Dear readers,

Welcome to my next story! A few weeks after my previous travels (http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/trip_reports/read.main/186592/) it was time for another day up in the sky.
You know in life all good things are 3 so this story features 3x SAS, 3 different aicraft and a 3hr layover in OSL. Maybe there are some more “3’s” later on but I’ll leave the searching up to you!
Booking was done via the excellent SAS website which enables you to book one way journeys at sometimes decent prices, thank you for that. The routing was to be BRU-OSL-CPH-BRU, cost about € 60 per leg all incl. A 3 hr layover un OSL so plenty of time there but a 50 min layover only in CPH so hopefully that would work out… And, important as well: 3 different plane types: B736, B734 & A321. So let’s see how it all went.

The routing for today:


My day started as a usual working day: getting up around 6h30, and bringing my son to daycare around 8h00. Then onto the train on my way to the airport.

1st class in this more than 30 year old train, still running strong


Then by bus for about 20 mins , passing the ABELAG apron on the BRU airport premises


At about 9h30 I was in the checkin zone of BRU, plenty of people around due to the Eastern holidays. Since I did OLCI, I could walk straight through, very convenient. SAS’s boarding pass was printed on just 1 paper with a bar scanning code, the 3 flights were listed so I had to keep this valuable paper all day with me.

Brussels Airlines checkin zone


The A gates, that’s my destination


Nice and roomy A terminal


Still having enough time I wondered around and enjoyed the view, I’m getting very familiar with this place 

SN’s Avro getting serviced


Different carriers, same destination


CSA bus to PRG


View in the B terminal, Jet Airways is a dominant player here!


Customs clearing for the T-gates which are located at the far end of the A-gates and where SN’s African destinations are served from


Nope, this one’s not for me; leaving for ARN


El-Al from TLV, this airlines has always intrigued me…


Lovely A321 from THY coming in from IST


Your standard LH A320, from MUC


Jet Airways A332 going to either USA, Canada or India


And here she is, my ride to OSL, arriving nicely on time from… OSL


So with the plane having arrived on time from OSL, it was soon enough time to board. As I learned from other reporters here: last row window seat for me it was.

Flight SK4744
Type Boeing 737-683, built 1999, delivered 1999-09-03
Reg LN-RPH
STD-STA 11h05-13h00

So a first for me on a B736, I might call it a ‘baby-Boeing’  A senior crew was trying to welcome everyone but I think they should’ve tried harder as they were not very interested. Being seated I found the comfort very good and the cabin was clean and in good condition.

Me: “Hi neighbour, where to this morning?”
Neighbour: “ZRH”


We pushed back on time and as you can see the weather was turning nasty unfortunately


Cabin view on the small Boeing


Decent legroom and comfortable seats


On the way to 25R, BRU tower overlooking it all


And (full) throttle


-


-


Construction going on for a new railroad connection from the north to BRU


-


Beautiful view on BRU


Again…


Belgian landscape shortly after takeoff


Again…


The city of Boom and the Rupel river and A12 highway from Antwerp to Brussels


After takeoff, I sat back, popped in my ear plugs and relaxed and enjoyed the flight (as proposed by our cockpit crew). The crew came round with a BOB service and I got myself some tea and lemon.

Messing around with tea & lemon


The safety card


The seats on this plane, the last row ABC has 3 seats, EF has only 2 seats (that’s were I was seated)


Overflying the Dutch coastline


Soon enough the good views were over as the clouds folded in…

After about 1h30 we plunged down for our final descent into OSL, the weather was not too good, cold (about 4°C) and rain. But then after all, we are in the north and it is not yet summer now, is it?

Diving down gently into the murkiness


And here we have the first signs of Norwegian landscapes


Again…


And again…


Short finals for Rwy 01R


Welcome to a rainy OSL; flaps and braking


First view on the terminal building


Taxiing to the international section of the terminal building


Obviously one of the main players here together with Norwegian.no

We docked into gate 43.
As usual I was leaving the aircraft as the last passenger and asked permission for a cockpit picture. The captain kindly invited me in and I got my shot, thanks guys!

B736 office


A quick shot of this CRJ next door


And then in the terminal building. OSL is a very nice airport, I was impressed… also with the prices of food & drinks…

I went through bagage claim and upstairs again into the checkin zone.


A different angle shot throught the window, the checkin hall lies lower than the apron


The checkin hall


After wondering around, I cleared security again, which was a breeze and took a stroll into the domestic terminal. There are not too many seats around but the seats itself are pretty comfortable. Soon enough I plunged down, had a bite to eat and enjoyed the terminal views.

