Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) officially joined the Delta's SkyTeam Alliance last month, and now, finally, you can use SkyMiles to book SAS flights to northern Europe.
The Denmark-based airline that connects several U.S. gateways to Copenhagen (CPH), Stockholm (ARN), and Oslo (OSL) and connects on to dozens more northern European destinations is a huge plus for SkyTeam and Delta. As a result, both airlines are expanding their route networks, including an exciting long-awaited return of Seattle (SEA) to Copenhagen (CPH) on SAS.
While itineraries with SAS flights have been bookable through Delta's website and app for several weeks, it wasn't until recently that award availability began cropping up. But SkyMiles rates for SAS flights aren't as competitive compared to other SAS partners like Air France/KLM's Flying Blue loyalty program and even Virgin Atlantic – and many of SAS's flights are still hard to find bookable through Delta.
If you want to fly economy, finding ways to use SkyMiles to book SAS flights isn't terribly hard in the off-season months. This Boston (BOS) to Copenhagen (CPH) flight is a good example.
We also found similar availability on the Chicago (ORD) to Copenhagen route among others.
This week, it appears there are far more options bookable with Delta than in week's past. Here's a look at the month view for roundtrip flights to Copenhagen.
Read next: How to Find & Book the Best Delta SkyMiles Deals
Just the economy cabin is bookable on most of these flights, but SAS Premium Economy fares are out there, too. The rates are… not great.
SAS Premium Economy is one of our favorite values in travel with roundtrip fares hovering around $600-$800 to northern Europe. That's a much better booking option than using your hard-earned SkyMiles.
If you can find roundtrip availability, that price goes up to 168,000 SkyMiles from Chicago, too.
It's possible to find SAS Premium Economy seats bookable with SkyMiles for a trip this winter or spring. Getting into the peak summer travel season, though, and the award availability from almost every city SAS flies completely evaporates.
Currently SAS flies to 10 different U.S. gateways, and you can reliably find economy awards from most of them. In the forward cabins, that's much different. Delta and SAS are still just starting to add these flights to their systems, so hopefully they'll become even more readily bookable in the coming days and weeks, but as of now, these redemptions are no guarantee.
Delta isn't the only one of SAS's new partners making flights bookable with their own miles. You can also book SAS flights through Air France/KLM and Virgin Atlantic and it's easier and cheaper, too.
Booking that same BOS-CPH flight above through Virgin Atlantic will run just 41,000 Virgin points roundtrip! Plus, Virgin points are extremely easy to earn as you can transfer credit card points from all the major banks – American Express, Bilt, Capital One, Chase, Citi, and now Wells Fargo.
And with Air France/KLM Flying Blue miles, it's even better…
That SAS roundtrip flight can be booked for as low as 36,000 Flying Blue miles. And you can transfer points from any of the major banks to Flying Blue to get the miles you need to make it happen.
For fewer points, you can snag these SAS flights with other SkyTeam partners. It's a much better deal, overall, but for Delta loyalists, you still might want to consider forking over a few thousand more miles so you can earn towards Delta Medallion status, use your Delta status for additional perks with SAS, or just because you have a glut of SkyMiles.
Bottom Line
You can now book Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) flights with Delta SkyMiles, although availability is still relatively scarce as of this writing.
More booking options is always better, and the addition of SkyMiles to SAS's booking possibilities is great news for Delta flyers – even if it's not the best deal.
