SAS EuroBonus - SAS vs. United

For next year I'm considering a trip to Norway. Now that SAS is earning 100% miles for US Airways Dividend Miles, I'm deciding between flying EWR to OSL on United or SAS. I'd appreciate any feedback from people on which airline is better on that route.

Also, does SAS give any benefits to Star Silver members?

One other thing I'm considering on my trip is to fly home from either Bergen or Tromso via Oslo, but I see the layover is only an hour in Oslo. Is that enough time at that airport? Would I have to get my baggage and re-check it to get back to the US?

Appreciate all the feedback in advance!!

Thanks!
-Matt

You don't have to re-check baggage in Oslo when flying out of Norway.
OSL is a small airport so I don't a 1h layover will give you any problems.

In Economy I would definitely choose SK over UA on this route. Advantage SK: Widebody aircraft, better food and drink, often very nice service. Advantage UA: I believe there is VOD in Economy whereas SK only offers VOD in Eco Extra and Business.

On Star Silver: SK offers its own Silver members business class checkin and one extra piece of baggage. You probably would not get turned away at the business checkin with another airlines' Star Silver but I highly doubt you would be given extra baggage allowance. Perhaps others have more definitive info on this.

I've flown EWR-OSL with both SK and UA in Economy, and SK would be my choice, unless you get Economy Plus on UA. The food is better on SK + I prefer widebody as opposed to 757. You could also try to upgrade on SK via Optiontown.com, and Economy Extra on SK is in a different league than i.e. Economy Plus.

Make sure you visit both Bergen and Tromso, both fantastic cities.

The 1 hour stopover time in Oslo is more than sufficient, and the airport is fairly dull so I personally would be very happy with such a short stopover time:p

Matt would not be eligible for E+ on UA and I doubt they have it yet on EWR-OSL since it's an old CO route.

On the other hand he can upgrade to Y or C on SAS for a reasonable price using Optiontown. (See threads here).

However, I noticed that UA now also gives 100% miles and PQM for SAS discount economy as of May 1. Why anybody who sometimes flies on discounted tickets would continue with Eurobonus is a mystery to me. I suppose the new rule that you need to fly 4 segments on UA per year is a hindrance.

https://www.united.com/CMS/en-US/marketing/custcomm/promotions/Pages/AirlinePartnerDetails.aspx?ItemId=317

Matt would not be eligible for E+ on UA and I doubt they have it yet on EWR-OSL since it's an old CO route.
They had Economy Plus when I flew it in March.

However, I noticed that UA now also gives 100% miles and PQM for SAS discount economy as of May 1. Why anybody who sometimes flies on discounted tickets would continue with Eurobonus is a mystery to me. I suppose the new rule that you need to fly 4 segments on UA per year is a hindrance.
As of May 1, you earn at least 100% miles with EuroBonus for all SK operated flights (Economy). This also applies to United from the same date. Economy Extra and Business is still 150% and 200% (plus EBG/EBS bonus).

For all people mentioning that the food is better on SAS, mind you that the breakfast will most likely be some weird Scandinavian cuisine. This is not for everyone, expect hard black bread with some kind of fish. We get a lot of complaints from international colleagues about this that are forced through corporate policy to fly SAS to Scandinavia.

Just in case your evaluation was to boil down to the food part.

For all people mentioning that the food is better on SAS, mind you that the breakfast will most likely be some weird Scandinavian cuisine. This is not for everyone, expect hard black bread with some kind of fish. We get a lot of complaints from international colleagues about this that are forced through corporate policy to fly SAS to Scandinavia.

Just in case your evaluation was to boil down to the food part.

This probably refers to the "smørrebrød" Danish sandwiches which are not served as breakfast but as second meal when flying the westward day flights. Perhaps not for everyone but easily avoided by ordering special meal... Breakfast, served when flying overnight, on the other hand, is not especially Scandinavian.

hard black bread with some kind of fish. We get a lot of complaints from international colleagues about this that are forced through corporate policy to fly SAS to Scandinavia.

This probably refers to the "smørrebrød" Danish sandwiches which are not served as breakfast but as second meal when flying the westward day flights.

Just to be really clear, there are no smørrebrød served in regular Economy.

For all people mentioning that the food is better on SAS, mind you that the breakfast will most likely be some weird Scandinavian cuisine. This is not for everyone, expect hard black bread with some kind of fish. We get a lot of complaints from international colleagues about this that are forced through corporate policy to fly SAS to Scandinavia.

