I wonder if Carl Bildt is a Pandion because he sure got recognition when he travelled on the same flight as me earlier this year. His aides/bodyguards got the same recognition. Somehow I think that counts more with the SAS staff.
Airlines have two definitions of VIPs, one is "genuine" VIP (e.g. a foreign minister like Carl Bildt) the other is CIP which stands for Commercially Important Person (e.g. a EBP). At ARN a genuine VIP gets the full package of VIP treatment meaning that the ARN VIP Service checks in the person, who gets to wait in one of the true VIP lounges which has a private security control and thereafter the passenger is escorted to the aircraft and gets to board last (unless the person wishes to board early of course). If it's a non-Schengen flight, immigration control is carried out in the VIP lounge. If the aircraft is on a remote stand, the VIP service drives the passenger to the aircraft (in a fairly regular car - it's not a limo).
Until about five years ago SAS had it's own VIP service at ARN called "LP Service", but now it's all handled by LFV (Swedish Airport Authority). VIP service at ARN is free for genuine VIPs and is paid for by the Swedish state. Any other person (EBP or just anybody) can book VIP Service but gets to pay for it and it will not extend to VIP status onboard the aircraft.
SAS could of course offer the "true" VIP service to EBPs, but I guess SAS thinks it's too expensive. But it would really make a difference wouldn't it. To pass through a private security checkpoint and get immigration control carried out while waiting in a private lounge...
to balance things slightly: did a swedish domestic segment today with BOB and the purser didn't even let me look for money in my pocket with a "you don't have to pay, sir". my first free coffee due EBP. He had obviously been studying the pax manifest.
I have been traveling with a senior colleague on SK a fair bit this year - probably 8 or 9 RT's in Europe. I was with him for regular check in, checking in early to get earlier flight, going into SK lounges, all the usual sort of stuff and we were typically aisle across on the planes. All our travel was in Y.
It was only when his secretary sent me his itinerary prior to our most recent trip that I noticed that he was EBP. Throughout our travels, his treatment and recognition had been no different from mine in any shape or form, on any occasion, from any SK staff - on the ground or in the air.
I asked him about this on the trip back. He has been Pandion ever since it was introduced and said it was quite good at the beginning, but for the past few years it has been meaningless.
Quite remarkable. I was taken aback. Neither DL nor UA are brilliant, but their staff do make a noticeable effort to recognize and make a special effort for 1K and PM, notably better than for the levels below. Pandions must be vastly more important to SK than 1K's and PM's are to UA and DL, so I really don't understand. Maybe it's a Swedish egalitarian thing or is it that lagom approach?
Does SAS hand out Pandion or Eurobonus Gold to Swedish members of parliament and ministers?
SAS Sweden give EBG to all ministers and a few members of parliament, such as members of The Committee on Foreign Affairs (Utrikesutskottet). Members of the Royal Family get EBG as well. EBP is not given to anybody "for free".
Cabinet ministers and members of parliament collect EB points, but are only allowed to use them for official travel. Members of the (Swedish) Royal Family do not collect EB points.
Didn't the guy at the VIP terminal in ARN tell us during the ARN do that EBPs could use that terminal for free or at a deep discounted rate?
LFV (Airport Authority) charges about 3 500 SEK (600 USD) for VIP service for 1 departing passenger on a scheduled flight and 850 SEK (150 USD) per additional passenger in the same party. If EBP get to use this service for free than SAS pays LFV for the service. Somehow, I doubt that SAS does that considering what I've been reading here on the usual non-recognition of EBPs.
Programs: SAS EBG, CSA OK Gold, Finnair Plus, LH Miles&More, AF F+,Hilton HH
Posts: 21
EBP and HON
Its really sad to read about the experiences of EBPs and the low level of service and ad ons that you get. I have had EBG for some 8 years and it has given me a fair service. Looking at what you need to do additionally to reach EBP, I think SAS service really sucks!
