What is SAS Plus on Nordic routes really?
Sep 13, 2015, 11:29 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Denmark, SK*G ( EBD), BA (silver), FB (Silver)
Posts: 489
What is SAS Plus on Nordic routes really?
Did a couple of Nordic flights on SAS Plus tickets- so I thought it was time to reflect on the product: Is it worth it? The short answer is a resounding NO ! Here’s why :
-You pay (a lot ) more for the ticket
-Only a few of the Plus fares are actually flexible
-Rebooking a Plus fare will often cost you more than buying a new Go-ticket (even at short notice), as SK zeros out availability of the lower Plus fare buckets as departure time approaches (Yes this is true and indeed happened to me on more than one occation – so to change a plus ticket you have to pay the differential up to the full flex fare – where as a new Go ticket might be available for substantially less)
-You don’t get extra space on board – Middle seats might well happen if you check-in late - seat-blocking for EBG/EBD doesn't seem to work at all.
-No cabin divider or privacy – only a small sign on the backrest of the last row of Plus.
-On intra Nordic flights only breakfast (before 9am) is served as a meal in Plus
-The rest of the day you get nuts, chips, a muffin and drinks for free – but a salad or a sandwich is not available – not even around lunch time or dinner.
-The price of a drink + chips/nuts in Go does not even come close to the extra cost of a Plus ticket.
-Coffee/tea and water are still free
-Feeder-flights to intercontinental flights booked in business class (on SK or it’s partners) take place in Plus – which is essentially an economy product.
On the ‘Plus’ side – you do get fast track security, priority boarding (mostly) and lounge access with a plus ticket – but (many of ) you might get that anyway with a Star-Gold card so for you the value of Plus should be in the in-flight product. Oh and you get a somewhat higher number of EB points – but not a lot compared to the higher fare buckets of Go tickets – the differences have evened out.
I think SAS needs to re-evaluate the Plus product - it just isn't good enough compared to the cost - at least on Nordic routes. The have introduced the low-cost handbagageonly fares in Go - now it is time to do something at the other end of the plane.
-You pay (a lot ) more for the ticket
-Only a few of the Plus fares are actually flexible
-Rebooking a Plus fare will often cost you more than buying a new Go-ticket (even at short notice), as SK zeros out availability of the lower Plus fare buckets as departure time approaches (Yes this is true and indeed happened to me on more than one occation – so to change a plus ticket you have to pay the differential up to the full flex fare – where as a new Go ticket might be available for substantially less)
-You don’t get extra space on board – Middle seats might well happen if you check-in late - seat-blocking for EBG/EBD doesn't seem to work at all.
-No cabin divider or privacy – only a small sign on the backrest of the last row of Plus.
-On intra Nordic flights only breakfast (before 9am) is served as a meal in Plus
-The rest of the day you get nuts, chips, a muffin and drinks for free – but a salad or a sandwich is not available – not even around lunch time or dinner.
-The price of a drink + chips/nuts in Go does not even come close to the extra cost of a Plus ticket.
-Coffee/tea and water are still free
-Feeder-flights to intercontinental flights booked in business class (on SK or it’s partners) take place in Plus – which is essentially an economy product.
On the ‘Plus’ side – you do get fast track security, priority boarding (mostly) and lounge access with a plus ticket – but (many of ) you might get that anyway with a Star-Gold card so for you the value of Plus should be in the in-flight product. Oh and you get a somewhat higher number of EB points – but not a lot compared to the higher fare buckets of Go tickets – the differences have evened out.
I think SAS needs to re-evaluate the Plus product - it just isn't good enough compared to the cost - at least on Nordic routes. The have introduced the low-cost handbagageonly fares in Go - now it is time to do something at the other end of the plane.
Sep 13, 2015, 2:29 pm
#2
Join Date: Oct 2011
Programs: EuroBonus Diamond, Delta Skymiles 360, BAEC LTG, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 2,827
The same applies to intra-Europe plus. The meals that are inedible anyway, free booze is only useful if you don't have to drive making it a very sub-par product overal. You end up paying a significant premium for a glass of water and the ability to be of the plane first.
Perks such as fast-track, priority boarding and lounge access also come with EB status.
Improve the meals and seating and Nordic/European flights would be worth the money.
Perks such as fast-track, priority boarding and lounge access also come with EB status.
Improve the meals and seating and Nordic/European flights would be worth the money.
Sep 14, 2015, 1:44 pm
#3
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: ARN
Posts: 355
-Only a few of the Plus fares are actually flexible
-Rebooking a Plus fare will often cost you more than buying a new Go-ticket (even at short notice), as SK zeros out availability of the lower Plus fare buckets as departure time approaches (Yes this is true and indeed happened to me on more than one occation – so to change a plus ticket you have to pay the differential up to the full flex fare – where as a new Go ticket might be available for substantially less)
-Rebooking a Plus fare will often cost you more than buying a new Go-ticket (even at short notice), as SK zeros out availability of the lower Plus fare buckets as departure time approaches (Yes this is true and indeed happened to me on more than one occation – so to change a plus ticket you have to pay the differential up to the full flex fare – where as a new Go ticket might be available for substantially less)
I mean, if only high booking classes are open, just refund the Plus ticket and buy a new ticket in Go.
