My farewell to the SAS intra European C class (and hello to the Paris CDG Hilton)
Mar 31, 2013, 2:46 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: The Baltic Sea
Programs: AY, BT, DY and SK. Scandic, Radisson, Marriott and HHonors. ClubONE
Posts: 5,890
My farewell to the SAS intra European C class (and hello to the Paris CDG Hilton)
My third trip report starts (appropriately for a business class trip) in the Oslo SAS Business Lounge.
Today they serve here some soup along with ”make it yourself” thin bread sandwiches accompanied by wine, beer or soda - all on tap. Or you can settle for some mixed salad with salmon:
(There are some tall Norwegian Viking-type blondes here today that are just stunning) But the journey today is the SK839 to Paris, CDG.
As has been discussed in the SAS forum
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/20461827-post1.html
SAS is planning to get rid of their European C class from June 9th, and replace it with something called “SAS Plus”.
Well, knowing FT, I’m sure it will soon be called “SAS Minus”.
So it is time to enjoy SAS intra European C one more time (or actually two).
My first SAS intra European C flight was in 1988, almost exactly 25 years ago. As I remember it, it was very similar as today, although I doubt they blocked middle seats back then. Also, today we are on a 737, while back then SAS’s workhorse was the DC-9/MD-80 series.
Back to the trip, we board on time but are slightly delayed for take-off by three rounds(!) of checks that nobody is using their mobile – even in flight mode. Of course they are not checking pockets, though.
.
Finally in the air, the service improves and I am able to order a sufficient amount of dehydration prevention substances:
The drink round is followed by the meal which today consists of some Pâté de Foie Gras with cucumber and a jam of red berries, a main course of beef tenderloin with young picked boiled potatoes and other vegetables, Port Salut and Brie cheese with cloudberry jam and a bar of Green and Black's Organic Butterscotch chocolate.
I’ll say it at this point: I am going to miss SAS intra European C! :'(
The meal service is complemented with a bread round (which I decline) and then some coffee and tea avec. I end my meal with some coffee and Amarula cream liqueur.
Despite the slight delay, we land at CDG approximately on time and head to the CDG Hilton with the CDGVAL airport train. You see the Hilton when you leave the CDGVAL at the T3 station and use the exit on your right, coming up the escalators from the train platform. The entrance to the hotel is on the other side of the building, easiest reached by walking on the left side of the hotel.
For once there is a short dedicated Hhonors line to the reception, so we are checked in almost immediately and informed of our upgrade to the executive 8th floor and that the happy hour will still be going on for 30 minutes (until 8:30 pm). So despite the excellent meal on SAS, we decide to head to the lounge after having left our belongings in the room.
The lounge at the CDG Hilton is the smallest one I have ever been to, in fact it seems it is only a little bigger than our own room.
The offerings are decent: chicken skewers, potato crockets, cheese, meats, bread and vegetables etc. I have a tiny bit of everything along with a Martini, some red wine and a final glass of Bailey’s. After all this, I am glad I had only had one glass of white wine in the Oslo lounge before boarding. I also feel slightly guilty of all this eating. So after escorting my wife to our room, I go for a swim and sauna on the first floor of the hotel. That makes me feel just right, and at about 10:30 I am soundly asleep in our enormous and comfortable bed.
The following morning we opt for breakfast in the lounge. The lounge is Concorde-themed and you can also see a real one from the windows.
Now everyone reading the Hilton forum knows that Hilton has lost both of its downtown Paris properties. I was not going to stay at the airport though, (and since the Ritz is under renovation
) I had booked a comfortable Ibis hotel in the Montmartre district for a couple of nights.
There have been so many reports of Paris itself, some even recently, that I will just post here a few pictures:
After a long weekend in Paris, it is time to take my probably last SAS intra European Business Class flight ever (snif)!
We head to the CDG T1 using the RER and CDGVAL, and because of no delays have over an hour in the quite nice SAS Paris lounge. I know they serve real champagne in the iCare lounge where I would also have access, but seeing XO Cognac in the SAS lounge, I see no reason to move.
We are on the SK1560 to Copenhagen which showed an A320 when I selected our seats. Imagine my surprise when I realize no A320 is in sight, but instead one of SK’s true workhorse MD82's! I am thus able to conclude my experiences on SAS intra European C with the same type of aircraft I have started with, 25 years ago.
