SAS EuroBonus - EBG member stop flying SAS/Star alliance

After saving points for several years, me and my girlfriend planned to spend 140,000 points on flights to Dubai. When booking I was told the tax / fuel surcharge since July means that in addition to the 140k points we would have to pay £314 per passenger extra! When asking how that could be when BA and Emirates are selling flights at roughly the same cost on same date including tax/fuel; no reply.

How can it be legal to change the terms retroactively? If I'd known this 5 years ago I would have chosen someone else for my 200 flights during these years. I certainly will going forward :td:
Mats

Welcome to the club of frustrated EuroBonus members. In my opinion, points are now only good for hotel stays (weekends) and First Class lounghaul, even though there will be surcharges for the latter it's still value for money (considering original price).

Totally agree with you... therefore I changed to M&M and at least got op-up frequently since then... award ticket was the huge benifit of EB before, now only hotels left...

and maybe upgrades on SAS IC

I still don't understand why they don't give the option to pay the fuel surcharge (and possibly taxes) using points?!
The whole concept of getting a free ticket (which you may have "worked" quite hard to accomplish) is totally ruined when you have to pay taxes that equal nearly a cheap economy class ticket on the same route.

that is just outrageous. £319 Fuel charge + 70.000 points to Dubai is a robbery.

I understand why they need the 25% rule, and why thay put it on V-class and all that. I have no problem with it, and still use SAS and BA as much as I can.

But devaluating points as much as this is... well, a robbery!

BA's return ticket LHR-DXB is £393.
Norwegian return ticket OSL-DXB is about £290.

Keep sending complaints to SAS every time you come across outrages examples like this. It doesn't take any longer than posting anything on here. It probably won't change anything, but hopefully prevent it from getting any worse. And believe me; Core-SAS is capable of making things a lot worse.

Points are still worth it if you do C awards... fees are generally the same... but the saved cost of the ticket price is naturally tenfold...

With these kind of situations with the crazy fuel surcharge and large number of points required, EuroBonus is doing much more bad than good to SAS - and the company should definitely do one of the following to fix the situation of currently scaring their best customers away:

- improve EuroBonus to what it used to be and thus get SAS back to where they used to be as an airline
or
- get rid of EuroBonus (or make it much less important) and SAS leaves Star Alliance in order to focus on the low cost carrier model and try hopelessly competing in this area against Ryanair and Norwegian (like Aer Lingus has done hopelessly in Ireland)

- improve EuroBonus to what it used to be and thus get SAS back to where they used to be as an airline
or
- get rid of EuroBonus (or make it much less important) and SAS leaves Star Alliance in order to focus on the low cost carrier model and try hopelessly competing in this area against Ryanair and Norwegian (like Aer Lingus has done hopelessly in Ireland)

Ehm. SK will, with the current workforce, never be able to have the same cost level as FR or DY. They need to focus one way or the other to be better.

Leaving *A would mean suddenly being competitors to LH with friends. I fear that would eradicate a lot of the rather well running routes to middle Europe, effectively making SK a domestic/Scandinavian airline.

No, to get this traing back on track; increase the benefits that only SK offers... that being alliance network, bonus programme and the likes...

It's outrageous!

I went to Brazil on Air Canada and used my EBB frequent flyer number and the return trip on an intercontinental flight in full fare economy class has produced less than 3000 points and to fly to Mexico they require 100000 points on certain days! I think that SAS does not have a future with such greedy mileage accrual policy...

It's outrageous!

I went to Brazil on Air Canada and used my EBB frequent flyer number and the return trip on an intercontinental flight in full fare economy class has produced less than 3000 points and to fly to Mexico they require 100000 points on certain days! I think that SAS does not have a future with such greedy mileage accrual policy...

What class was that? The EB chart says every eco class except L should give 100% points.

No one complaining to government agencies and the press in SK's home markets?

No one complaining to government agencies and the press in SK's home markets?

Why bother? People who fly with SAS want to fly with them specifically, so they accept the current and future changes. People who care about service level, onboard service, frequent flyer benefits etc. have already switched to other airlines and do not care what SAS does.

Win-Win situation, everyone gets what they want. Some people just get it from some other airline than SAS. :D

I would not choose an airline based solely on what kind of redemption tickets they give. As long as they give enough mileage flying using flexible Y or above to keep the highest level, that is enough.

