Other European Frequent Flyer Programs - Is CSA (OK) cancelling itself out of existence?

I gave up on that airline long time ago, when they still operated long-haul flights to North America. Instead of flying nonstop YUL-PRG, I chose to make a connection in FRA or MUC and using the services of AC and LH.

Now, due to competition and perhaps excess capacity of TATL seats, it is cheaper and more practicable (flight times) to fly from YUL to PRG with KLM via AMS or with AF via CDG. Besides better flight times, especially with regard to the return flight, there is also a significant price differential, very often amounting to $200-$400. And if one chooses to credit the flights to Delta Skymiles, it is possible to earn full mileage versus zero or 25% or 50% with other programs.

The issue now is that CSA has cancelled some flights between PRG and AMS and one has to wait now 4 hours or more to connect to a KLM flight. I am Czech by birth and follow the CSA related news in the Czech media. The news is not good: They have sold just about everything they could have put their hands on, and I wonder if it still is a viable airline. The previous 2 head honchos (sorry, I cannot call them leaders) drove the airline almost to the ground and the current one is not much better. Incidentally, I have been dealing with those cancelled flights twice very recently when I recommended that route to my close friends. I do not want to do it again.

Many of you use the CSA intra-Europe flights regularly. Have you noticed any deterioration of the flight frequency and service?

I gave up this year. And like you said, I can book their cheap fares (or actually cheap fares on KL metal as God only knows when they (CSA) will cancel a flight) and get full credit on FB.

But hey, they just got another 1/2 billion CZK:

http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=en&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=cs&tl=en&twu=1&u=http://ekonomika.idnes.cz/dalsi-pulmiliarda-pro-csa-chartery-prodaly-aeroholdingu-pkb-/ekoakcie.aspx%3Fc%3DA120130_160801_ekoakcie_spi&usg=ALkJrhj3KtmNuNvwA5puy9cPSzJYalGnnA

But they have nice offices:

http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=en&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=cs&tl=en&twu=1&u=http://ekonomika.idnes.cz/aeroholding-ktery-ma-zachranit-csa-si-vybavil-kancelare-za-55-milionu-1gz-/ekoakcie.aspx%3Fc%3DA120131_1725152_ekoakcie_fih&usg=ALkJrhi2-3gq8zKth7IeceXGd90gknSPRQ

Well, CSA and MALEV are feeling the pinch and the overall situation has a lot worsened in the last 5 years.
Now, both companies need to revamp financially or they will disappear.
After all it is almost impossible to finance public debt...let's imagine half-public companies making losses.
On the other hand, Czech and Hungarian govts will not receive any helps from outside (read EU) on these subjects because they isolated themselves (for different reasons).
The most realistic solution is merger with somebody else but the buyers will dictate conditions...not the local govts.

The most realistic solution is merger with somebody else but the buyers will dictate conditions...not the local govts.

Any idea who would be interested in OK?

Any idea who would be interested in OK?

They should be privatized and swallowed by Travel Service!

Any idea who would be interested in OK?

How about Student Agency (http://www.studentagency.eu/)? They have trains now to go along with their buses. Why not add planes? :p

They are certainly cancelling themselves out of my trip planner.

I've just taken on a new client in Stockholm and looking at CSA's fares. They range from 7000kc (€280) for value special (no chance of an upgrade) to 34500kc (€1400) for Business. Who on earth is going to pay €1400 for a 2hrs flight. That's nearly €12/minute.

And I'm booking 4 weeks out, not for tomorrow.

what they're doing is weird, to say the very least. I'm set to fly with them in the end of the month, and - surprise, not only I'm put on a codeshared flight with AF (flying value economy - is AF cheaper than OK?), but also now I'm reading that they're to cut their networks, flying no longer to Sofia, Larnaca, Belgrade, Skopje, Helsinki and Oslo.

actually that cut is seriously annoying, because I'm actually planning on moving to Finland in September and lots of airlines have left Helsinki (see Swiss, Austrian, Air France, now ČSA as well). I was even considering moving to Finland with CSA, as their fares to Finland were really cool. :/

I hope they survive after all. I like flying them, even though their cabin crew could be a bit friendlier. :P

flying no longer to Sofia, Larnaca, Belgrade, Skopje, Helsinki and Oslo.

When was Larnaca announced ? . We've used the in the summer to head off to Cyprus on holiday. Looks like we may have to look for an alternative destination this year :(

I am also displeased about the recent cuts - i preferred going through PRG and SOF as it gave me a long enough TATL flight where I could get some sleep plus a pleasant airport and lounge to connect in. OK had eastern Europe going for them - now what?

this is really too bad

Larnaca is slightly odd as most traffic will be in summer anyhow - maybe they prefer to let their charter subsidiary fly there. SOF is a pity - but I use it only twice a year. But I don't think they have many more planes to actually fly those routes - I suppose in the end they were making a loss there. Maybe the coming summer season brings better returns on charter flights then on these particular routes

But they are trying to squeeze more out of the remaining routes. Today I was asked to weigh my on board luggage (16 kg). I was informed that it could only be 8kg economy, 12 kg for business class - this was a coordinated action - everybody was asked to weigh theirs. I suppose they will shortly be more persistent in enforcing weight rules. This is pure nuisance - I travel with a small (really) suitcase and a laptop. I could of course check in the suitcase - it will only incur them handling costs at the airports and I will have to wait for another 30 minutes.It does only make sense when people are also having checked luggage.

And they said platinum will not help you on this one.