How is SN Brussels -- especially code shares?
 

I can't find a forum specifically for SN Brussels Airlines, so I hope it's OK if I post this here.

SN Brussels Airlines suddenly came in with a fare from SFO to Budapest in mid-July that is $400 cheaper than any other airline. That's after weeks of fare checking. This is a double connection, and oddly, out of the six flights five are code shares on other airlines:

SFO-JFK-Brussels on AA
Brussels-BUD on SN

On the return:

BUD-Brussels on Malev
Brussels-ORD-SFO on AA

Does anyone have any experience with SN Brussels Airlines, or in particular how other airlines handle SN code shares?

Thanks,
Ed

My boyfriend and I flew from JFK to VCE in the fall. From JFK we took AA to Brussels and took SN Brussels from Brussels to Venice. Our experience was fine and pleasant. We even got a small meal on the short flight from Brussels to Venice. I don't believe they're a start-up if that's your concern. I'd put them on par with some of the US legacy carriers. Anyhow, we had a good experience. :cool:

SN went under several years ago-- and the Swiss group was not able to come to the rescue. Delta Air transport took over the name and "routes" The service within Europe will most likely be better than what you would get on similar routes within the US.

Thanks for your responses. I bought the ticket and I'm very happy. It's really a good deal considering that this is the middle of the high season to Europe, and no other airline is even coming close to this fare.

One other question: On such a complicated itinerary -- booked with SN, but really flying mostly with AA, but also with one flight on Malev -- with which FF program can I get miles?

Thanks,
Ed

To answer my own question, I called up American Airlines and they were able to add my frequent flyer number to this reservation. They were also able to reserve seats for the AA flights.

Ed

To be more precise, Sabena was the very long-standing national airline of Belgium, code SN, and built up a substantial long and short-haul network. In more recent times they developed Delta Air Transport (absolutely no connection with Delta Airlines in the US) as an independent codeshared and co-branded commuter carrier on the US pattern.

There's not as much business at Brussels as airlines think, and after years of government featherbedding, notably rude and idle staff, and frequent strikes (not for nothing was Sabena known as "Such A Beastly Experience Never Again"), SN finally went under, to the surprise of most employees. Delta AT survived and continued the best routes, and have expanded back over quite a bit of the old network under the "SN Brussels" name. They have retained the "SN" part and a lookalike-Sabena livery feeling there was some collateral in the old name. They have also expanded beyond their commuter aircraft (they had a significant fleet of 146 regional jets) to new Airbus main line aircraft, all the former Sabena aircraft, many of which were quite new Airbuses, having been disposed in the meantime (the big fleet renewal contributing to Sabena's financial woes).

A while back I flew EWR-BRU on CO and then took SN Brussels (Delta Air Transport) from BRU to CPH - no problems whatsoever.

I just flew on AA from JFK to Berlin-Tempelhof, via Brussels. The BRU-THF leg was an AA code share on SN Brussels on BAe 146 equipment. I found the flight thoroughly enjoyable. We were barely in the air for 1 hour, yet had a beverage service and a cute snack of a wedge of apple cake. That was totally unexpected. AAdvantage miles posted properly for each leg.

Ill be flying SN from Copenhagen to Brussels in April. The fare was ~$95 one way. The fare on Lufthansa was ~$700 one way.