*A has the best priority luggage scheme among the alliances, apparently also op-ups more frequently than the OW companies I know, and it is always handy to be able to use *A lounges and business/first check-in.

The frequent flyer programs currently are clearly focusing on the quality (and the revenue) of the flights, not the quantity (and losses).

Why bother? People who fly with SAS want to fly with them specifically, so they accept the current and future changes. People who care about service level, onboard service, frequent flyer benefits etc. have already switched to other airlines and do not care what SAS does.

Win-Win situation, everyone gets what they want. Some people just get it from some other airline than SAS. :D
There are lots of airports like SVG where there are no viable choices except SK (and KL in the case of SVG for some destinations) for the business traveller. It is airports like this which makes SK behave as if the customer can go to hell.
There is only one airline flying SVG-LHR: SK milk the route as it is a monopoly (even a W fare cost 1300 NOK one way and you never get a W fare unless you book weeks in advance). Ditto SVG-CPH- I have never seen a one way fare less than NOK 2000 in ages in this route unless you are willing to book weeks in advance.
On the other hand, SVG-OSL fares are very reasonable because there is competition from DY. Same is true of fares ex-OSL- a SVG-LHR R/T in P class often costs more than a OSL-LHR R/T with BA in C.

There are lots of airports like SVG where there are no viable choices except SK (and KL in the case of SVG for some destinations) for the business traveller. It is airports like this which makes SK behave as if the customer can go to hell.

Situation in TMP isn't that much better, either SAS (KF flights operated by MCA, SAS Group doesn't even fly themselves to here) or Finnair (operated by FC). In this respect, the first flight usually already starts to mandate what will be the longhaul airline. Both options from TMP aren't that good, sometimes it makes more sense to drive to HEL just that you can immediately reach LH.

I am using SAS sometimes but only to reach some bigger Star Alliance hub and from there I am not taking SAS. SAS is quite okay choice to reach some better airline such as Lufthansa or Air China, I can survive with SAS for 55 minutes flight to ARN so I can jump into CA (instead of continuing with SK flight).

I am sure SAS hates me from doing this and lowering their old position of being the most preferred airline to their new position of being airline who offers the transfer to the longhaul flight but that is exactly what they wanted me to do. SAS has made all the changes to make sure that people would choose some other airline than SAS, I am just following SAS' wishes.

I am making sure that I can minimize my flights with SAS and when possible I will prefer booking SAS flights with some other code than SK/KF if I need to fly with SAS.

No one complaining to government agencies and the press in SK's home markets?

About what? According to at least Norwegian press these ponts is borderline corruption and are hidden perks and so on... Better be banned is the mantra there.

About not living up to the commitments that SK marketed to its customers? The Norwegian press will delight in bashing SK on this front, as they are already largely in love with Norwegian (the airline).

Why bother?

For starters, to test the water and find out if those in government tasked with protecting consumers actually have anything to do or not when it comes to delivering on what was marketed to consumers. :D

I am using SAS sometimes but only to reach some bigger Star Alliance hub and from there I am not taking SAS. SAS is quite okay choice to reach some better airline such as Lufthansa or Air China, I can survive with SAS for 55 minutes flight to ARN so I can jump into CA (instead of continuing with SK flight).


LH and CA better airlines? My experience is completely different. At the moment I try to avoid both these *A partners (and US). I have no experience from CA on international routes, only domestic, but of the companies I have been travelling with in China, they are definitely one of the worst.

LH is not much better. The only thing I can be assured of when flying LH, is that something bad will happen. Positive experiences, making me wanna fly LH again, are completely absent.

So far this year LH has neglected to respond to my comments on an F class trip, I have witnessed discriminatory behaviour, and their staff and customer relationship department have been lying to me. My experiences from earlier years of flying with LH are not much better.

The only way I would fly with LH again is if there is an emergency, or if I was paid a ridiculously large amount of money, and that will of course not happen.

I am by no means saying that SK is perfect. However as opposed to LH I do feel that I have a very fruitful discussion with SK CR in Norway. If there are any problems and I involve SK CR, a satisfactory solution is normally found within short time. With LH I feel that I am just banging my head against the wall not getting anywhere. Another huge difference, at least to me, is that while I experience both ups and downs with SK, I only seem to get the down part with LH.

I would like to stress that these are my experiences. Mikka's and other people's experiences are obviously quite different from mine.

