Her we go, trip with 4 friends in M, homebound from LHR...
Checked in at LHR for ARN direct flight. Asked the CI agent if I could please bring all my friends to the lounge. He replied “only one guest is allowed, sir”. I asked him to please check with his supervisor. He came back after one minute saying “No problem sir, I will call the lounge and tell them you are coming”. Used the fast track security which was indeed fast. From CI to lounge in about 6 minutes.
Was greeted at the lounge reception with “Oh, it´s you. Please give me the names of your friends so that we don´t have to call you when they arrive” (some of my co-travellers went for shopping).
Boarding at gate 11 as usual. The GA stops me with the: “Oh, I was to upgrade you to Y+, but we unfortunately don´t have space for the 5 of you, and I was not sure if you prefer to keep your M seat or not?” I kept my M seat, but a nice touch from SAS. Why sit by myself in Y+ when there is complimentary BoB in M where my friends are…
I have the aisle seat on this MD and when service starts the purser comes to me asking if my party is in the same row. I explains that the whole row is “ours” and the five of us then have free BoB for the entire trip. Very nice handling. The purser comes by a few times during the flight to chat about my flying habits etc. SHe said I probably had more travel days than the average flight crew
That obviously is not true. Or could it be that SK flight crew has way too many days off...
In all a very good EBP experience.
And as the “EBP-supported” HHonors Diamond card provided room upgrades and Exec Lounge access for the whole party as well (on a dirt cheap rate), I guess my friends owes me one or two after this trip.
Seems like it's all going i the right direction for EBP members, unless you're leaving out the bad things Very nice touch that you entourage got the full BoB for free which usually is not a very Scandinavian thing to do
Hmmmm... Now, where do I find/get a EBP friend?
Anyway, as said a million times before: Love your reports. Keep it up
Early mid day flight with strict BoB concept out of ARN. Ordered "breakfast" from the purser. (Sandwich, tea, applejuice from the regular BoB menu...). Needed to show my EBP card when she asked for payment. She then loudly apologized. The first 8 rows can hardly have missed there was a Pandion in 1D...
Purser then came back offering refills, kanelbulle (declined) etc several times (very short flight time, and refill was only offered to me, last one after the seatbelt sign was turned on). Was a bit odd of a experience, but no big deal and very smiley crew. Small comments througout the flight like "Oh, I know I don´t have to show you how to do this (folding the armrest table)" and "See you soon" when deplaning.
Evening flight out of GOT. Super rude GA refusing to check my seating assignment at the gate (I just wanted to see if the middle was still empty or if I should switch row). Flight was not delayed, boarding started early. Some people...
Same BoB concept onboard. No sign of recognition before the service kicked off, but I ordered a sandwich, coffee, water. The purser gave me everything and didn´t mention payment and moved on to the next row. Well. Might be a bit too discreet for my taste, but obviously a nice touch that I didn´t had to show off the blackie.
I understand fully that some pursers and FAs don´t really know how they should handle the recognition part and feel uneasy about it. Also, we the pax expect different things probably. But this is what could work for most (EBP):
-After the security briefing, but before take off (or immediately after take off before service starts); approach the EBP and say "Mr XXX, we are pleased to have you onboard today, don´t hesitate to ask me if you need anything on todays flight."
-For BoB flights; When asking the EBP if he/she would like something from the BoB menu word it as "Can we offer anything on the house for you from the inflight menu?" Instead of the "Would you like to buy something...". The guidelines clearly states that the EBP doesn´t have to show off the card (as is the situation for TPC).
-When checking the cabin for landing, do the exact same thing as at the beginning. Ask if the flight was satisfactory, would you like a quick glass of water maybe. etc.
If they could standardize on this level of service I would be all smiles.
Prefectly summarized!!
(my last flight was terrible in Y+ of several reasons, I brought the matters forward to the FA. She couldn't care less it seemed. Then 30 minutes from landing the FA came back to me saying "I'm sorry I didn't know you were one of those...." And she offer me to move up to C.. I told here I didn't think it was my job to inform the crew I was a Pandion and I was getting kind of sick of the lack of recognition. And for the last 30 min I was fine in my crappy seat. (It was my 3rd trip that week)
Programs: UA*G, 9wPlat, LH SEN, AA Plat, Sixt Plat, *was* SQ QPP01 & SK EBS/EBG...
Posts: 3,768
Quote:
Originally Posted by VirreVapp
If they could standardize on this level of service I would be all smiles.
Prefectly summarized!!
