LAST CHANCE: Get top tier SkyTeam status for up to 23 months from your BA status
SAS EuroBonus, the loyalty scheme for Scandinavian airline group SAS, is running a status match specifically for British Airways Club members.
You can use your British Airways Club status to get a direct elite match into the EuroBonus programme. This includes giving EuroBonus Diamond status to The British Airways Club Gold members.
Your elite status will be valid across all 18 airlines in the SkyTeam alliance, including Virgin Atlantic.
What is special about this match – and which makes it arguably better than the Flying Blue match currently running – is that you will receive status for up to 23 months.
You could have top-tier SkyTeam Elite Plus status until March 2028.
You can apply here.
There is an administration fee of between €39 and €159. You must be a UK or EU resident to apply.
The timing is excellent, of course, if you are on track to lose your status in The British Airways Club in exactly two weeks time, on 30th April.
(When we say ‘Last chance:’ in the headline, I am talking to those people who only have two weeks of relevant BA status left! The match itself may – or may not – remain open beyond 30th April.)
IMPORTANT: The T&C specifically state that anyone who has had an SAS status match before IS able to apply again.
What will I get for my British Airways status?
All three core SAS elite tiers are being matched:
- The British Airways Club Bronze status will get you SAS EuroBonus Silver (SkyTeam Elite)
- The British Airways Club Silver status will get you SAS EuroBonus Gold (SkyTeam Elite Plus)
- The British Airways Club Gold status will get you SAS EuroBonus Diamond (SkyTeam Elite Plus)
Gold Guest List and Premier status will also match to Diamond.
Note that you must be a UK or European resident to apply for a match. Proof may be requested during your application.
Participating European countries are: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine and Vatican City.
What status benefits do I get with SAS?
You can see the status benefits you get with each tier here when flying with SAS.
The benefits of Silver, which matches from BA Bronze and is equivalent in terms of what you get, are mainly around seat selection and additional checked baggage.
Gold is where it starts to get interesting, which is what a BA Silver member gets. At this level you get lounge access (with a guest) plus seating and baggage benefits, as well as free wi-fi on SAS flights.
When entering an SAS lounge, whichever SkyTeam airline you are flying, the guesting benefit is very generous. You may bring one guest or up to FOUR immediate family members (spouse, partner, parent, child).
Diamond members (matched from BA Gold) get additional benefits including free drinks in SAS economy, a 30% points discount on flight redemptions and no expiry of their EuroBonus miles.
Which airlines can I get benefits on with my SAS status?
Your status is valid across the entire SkyTeam alliance, which now comprises 18 airlines:
- Aerolíneas Argentinas
- Aeromexico
- Air Europa
- Air France
- China Airlines
- China Eastern
- Delta Air Lines
- Garuda Indonesia
- Kenya Airways
- KLM
- Korean Air
- Middle East Airlines
- SAS
- SAUDIA
- TAROM
- Vietnam Airlines
- Virgin Atlantic
- Xiamen Air
In addition, SAS EuroBonus Gold and Diamond members get special benefits when flying with Singapore Airlines, including SilverKris lounge access with a guest.
I need to flag one thing about Virgin Atlantic. There is a carve out from SkyTeam rules for the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse in Heathrow Terminal 3.
Gold and Diamond members in EuroBonus do NOT get access to the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse in Heathrow Terminal 3 if flying Virgin Atlantic in Economy or Premium Economy. You will be sent to the No1 Lounge.
One benefit of the Flying Blue status match, which is still running, is that it would get you Clubhouse access in Terminal 3 if flying in Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy. SAS status does not get you this.
This rule does NOT apply to other Clubhouse departure lounges – only Heathrow Terminal 3. All other SkyTeam benefits apply – you can use the Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Wing to check-in if you are SAS EuroBonus Gold or Platinum for example.
You also cannot use the Virgin Atlantic Revivals Lounge in Terminal 3. This is exclusively for top-tier Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Australia and Delta members, plus Upper Class and Delta One passengers.
It is important to note that both SAS EuroBonus Gold (from BA Silver) and SAS EuroBonus Diamond (from BA Gold) match to SkyTeam’s top Elite Plus level. You get an identical level of alliance benefits.
How long does your matched status last?
This is where this specific status match beats all the others we’ve seen recently.
Your status could last for up to 23 months.
You receive the rest of your current SAS EuroBonus membership year plus all of the following year. If you opened a brand new SAS EuroBonus account, you would get the full 23 months.
If you have an existing SAS EuroBonus account, your status will not last as long. If your year ends in June, for example, you would get the rest of the current year (to June 2026) and then all of the following year to June 2027.
Your match should be approved within three business days (subject to requests for further ID or residency proof) and your account will be upgraded within the next 10 business days.
It is not clear if you will receive a ‘soft landing’ (dropping down only one tier) if you do not requalify. What is certain is that one elite status benefit – being able to gift status to a friend – is not available for people who receive a status match.
How do you apply for your status match?
SAS and its processing partner, Loyalty Status Co, have set up an application website here.
There is an application fee of €39 to match to SAS EuroBonus Silver (SkyTeam Elite), €79 to match to SAS EuroBonus Gold (SkyTeam Elite Plus) and €159 to match to SAS EuroBonus Diamond (SAS Elite Plus).
Remember that both Gold and Diamond have identical SkyTeam Elite Plus benefits when flying other airlines. If you are Gold in The British Airways Club, you could choose to match to Gold instead of Diamond in order to save €80. You would lose out if SAS decided to give a soft landing to matched members in 2028, however.
Conclusion
You will know by now if you will lose your British Airways elite status on 30th April or not.
If you are thinking of switching to the world of SkyTeam whilst you still have a shiny status card to match, this is a good opportunity.
If you want to compare it to the Flying Blue status match, which is also SkyTeam, have a look at our article here. The SAS match is better for most people because it is cheaper and you will keep your status for longer.
It is also well worth a look if you have occasional Virgin Atlantic trips. Being able to use the Upper Class Wing is cool – and you can get that even as SAS EuroBonus Gold – and you get seating and baggage benefits, even if the Clubhouse at Terminal 3 is out of bounds.
You can find out more, and apply, on the SAS EuroBonus status match website here.
There is no published closing date for the offer, but of course your existing BA status may be expiring in exactly two weeks.