I would like to stress that these are my experiences. Mikka's and other people's experiences are obviously quite different from mine.

:D:D

My experiences with SK are your experiences with LH/CA. World is funny, with LH/CA I have had only the best experiences and the best times when I have been recognized as a valued *A frequent flyer has been onboard LH/CA while when being EBG, SK treated me very badly.

But I certainly agree with your statement, this varies a lot between different people. My experiences are very much different from others, I am sure about it.

But I certainly agree with your statement, this varies a lot between different people. My experiences are very much different from others, I am sure about it.

I think this is driven a lot by expectation; some like Asian-style service, whereas others love it the Scandinavian way. (Nobody seems to like it the way the North American carriers offer it though...)

Personally I am a big fan of LH, not because the service is splendid, but because the end-to-end product is very solid and predictable. ("You know what you get...")

As for SK; I don't mind SK, but EB is sadly a lost cause for me... parts due to EB and parts due to them no longer being a good match to my travel patterns.

Personally I am a big fan of LH, not because the service is splendid, but because the end-to-end product is very solid and predictable. ("You know what you get...")

I totally agree. A very decent product that sometimes even suprise you. All my 30 flights with LH this year have been on time and my miles are posted quickly. Also the offers have been great on LH this year. Made a R/T to Boston ex-HEL for 280 euros in booking class S (earning 100 % for the intra-Europe legs and 50 % for the IC). Not to mention the turn it up miles-offer at the moment that gives you triple award miles for your 7th and 8th european flights. ^

However, as larsll mentioned; some people love the Scandinavian way. I would love fly SK a lot more. I like the brand, but every time I get dissapointed by stepping inside a clapped-out MD82 earning 125 miles for a flight to Kastrup that arrives late and where you also need to buy your coffee onboard even tough you are 1 hour late for take-off.

I remember flying to Greenland once 2001 in an nice SAS 767. Great service, nice design and a good flight - that was truly Scandinavian!

SAS would have so much potential... It is a pity they don't use it.

However, as larsll mentioned; some people love the Scandinavian way. I would love fly SK a lot more. I like the brand, but every time I get dissapointed by stepping inside a clapped-out MD82 earning 125 miles for a flight to Kastrup that arrives late and where you also need to buy your coffee onboard even tough you are 1 hour late for take-off.

I don't mind MD82. I could live with the awful point earning system. At least in theory. I have a problem with Scandinavian service and how they have shown that to me.

My last SK long-haul flight had a experienced looking Danish guy who decided that the whole PEK-CPH flight it is okay to speak Danish to all the passengers. I don't speak Danish, I always used English with him and he still always replied and addressed me in Danish. Not a single word of English. True Scandinavian service I guess. I felt offended a bit but much more sorry for all those Chinese passengers who got the same service in front of me. I guess they learned the really important lesson about Scandinavian service. Maybe they even learned to speak Danish.

After that incident, I stopped flying SK long-haul. I have not stepped into SK long-haul airplane after that. Why I am here? I am secretly wishing SK would return back to the great company it used to be before year 2001. Is it going to happen? Not likely but one can wish.

My last SK long-haul flight had a experienced looking Danish guy who decided that the whole PEK-CPH flight it is okay to speak Danish to all the passengers. I don't speak Danish, I always used English with him and he still always replied and addressed me in Danish. Not a single word of English.

As a typical Brit, I am shocked that English was not used by default.

The Englishman abroad approach to such a situation would be to simply keep repeating 'pardon', 'sorry' and 'what' until the other person uses English.

[QUOTE=larsll;12783139] (Nobody seems to like it the way the North American carriers offer it though...)
QUOTE]
:D
Very true indeed.

My last SK long-haul flight had a experienced looking Danish guy who decided that the whole PEK-CPH flight it is okay to speak Danish to all the passengers.
...
After that incident, I stopped flying SK long-haul.

Well... we all make our own choices, based on our own criteria... but compared to the overall decline of both SAS service in general and Eurobonus in particular, I think that a Danish-speaking FA is virtually irrelevant.

Well... we all make our own choices, based on our own criteria... but compared to the overall decline of both SAS service in general and Eurobonus in particular, I think that a Danish-speaking FA is virtually irrelevant.

Hehe ... okay, let's say that it was the last example of bad service after which I had enough experience to conclude that me and SK do not match.