My Experience Matching Into SAS EuroBonus Diamone Status

Earlier this month, SAS EuroBonus launched a status match campaign for select airline loyalty programme members, allowing India-based elite members from programmes such as Air India, British Airways, Emirates, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, and others to status match into SAS EuroBonus.

Given that SAS is now part of the SkyTeam alliance, this status match immediately became interesting for frequent flyers seeking SkyTeam Elite or SkyTeam Elite Plus benefits across airlines such as Air France, KLM, Delta, Korean Air, and Vietnam Airlines.

I decided to take the plunge and apply for the match myself. Here is how the process worked out for me, along with timelines, verification requirements, approval turnaround and some practical observations.

What was SAS EuroBonus offering?

The status match campaign allowed eligible elite members from select frequent flyer programmes to obtain:

• EuroBonus Silver
• EuroBonus Gold
• EuroBonus Diamond

Depending on their existing airline status.

The most attractive aspect here is that EuroBonus Gold and Diamond both map to SkyTeam Elite Plus, which includes lounge access, priority boarding, an extra baggage allowance, and fast-track security across SkyTeam airlines.

Why did I apply for a Status Match?

Over time, I’ve switched alliances due to various reasons. For instance, over a decade ago, I was stuck with one world Emerald status alongside Jet Airways Platinum Tier. That moved to Emirates Gold, Etihad Gold, and Vistara Gold, once Jet Airways shut down. I am now an Air India Maharaja Club Platinum Tier member, in addition to holding status with Emirates and Etihad. Air India’s status opens the door for me across all the Star Alliance carriers.

However, over time, I found myself taking a few SkyTeam flights and paying for baggage. For instance, just last December, I was on a flight from Charleston to Boston with Delta, and I had to pay USD 35 for my checked bag.

The need for the status was simple. The opportunity was too good to ignore, since it was over a year of status without having to take any flights. So I would be able to get a few flights in over the year without having to pay for luggage (and that would be break-even), while having access to priority queues and the lounge.

How did I Status Match?

With the Air India Status, I was going to match directly to Diamond Status on SAS. I could have also gone for the Gold Tier; it’s a cheaper option.

I used my Air India Platinum Tier Status for the status match. I applied for the Diamond Tier.

The application itself was fairly straightforward. The first step was to create a SAS EuroBonus account if you did not already have one.

After that, I headed over to the dedicated status match portal. The application required:

• EuroBonus membership number
• Name and email address
• Proof of existing airline status
• Screenshot / statement showing elite validity
• In some cases, proof of recent activity

The first step was to choose the airline I would apply to for this Status Match.

I picked Air India, so there was the usual Q&A around the status tier and the membership number.

Next up, based on the information I provided, SAS/StatusMatch asked me what status I wanted to match into.

 

Based on this information, I had to accept the fact that I was good to go.

 

Finally, after the payment was made, I got an email stating the Status Match was in progress. All of this happened on a Saturday afternoon, and I was hoping to only hear back from StatusMatch on Monday.

I heard back from SM in a couple of hours, and they asked for a screenshot from Air India showing my membership details, and a copy of my flight activity for a year or so, to evaluate whether I was not in comped status and actually earned it.

Sunday Morning, I’d heard back from SM that my Status was approved. It also took about a day for it to be reflected on the SAS EuroBonus Website.

Validity Of The Status

One important point to note is that SAS appears to grant status validity for up to 24 months and a minimum of 12 months. That effectively provides approximately 24 months of access to SkyTeam Elite/Elite Plus. Some applicants may receive different validity periods depending on their EuroBonus membership cycle.

Benefits I’m Most Interested In

The most valuable benefits for me personally are:

• SkyTeam lounge access
• Priority check-in
• Extra baggage
• Better treatment on Air France/KLM itineraries
• Backup alliance coverage
• Priority boarding

For Indian travellers specifically, this could become useful on:

• Air France
• KLM
• Vietnam Airlines
• Saudia
• Korean Air
• Garuda Indonesia
• SAS

Depending on your travel patterns.

A Few Things To Keep In Mind

Before applying, there are some practical considerations worth noting.

• The Match Is Not Necessarily Instant: Some applications appear to be approved quickly, while others may require manual review.
• Status Validity May Differ: Your EuroBonus membership year matters, so two people applying on the same day may not receive the same expiry date.
• SAS Status Is More Useful Now Than Before:  SAS’s joining SkyTeam significantly improved the usefulness of EuroBonus status globally.
• The Programme Has Some Interesting Side Benefits: SAS also has partnerships such as the linkage with Scandic Hotels, where reciprocal status matching is possible.

Bottomline

Overall, the SAS EuroBonus status match process turned out to be fairly smooth for me. For me, it will work on SkyTeam, which now has a large base with KLM, Air France, SAS, and Virgin Atlantic. Yes, I still count Great Britain as part of Europe despite Brexit. I also hope to fly to Scandinavia and be treated well on SAS. Additionally, as SAS starts intermingling with transfer partners in India, I’ll be trying them out.

You can apply for this limited-time opportunity here.

Have you taken advantage of the SAS EuroBonus status match yet? How was your experience?

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