Flew (supposed) business class on SN this afternoon, CDG-BRU, as the final leg of an all-business itinerary on EvaAirlines (KIX-TPE-CDG). ExpertfFlyer showed only one row of business on this A319 and I was assigned 1C when I did OLCI. As noted, this is typical European business class with regular economy seating but (in theory) the centre seats kept open. As boarding proceeded, the window seat (1A) was taken by a woman and on the other side, two men in 1D and 1F. As boarding was almost completed a man entered and saw his seat occupied by the woman, showed the FA his boarding pass so the FA asked to see hers. She had been given/sold seat 1B. So we were no longer flying business class but rather crammed into a typical economy front row seat (albeit the leg room was generous enough) with fixed armrests and no place to put reading material and iPads other than on our laps.

When I asked how this could be, the FA said they sometime fill the centre seats on the Paris run if the flight is full, which ours was. I pointed out that I paid for business and part of the contract is an empty centre seat. He of course could do nothing about it, though said he'd write it up. The door had closed before I could ask to speak with the lead gate agent. So my short flight to BRU was as bad as my experience with SK's so-called "business class" a week ago, but at least that airline doesn't run ads and define their European service as offering a "guaranteed empty centre seat" as I clearly read in SN's own inflight magazine detailing the "benefits" of its fare classes. (No asterisks or other indicators of small print exceptions as existed for some other benefits.) SN also reneged on the fast-track security lane access too, as my boarding pass did not get me through the gate and the staff refused to recognize that or my STARGold status which, according to the small print in the same magazine, should have given me that access at CDG.

So all in all a most disappointing flight and impression of SN. (I certainly hope my BRU-IAD flight in business later this week will be a better experience.)

That said, I do intend to write SN, as well as copy the appropriate EU bureau about this breach of their contract with me, and clearly lying in their ads and marketing materials about their European business product. I will also demand a refund of my fare difference between regular economy and business or 10K Miles&More miles for my account. (Yes, I realize it was an hour's flight but I do feel I am entitled to some form of compensation having bought a business ticket as part of my BR booking.)

Has this happened to others who fly SN with any degree of regularity? Are they know for overselling their flights (also IIRC a violation of EU regulations)?