Several FlyerTalkers (myself included) are currently on the recieving end of some incredibly shabby treatment by SN Brussels Airlines, a European regional carrier which rose from the ashes of the bankrupt Sabena and still flies under its designator (SN) and uses its ticketing prefix (082). I am bringing it to the attention of the FT community in the hope its members may be able to offer advice or assistance.

The situation is this:

In January, FlyerTalk member AHO discovered and posted a very attractive airfare on the SAS forum from ARN (Stockholm-Arlanda, Sweden) to JNB (Johennesburg, South Africa) via BRU (Brussels, Belgium) The roundtrip fare was 960 Swedish Kroners, or about $122 USD.

The fares were for travel between ARN and BRU on SN Brussels, and BRU and JNB on Sobelair (Q7), a charter outfit based in Belgium, also closely tied to the former Sabena.

Although SN denies the airlines are connected, they appear to have a strategy of common branding, as you can see in their respective liveries, here (SN) and here (Q7) . Do these aircraft look like they fly for "seperate companies"?

The tickets were bookable only in Sweden, and it was quickly hypothesized that the fares were misloaded for the Swedish market in Kroners, where they should have been priced in EUR or USD.

Nevertheless, several people booked tickets based on these fares using travel agents in Sweden, and they were issued and sent out, and the respective credit cards charged for the fares. I have three tickets for the same itinerary in September for two friends and myself. The tickets are plated on SN (082) stock and clearly state "Issuing Carrier: SN Brussels Airlines".

This week, news of Sobelair's abandonment of the BRU-JNB route effective June 30 came to light. According to SN, Q7 is having "financial difficulties".

I called SN's Brussels call center today, and their reps changed stories like most people change their underwear: frequently. One rep told me SN had no liability for my transportation to JNB, another said it was my travel agents responsibility to rebook me, while another said I had to negotiate with Sobelair. Frustrated with the stonewalling I gave up and called the issuing travel agent in Sweden, confident they would get to the bottom of the situation. My e-mail stated:
The agency responded:
So that's the story. They have my money (and the money of several other FTers), they're keeping it, and they have no intention of fulfilling the terms of the contract between us. However, if I would like to buy another ticket for ~$1000 USD for the same trip, they would be more than happy to help.

Just to reiterate:[*] Sobelair has not suspended all its services, just the JNB route. It is still very much solvent and capable of issuing a refund.[*] However, the issuing carrier is SN, who I would think would be responsible for rebooking us.

I am at my wit's end with this situation. Other FTers, including Vunder31, is equally vexed. I am not familiar with European law, but I am sure that what we are being told cannot be legal.

If anyone here on FT can be of any assistance, please post your thoughts here or e-mail me.

Thanks for letting me vent. I'll be contacting SN's NYC office today, but I expect little in the way of results.

Thanks in advance,
Jeff

[Edited for UBB errors]

[This message has been edited by YYZC2 (edited 06-05-2003).]