Free upgrades to Business Class......possibly (SAS Scandinavian Airlines)

Member Name: gibbon

Product:	SAS Scandinavian Airlines
Date:	19/12/00 (313 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Free champagne!, Bonus points, No mindless drivel on tv

Disadvantages: Changing in Copenhagen

Scandinavian airlines offer reasonably priced flights, from Britain, unsurprisingly to Scandinavia. I have been on 3 return flights with them over the past 10 months and found them to be an excellent airline.

Tickets are reasonably priced and it costs around £160 for a return flight from Manchester to Helsinki. There are special offers but they are generally better from London Heathrow or Stansted. At the moment they are offering a return flight to Copenhagen from £90. Details of offers and online booking services are at all www.scandinavian.net

I have always found the customer service to be really good, both at the airport and on the plane. However, I don't book my tickets directly with Scandinavian airlines as the tickets are cheaper with STA Travel (if you are under 26 or a student.

One good thing they offer is, if you are staying at a Radisson hotel before your flight and only have hand luggage, you can check in at the hotel. When you get to the airport you can pick up your boarding pass from a special desk and thus avoid the potential queues. This also means that you don't have to hang around at the airport for ages beforehand to ensure a window seat. (Despite having travelled by plane for about 27 years, I still sadly like to look at the clouds and marvel at how small the cars look).

Once on board, the standard of food is reasonable. Though if you travel by economy class you only get cold food but it is of a reasonable standard. There is a very strong meat eating bias and having seen some of the veggie meals, they seem to consist of some tomatoes and a bit of cheese.

Drink is free on the plane and you can have quite a reasonable amount. Being a student I took the opportunity to stockpile supplies. You only have to pay for champagne but it's about £3, although I was happy with wine.

There aren't any inflight movies or radio stations on board, which I personally prefer on short h
aul flights as you only get some 'hilarous' vicar of dibley episode which makes me lose the will to live.


The main downside is that if you travel from Manchester to Finland you have to change enroute either at Stockholm or Copenhagen. This can be a little stressful if your flight comes in late, especially at Copenhagen where not only is the walk to the departure gate about 15 minutes but you also have to queue at passport control again. Stockholm is a much smaller airport and much easier to change at.

The advantage though, is you’re checked onto your second flight well before anyone else. And if the economy section becomes full then you may find yourself enjoying champagne and decent food in business class. Overall they are one of the best airlines I have travelled with.

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