SAS Scandinavian

VNO-CPH late November 2013. In these days where all airlines have become "low-cost" SAS still attempts to deliver. Flight was cancelled but I was immediately rebooked to CPH on another flight via Stockholm. Due to the inconvenience I was promoted to SAS plus on Vilnius-Stockholm sector. The total delay was 1 hour 15 minutes.

I normally travel Lufthansa to Tokyo but as I booked at the last minute I needed to choose one of the lower priced airlines. I drew the line at Aeroflot but actually it's hard to see how it could have been any more unsatisfactory. The staff on the long haul route were lazy miserable and not at all helpful. The audio system is beyond ancient and broke down (impossible to commence a film at the beginning you have to pick it up at the point the person before you left off). The food portions were hardly enough for a child and instead of going round with the water/soft drinks tray at frequent intervals like any other airline on a 12 hour flight the staff sat at the back of the plane reading the newspaper. I wish I'd read the reviews before booking. The flight from Bologna to Copenhagen was delayed by over two hours (not one but two planes broke down) so we missed the connection to Tokyo by 10 minutes and then had to fly on to Munich to pick up a connection. Pay the extra to fly another airline. It will be worth every penny.

Flew SK502 LHR-CPH and SK1593 CPH-BRU on 30 November. Roundabout routing but actually cheaper than a non-stop - and MUCH cheaper than Eurostar. Very minimal legroom seat rigid and not comfortable. Crew and ground staffs all delivered but unsmiling and cold. Cabin crew seemed to work independently of each other no real co-ordination - but none needed when your only choice is a half cup of coffee tea or water. Not impressed in any way.

I travelled with SK1605 from Stockholm Arlanda Airport to Zurich Airport on November 26. The aircraft on this service was a Boeing 737-700W and I travelled in SAS Plus on seat 4A. As always the cabin crew were very helpful polite and service-minded. The comfort of the seats were reasonably good and much better than the Slim Recaro seats found with many of the Star Alliance members on Intra-European routes. Since this aircraft was relatively new the cabin interior was nice and tidy. SAS Plus is marketed as Business Class but the level of service drink food and the general experience is drastically reduced compared to SAS previous Business Class. I was fortunate enough to have a free middle seat next to the other passenger which increased the comfort. The in-flight service is identical to SAS Go (previous Economy) but everything is included in the price when travelling with SAS Plus. The food consist of a choice between cold sandwiches or a salad served in a paper box and the drinks are for free. The quality of the food is acceptable but not what to expect when you travel in a class marketed as Business Class with ticket prices comparable to this class. I still hope that SAS will reintroduce the excellent Business Class the previously offered on Intra-European routes.

HEL-OSL on Blue1-operated 717. Very clean nice interior flight departed on-time and arrived early. Otherwise almost non-existent service. Flight attendants smiled and were helpful but SAS doesn't offer much else.

After flying Singapore Airline from Singapore to Copenhagen this flight on SAS from Copenhagen to Paris in business class was one of the worst I have had. The purser was cold not a smile and would not attempt to speak anything else but Danish. When everyone left the aircraft once in CDG she hid in the galley not even saying goodbye! On this 1.5 hr flight to Paris the seats were exactly the same in business as in economy except for the middle seat being empty. We were handed a a carton lunch box with practically nothing in it. Luckily for us it was only a 1.5 hr flight. Never again.

Flight from LHR-GOT in "Business Class" or rather SAS PLUS Full Flex. SAS doesn't have a Business Class on European flights anymore. Very very old plane. Flight attendants behaviour like they don't care. Food service and quality very much below average. Flight on-time (only plus).

I flew business class from Newark to Copenhagen then to Moscow. Also flew from Copenhagen to Chicago. I would fly this airline again. Service was very efficient friendly staff always had a smile. Seats were fine and could recline all the way back. Loved the quilted blankets very warm and comfy. Food was top notch only way to fly is business.

Chicago to Stockholm. We are Canadians and we compare it to charter airlines. The stewardesses were polite and fine however the seating was the worst. I think they shrunk the seat so they could fit more in. I am only 5 feet 2 and my whole thigh hung over the seat. I stood as much as I could like everyone else. The audio system was a joke from the 90's - it did not work for half of the programs and their attitude was "oh well nothing we can do ." Now know why the price was so cheap compared to the other European airlines. They also try to charge you for everything such as another bad plastic bottle of wine with your dinner. I get the impression they make sure that the meal is so vile that you have to come up half way thru the flight to buy chips and pretzels at really absurd pricing. Lots of mothers I noticed forced too do this during the flight. The only positive thing I have to say is they had up to date English magazines in the middle of the cabin.

Cabin crew attentive but not particularly friendly. Old aircraft. No Wifi. No entertainment system. No more leg room than low cost airlines although considerably more expensive tickets. Free coffee/tea but food expensive.