Two exotic operators (for me that is) in the distance (Primera & Q-Star)


Hi there!


Full view of this Norwegian bird


And here someone coming in from the other way


A visitor from even further up north, and look how bad the weather was…


Pilot training?


After a good & expensive meal I returned to the international terminal to check for the gate for my flight to CPH. Still nothing on the monitors so I kept myself entertained looking around (which was not a problem)

Air Berlin to TXL


Nice! Star Alliance MD-82 to CPH, will we meet again?


Finally the gate for CPH was displayed and I went there. A few minutes thereafter our plane came in, running perfectly on time schedule but not on equipment schedule. It appeared not to be the expected 737-400 but a 737-800… Oh well, next time hopefully then.

Boarding was announced and we walked down the jetway to be greeted on board by another quite senoir crew in mediocre spirits.

Flight SK1471
Type Boeing 738-883, built 2000, delivered 2000-11-09
Reg LN-RPM
STD-STA 16h10-17h20

Window last row again, the middle seat stayed empty. Compared to the B736 I found the overall comfort not so good. The seat itself was comfortable enough but the legroom was not too good and I had an overall feeling of a cramped cabin like I have in an ATR of F50 for example. The captain came on with a friendly welcome and weather information informing us on a mildly turbulent flight into CPH due to strong winds.

CRJ next gate going to HAM


Pushing back with a view


Taxiing to 01L for takeoff.


And liftoff from OSL…


Some Q-Star Saab 340’s on the apron


Ice crystals or a badly scratched window? It’s the latter…


That’s better…


Flight time was announced to be 50 mins with an estimated arrival on schedule. Good for me since the connection time was very short. The cabin crew announced the gate numbers for passengers with short connections (hey, that’s me!), BRU = gate 5. …And this aircraft will arrive at gate B3. How convenient!!

Turbulent approach for CPH’s rwy 22L


Docking into gate B3, nothing to see yet at B5 and a previous seen visitor at B7


Again out last and the request for a cockpit shot was granted, thanks for that!

Cockpit of B738


With no plane at B5 yet I checked the airport monitors on which a 10 min delay was announced. Now that’s not too bad. So I had time for a short stroll ans some more pictures.

Looks nice, doesn’t it?


Haha, here it is, the expected A321 for BRU


Not long after the deplaning of the inbound flight, we were able to board the A321. For the 3rd time today a senior crew but in more or less good spirits today.

Flight SK597
Type Airbus A321-232, built 2002, delivered 2002-09-13
Reg OY-KBF (“Skapti Viking”)
STD-STA 18h10-19h45

Good seating comfort on board of this plane


And the safety card


The FO welcomed us on board an announced a flight of 1h20 mins into a lighty cloudy BRU. This plane was equipped with drop down monitors which were actually used, that’s was a first for me on SAS! They even had a nose and belly camera which were turned of during takeoff and landing, very nice!

People settling in, me seated in 36F and 3 seats for me


This one’s for FlyingFinn76, Euro Atlantic Avro going to the Faroe Islands


The captain seemed to be willing to reduce the delay since we overtook an MD-82 waiting for takeoff and performed a rolling start immediately.

Lifting off from CPH’s 22R


Idyllic…


The flight map


Cruising


Turning a few times to line up for BRU’s rwy 25L


Again…


And again…


After a smooth landing, back on home soil


And almost back from where we started from this morning
KM and JAF


Turning into position 151


The end of a great day: a shot from the A321 cockpit!


So what can I say in conclusion? Overall a good experience on SAS today, the B736 and A321 very good in terms of comfort, somewhat less comfortable on the B738. The senior crews were rather average, maybe introducing some younger people would be good? I most definitely will fly SAS again when going north.

Next episode, another 'Tales from the North on LH: Heaven & HEL?'

Thanks for reading,
(Sulta)Nils

[Edited 2011-04-13 03:44:04]

[Edited 2011-04-13 03:45:04]

[Edited 2011-04-13 03:46:00]

Hello Nils,

Its a delight to read about your day trip with SAS, what a fruitful excursion flying three different aircrafts! Its nice to hear that you managed to grab a cockpit shot from each of your flights! In line with the good 'threes', that's another three for you!

I loved your pictures on the activities around the various airports and like you, I've always been intrigued by El Al as well. Great to see all the planes in BRU.

Keep up the awesome work and I can't wait to read your next trip report!

