SAS is considering bases in low cost countries
Dec 3, 2016, 6:22 am
#47
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The English-speaking abilities of SK FAs isn't all that it used to be. It's more varied than it used to be. I have less confidence in the educational systems' outcomes in the region than I would have had previously. And it shows up in the communications, written and verbal, of the younger generation: a generation which can throw out English expletives and insults with the best of them but which would have struggled to pass my third grade English class and yet ends up employed doing a large chunk of their daily work at offices and on the road in English. SK FAs' communication skills are a sign of their times in terms of the educational system too.
Still, SK FAs tend to speak as good or better English than their European industry colleagues who are also not native-speakers of English.
It's the NYT/NYTIE, isn't it? 
Amusingly the FT, WSJ/WSJE and the Economist don't seem as "seriously Sweden" as the NYT.
It has to be a triathlon since they can't pull off a modern pentathlon ever since riding and shooting became so unpopular.
Do those 80s era SK FAs really care about LCC competition nowadays?
Still, SK FAs tend to speak as good or better English than their European industry colleagues who are also not native-speakers of English.
Clearly, she was one of the gals who started in the 80s for the party of flying and now that the glamor has gone out of it, I'm sure she took a shining to a 30-year-old consultant who doesn't take himself as seriously as the WSJ-reading, self-important, suburb-living, triathlon-doing, salmon-eating, Ralph Lauren-wearing (seriously Sweden, move on) rhinos I usually fly with in Business to and from the US.
Amusingly the FT, WSJ/WSJE and the Economist don't seem as "seriously Sweden" as the NYT.It has to be a triathlon since they can't pull off a modern pentathlon ever since riding and shooting became so unpopular.
Do those 80s era SK FAs really care about LCC competition nowadays?
Last edited by GUWonder; Dec 3, 2016 at 6:48 am
Dec 3, 2016, 6:30 am
#48
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I don't think they actually read the WSJ. I think it's just for show. I mean, do 54-year-old public employees from the Swedish Ministry for Equality really need to know what's in the WSJ? They're in New York City on a tax payer-funded inspiration trip to learn about intersectional dance therapy*, after all. The WSJ is just to provide a veneer of reason to be in C and to hopefully get some FA to look at them as if they're important.
I read the New York Post if I can get away with it. And if I could bring McD onto the plane, that's what I would eat in a bombardment of blissful sin.
*YMMV
Dec 3, 2016, 7:04 am
#49
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Join Date: Jul 2011
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I guess, customers have different sensitivity. I find noise the most tiresome aspect of air travel. Adding to the noise with announcements just annoys me. Especially that in some seats you seat waay to close to a waay to loud speaker (I do use earplugs almost always). This wakes me up or distract from some Other Important Activity I happen to be performing. I would also prefer much less advertising. Essentially anything beyond what is legally requried, I consider SPAM. I also consider this to be the biggest problem of LCCs (avoiding them mostly for this reason, as they spam much more than SK).
But to be fair Northern American carriers spam as well, they just do it in one language. I would even say that they are heavier than SK on that front. There are always some specials, sales, and a mandatory charity campaign.
But to be fair Northern American carriers spam as well, they just do it in one language. I would even say that they are heavier than SK on that front. There are always some specials, sales, and a mandatory charity campaign.
Dec 3, 2016, 11:16 am
#50
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: KSU (Kristiansund N, Norway)
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I haven't been on a single SK domestic flight in Norway that doesn't have announcements in English. I have been on many, however, that don't have announcements in Norwegian.
Dec 3, 2016, 12:00 pm
#52
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My thoughts and experience with finnair from australia to europe.
Well i did my trip. First of all i was a economic traveler. Qantas from australia to singapore. In singapore its when i catch the Finnair bounce to helsinki.
My experience with finnair was ok but not perfect at all. The seats and screen tv infront of me was alittle dirty and tiny. It was quite annoying how the flight attendant spoke on the mike for more then 5 minutes non stop which sounded like a broken recorded and sounded like someone was reading a night story book. I could not understand the language (finnish) it sounded very annoying but no offence to anyone whos Finnish.
Not enough english been added to what all that 5 minute speech was all about. Sounded like a cat whining about something. No offence.
Well i did my trip. First of all i was a economic traveler. Qantas from australia to singapore. In singapore its when i catch the Finnair bounce to helsinki.
My experience with finnair was ok but not perfect at all. The seats and screen tv infront of me was alittle dirty and tiny. It was quite annoying how the flight attendant spoke on the mike for more then 5 minutes non stop which sounded like a broken recorded and sounded like someone was reading a night story book. I could not understand the language (finnish) it sounded very annoying but no offence to anyone whos Finnish.
Not enough english been added to what all that 5 minute speech was all about. Sounded like a cat whining about something. No offence.
Dec 4, 2016, 1:23 am
#54
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
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That was an autistic ozzie flying AY from SIN to HEL on a ratty former AF 343, hardly a comparison... only if you end up on LN-RKP.
