SAS EuroBonus - New Business Class?

I recently had to fly from OSL to EWR with SAS on an outdated A330 with a Business Class that does not deserve the name "premium cabin". Old fashioned seats (no lie-flat). An entertainment system with a very limited variety on a tiny screen. Restrooms with paint coming off the interior. Food and service were okay but also nothing special. Since I have to visit Scandinavia more often in the future, I would like to know if there are planes in the SAS Long-Haul fleet with a new cabin design or if there are any plans to update the cabin?
Otherwise I rather fly with LH or LX via FRA/ZRH even if that includes an additional flight.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/sas-eurobonus/1264230-new-bc-seats.html

I'd go for the LH/LX option anytime! No new C-Cabin on any SK-Plane within the next 24 months!

I'd go for the LH/LX option anytime! No new C-Cabin on any SK-Plane within the next 24 months!

I can't understand how the interior can hold together for another 24 months. The planes are in really, really bad shape now. The last 12 months it seems like they have stopped interior maintenance. It was OK up to last summer.

Anyway, this is not unique to SK. Retrofitting is a result of shifting trends and occurs in waves. Some are more ahead than others (BA, CX), some are not. i.e. KL C product is far more outdated than SK.

I recently had to fly from OSL to EWR with SAS on an outdated A330 with a Business Class that does not deserve the name "premium cabin". Old fashioned seats (no lie-flat). An entertainment system with a very limited variety on a tiny screen. Restrooms with paint coming off the interior. Food and service were okay but also nothing special. Since I have to visit Scandinavia more often in the future, I would like to know if there are planes in the SAS Long-Haul fleet with a new cabin design or if there are any plans to update the cabin?
Otherwise I rather fly with LH or LX via FRA/ZRH even if that includes an additional flight.

SK in a nutshell. Would recommend BA over LH, though it's not StarAlliance.

The funny thing is that SK is pricing their IC Business Class as if it was state of the art. From 4 May SK is also cutting earnings in Business Class to/from the US, so unless the extra miles (15-25%) are important to make/retain status, flying LX C is a way better deal.

I have already two US trips booked in LX C for this year, none with SK...

From 4 May SK is also cutting earnings in Business Class to/from the US, so unless the extra miles (15-25%) are important to make/retain status, ...

Maybe I've missed this, but what do you mean with that SK will be cutting earnings in Business Class to/from the US? Where can I read more about this?

The funny thing is that SK is pricing their IC Business Class as if it was state of the art.
Any chance you are flying to/from NO/SE/DK? I've noticed that on almost every board people are complaining that the carrier the board is about is ridiculously overpriced, usually because the fly the routes where the carrier offers direct flights.

I think for most people direct flight is the state of the art, for most people sitting (or lying-flat) in an aluminum tube is not so much fun that they'd pay extra to lengthen the travel time, even in J.
Why do people get this with trains, even with much smaller differences in travel time (nobody ever wonders why a half an hour faster high speed train is more expensive than a slower one) but not with planes ("Why is this 8 hour flight more expensive than a 14 hour connecting journey").

Maybe I've missed this, but what do you mean with that SK will be cutting earnings in Business Class to/from the US? Where can I read more about this?
It was indirectly published together with the 100% earnings news. If you check out the new earnings chart, you'll notice that to/from the US will be 3700-4300 miles. 3700 happens to be the actual distance between OSL-EWR, not the generous 4500 as today, and 4300 is the distance between ARN-ORD (down from 4900), which today is the longest SK flight to the US.

To me, this indicates that all earnings will be adjusted to the actual distance, which for US-flights mostly (maybe for all) means a decrease in earnings. Naturally, earnings in Y+ or C will be cut accordingly, which means a considerable drop for i.e. ARN-ORD in Business Class (8600 instead of 9800, before EBS/EBG bonus).

To mkgrip:
Yes, I'm from NO/SE/DK and I'm aware of how airlines price their tickets. However, SK's route network to the US is small, compared to competitors, which in many cases means that SK to the US is immigration, baggage claim, customs, recheck bags, go through security and wait in a crowded domestic terminal for the connecting flight to your final destination - after 10 hours of traveling - or simply do a connection in Europe, then straight to your destination. With LX/BA etc. you may also enjoy a much better onboard product, and now with pretty much the same earnings (15-25% status miles is more or less compensated by the extra intra EU flight).

As for the direct flight option, CO offers direct service to EWR from ARN, OSL and CPH, and their seats are (mostly) lie flat, all though you have to live with a 757.

It was indirectly published together with the 100% earnings news. If you check out the new earnings chart, you'll notice that to/from the US will be 3700-4300 miles. 3700 happens to be the actual distance between OSL-EWR, not the generous 4500 as today, and 4300 is the distance between ARN-ORD (down from 4900), which today is the longest SK flight to the US.

Which is just fair - I have always wondered why you should earn more miles just because you fly out of ARN.

To me, this indicates that all earnings will be adjusted to the actual distance, which for US-flights mostly (maybe for all) means a decrease in earnings.


As far as I can tell the earnings for the asia routes are being kept the same as now (100% on low economy notwithstanding). Also roughly in accordance with actual distances. That's only fair, no?

The funny thing is that SK is pricing their IC Business Class as if it was state of the art.

Much like LH then. In fact, most carriers will price their homemarkets like that, no matter new or old product.

I think for most people direct flight is the state of the art, for most people sitting (or lying-flat) in an aluminum tube is not so much fun that they'd pay extra to lengthen the travel time, even in J.

Amen to that!


Yes, I'm from NO/SE/DK and I'm aware of how airlines price their tickets. However, SK's route network to the US is small, compared to competitors, which in many cases means that SK to the US is immigration, baggage claim, customs, recheck bags, go through security and wait in a crowded domestic terminal for the connecting flight to your final destination - after 10 hours of traveling - or simply do a connection in Europe, then straight to your destination. With LX/BA etc. you may also enjoy a much better onboard product, and now with pretty much the same earnings (15-25% status miles is more or less compensated by the extra intra EU flight).

You do make a valid point, but your arguments are related to routing/hubs, not seating as discussed. OSL/CPH/ARN-EWR are barely long haul at all, extending such a short trip with several hours just because of a seat is in my opinion pointless.

Much like LH then. In fact, most carriers will price their homemarkets like that, no matter new or old product.

It is the same for AY, for example. And don't even ask the Japanese how JAL and ANA gouge them!

The "new" United upgraded its earnings on SK. Now you get 150% EQMs, 500 mile minimum, etc. In the past one would avoid SK for this reason on both longhaul and shorthaul.

On the other hand airlines like LH and NH have been upgraded further.

If you fly C on NH or LH you get 275% miles as a 1K versus 125% on SK. But all give 150% EQM, which is the most important for me.

It was indirectly published together with the 100% earnings news. If you check out the new earnings chart, you'll notice that to/from the US will be 3700-4300 miles. 3700 happens to be the actual distance between OSL-EWR, not the generous 4500 as today, and 4300 is the distance between ARN-ORD (down from 4900), which today is the longest SK flight to the US.

Thanks for paying attention to this, I had completely missed it. Am I correct in believing that there's no change for us who fly from/through CPH? (I'm based in GOT, but so far I've haven't flown through OSL or ARN to the US.)