A powerful take off is maybe 10 minutes delayed, but I know this will not mean any delay in arriving in Copenhagen as the real flight time is only about 90 minutes. The excellent flight crew of this flight has no problem in providing us an unhurried meal of almost the same quality as on the inbound from Oslo:
This time we are served a small open sandwich appetizer, chicken breast in a creamy false morel mushroom sauce, a potato gratin and three different kinds of delicious (probably Danish) cheeses. The excellent male Danish purser seems happy that I accept a mini bottle of Moyet “Fine Champagne” Cognac with my coffee afterwards.
Well that is it, 25 years of great service in the air. I always felt that SAS intra European C meals have been better than those of Finnair, BA and LH. It may seem harsh, but SAS will move on and from the 9th of June we will have free Café service in SAS Plus. I don’t know for sure what it will be like, but here is a picture of the Café concept on Blue1, the SAS subsidiary:
As for me, I will be more likely to sit in the back of the bus!
Today they serve here some soup along with ”make it yourself” thin bread sandwiches accompanied by wine, beer or soda - all on tap. Or you can settle for some mixed salad with salmon:
(There are some tall Norwegian Viking-type blondes here today that are just stunning) But the journey today is the SK839 to Paris, CDG.
As has been discussed in the SAS forum
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/20461827-post1.html
SAS is planning to get rid of their European C class from June 9th, and replace it with something called “SAS Plus”.
Well, knowing FT, I’m sure it will soon be called “SAS Minus”.
So it is time to enjoy SAS intra European C one more time (or actually two).
My first SAS intra European C flight was in 1988, almost exactly 25 years ago. As I remember it, it was very similar as today, although I doubt they blocked middle seats back then. Also, today we are on a 737, while back then SAS’s workhorse was the DC-9/MD-80 series.
Back to the trip, we board on time but are slightly delayed for take-off by three rounds(!) of checks that nobody is using their mobile – even in flight mode. Of course they are not checking pockets, though.
. Finally in the air, the service improves and I am able to order a sufficient amount of dehydration prevention substances:
The drink round is followed by the meal which today consists of some Pâté de Foie Gras with cucumber and a jam of red berries, a main course of beef tenderloin with young picked boiled potatoes and other vegetables, Port Salut and Brie cheese with cloudberry jam and a bar of Green and Black's Organic Butterscotch chocolate.
I’ll say it at this point: I am going to miss SAS intra European C! :'(
The meal service is complemented with a bread round (which I decline) and then some coffee and tea avec. I end my meal with some coffee and Amarula cream liqueur.
Despite the slight delay, we land at CDG approximately on time and head to the CDG Hilton with the CDGVAL airport train. You see the Hilton when you leave the CDGVAL at the T3 station and use the exit on your right, coming up the escalators from the train platform. The entrance to the hotel is on the other side of the building, easiest reached by walking on the left side of the hotel.
For once there is a short dedicated Hhonors line to the reception, so we are checked in almost immediately and informed of our upgrade to the executive 8th floor and that the happy hour will still be going on for 30 minutes (until 8:30 pm). So despite the excellent meal on SAS, we decide to head to the lounge after having left our belongings in the room.
The lounge at the CDG Hilton is the smallest one I have ever been to, in fact it seems it is only a little bigger than our own room.
The offerings are decent: chicken skewers, potato crockets, cheese, meats, bread and vegetables etc. I have a tiny bit of everything along with a Martini, some red wine and a final glass of Bailey’s. After all this, I am glad I had only had one glass of white wine in the Oslo lounge before boarding. I also feel slightly guilty of all this eating. So after escorting my wife to our room, I go for a swim and sauna on the first floor of the hotel. That makes me feel just right, and at about 10:30 I am soundly asleep in our enormous and comfortable bed.
The following morning we opt for breakfast in the lounge. The lounge is Concorde-themed and you can also see a real one from the windows.
Now everyone reading the Hilton forum knows that Hilton has lost both of its downtown Paris properties. I was not going to stay at the airport though, (and since the Ritz is under renovation
) I had booked a comfortable Ibis hotel in the Montmartre district for a couple of nights.There have been so many reports of Paris itself, some even recently, that I will just post here a few pictures:
After a long weekend in Paris, it is time to take my probably last SAS intra European Business Class flight ever (snif)!