I wish I could trade my EBG for a LH SEN card, then I would go full speed getting HON. HON is the real stuff. When LH take over SAS I hope they will allow us to change EBG for LH SEN.
I will fly TLL-FRA-SIN-SYD W/R later this year with LH/Singapore Airlines
and I have arrange an upgrade from M to C with LH contact and I will fly A380 partly. Thats gonna be a good experience I hope. I will keep you informed about that experience.
Programs: Lufthansa Senator, SAS EB Gold, Hilton Diamond VIP, Marriott Gold Elite, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 1,758
Quote:
Originally Posted by npahedman
I wish I could trade my EBG for a LH SEN card, then I would go full speed getting HON. HON is the real stuff. When LH take over SAS I hope they will allow us to change EBG for LH SEN.
General warning here is that LHs HON miles can only be earned on flights of full M&M partners (mainly LH, LO, LX and OS). Unless you fly a lot on intercontinental tickets in business or first with these airlines you will probably find HON impossible to reach.
And SENs don't have that many more perks than EBG, except you need more points to get there, so it all depends on your pattern of flying.
Do EBPs usually get seat blocking when flying transatlantic Y+?
On my latest flight there was only one free seat, 15G.
The guy sitting in 15E wanted to move to that seat so he could have an aisle seat, but the FA wouldn't let him because the passenger in 15H was EBP.
She specifically said that normally they would let him make the switch, but not in this case because of the EBP.
Is seat blocking in Y+ an official EBP benefit?
Do EBPs usually get seat blocking when flying transatlantic Y+?
I can for sure say that it is not an official benefit, most pursers don´t even seem to notice VIPs and EBPs on the manifest. I don´t even think that SAS CI-cystem has the technical ability to block seats like that. to the cabin crew described in your post.
Programs: SAS EBG, CSA OK Gold, Finnair Plus, LH Miles&More, AF F+,Hilton HH
Posts: 21
Quote:
Originally Posted by larsll
General warning here is that LHs HON miles can only be earned on flights of full M&M partners (mainly LH, LO, LX and OS). Unless you fly a lot on intercontinental tickets in business or first with these airlines you will probably find HON impossible to reach.
And SENs don't have that many more perks than EBG, except you need more points to get there, so it all depends on your pattern of flying.
Thanks for the info, but as I am located in TLL and SAS has now dropped TLLARN, so for everything outside Scandinavia, I can fly LH. LH also allow kids to start collecting points! 600000 points during two years is not impossible, especially if I would fly TLLFRAARN when I need to go to ARN. That gives me 10000 p W/R if SEN class flyer in C,D,J classes. I need 60 flights during two years, that is 30 per year or lets say 2 per month plus other flights, would easily make it. This just as an example.
Thanks for the info, but as I am located in TLL and SAS has now dropped TLLARN, so for everything outside Scandinavia, I can fly LH. LH also allow kids to start collecting points! 600000 points during two years is not impossible, especially if I would fly TLLFRAARN when I need to go to ARN. That gives me 10000 p W/R if SEN class flyer in C,D,J classes. I need 60 flights during two years, that is 30 per year or lets say 2 per month plus other flights, would easily make it. This just as an example.
I can for sure say that it is not an official benefit, most pursers donīt even seem to notice VIPs and EBPs on the manifest.
As a fan of 1K (right next to the purser's little office) on A330/340 TATLs I can tell you that the purser does read the manifest and discusses it with the next in command after doors have closed. My knowledge of Danish/Swedish is limited, but I have noticed that they look the list up and down and mainly discuss head count, babies, if the crew distribution is right and sometimes if there are VIP/CIP/EBP/EBG. One flight I remember the purser saying: look at how many Golds are on the flight today. Another time (a very light easter sunday flight) they discussed on how to move the C pax up into the first 4-5 rows and organize the service so that only 2 FAs could handle C.
EBP and HON
to the cabin crew described in your post.
