SAS awards now available using Delta SkyMiles (and other partners), including on business-class flights to Europe

It's been nearly a year since Scandinavian Airlines announced plans to leave Star Alliance, which it helped found over 25 years ago, as part of a financing deal with Air France-KLM. The airline officially exited SkyTeam at the end of August and has since been forging closer ties with its new SkyTeam partners, including Delta, with whom the Stockholm-based carrier signed a codeshare agreement that just went into effect on Sept. 25.

SkyTeam alliance guide: Member airlines, lounges and elite status

Some intra-Europe awards on SAS were previously available using SkyMiles, and there were reports that Flying Blue miles could be redeemed some long-haul flights as of last week. Now, however, it appears that long-haul SAS awards are bookable using not only SkyMiles on Delta.com, but also with Virgin Points on Virgin Atlantic's site.

This opens up even more options for SkyMiles members, as well as folks with points that transfer to Virgin Red, to fly between the U.S. and Europe with their points. While business-class awards are both expensive and scarce, there is plenty of well-priced availability in both economy and premium economy.

Alliance shocker: SAS to tie up with Air France-KLM and SkyTeam, ditch Star Alliance

SAS awards using Delta SkyMiles

From what TPG has found, economy awards range from 44,000-56,000 Delta SkyMiles one-way between the airline's hub in Copenhagen (CPH) and its U.S. gateways including New York J.F.K. International Airport (JFK), Boston Logan (BOS), Chicago O'Hare (ORD) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), depending on city and date. They seem to be widely available between now and next summer.

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Boston-Copenhagen for 44,000 SkyMiles. DELTA

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Premium economy awards from various U.S. cities seem to range between coming in between 92,000-120,000 SkyMiles in each direction, depending on the date and city.

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Atlanta to Copenhagenc for 115,000 SkyMiles in premium economy. DELTA

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Finally, business class seems to start at 230,000 miles each way, but runs up to 375,000. There's not a lot of lower-level availability, sadly. Those prices are in line with similar awards on Delta's own flights. Here's an example of a flght from Copenhagen to Los Angeles with a stop in Atlanta.

Redeeming Virgin points for SAS flights

Virgin Atlantic is also displaying plenty of economy and premium economy awards on SAS flights now, starting at 22,500 and 47,500 points each way, respectively, for economy and premium economy tickets from various gateways including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Chicago, New York and Boston.

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We couldn't suss out awards on SAS's non-stop flights from West Coast cities like Los Angeles or San Francisco for the time being.

However, economy awards start at 25,500 miles each way between the U.S. and Europe, and 47,500 miles each way in premium economy with taxes and fees of jsut $5.60 if flying from the U.S. and around $56 if flying from Europe.

And TPG's Brian Kelly did find Upper Class redemptions from both Boston and Atlanta for as low as 60,000 Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points and just $6 in taxes and fees via Seats.aero.

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Virgin Atlantic awards on SAS. VIRGIN ATLANTIC

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SAS added flights between Copenhagen and Atlanta in June, and the airline just added a flight from Copenhagen to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) starting next summer earlier this month.

Using miles to fly SAS

Don't have any SkyTeam miles to redeem for SAS flights? There are plenty of easy ways to build up your mileage balances.

For Delta SkyMiles, you can consider applying for one of the following cards.

• Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card

Meanwhile, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club is also a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One Miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards and, most recently, Wells Fargo Rewards, so if you have a card that earns miles with those programs, you might have some good options for padding your Virgin account.

Related reading:

• When is the best time to book flights for the cheapest airfare?
• The best airline credit cards
• What exactly are airline miles, anyway?
• 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
• Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
• The best credit cards to reach elite status
• What are points and miles worth? TPG's monthly valuations