HI Nils,

Nice read with some nice flights! Good to see a reporter from BRU, an airport which somehow is underrated.
Only downside of BRU is the long walking distances from the outside to the A-pier, which takes up to 20 minutes.

SK seem to deliver a steady product, which tends to be on par with other European carriers nowadays. The mix of aicraft was nice, although the -400 would have been better, since it is getting rare!

Thanks for sharing!
Joost (D-ALCE)

Hi guys, thanks for stopping by!

Quoting RvXKaz (Reply 1): Its a delight to read about your day trip with SAS

Thank you ,it has been a pleasure writing it!

Quoting RvXKaz (Reply 1): to grab a cockpit shot

Well I always try, mostly it works out!

Quoting DALCE (Reply 2): Nice read with some nice flights

Thanks Joost!

Quoting DALCE (Reply 2): long walking distances

Yes that's true but the views from terminal A are really good!

Quoting DALCE (Reply 2): although the -400 would have been better

Yep, always good to fly a classic. Maybe I should try them on SN one day, they also still have some and it's the home carrier of Belgium.

Very nice trip report Nils! If I hadn't gone to Scotland this spring, I would have flown north instead. I had already picked out the flights, on LX and SK.  

Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): Boeing 737-683

I saw one of those in EDI as well, perhaps it was even the same aircraft. Who knows?

Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): Jet Airways

For some reason, a carrier I'd like to fly on in the future.

Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): BOB service

Call me old-fashioned, but I find drinks (and probably a snack as well) should be complimentary on an alleged full-service carrier. Especially when they are in the prestigious Star Alliance.

Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): The captain kindly invited me in and I got my shot, thanks guys!

Great!

Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): OSL is a very nice airport, I was impressed… also with the prices of food & drinks…

Judging from your pictures, I can only second that. Also, good to hear the prices are decent for a larger airport.

Thanks for sharing this trip report with us, including these great pictures.  

Hi Luftfahrer, thanks for stopping by!

Quoting Luftfahrer (Reply 4): Very nice trip report Nils!

Me thanks you!

Quoting Luftfahrer (Reply 4): Call me old-fashioned

Well, call me then oldfashioned as well. Next trip next month is on LH, hopefully they are a not BOB by then  

Thank you for your trip report on 3 SAS flights.
This is one great airlines with so many pioneer events to the industry.
Too bad to see them go B.O.B. I can't accept that, even for water, coffee, tea. And SAS fare ain't cheap!!
But well, everything in Scandinavia is freaking expensive.
I do love all SAS hub airports, they are very well designed, so Scandinavian!!
Thanks again!!

Hi Nils,

Awesome report! I am impressed how you managed to have a cockpit visit at the end of each flight. Nice to know the crew members appreciate people like us.

Thanks for bringing up BRU again. The glass terminal interior is just lovely. I like the line up of Jet as well.

The SK B736 interior reminds me of the one of Indonesian Mandala.

Thanks again for sharing and I hope your son was enjoying himself at the daycare.

Cheers,
Suryo

Hi Nils,

very nice report about an interesting day of flying. Really great that you got a cockpit picture after each flight.

I like the pictures you took from BRU airport just after departure. The clouds, the sunshine and the wet runways makes for a dramatic scene.

And about SAS, had my first flights with them just last year and found them ok as well. The crews on my flights were very nice, just a shame that they don't even offer a glass of water for free.

Greetings
CaptainRed

Hi Nils!

Great tripreport, very interesting to read!
Yeah, SK is great for flying different narrowbody aircrafts, although, they are now replacing the MD80's and the classic 737's with 737's NG in OSL and ARN, and the MD80's in CPH are being replaced by A320's.

Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): Nice and roomy A terminal

I visited BRU last year, and i must agree, i loved the A terminal!

Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): Compared to the B736 I found the overall comfort not so good. The seat itself was comfortable enough but the legroom was not too good and I had an overall feeling of a cramped cabin like I have in an ATR of F50 for example.

Yeah those older SK 737-800's have very cramped seating.

Martin

Hi! Nice to see some more comments, greatly appreciated!

Quoting nethkt (Reply 6): Thank you for your trip report

You are most welcome nethkt.

Quoting nethkt (Reply 6): And SAS fare ain't cheap

Well, this is my 2nd intra Europe trip with them and I must say that prices were quite reasonable. But I don't know for long haul flights...

Quoting nethkt (Reply 6): everything in Scandinavia is freaking expensive.

Indeed, the Scandinavian countries are lovely destinations but life there is expensive...

Quoting akhmad (Reply 7): Awesome report

Hi Suryo, thanks very much, I tried my best!

