Review of SAS flight Stockholm → Nice in Business

Airline SAS
Flight SK 1827
Class Business
Seat 2A
Aircraft Boeing 737-600
Flight time 03:05
Take-off 13 Oct 14, 16:05
Arrival at 13 Oct 14, 19:10
SK   #52 out of 101 Airlines A minimum of 10 flight-reports within the past two years is required to appear in the rankings. 187 reviews
jetsetpanda
By 4541
Published on 18th October 2014
Hello and welcome to this ARN-NCE segment of my trip. Here is my schedule so far:

AF SFO-CDG in Y - http://flight-report.com/en/report-8246.html
AF CDG-GOT in Y - http://flight-report.com/en/report-8253.html
SK GOT-ARN in C - http://flight-report.com/en/report-8276.html
SK ARN-NCE in C - you are here
LH NCE-MUC in Y - http://flight-report.com/en/report-8340.html
LH MUC-GOT in Y - http://flight-report.com/en/report-8373.html
KL GOT-AMS in Y - http://flight-report.com/en/report-8374.html
KL AMS-SFO in Y - http://flight-report.com/en/report-8392.html

I arrived in ARN at the domestic side and proceeded to take my connecting flight to NCE. I followed the signs to T5 and to my surprise I had to leave the secured area and clear security again. I thought that this was somewhat inconvenient considering that I was flying the same carrier at a main hub.

On my way to T5 passing through SkyCity, a public area with shops, restaurants, 2 hotels and a train terminal between T4 and T5.

photo DSC03883 (1024x626)


I finally arrived in T5 and was checked in by a friendly agent at the counter who issued me a copy of my boarding pass. I then used the Fast Track bypassing the main queue.


photo DSC03884 (1024x683)photo DSC03950 (1024x683)photo DSC03885 (1024x731)


Security was smooth and professional. I entered through Duty Free (there is no way around this) and went straight to the SAS Business Lounge.

photo DSC03886 (1024x683)photo DSC03888 (1024x683)


I was greeted at the entrance and presented my boarding pass. The agent asked if I was a Gold *A member and explained that there is another lounge reserved for those with such status. I appreciated the information but unfortunately I was just a SK+ passenger today, so I took a right turn and entered the Business lounge.


Entrance

photo DSC03890 (1024x663)photo DSC03899 (1024x683)


Interior





The food and drinks offerings




My lunch

photo DSC03900 (1024x683)


WC's were spacious

photo DSC03905 (1024x683)


As you can see from one of the pics above, the hot beverages machine was broken which is a major disappointment. I think SK should have at least two of these units in the lounge as a back up. The lounge never became too crowded and there was plenty of space to stretch. I don't like the communal feel of the round tables in the middle of the room since they lack privacy.

I then headed to the gate for my flight.


Plane located by the SAS lounge on my way out through the elevators.

photo DSC03913 (1024x683)


The plane at the gate

photo DSC03914 (1024x683)


Initially at the gate there is a LH flight number on the screen, but this is rectified later on. A guy pulls a rack with newspapers and people help themselves to it. The agents show up and boarding starts soon. At the entrance of the plane I am greeted with a smile and settle into my seat. A quick pre-departure drink was served. I opted for some water.

photo DSC03916 (1024x683)


Cabin




Magazine with the fleet

photo DSC03974 (1024x683)


There is a hook for coat in front of the bulkhead seats.

photo DSC03931 (1024x683)



The bulkhead on the other side has more legroom because of the cut out underneath.

photo DSC03923 (1024x683)



The cabin starts to fill in and I have a neighbor who thankfully is in the aisle. The middle seat is left empty this time.

photo DSC03925 (1024x683)photo DSC03927 (1024x1024)photo DSC03938 (661x1024)




Door closed and we taxied out to the runway. A live safety demonstration is conducted.




