you have to "fly more than the pilots and crew of SAS" in order to be eligible. Benefits include guaranteed seats on SAS flights, even on fully booked flights, and exclusive service.<ref>[http://politiken.dk/tjek/rejser/rejsertest/testrejsekoeb/article618367.ece The Secret SAS Bonus Card] Article in Politiken, retrieved Dec 27th 2008</ref> |
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==Norwegian ban on frequent flyer miles== |
==Norwegian ban on frequent flyer miles== |
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Revision as of 17:48, 27 December 2008
EuroBonus is the frequent flyer program of 5 European airlines. It was launched by Scandinavian Airlines System (SK) in 1992.
Airline partners
EuroBonus airlines
Star Alliance partner airlines
- Adria Airways (Regional partner)
- Air Canada
- Air China
- Air New Zealand
- All Nippon Airways (ANA)
- Asiana Airlines
- Austrian Airlines
- Bmi
- Croatia Airlines (Regional partner)
- EgyptAir
- LOT Polish Airlines
- Lufthansa
- Shanghai Airlines
- Singapore Airlines
- South African Airways
- Spanair
- Swiss International Air Lines
- TAP Portugal
- Thai Airways International
- Turkish Airlines
- United
- US Airways
Other airline partners
Hotel partners
- Best Western Hotels
- Country Inn & Suites
- Hilton family of hotels
- Park Inn
- Radisson Edwardian Hotels
- Radisson Hotels & Resorts
- Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts
- Regent Hotels (selected hotels)
- Scandic Hotels
- Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts
- Sol Mélia Hotels & Resorts
Other partners
Membership Levels
EuroBonus has four membership levels. The entry level is "Basis", followed by "Silver", which is attained by earning 20,000 bonus points in a year. Benefits include business class checkin and extra baggage allowance on some flights, as well as 15% more bonus points. Following that is "Gold", which requires 55,000 bonus points in a year. Benefits include all Silver benefits, plus priority security at certain airports and access to SAS and Star Alliance lounges. There is also an exclusive membership tier, called "Pandion", which is awarded personally to 1,500 selected customers by the CEO of SAS. Each Pandion membership is reevaluated yearly, and you have to "fly more than the pilots and crew of SAS" in order to be eligible. Benefits include guaranteed seats on SAS flights, even on fully booked flights, and exclusive service.[1]
Norwegian ban on frequent flyer miles
In 2002, SAS bought up the rival airline Braathens, giving the company a near monopoly on major domestic routes within Norway. After a few months, the airline Norwegian Air Shuttle started flying major routes in competition. To remove the edge SAS had over the new airline, the Norwegian Competition Authority then banned the award of EuroBonus points in Norway from August 1 that year.
In 2005, Morten A. Meyer, the Modernization Minister asked the competition authority to consider extending the ban on frequent flyer miles to include all of Scandinavia. Norwegian Air Shuttle and Sterling Airlines had also complained about SAS's bonus program in Scandinavia. It was pointed out that the situation on these routes was different from the monopoly which had been present on the Norwegian domestic market.[2][3]
The authorities indicated in 2007 that the ban against frequent flyer points would continue, arguing that the ban on EuroBonus had reduced the ticket prices by 30% and boosted competition. SAS Norge, the Norwegian affiliate of SAS protested, arguing that the extent of the fare reduction was exaggerated (claiming 18.4% rather than 30%), and were due to more efficient spending, not the ban on EuroBonus.[4]
Freddie Awards
EuroBonus won the Freddie Awards, the largest award in the travel industry, for best frequent flyer program numerous times. They won the six years prior to 2003, and again in 2004. In 2005 they wound up in a disappointing 13th place. The ban on domestic point awards in Norway, which reduced the value of the program, was part of the reason for EuroBonus's decline in the rankings.[5]
EurBonus received the acclaimed Industry Impact Award at the Freddy Award Ceremony held in Phoenix, Arizona on April 24 - 2008. What in fact was awarded was the Award Seat Prognosis - transparently displaying any available award seats online for the members setting a new standard for Frequent Flyer Programs can display award availability for their members.
See also
References
- ^ The Secret SAS Bonus Card Article in Politiken, retrieved Dec 27th 2008
- ^ Vurderer bonusforbud i Skandinavia ("Considering bonus ban in Scandinavia") Dagens Næringsliv, April 9, 2005
- ^ Pålagt å granske SAS-bonus ("Ordered to investigate SAS bonus") Dagens Næringsliv, April 11, 2005
- ^ Vil forlenge Eurobonus-forbud ("Will extend the EuroBonus ban") Dagens Næringsliv, May 23, 2007
- ^ SAS slaktes i prisutdeling ("SAS slaughtered in prize awards") Dagens Næringsliv, April 29, 2005