SAS Go Light [FAQ & Discussions]
#376
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: SFO/SJC/OAK
Programs: OZ Diamond (*G), KQ Asante Gold (ST+), Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,510
I agree that the go light fares are a slap in the face of loyal Eurobonus and *G members. It's disgraceful that *A allows airlines like LH and SK to get away with this crap. It's a big devaluation of status.
#377
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Koala Lemur
Programs: SK EBD LTG (*G)
Posts: 2,444
The fees are clearly stated, and the status privileges are published. If I spent 1-2K USD on a TATL ticket, I check the rules, not the color of my card. Like for anything of this value. And fortunately, unlike with other industries, the important rules are still stated in ca. 5 clear points, not in many pages of fine print written by the lawyers.
#378
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,123
Interesting. SAS aside, I would note in passing that the ONLY reason I maintained loyalty to Star Alliance Gold (via KrisFlyer) was for the 2 free bags on international travel. Since that appears to be gone, I'll liberate myself from struggling to get to SG and just book the most convenient flight at a competitive price. Truth is that getting from SAN to BLR, for example, is *much* more convenient on Cathay Pacific.
PS -- I find this trend toward nickel and diming being forced now on elite travelers to be most depressing. My last trip was SAN->ARN->CPH->SAN and it took hours to find a reasonable itinerary. Except, I found that it WASN'T a reasonable itinerary after SAS threw in a hundred dollars of *hidden* luggage fees.
PS -- I find this trend toward nickel and diming being forced now on elite travelers to be most depressing. My last trip was SAN->ARN->CPH->SAN and it took hours to find a reasonable itinerary. Except, I found that it WASN'T a reasonable itinerary after SAS threw in a hundred dollars of *hidden* luggage fees.
#379
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CPH
Programs: UAMP S, TK M&S E (*G), Marriott LTP, IHG P, SK EBG
Posts: 11,065
I think everybody agrees with that here. I just disagree that they are hidden. They are quite clearly communicated. If mike_lajolla claims that *G gives him an extra bag on all fares for the last 15 years he simply wrong, or he does not fly as frequently as he claims. The situation was quite different in Europe (LH, SN, ...) the last few years already. SK is one of the late comers to the game. And nobody hides it, they communicate. I find it super annoying but clearly not hidden. This is a false accusation with no ground.
The fees are clearly stated, and the status privileges are published. If I spent 1-2K USD on a TATL ticket, I check the rules, not the color of my card. Like for anything of this value. And fortunately, unlike with other industries, the important rules are still stated in ca. 5 clear points, not in many pages of fine print written by the lawyers.
The fees are clearly stated, and the status privileges are published. If I spent 1-2K USD on a TATL ticket, I check the rules, not the color of my card. Like for anything of this value. And fortunately, unlike with other industries, the important rules are still stated in ca. 5 clear points, not in many pages of fine print written by the lawyers.
It used to be that you book a flight you get your meal, drink and bag included. Then they introduced rules that complicates the whole system, last time I checked in at UA (bought the ticket before this idiotic rule started), and it took the ground staff 3 minutes extra just to see how many bags we are eligible to bring.
Again I checked fares to the US during Easter and for some destination *A is twice the price of ST or OW, and it not that they include any checked bag.
#380
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: La Jolla, California
Programs: KrisFlyer Gold, SWA CP
Posts: 1,123
I think everybody agrees with that here. I just disagree that they are hidden. They are quite clearly communicated. If mike_lajolla claims that *G gives him an extra bag on all fares for the last 15 years he simply wrong, or he does not fly as frequently as he claims. The situation was quite different in Europe (LH, SN, ...) the last few years already. SK is one of the late comers to the game. And nobody hides it, they communicate. I find it super annoying but clearly not hidden. This is a false accusation with no ground.
The fees are clearly stated, and the status privileges are published. If I spent 1-2K USD on a TATL ticket, I check the rules, not the color of my card. Like for anything of this value. And fortunately, unlike with other industries, the important rules are still stated in ca. 5 clear points, not in many pages of fine print written by the lawyers.
The fees are clearly stated, and the status privileges are published. If I spent 1-2K USD on a TATL ticket, I check the rules, not the color of my card. Like for anything of this value. And fortunately, unlike with other industries, the important rules are still stated in ca. 5 clear points, not in many pages of fine print written by the lawyers.
Last edited by mike_la_jolla; Sep 26, 2018 at 10:09 am
#381
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: La Jolla, California
Programs: KrisFlyer Gold, SWA CP
Posts: 1,123
#382
Join Date: Jun 2015
Programs: AY+, SK EB
Posts: 2,952
It used to be that you book a flight you get your meal, drink and bag included. Then they introduced rules that complicates the whole system, last time I checked in at UA (bought the ticket before this idiotic rule started), and it took the ground staff 3 minutes extra just to see how many bags we are eligible to bring.