Shortly after take off the FA's get into action and a meal is offered for those seating in SK +. According to the printed menu there is an evening meal available but no choice. However, the FA offers the meal as well as wraps or sandwiches for those who did not want the meal. She then continues with the cart to the back and another FA takes the drink orders.

The meal was cold and tasteless, but at least it was served with a warm piece of bread from a basket. I felt that the salad needed more dressing and the anchovy cream was the only thing that I found tasty from the whole set. The chocolate cake had a very industrial taste that I couldn't stand after one bite but the little piece of Valrhona chocolate was nice.


Evening meal




As part of the SK + inflight service, glasses are supposed to be served with the drinks. I saw them used for alcoholic beverages only. After the meal I requested a cup of tea with a chocolate bar and the FA happily obliged with a smile. Our FA in the front was extremely efficient and friendly.

photo SK 1827 ARN-NCE (11) (1024x798)


Time to visit the WC. Nice wooden feature on top of the toilet.

photo DSC03969 (1024x683)photo DSC03972 (1024x683)


Eventually we were readied for our descent into NCE and I was able to capture some night scenes from the little diminishing light outside.




I exited to the arrivals hall where lagentsecret was waiting for me and then we made our way to our place on Saint Laurent du Var.

photo DSC04012 (1024x633)

See more

Verdict

SAS

7.4/10
Cabin8.0
Cabin crew10.0
Entertainment/wifi5.0
Meal/catering6.5

SAS Business Lounge

7.2/10
Comfort7.0
Meal/catering7.0
Entertainment/wifi8.0
Services7.0

Stockholm - ARN

9.0/10
Efficiency8.0
Access9.0
Services9.0
Cleanliness10.0

Nice - NCE

8.0/10
Efficiency8.0
Access8.0
Services8.0
Cleanliness8.0

Conclusion

Comfort on this flight was typical of an intra-European J product with the middle seat empty. I was lucky that on this segment nobody occupied the middle seat. I truly think that SK should get the middle seat blocked on SK + cabins. I can live with downgraded catering for this fare, but comfort should not be compromised.

FA was excellent with a great attitude and that showed in her friendly and smiling demeanor.

The meal was disappointing, but for the fare that I paid I can't complain much.

There was no entertainment as such.

We were supposed to depart at 1605 and actually left at 1614. Arrival was scheduled for 1910 and we arrived at 1916.

Related

16 Comments

  • Comment 120612 by
    KL651 — TEAM 4509 Comments

    Thanks for this FR, SK really isn't very documented here.

    The meal you got looks decent, too bad it didn't taste good. However, the presentation could be improved, especially on longer flights such as ARN-NCE.

  • Comment 120620 by
    lagentsecret — GOLD 12462 Comments

    Thanks for sharing this FR

    You had to clear the security again during your transit but ARN got good marks anyway

    The lounge looks very basic

    Fresh meal made for you lol but not really to your taste and not appetizing

    Great pictures on approach

    • Comment 303745 by
      jetsetpanda — AUTHOR 2294 Comments

      You had to clear the security again during your transit but ARN got good marks anyway
      I gave ARN airport an 8 for security and immigration efficiency even though I had to clear security again because it was quick and handled courteously by the security staff. Signs were easy to follow and clearly marked. It's not a 10 experience for sure but I feel that the score was justified.

      The lounge looks very basic
      It was basic with simple food offerings. Soup and salad are the main components and I'm sure that those on a diet would find it ideal.

      Fresh meal made for you lol but not really to your taste and not appetizing
      Maybe I am becoming a food snob. After all they say that birds of the same feather flock together ;)

      Thanks for the compliments about the aerial approach and your visit as usual.

  • Comment 120621 by
    Esteban — TEAM GOLD 12659 Comments

    Thanks for sharing, do they dare to call that business ?

    • Comment 303746 by
      jetsetpanda — AUTHOR 2294 Comments

      SK+ is a product that suffers from an identity crisis. It behaves like J on the ground but in the air it is another product. Its fare can sometimes be the same as J.

