My schedule so far:
SFO-LHR on BA Y - click here.
LHR-ARN on BA Y - click here.
ARN-PRG on SK Y - you are here.
PRG-CDG on OK Y - click here.
CDG-HND on JL F - click here.
HND-PEK on JL J - click here.
PEK-SFO on UA Y - click here.
Welcome to another segment of my round-the-world trip. i promise that this segment will be more interesting. For once, I took a window seat and that gave me the opportunity to take more pics (spotting, aerials, etc.). So hopefully there is something here for every avgeek. ;) I usually don't take window seats and prefer an aisle one because I value the flexibility to get out and walk through the cabin without being a "pain in the butt". However, I've been known to make exceptions, especially on short flights and on segments that I feel that might be of interest. Of course, if I am flying in a premium cabin that provides all aisle access, i usually go for the window under those circumstances too.
So i arrived hungry into ARN and after my "feast" at McDonalds, I took the shuttle to the Connect hotel for my quick layover. For SEK 599 (EUR 62.50 or USD 65.83) this was quite a nice rate including breakfast. I have stayed here in the past and have found it very satisfactory. The room might be small, but you get a private WC and it is very clean.
Connect Hotel.
Room.
They should include English magazines, but I guess most of the clientele are made up by Swedes.
Buffet.
It's 06:00 and the shuttle drops me back at the airport. I check-in at the SK J counter and a friendly agent issues me my boarding pass. It has my TK Gold Elite number and when I scan it on the Fast Track reader it beeps, so an agent takes it and asks me to go around. Apparently it doesn't recognize my *A Gold status and I must get on the regular line. I guess ARN does not participate in the *A Gold Track program. The lines don't look too bad so it is not a big deal.
SK checking counter with ad to MIA.
Once inside the secured area I pass by the huge Duty Free shop area and make a couple of souvenir purchases at the last minute.
Direction - SK lounge. I pass through more shops on my way there.
SK Business lounge.
I was looking forward to this visit because I've read that this lounge has been renovated since the last time that I was here. This time however I was able to proceed to the left side and enter the *A Gold area. First impressions were positive. The lounge felt spacious with lots of private areas and decorated with a stylish and minimalist approach that is so Scandinavian. "J'adore" as the Dior commercial says.
Elevators to the SK lounge.
Entrance.
Interior.
Beverages.
Wine descriptions for the wine lovers.
Buffet area.
Dining area.
My samplings.
Just close your eyes and think of foie gras with chutney. :P
A cup of coffee with lots of milk.
Shot of a TG plane taken from the SK lounge.
Time to head to the gate for my flight to PRG.
Plane at the gate.
Gate.
Boarding started in an orderly way with passengers in wheelchairs boarding first. Then SK+ and elite members were called. There was a barrier inside the jetbridge right before the door and everyone had to wait for about 5 min. until the wheelchair personnel exited the plane.
A FA greeted passengers as they boarded the plane.
My seat & cabin shots.
My row was right behind SK+.
Coat hook and seat pitch.
Taxiing out with some spotting.
Take off. These few shots are dedicated to RI 777.
Thankfully nobody sat in the middle and I was even more comfortable that some passengers in SK+ who occupied a full row.
Since there was no partition between SK+ and the rest of the cabin, I saw that the service in the front consisted of a hot towel and then a boxed meal. For the rest of the cabin, there was B.O.B. and free tea or coffee. I was intrigued by the sandwich of the day and it was a Brie with tomato pesto that cost EUR 7.
Our efficient and professional FA.
B.O.B.
Landing in PRG.
Thanks for sharing !
Even with a refurbished lounge, SK remains SK...
Didn't you see the pretty famous (and delicious) tomato soup there ? :P
How much does the sandwich cost ?
Hi Clement.
Tomato soup for breakfast? No, I did not see it in the lounge, but will keep this in mind next time.
The sandwich was EUR 7 and it was a decent snack inspired by multicultural influences.
As always thank you for your comments.
Great pics! I wish you seat on Windows more often!
Thank you Chibcha.
I don't often sit by the window, but when I do, I make the most out of it. ;)
Thank you for sharing this FR with us!
I believe there are four hotels of that brand in Stockholm, I presume you stayed at the one located close to the airport?
I have not seen that Volvo S90 there, only the XC90 in the SkyCity area.
Nice spotting shots at ARN!
“These few shots are dedicated to RI 777.”
- Thank you very much, appreciated :).
Nice shot of the intersection where road 263 turns off, while the motorway continues to the airport.
Great capture of the lake called "Fysingen" in the northern outskirts of STO. A great shot was also taken of Stockholm North logistics center and of Rosersberg.
It's quite interesting to read these reports, reminds me of how it will be again when I fly with SK again after a 9-year break. Even though barely anything happens on these short-hauls.
Great aerial shots before arrival at PRG.
Thanks for sharing.
Have a good one, see you!
Hi RI 777.
"I believe there are four hotels of that brand in Stockholm, I presume you stayed at the one located close to the airport?"
- That's right. My second stay there in 2016.
"I have not seen that Volvo S90 there, only the XC90 in the SkyCity area."
- Maybe they update the displays. :P
" Thank you very much, appreciated :)."
- It's my pleasure. Hope you liked them.
"Nice shot of the intersection where road 263 turns off, while the motorway continues to the airport. "
- The perspective from a local is priceless. ;)
"Great capture of the lake called "Fysingen" in the northern outskirts of STO. "
- Thanks for the information and for your comments.
See you.
Thanks for sharing this FR with us Adan!
“For SEK 599 (EUR 62.50 or USD 65.83) this was quite a nice rate including breakfast.”
- That’s almost the same price as the ArlandaExpress^^ Wise move to just stay at the hotel and avoid the costly (albeit not long) connection to the city center.
“SK checking counter with ad to MIA.”
- The ad for LAX used to be there, but I guess they moved on…
The design of the SK Lounge at ARN is very similar to that 3rd party lounge JU sent me to. The green putting green rugs are so classy. Other than the lifetime supply of hard boiled eggs, not much to be desired in terms of food in the lounge.
Only 2 rows of SK+ is a good indication of the poor demand for their “C” product. You must have been in a flex row with that good legroom.
The sandwich looks pretty good, what was the price?
Nice spotting and aerials leaving ARN, I’m surprised at how nice the weather was there in November with barely any snow accumulation and sunshine.
Hi Michael.
"Wise move to just stay at the hotel and avoid the costly (albeit not long) connection to the city center."
- I didn't want to bother going to the city with an overnight stopover. ;)
"Other than the lifetime supply of hard boiled eggs, not much to be desired in terms of food in the lounge."
- I didn't think that the catering was that bad. Of course if they offered hot dishes like eggs or sausages that would have been better.
"The sandwich looks pretty good, what was the price?"
EUR 7.
"I’m surprised at how nice the weather was there in November with barely any snow accumulation and sunshine."
- I got lucky. ;)
Thanks for your visit Michael.
"The ad for LAX used to be there, but I guess they moved on…"
- Out with the old, in with the new. ;)
"EUR 7." <== Better value than on the US carriers.