Again I checked fares to the US during Easter and for some destination *A is twice the price of ST or OW, and it not that they include any checked bag.
#383
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Portugal
Programs: *G, VS Silver, HH Diamond
Posts: 631
Yes they are clearly communicated but it's just troublesome to have to remember which airline has what - and it's purely bad airlines don't allow OTA to sell fares with bags so that we can pay more to get the bag fare via OTA. A lot of people who pre-ordered bags with OTA said that when they checked in no bags was allowed for free even though they held a receipt that they paid for it. I think this can actually be unfair competition.
#384
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CPH
Programs: UAMP S, TK M&S E (*G), Marriott LTP, IHG P, SK EBG
Posts: 11,065
Also with mileage redemption for Y is also for light fare, am I right?
#385
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Portugal
Programs: *G, VS Silver, HH Diamond
Posts: 631
I don't think it's fair that we are "forced" to book direct with airlines just to get the bag fare to get an extra bag with our *G status. It's ok if one is on expense but for those who pay out of their own pocket I don't think it's right.
Also with mileage redemption for Y is also for light fare, am I right?
Also with mileage redemption for Y is also for light fare, am I right?
I believe that so long as you can attach your FF number to your booking, they should honour your benefits? I really have no idea on this regard and my own experiences have been wildly inconsistent, far in the past, and likely irrelevant today.
For mileage redemption, I've not booked anything in Y since the change was enforced so l don't know for certain (I've been off courting all the SAS partner airlines this year). But I think those book into regular Go, not Light?
#386
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 21,083
Redemptions book in to standard Y, not lite.
#387
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CPH
Programs: UAMP S, TK M&S E (*G), Marriott LTP, IHG P, SK EBG
Posts: 11,065
I haven't ever tinkered with booking through online travel agents after several snafus when I didn't fly as much as I do now (which still isn't much by FT standards but way more than the average person). I pay 100% out of my own pocket and still book direct for a number of reasons - namely airlines repeatedly not honouring my bookings in the past. Maybe it's better now? But in any case, the seamlessness of direct booking has been much appreciated especially when I need to make changes.
I believe that so long as you can attach your FF number to your booking, they should honour your benefits? I really have no idea on this regard and my own experiences have been wildly inconsistent, far in the past, and likely irrelevant today.
For mileage redemption, I've not booked anything in Y since the change was enforced so l don't know for certain (I've been off courting all the SAS partner airlines this year). But I think those book into regular Go, not Light?
I believe that so long as you can attach your FF number to your booking, they should honour your benefits? I really have no idea on this regard and my own experiences have been wildly inconsistent, far in the past, and likely irrelevant today.
For mileage redemption, I've not booked anything in Y since the change was enforced so l don't know for certain (I've been off courting all the SAS partner airlines this year). But I think those book into regular Go, not Light?
The worst was one didn't give me any pnr a week after I paid. I called UA and was able to retrieve my full reservation and I have the reservation on my UA app.
What I do normally is as soon as I bought the ticket I took over the reservation myself. I handle everything from the and it worked out as if I bought them through an airline. E.g the OTA sent me a schedule change and wanted me to fly LH instead of UA and I called UA myself to put us on a better UA connection.
I was able to select my seats on my SK flight and add our *G status in manage my bookings in SK's page.
The only airline that's a bit weird about OTA bookings is CA. You don't have any online access to pick your seat. However all you need to do is to give them a call.
I think it's bad they airlines don't allow OTA to sell bag inclusive fare. You can only buy light and add on bags.
Good to know. I don't think it's the case for UA flights.
#388
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,123
Sorry that is not true. OTAs have not adjusted their interfaces to show lite/basic/flex fare options. They rather prefer to sell you the light fares and then want you to add on the baggage at rates higher than those the airlines would charge you on their websites.
#389
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: ARN
Programs: EBD, MM FTL
Posts: 33
light+bag not the same as regular
another thing that is quite annoying is that apparently getting a light fare and buying a bag is not the same as directly booking a regular fare. In my stupidity I assumed that light+1 bag will then allow me to also get the *A Gold benefit of a second bag (or even +2 on SAS with EBG/EBD).
This I experienced on LX. Does anybody know how SK handles is?
This I experienced on LX. Does anybody know how SK handles is?
#390
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 21,083
another thing that is quite annoying is that apparently getting a light fare and buying a bag is not the same as directly booking a regular fare. In my stupidity I assumed that light+1 bag will then allow me to also get the *A Gold benefit of a second bag (or even +2 on SAS with EBG/EBD).
This I experienced on LX. Does anybody know how SK handles is?
This I experienced on LX. Does anybody know how SK handles is?