      I originally checked for award tickets flying on SK using both UA and AV miles. Under both websites SK+ is considered a J cabin and is charged accordingly.

      Thanks.

  • Comment 120631 by
    KévinDC — TEAM SILVER 5393 Comments

    I've flown SK a few times in the early 2000s and I remember thinking it was a decent carrier, but have heard that things have gone downhill over the past 10 years. So is SK+ a premium economy product...if so, you should indicate the class of travel as Premium Economy. I'm really surprised that on a long-ish intra-European flight like this they don't have a Business cabin (i.e. blocked middle and curtain separator). Thanks for sharing!

    • Comment 303747 by
      jetsetpanda — AUTHOR 2294 Comments

      SK+ is premium economy in the air but on my boarding pass it is stated as class C which to my knowledge signifies a business class fare. In addition as I mentioned to Esteban above some *A partners sell this cabin as J. I have made the change at the top to reflect this as a Business class flight.

      Thank you Kevin.

  • Comment 120641 by
    SKYTEAMCHC — GOLD 8338 Comments

    Thanks for sharing this flight report with us.
    I have flown once this route , at the time in business class and have a good souvenir of this flight.
    A great FA and a decent meal ( it looks good but should have more taste) are the strong points of this experience.
    I agree about the comment of the identity crisis at SAS and their products : They always seem to hesitate on what they want to offer to their passengers. The global experience is contrasted and does not help to build the brand.

    • Comment 303804 by
      jetsetpanda — AUTHOR 2294 Comments

      I understand that at one point SK operated a 3 cabin on intra-European flights - Business, Economy Extra and Economy. In order to simplify things they decided to just have 2 cabins and SK+ along with SK Go were created. SK+ should have been the equivalent to J by default, but I guess the airline decided to modify it a bit in order to make it more attractive for the more cost conscious passengers. The thing is that if you are flying from overseas with SK in J and you are connecting to an intra-European flight, you are placed in SK+. If I were one of those passengers, I would not be happy with a middle seat that is not blocked and this type of catering.

      Thank you for your thoughts.

  • Comment 120648 by
    AirCanada881 — 1617 Comments

    Thanks for sharing this report, lovely photos! I had to reclear Security coming in from Istanbul and going to BTS, was weird!

  • Comment 120671 by
    Abyssin — 259 Comments

    Thanks for sharing this FR with us.

    The lounge look quite nice even if the catering is basic, but for sure with a swedish touch!

    I'm very disappointed with the in-flight product this is not a J even a C ....but thanks again as this remenbered me my first flight, onboard a brand new DC9 in F (was in the 60's).

    • Comment 303812 by
      jetsetpanda — AUTHOR 2294 Comments

      You are lucky to have experienced true F back then. I'm sad to see that the SK inflight product has deteriorated to this point compared to what it was before.

      I like the minimalist and clean style of Scandinavian design and this lounge has that touch as you said.

      Thanks.

  • Comment 120749 by
    Caribel — 113 Comments

    I imagine the limited on-board meal service is due to the diminutive sized galley on the 737-600.

    Hope to read your opinion of grilled sardines at Jan, mojitos at Gossip Bar, olive-artichoke risotto at Olive & Artichaut or stuffed quail at Les Deux Canailles. Enjoy!

    • Comment 303891 by
      jetsetpanda — AUTHOR 2294 Comments

      Alas, I am afraid that my gastronomic pursuits this time will fall short of your expectations as most of my meals were homemade, thought I can assure you that they tasted just as great as those of any worthy establishment since they were expertly created by lagentsecret. However, I have noted your worthy suggestions for any prospective visits to the area in the future.

      While some people might make the most out of a trip by sightseeing as much as they can, others might spend a better part of their time staring at the ceiling of their rooms. ;) To each his own as they say.

      Thank you for your thoughtful comments as always.

Login to post a comment.