(my last flight was terrible in Y+ of several reasons, I brought the matters forward to the FA. She couldn't care less it seemed. Then 30 minutes from landing the FA came back to me saying "I'm sorry I didn't know you were one of those...." And she offer me to move up to C.. I told here I didn't think it was my job to inform the crew I was a Pandion and I was getting kind of sick of the lack of recognition. And for the last 30 min I was fine in my crappy seat. (It was my 3rd trip that week)
Have you tried Norwegian, since you are based in Norway?
Just book 2 seats if the price is cheap, so you have a blocked seat, and in addition, you might have additional savings you can splurge on the pretty decent food offerings on board!
inbetween. The two previous trips this week was with Norwegian. Tonight I'm heading home from LHR with SK again. Hopefully it will all be smiles. Anyone up for drinks in the Singarpore lounge?
Programs: UA*G, 9wPlat, LH SEN, AA Plat, Sixt Plat, *was* SQ QPP01 & SK EBS/EBG...
Posts: 3,768
Quote:
Originally Posted by VirreVapp
inbetween. The two previous flights this week was with Norwegian. Tonight I'm heading home from LHR with SK again. Hopefully it will all be smiles.
SK Norway (OSL-KEF-OSL) was pretty good up front - but only in biz....
In the back (same flight, same crew) on the way to KEF was pretty bad - LCC, as SK likes to keep it that way! I prefer Norwegian after my experience with them...
Did two BoB-flights with SAS Sweden today and recognition was decent on both flights. Ordered from the BoB-menu on both flights and was not asked for payment nor did I show my card once. Got a personal "Have a nice weekend sir" form the purser when de-boarding.
MMX GA joked with me when I asked about seating (my ususal question to try and get a free middle) and said that "with this card I will definately move someone for you...". Had row 1 for myself... guess it was blocked due weight restriction, but anyhows...
Pretty good day flying wise.
Last night both LHR-OSL and OSL-TRD was very nice. I was upgraded straight away before take off in LHR. Nice service and crew. Very attentative.
The last flight to TRD from OSL was also a nice surprise. The FA gave me free BoB and welcomed me back. So that was a good night
(All Norwegian crew)
Last night both LHR-OSL and OSL-TRD was very nice. I was upgraded straight away before take off in LHR.
This is something I'd expect to happen for EBP members, and not for anyone else really (unless there is an OPS reason for it). The consistency you keep coming back to in other treads seems to still not to be present. There's a long way from not wanting to give you free BoB (because they don't care or understand the concept of EBP or even pure ignorance) to complimentary upgrades...
Wanted to reschedule for an earlier flight home today which was fully booked (CPH-ARN). My connecting leg AAR-CPH was cool still. So, called SAS and asked to rebook, the agent said the CPH-ARN flight was full (I was booked on the last flight of the day however). I said I still wanted to rebook to the earlier connection and asked to waitlist for the earlier CPH-ARN (actually 3 hours earlier, they have cut schedules on this key route like mad so there is now only the 20.00 and the 23.00 flights left).
When I checked in at AAR the CI agent told me I was still waitlisted for the second leg (CPH-ARN) but that there was a note in the reservation saying "Please ask for volounteers for the later flight". Now THAT was a hell of a reservation agent I got on the line... Employee of the day in my book.
(Waitlist had cleared once I reached the CPH lounge).
PS. OT sidenote; how comes when one travel from GOT only TF has a lounge and when travelling from AAR only Finnair/BA grants lounge access??? What´s up SAS?
PS. OT sidenote; how comes when one travel from GOT only TF has a lounge and when travelling from AAR only Finnair/BA grants lounge access??? What´s up SAS?
AAR looks weird! 18 SK departures on a "regular" day, and only 6 BA (Sun Air) and 2 AY...
Looks like most SK customers just rush through the airport! That is the advantage of small airports, you are able to check in late, and walk almost straight to the gate! That will be my educated guess! But with the amount of SK flights, they should for sure consider a lounge for SK pax!
Today on Reykjavik flight happened to see the first page of pax mainfest in the galley. There was EBP in seat 1C and his status on manifest was circled with pen and a couple of exclamation marks nearby, so either gate agent or cabin crew were prepared to recognize special passenger
Programs: UA*G, 9wPlat, LH SEN, AA Plat, Sixt Plat, *was* SQ QPP01 & SK EBS/EBG...
Posts: 3,768
Quote:
Originally Posted by another_shot
Today on Reykjavik flight happened to see the first page of pax mainfest in the galley. There was EBP in seat 1C and his status on manifest was circled with pen and a couple of exclamation marks nearby, so either gate agent or cabin crew were prepared to recognize special passenger
p.s. was it any of you?
The gate handler for SK at Reykjavik is a really nice chap, btw!
Seems like it's all going i the right direction for EBP members, unless you're leaving out the bad things 
