New SAS long haul routes?
Aug 26, 2015, 1:51 am
#181
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CPH
Programs: UAMP S, TK M&S E (*G), Marriott LTP, IHG P, SK EBG
Posts: 11,095
The problem with that is that there's also a lot of competition on the route, which makes that prices will generally remain low. In that case the price difference with a legacy carrier and a price fighter will generally be so little (and sometimes completely vanished by additional services like luggage, meals, seat belts, etc) that most people will stick to 'their' carrier where they for example have status, have company agreements, are used to fly with or have heard about the 'dangers' of flying lcc's.
This is also why I was a tad surprised to find that SK will fly to HKG. There's no *A hub there, there's massive competition to the place and, for what I know, slots are quite expensive. I have the feeling the route won't be established as fast as the SFO route...
This is also why I was a tad surprised to find that SK will fly to HKG. There's no *A hub there, there's massive competition to the place and, for what I know, slots are quite expensive. I have the feeling the route won't be established as fast as the SFO route...
too when I saw it. During low season and school holidays I'm looking at 3500 SEK per ticket with TK to HKG. I am with TK and not based in ARN and I can't stand day flight if there is a choice (I think at 2000 SEK will change my view on that). I guess SK is targeting business traveller who have to travel on a specific date, and then fill the plane up with 3500 SEK tickets.From bc.se:
"Rickard var nöjd med bokningsläget på Hong Kong-linjen och sa att den såg bättre ut än exempelvis linjerna till San Francisco och Shanghai gjorde vid motsvarande tidpunkt, alltså knappt en månad innan lansering"
TLDR translation, HKG is looking good on paper.
My employer has booked tickets for a considerable amount of $$$$$ already. A direct ARN-HKG route greatly improves travel time and experience compared to connecting in LHR/FRA/ZUR. While some people don't like the timing, for Stockholm based travellers they are excellent.
"Rickard var nöjd med bokningsläget på Hong Kong-linjen och sa att den såg bättre ut än exempelvis linjerna till San Francisco och Shanghai gjorde vid motsvarande tidpunkt, alltså knappt en månad innan lansering"
TLDR translation, HKG is looking good on paper.
My employer has booked tickets for a considerable amount of $$$$$ already. A direct ARN-HKG route greatly improves travel time and experience compared to connecting in LHR/FRA/ZUR. While some people don't like the timing, for Stockholm based travellers they are excellent.
You can also connect via HEL unless you have to travel on *A.
Aug 26, 2015, 4:18 am
#182
Join Date: Oct 2011
Programs: EuroBonus Diamond, Delta Skymiles 360, BAEC LTG, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 2,828
I dislike the timing of the AY flight because I lose the entire next day in HKG.
The reality of a 23:40 departure from HEL is a 18:10 feeder (can't risk the last flight with only a 50 minute transfer window). Which means you end up straight in Stockholm traffic congestion, so I need to leave earlier and also lose that day in Europe. Might as well take the 15:00 SK flight and have the whole next day in HKG with a much easier time on the jetlag.
The reindeer for dinner makes it tempting nonetheless.
The reality of a 23:40 departure from HEL is a 18:10 feeder (can't risk the last flight with only a 50 minute transfer window). Which means you end up straight in Stockholm traffic congestion, so I need to leave earlier and also lose that day in Europe. Might as well take the 15:00 SK flight and have the whole next day in HKG with a much easier time on the jetlag.
The reindeer for dinner makes it tempting nonetheless.
Oct 9, 2015, 1:21 am
#185
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CPH
Programs: UAMP S, TK M&S E (*G), Marriott LTP, IHG P, SK EBG
Posts: 11,095
Oct 9, 2015, 1:44 am
#186
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 21,186
Oct 9, 2015, 5:42 am
#190
Join Date: Oct 2011
Programs: EuroBonus Diamond, Delta Skymiles 360, BAEC LTG, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 2,828
FlyNiki still does ARN-VIE, along with 3x OS departures and some odd-ball Ethiopian flight that makes a stop-over in VIE.
SK pulled out of the ARN-VIE route last year, so having at least a CPH route makes sense I guess. I like flying OS so wouldn't use SK on this route, but there are always corporate clients and inexperienced flyers who will default to SK.
SK pulled out of the ARN-VIE route last year, so having at least a CPH route makes sense I guess. I like flying OS so wouldn't use SK on this route, but there are always corporate clients and inexperienced flyers who will default to SK.
Oct 9, 2015, 7:04 am
#191
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: EFHK - HEL
Programs: AY, LH, KL, SK, D8, Marriott, Melia.
Posts: 609
Thanks... I´m experienced flyer and do prefer SK over DY and AY from Finland. Also have flown OS when they operated to HEL, it was ok to fly with them with F70, but still prefer SK over OS, AY, DY, LH for their seamless frequent traveler product which is far better than AY, DY in Intra Europe. LH is dull nowadays, transfer in ARN/CPH/OSL are better for me than it was in FRA/MUC. I travel in Plus mainly. Just my cup of tea. And SK crew is good so far.
Last edited by Abducted Alien; Oct 9, 2015 at 7:05 am Reason: cat on keyboard
Oct 9, 2015, 12:25 pm
#194
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: AGH
Posts: 5,980
As I said, I fly a lot CPH VIE and the OS birds are almost always 95% loaded. So far I always managed to get a seat but I would say it is the only route where I got pretty consistent opup change of about 75% as I usually buy last minute = expensive booking class and plane is full 
Also the timings are not always that great... but so far worked for me. Some competition there can't hurt.
Also the timings are not always that great... but so far worked for me. Some competition there can't hurt.