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EuroBonus

EuroBonus is the frequent flyer program of 5 European airlines. It was launched by Scandinavian Airlines System (SK) in 1992.

Contents

1 Airline partners
2 Norwegian ban on frequent flyer miles
3 Freddie Awards
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

Airline partners

EuroBonus airlines

airBaltic
Blue1
Estonian Air
Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS)
Widerøe

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

Air Greenland
Air One
Atlantic Airways
Cimber Air
City Airline
Qantas
Skyways

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

The Economist
Diners Club
MasterCard

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.

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.

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.

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.

EuroBonus

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