Well, folks, I know I am not one to complain because of my good u/g success, my good, low, u/g voice. I have also started flying UA a lot more to the US, still, this is my 4th round trip with SK this year, but the last two trips I have taken on SK to the US.

But the last two round trips have been a disaster!

March 2nd. Called SK the night before because of bad weather and expressed my worries about the 45 minute connection time at ARN (I'm flying out of OSL, cabin baggage only): I asked if I could take an earlier flight, the SAS booking representative said "this is well within the IATA connection times and you have an Economy ticket, so you can't travel earlier"

At the airport at 7am on the day after, the weather wasn't that bad, but we were in bad need of de-icing. We were only 67 pax on a 737-800. Boarded on time, but aparently there was a problem with the weight and balance and SGS used an hour and 20 minutes to sort it out. I was in the first row and told the purser I wanted to get off and take alternative flights if SK945 wouldn't wait. She checked and got back to me and said it wouldn't be a problem. After take off, the Captain announced that all ORD pax had been rebooked to SK943 leaving CPH at 1535....

After landing at ARN, there were no upgrades to be found, a food voucher for SEK 50, or 6 bucks (!!) enough for Gum and a bottle of water was handed to us. But after contacting SK Customer Relations in Oslo, they put a message in to the system to u/g if possible, but we all know the SAS way to upgrade: Only at the gate at CPH..... They wouldn�t rebook me through Newark so I could at least "only" get 5 hours delayed. No dice...

At CPH, the flight was 30 minutes late, but I got my u/g. Flight was great
Flying back from ORD, the flight was oversold by around 30 persons, so u/g was handed to me, though in row 7... The flight was 4 hours late!!!

Today I arrived at OSL around noon with plenty of time to catch my OSL-CPH flight at 13:20 and fix upgrades at the gate. Perfect weather, absolutely no clouds and spring. At check in, I told the agent I wanted to u/g on points. She put a note in the system

There was one flight delayed out of OSL today: The feeder flight to CPH. Loaded with ORD-SEA and NRT pax we left 1 hr and 15 minutes late, mostly luggage and logistics problems and due to a 20 minute late incoming a/c.... On board the purser was regretting to announce that the ORD flight I was on, would leave on time and we were rebooked to the same flight on Saturday

I was in my favourite seat on the A321, 3C and got my computer out. I found a BA flight I have used before which would at least get me to JFK at 9:30 and then to ORD at 6 am. They sent a telex, the answer was that SK943 would wait ^

A nice lady with a golf cart picked us up and drove a convoy to the C gates. We made it, but upgrades were of course completed and they hadn't seen my request and made it come across "you should have been here earlier"

So here I am in 28C with seats in Y and C and points in my account.

The crew is fantastic as usual and many of the girls on board remember me. The first thing one of them said was "what are you doing back here??" I have my own bottle of Champagne (a big one!) but the 4 seater I am on is full, and my battery is not THAT good...

My point to this story is:

1. SAS are pissing off their most loyal customers when: They can't confirm upgrades for connecting pax and they can't put EBGs in the first rows of M.

It's free to give the airlines best customers this benefit, why isn't SAS listening to our many requests??

THe answer Eb has given us is "we will start with *A confirmed u/g, like LH" Nice! It costs more to u/g than a C award ticket.......

I'm so glad my next flights to the US are all on UA, so I don�t have to deal with this...

Have a good weekend, guys, need to conserve my battery...

If there are vacant C and Y seats, why didn't you try to negotiate an in-flight upgrade, telling the story, using the u/g voice? Even allowing them to possibly deduct the miles afterwards?

Anyways; one idea would be to start to note down the names of the SGS staff that doesn't do the u/g according to procedure. Send an official complaint with a name... Overlooking a note in the PNR is most likely against their policies in the first place.

I have a OSL-ARN-ORD planned for a Saturday in May, with the first flight out of OSL being at 0815 I have one hour at ARN, with no earlier option, even if the ticket is changeable...

I have understood that if passenger has a note in his/her record, the boarding computer will alert the gate personnel when you are trying to board. That would be the last point when they should notice your note.

And one time I requested a note about upgrade into my record in TMP, they accidentally put that for TMP-ARN and not for ARN-ORD. 10 seconds later they called from the gate to the check-in asking who put the note into my record and if it is supposed to be there really. They were preparing the flight and according to the rules, all notes must be handled (and maybe cleared) for the flight. So they were going through the notes ...

Apparently CPH is a very bad hub for SK and should be avoided as much as possible for longhaul flights.

The last couple of years I've probably travelled at least four times a year between OSL-EWR through CPH. Every time I've notified at check-in in OSL to use miles for upgrade and every time when I arrive in CPH they look at me like I'm kind of an alien and say: "You should have been here earlier"...!

I tell them I notified at check-in + at the OSL lounge, but no luck!

Not only do SAS discriminate Norwegians by removing the nonstop OSL-EWR flight, they are also discriminating us by not accomodating flyers from Norway!

When you know this why are you still travelling via CPH? You should transfer at ARN. I know it�s not the same, but just a suggestion.

To be fair, the system does in fact work some times. Last year on one of my trips to IAD I had a note put into my record at the OSL lounge. When arriving at the gate in CPH a new boarding pass was waiting. This despite being a Norwegian forced to transfer at CPH. BTW, I always try to transfer at ARN whenever this is an option.

Alhoguh the following episode took place some time ago, I would like to mention it. In July 2003 I was really amazed by SK and the information they apparently have stored in their systems. Being on my way home from NRT, I had originally planned on using vouchers to upgrade, but I had changed my mind. Relaxing in the lounge at NRT, I was summoned to the desk. It was SK calling, wondering if I would not use my vouchers. I changed my mind once again and had a great time. When ordering the vouchers a couple of months earlier, I did mention to Eurobonus that some of theme where intended for this particular flight, but I had never expected SK to actively contact me like they did.

The connection OSL-ARN-EWR is not as convenient and earlier than the OSL-CPH-EWR so I would need to get up very early or get a room at the airport, which will cost me more.

Besides, what does that have to do with SAS "punishing" people connecting from OSL?

The point is that the system is not fair for people connecting, it favours those who start their journey in CPH (or ARN) and get to the airport earlier than those who connect.

What can you expect from the airline who created a punishment class?

You're not alone, it applies to swedes as well. I'll never fly SAS long-haul thru CPH again. If ARN-ORD/EWR is not available, I go for UA from LHR and have E+ confirmed. The reduced stress that gives me is worth everything...

SK ground staff at CPH are just horrible...

Right, and when CPH ground staff give op-ups, they seem to prefer to op-up anyone; as long as it isn't one of their most loyal customers.

I assume these things will be given high priority in the discussions with SAS, huh?

But travelling in paid C OSL-ARN-ORD gives you 11000 points each way compared with OSL-CPH-ORD that gives 9800 points!

Considering EBG bonus and the fact the people living in Norway only requires 45000 points to get EBG, 2 roundtrips gives you more than whats needed for EBG while it takes slightly more than 2 trips for Danish members and almost 3 roundtrips for Swedish members - based on being EBG from the beginning...

(And yes I know, Norwegian members cannot earn any points within Norway.)

But, then, is it really worth being EBG considering what SAS gives us? That is a totally different question...

-- to put it nicely.

Funny, I was thinking the same thing....

Believe me, we have tried...

And what were the reactions, if any?

They could see our point, and they are working on it. I think EB thinks the new *A upgrade system is a very good idea and the solution.

We have told them that to pay 50.000 for a one way upgrade is ridiculous because a C award long haul is 45.000 one way

We'll see what happens this fall, have to tell you I'm not very optimistic