Originally Posted by
Tomas E
(Edit: CPH-Flyer explained this above, so I've edited out some repetition.)
Surely when there was three classes on domestic/European routes, business would sometimes be one empty row? (At least domestically.) Plus was introduced in 2013 if memory served me, and replaced both business and economy extra, so technically Plus and business never co-existed on domestic/European routes. And the reason business had so few passengers was that many "domestic" companies' travel policies did not allow business class travel on short haul. That is unlikely to have changed in the 11 years since, which is why I always thought the re-introduction of business class was unlikely. Now that we've been proven wrong we'll see if code-share and business leisure will be enough on European routes to justify the re-introduction. If prices are much higher than Plus, I have a bit of fear that SAS may have misread their home markets on this, which may cost both revenue and customer base.
Indeed in name Plus and Business never coexisted. Hence I wrote economy extra as it was back then. Business class went away on domestic and intra Scandinavia earlier than the European routes, replaced by Scandinavian Direct, which was a one class service concept, that happened around 2002/3. Initially it was a true one class concept, and full fare and gold customers booking last minute would end up in the last row next to lavatories. Gradually it evolved with the front being reserved for certain price groups or status, and eventually the economy extra/economy distinction came along here as well. With buy on board for economy. But prior Plus incarnations and business never coexisted intra Scandinavia. Helsinki yes, as a Nordic route they always were on the European service concept.
We flew business pre the introduction of economy extra, which was basically about the flexibility of the tickets. While more flexible economy class tickets had been introduced pre economy flex, as it actually started its life as, the full flexibility was only for business class tickets. The J cabins were still reasonably big. As soon as economy flex (subsequently extra subsequently plus) appeared, we moved back and only flew business if the middle cabin was sold out. The J cabin became gaping empty, usually just 1 or 2 rows often with no passengers at all.
I honestly don't think that many companies would book J for a European flight if Plus continued to exists. Connections, leisure flights, and the top executives not flying private does not fill many rows. Especially considering connections with the current size of the SK long haul network.