We head to the CDG T1 using the RER and CDGVAL, and because of no delays have over an hour in the quite nice SAS Paris lounge. I know they serve real champagne in the iCare lounge where I would also have access, but seeing XO Cognac in the SAS lounge, I see no reason to move
.We are on the SK1560 to Copenhagen which showed an A320 when I selected our seats. Imagine my surprise when I realize no A320 is in sight, but instead one of SK’s true workhorse MD82's! I am thus able to conclude my experiences on SAS intra European C with the same type of aircraft I have started with, 25 years ago.
A powerful take off is maybe 10 minutes delayed, but I know this will not mean any delay in arriving in Copenhagen as the real flight time is only about 90 minutes. The excellent flight crew of this flight has no problem in providing us an unhurried meal of almost the same quality as on the inbound from Oslo:
This time we are served a small open sandwich appetizer, chicken breast in a creamy false morel mushroom sauce, a potato gratin and three different kinds of delicious (probably Danish) cheeses. The excellent male Danish purser seems happy that I accept a mini bottle of Moyet “Fine Champagne” Cognac with my coffee afterwards.
Well that is it, 25 years of great service in the air. I always felt that SAS intra European C meals have been better than those of Finnair, BA and LH. It may seem harsh, but SAS will move on and from the 9th of June we will have free Café service in SAS Plus. I don’t know for sure what it will be like, but here is a picture of the Café concept on Blue1, the SAS subsidiary:
As for me, I will be more likely to sit in the back of the bus!
Last edited by tsastor; Mar 31, 2013 at 3:42 pm
Apr 1, 2013, 3:33 am
#2
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Bodø, Norway
Programs: SK*G/EBD, Le Club Accor Plat, Club Carlson Concierge, Hilton Gold
Posts: 537
I will truly miss the SAS business class on the intraeuropean routes. In my opinion SK has the best business product on intraeuropean routes of all Star partners I have tried beating OS, LH and LX.
Great report btw and glad that you got to fly the MD82 before they to are gone.
Great report btw and glad that you got to fly the MD82 before they to are gone.
Last edited by SASDC8; Apr 1, 2013 at 12:30 pm
May 24, 2013, 3:10 am
#4
Moderator, Finnair
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond, QR Gold, AY+ Platinum, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 14,182
I haven't done SK C for a long time, but you are right, it does look much better than AY, even before the latest cuts.
I especially like the look of those potatoes! I get hungry right now!
I especially like the look of those potatoes! I get hungry right now!
May 26, 2013, 1:02 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: The Baltic Sea
Programs: AY, BT, DY and SK. Scandic, Radisson, Marriott and HHonors. ClubONE
Posts: 5,890
May 26, 2013, 10:49 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: The Baltic Sea
Programs: AY, BT, DY and SK. Scandic, Radisson, Marriott and HHonors. ClubONE
Posts: 5,890
May 28, 2013, 3:40 am
#8
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 52
I have fond memory's of the CDG Hilton. Just after it opened I was on my way home from hotel school in Switzerland to New Zealand and had to overnight there. Dads corporate travel agent booked it all and I somehow ended being upgraded to a club suite. With this came entry to the club lounge and its open bar... I ended up sleeping in missing my flight and having to stay a second night. I went back to the club lounge the next night but was a little more moderate in my drinking.
Cheers for the memory's
Cheers for the memory's
May 28, 2013, 6:02 am
#9
Ambassador: Finnair Plus
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: HEL
Programs: AY+ Plat, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist, Priority Club Plat Amb, Miles and Smiles Elite
Posts: 5,297
I have fond memory's of the CDG Hilton. Just after it opened I was on my way home from hotel school in Switzerland to New Zealand and had to overnight there. Dads corporate travel agent booked it all and I somehow ended being upgraded to a club suite. With this came entry to the club lounge and its open bar... I ended up sleeping in missing my flight and having to stay a second night. I went back to the club lounge the next night but was a little more moderate in my drinking.
Cheers for the memory's
Cheers for the memory's