SAS - Full Service or Low Cost? (SAS Scandinavian Airlines)

Member Name: Martin

Product:	SAS Scandinavian Airlines
Date:	18/12/08 (150 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Flying to main airports

Disadvantages: No service in Economy Class

An airline, just like any other business, needs to decide in which category they want to play. SAS has yet to do this.

While trying to keep up a premium image, supported by high class uniforms, classy lounges (for business class and gold card passangers) and advertising, SAS in in the forefront among the larger, classic airlines when it comes to cutting service level in economy class.

With the advantage of flying to and from the main cities in Scandinavia, SAS becomes a natural alternative for business as well as pleasure travelling to the region. However, I would urge all passangers to think twice, and to compare rates, packages and airports, before pursuing a journey with SAS.

SAS keeps its "full service" prices, comparable to those of Air France, BA, Finnair, Lufthansa etc, but has implemented a "low cost" service level in line with Ryanair and its competitors, with no service whatsoever in Economy Class. Passangers have to pay for a cup of tea or coffee, or even a glass of water, and the food offered in their "Cloud Shop - your deli in the sky", is both costly and with worse quality than most other full service airlines offer for free.

However, if you trade up to Economy Extra or Business Class, you still get the service level you would expect from a full service airline.

Conclusion: SAS needs to make up their mind whether to be a full service or a low cost airline, and if you want a full service quality in economy class, choose another airline.

Summary: SAS delivers low cost service level at full cost, and needs to decide in which category to be.