Just in case your evaluation was to boil down to the food part.

At least it's got to be better than the breakfast muffin I got on UA... :td:

They had Economy Plus when I flew it in March. All the 75s now have E+. Even if not entitled to it for free, you could buy up to it -- or get it free if E- is full.

For all people mentioning that the food is better on SAS, mind you that the breakfast will most likely be some weird Scandinavian cuisine. ....
Oh, pity those poor Americans who have to put up with food from abroad when travelling abroad!!

I'd look into Icelandair. You can buy their Economy Comfort Class which usually (but not guaranteed) gets you a Business Class seat (akin to domestic First Class). Prices are very competitive and they fly to 3-4 destinations in Norway..

I'd look into Icelandair. You can buy their Economy Comfort Class which usually (but not guaranteed) gets you a Business Class seat (..

Is that really the case?
Does this differ from route to route?

Is that really the case?
Does this differ from route to route?


You're playing roulette of course but they turn the SAGA business class seats in to Economy Comfort class when there are low loads - which is almost always the case in business.

I appreciate everyone's input on this! I think ideally I'm going to go with SAS. However, if there's a huge price difference between them and United when I book, that may have to take preference.

Icelandair isn't really an option as I'd like to minimize connections. A direct flight to my destination is always preferred.

I think one thing I'm finding tough as I'm planning this trip is how I get around the country. Do I fly between cities? Do I take the train? Do I drive? I see car rentals there (and gas) is very expensive, and a lot of ferries are involved by the fjords. Anyone have any recommendations for this? Are taking the ferries with a car a real pain? How's the train services between cities?

depends where you are going, between which cities? take the train to see a bit more, bus can be cheaper. or fly is fastest. rental car would be expensive. Fly would be only option if going to northern norway. or take the "hurtigruten" boat.

At least it's got to be better than the breakfast muffin I got on UA... :td:.

Got stuck in Y last year on a flight from IAD>FCO. When the FA's came around with the "breakfast" service, I paused & looked at the FA. She stared right back at me & said "I know"!!!

They would do their passengers a HUGE favor if they simply served nothing. To call what the served "breakfast" is beyond a joke!!!

if you are going further north than trondheim i would reccomend flight to the city as the travel time will exceed one day.

otherwise i would always choose train for travel in norway thanks to the beautiful scenery!

They had Economy Plus when I flew it in March.


As of May 1, you earn at least 100% miles with EuroBonus for all SK operated flights (Economy). This also applies to United from the same date. Economy Extra and Business is still 150% and 200% (plus EBG/EBS bonus).

Ok, I hadn't noticed. That's a huge concession by SAS. I thought it would have been discussed heavily here. Maybe just missed it. Sorry. It would indeed be odd that partner airlines give more points.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/sas-eurobonus/1313380-100-earnings-soon-back.html

I think one thing I'm finding tough as I'm planning this trip is how I get around the country. Do I fly between cities? Do I take the train? Do I drive? I see car rentals there (and gas) is very expensive, and a lot of ferries are involved by the fjords. Anyone have any recommendations for this? Are taking the ferries with a car a real pain? How's the train services between cities?

If you are going in the summer time you should consider widerøes airpass
http://www.wideroe.no/norgerundt

http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wideroe.no%2Fnorgerundt&act=url

Rates are in NOK

I just completed a trip this weekend where I went out on SAS (OSL-EWR) and back on United (EWR-OSL). While any flight can be better or worse than normal, I thought I would give my impressions of the competitors on this route for flights within two days of each other.

SAS
Pros: wide-body plane that feels more spacious on a long haul, slightly more legroom (maybe an inch at most though),

Cons: seat-back screens are very small, video is looping rather than on-demand, flight attendants took much longer to clear away empty food trays

United
Pros: Much better entertainment system with full seat-back video on-demand, bigger screens on each seat

Cons: narrow-body plane, slightly less legroom

I don't care for the configuration on either plane (2-4-2 on the A330 and 3-3 on the 757). If you get stuck in the 4 section on the A330 or any seat on the 757, you have to contend with too many close neighbors. The food was about the same (not particularly great), with perhaps a slight edge to United.

Overall, I would say I preferred the United flight because of the video options, but I don't think either service is clearly better than the other.