Back on topic, it evident the Nordics have no problems outsourcing their travel industry to labor from the CEE. My impression on frequent travel to Iceland and Norway was that every one except 1-2 front desk employees at hotels were from the CEE. AY crews half their longhaul ops in Asia, and only have a finnish purser on the flights to Asia. I'm sure SAS can do the same.
Back on topic, it evident the Nordics have no problems outsourcing their travel industry to labor from the CEE. My impression on frequent travel to Iceland and Norway was that every one except 1-2 front desk employees at hotels were from the CEE. AY crews half their longhaul ops in Asia, and only have a finnish purser on the flights to Asia. I'm sure SAS can do the same.
Dec 4, 2016, 2:31 am
#55
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: KSU (Kristiansund N, Norway)
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That was an autistic ozzie flying AY from SIN to HEL on a ratty former AF 343, hardly a comparison... only if you end up on LN-RKP.
Back on topic, it evident the Nordics have no problems outsourcing their travel industry to labor from the CEE. My impression on frequent travel to Iceland and Norway was that every one except 1-2 front desk employees at hotels were from the CEE. AY crews half their longhaul ops in Asia, and only have a finnish purser on the flights to Asia. I'm sure SAS can do the same.
Back on topic, it evident the Nordics have no problems outsourcing their travel industry to labor from the CEE. My impression on frequent travel to Iceland and Norway was that every one except 1-2 front desk employees at hotels were from the CEE. AY crews half their longhaul ops in Asia, and only have a finnish purser on the flights to Asia. I'm sure SAS can do the same.
Dec 4, 2016, 8:08 am
#56
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
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Well, I think this is nice, but does this still happen? I remember about 10 years ago, commuting frequently on domestic flights in Denmark. I would often sleep. The flight is short. More often than no a FA would gently put my seat in the upright position on approach, without waking me up, or barely disturbing my sleep. I found it so nice. Nowadays, I am routinely woken up, and with a brisk arm grab and "put your sit upright, sir". I think SK has changed. Or I am no longer attractive enough. Or both.
On another note, I have been flying through ARN a bit lately and they seem to have a few more older staff than flying out of CPH and the route CPH-ARN also seem to have more older staff (or it is a coincidence...) and I have to say that I don't get the issues some people here have with them.
I've been flying Plus and I've found them all to be perfectly nice, perfectly friendly, and perfectly capable.
Dec 5, 2016, 12:40 am
#57
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Dec 5, 2016, 4:26 am
#59
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Thai is SAS's baby. SK gave birth to TG.
I can't speak to the labor costs of hotels in Iceland. In Norway, they get wages in the same range as their Norwegian and Swedish colleagues working the same function at Norwegian hotels. Hotels can't pull off all the same kind of stuff airlines can do with labor cost shifting via offshoring and outsourcing.
CPH seems to have somewhat younger employees working for the airlines, airport and airport vendors than ARN has. It can't be that Swedes tend to age worse than Danes, but perhaps it can be that someone has empirical data about the ages of those working at these airports and/or aging trends?
That was an autistic ozzie flying AY from SIN to HEL on a ratty former AF 343, hardly a comparison... only if you end up on LN-RKP.
Back on topic, it evident the Nordics have no problems outsourcing their travel industry to labor from the CEE. My impression on frequent travel to Iceland and Norway was that every one except 1-2 front desk employees at hotels were from the CEE. AY crews half their longhaul ops in Asia, and only have a finnish purser on the flights to Asia. I'm sure SAS can do the same.
Back on topic, it evident the Nordics have no problems outsourcing their travel industry to labor from the CEE. My impression on frequent travel to Iceland and Norway was that every one except 1-2 front desk employees at hotels were from the CEE. AY crews half their longhaul ops in Asia, and only have a finnish purser on the flights to Asia. I'm sure SAS can do the same.
I saw a FA very recently stroke someone's arm to wake him up before landing and ask if he wanted a very quick cup of coffee (don't remember which flight but it would have been either intra-Scandinavia or intra-Europe).
On another note, I have been flying through ARN a bit lately and they seem to have a few more older staff than flying out of CPH and the route CPH-ARN also seem to have more older staff (or it is a coincidence...) and I have to say that I don't get the issues some people here have with them.
I've been flying Plus and I've found them all to be perfectly nice, perfectly friendly, and perfectly capable.
On another note, I have been flying through ARN a bit lately and they seem to have a few more older staff than flying out of CPH and the route CPH-ARN also seem to have more older staff (or it is a coincidence...) and I have to say that I don't get the issues some people here have with them.
I've been flying Plus and I've found them all to be perfectly nice, perfectly friendly, and perfectly capable.
Dec 5, 2016, 4:30 am
#60
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Koala Lemur
Programs: SK EBD LTG (*G)
Posts: 2,447
I wouldn't use so negative language. I see nothing particularly wrong (for airlines) to pay lower salaries to employees that have their living costs in CEE, Ireland or Asia. I would actually find it ethically wrong to pay them the same salary as in Scandinavia.