Sep 15, 2015, 1:55 am
#4
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: TK*G (E+), IHG Plat Ambassador
Posts: 7,884
I mean, if only high booking classes are open, just refund the Plus ticket and buy a new ticket in Go.
Thank you for heads up!
We recently received a warning from our Corporate Travel Agency not to purchase low Plus fares as indeed - it might cost a fortune to change them in the last minute. But I just checked fare rules in our Corporate Booking Tool and you are right - seems all tickets are refundable. I need to talk to the Agency then as buying low Plus fares in advance might not be such a bad idea. Once again thank you for heads up!
Sep 15, 2015, 2:14 am
#5
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: AGH
Posts: 5,976
SK989
We recently received a warning from our Corporate Travel Agency not to purchase low Plus fares as indeed - it might cost a fortune to change them in the last minute. But I just checked fare rules in our Corporate Booking Tool and you are right - seems all tickets are refundable. I need to talk to the Agency then as buying low Plus fares in advance might not be such a bad idea. Once again thank you for heads up!
We recently received a warning from our Corporate Travel Agency not to purchase low Plus fares as indeed - it might cost a fortune to change them in the last minute. But I just checked fare rules in our Corporate Booking Tool and you are right - seems all tickets are refundable. I need to talk to the Agency then as buying low Plus fares in advance might not be such a bad idea. Once again thank you for heads up!
Sep 15, 2015, 5:30 am
#6
Join Date: Jun 2015
Programs: AY+, SK EB
Posts: 2,959
The problem is that SK zeros out Go and lower class Plus fares on a lot of routes few days (at some even 7 days) before departure. So, even though the ticket gives you flexibility in the way to be able to cancel it, you will need to buy a new ticket (or pay the fare difference) in anyway.
For me personally having no *G status SAS Plus has more value. And travelling otherwise only Y I don't feel the need to complain about food or the middle seat.
But also from my perception it makes sense to offer an additional higher placed product on selected European routes.
Sep 15, 2015, 6:32 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 21,164
The problem is that SK zeros out Go and lower class Plus fares on a lot of routes few days (at some even 7 days) before departure. So, even though the ticket gives you flexibility in the way to be able to cancel it, you will need to buy a new ticket (or pay the fare difference) in anyway.
Sep 16, 2015, 1:27 am
#8
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: AGH
Posts: 5,976
Go to the Lufthansa forum, people are complaining about the exact same thing just for business class. Only the full fare is available at short notice. No matter how empty the cabin is. LH even confirmed the practice is some of the sessions with frequent fliers. I think SK for once took a page from LH's book.
Sep 16, 2015, 1:33 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Denmark, SK*G ( EBD), BA (silver), FB (Silver)
Posts: 489
Not sure all plus tickets are refundable. Booked a r/t intranordic out in Y and return in A. And got the following statement on my ticket:"Refundering: Billet og brændstoftillæg kan refunderes. Refundering af delvist brugt billet kan være begrænset." So when I wanted to change my return ticket I did indeed face the issue.
Zeroing out low fare buckets days prior to departure in spite of good availability might be good business sense in the short run (from the perspective of the airline) - but it sure Pi...s off a lot of us - their frequent flyers - who bought supposedly flexible tickets in the long run. I will look more closely at the Lot option in the future as suggested by fassy although not really an option intra-nordic
Zeroing out low fare buckets days prior to departure in spite of good availability might be good business sense in the short run (from the perspective of the airline) - but it sure Pi...s off a lot of us - their frequent flyers - who bought supposedly flexible tickets in the long run. I will look more closely at the Lot option in the future as suggested by fassy although not really an option intra-nordic
Sep 22, 2015, 1:55 pm
#12
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 124
Also...
Exit row seats are ALWAYS FREE (also on intercontinental flights) on the cheaper
GO Tickets. 22 hr before departure (its actually 36 hr hushhh,hushhh,from Scandinavia ).
You are NOT ALLOWED to sit on the exit seats,if you buy a PLUS ticket,
so if legroom are important to you,DO NOT BUY THE EXPENSIVE PLUS-TICKET.
Exit row seats are ALWAYS FREE (also on intercontinental flights) on the cheaper
GO Tickets. 22 hr before departure (its actually 36 hr hushhh,hushhh,from Scandinavia ).
You are NOT ALLOWED to sit on the exit seats,if you buy a PLUS ticket,
so if legroom are important to you,DO NOT BUY THE EXPENSIVE PLUS-TICKET.
Sep 23, 2015, 1:48 am
#13
Join Date: Feb 2009
Programs: eurobonus, flying blue, a club, hilton hhonors
Posts: 134
As a Norwegian living abroad; for personal travel, I only book SAS Plus for the Christmas holidays, where the 2 x 23kg luggage comes in handy. Fast track and lounge access are EuroBonus perks, so doesn't add as a benefit of the SAS Plus ticket. The rest of the time I book SAS Go. Haven't booked a route offering SAS Go Light yet, so not sure if I would book that.