Quoting akhmad (Reply 7): you managed to have a cockpit visit at the end of each flight

Well, the trick is: wait for deplaning as the last passenger (that's not too difficult being seated in the back mostly  ) and most of the time the cockpit door is open and I just stop and ask for a photo possibility. Up until now I have had no declines this year, only last year on BT it was not allowed...

Quoting akhmad (Reply 7): Thanks for bringing up BRU again

Indeed, BRU seems to be scarce around here, but don't fear, there's more coming up  

Quoting akhmad (Reply 7): I hope your son was enjoying himself at the daycare

He had a nice day there but was also very happy when his dad was back home!

Quoting CaptainRed (Reply 8): very nice report about an interesting day of flying

Hi Cpt Red, thanks for that!

Quoting CaptainRed (Reply 8): from BRU airport just after departure

I think they came out well, did they not? I was excited when the aircraft banked right and this nice view came in sight.

Quoting CaptainRed (Reply 8): a shame that they don't even offer a glass of water for free.

Fully agree on that.

Bye,
Nils

[Edited 2011-04-13 11:48:12]

Hello deltamartin!

Quoting deltamartin (Reply 9): Great tripreport, very interesting to read!

Thank you deltamartin!

Quoting deltamartin (Reply 9): they are now replacing the MD80's and the classic 737's with 737's NG in OSL and ARN, and the MD80's in CPH are being replaced by A320's

That's all new for me, thanks for the info.

Bye,
Nils

Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): I was impressed… also with the prices of food & drinks…

You ment that in an ironic way right ? The prices for food and beverage at OSL is horrendous !

But a nice airport nevertheless

Thanx for the TR. Always nice to see reports from Norway and SAS on the forum

[Edited 2011-04-13 13:28:34]

Hello Nils!

Thank you for a great story! You don´t see many SK reports here!

Greetings
Robert

Hi, good to see some more comments!

Quoting Mortyman (Reply 12): in an ironic way right

Hi Mortyman, I indeed did  

Quoting Mortyman (Reply 12): Thanx for the TR

You are welcome!

Quoting parton87 (Reply 13): Thank you for a great story

You are very welcome Robert!

Bye,
Nils

Nice report, Nils! I particularly liked the BRU pictures.

Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): View in the B terminal, Jet Airways is a dominant player here!

Very impressive! I need to try Jet Airways to EWR, JFK or YYZ one day.


PH

Hi PH!

Quoting PlaneHunter (Reply 15): Nice report, Nils!

Thanks!

Quoting PlaneHunter (Reply 15): Very impressive

Yep, actually there are 6 Jet's A332 coming in/going out daily to/from DEL, BOM, MAA, JFK, EWR & YYZ so plenty to choose from!

Bye,
Nils

Quoting nethkt (Reply 6): Too bad to see them go B.O.B. I can't accept that, even for water, coffee, tea. And SAS fare ain't cheap!!

That's a real shame- right. But this seems normal to *Alliance carrier, like JK/SK/SN- all are offering BOB in Economy!  

Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): The routing was to be BRU-OSL-CPH-BRU, cost about € 60 per leg all incl.

Pretty good value

Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): SAS’s boarding pass was printed on just 1 paper with a bar scanning code, the 3 flights were listed so I had to keep this valuable paper all day with me.

I was quite confused having all my boarding passes on one piece of paper the last time I flew SK - good for the environment though!

Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): We pushed back on time and as you can see the weather was turning nasty unfortunately

Looks nasty

Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): And here we have the first signs of Norwegian landscapes

Looks very cold and uninviting!

Hi, Nils,

what a nice read and a good number of different plane types, well done.

Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): So with the plane having arrived on time from OSL, it was soon enough time to board. As I learned from other reporters here: last row window seat for me it was.

May I should do this also sometimes?.

Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): The seats on this plane, the last row ABC has 3 seats, EF has only 2 seats (that’s were I was seated)

Exactly my choice on the SK 736.

Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): As usual I was leaving the aircraft as the last passenger and asked permission for a cockpit picture. The captain kindly invited me in and I got my shot, thanks guys!

Same happened to me often on SK, mostly nice flight deck crews.

Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): People settling in, me seated in 36F and 3 seats for me

Congrats.

Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): Next episode, another 'Tales from the North on LH: Heaven & HEL?'

Hey, good to know, waiting for that one.

Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): My day started as a usual working day: getting up around 6h30, and bringing my son to daycare around 8h00. Then onto the train on my way to the airport.

That´s the real life isn´t it, bringing family, job and passion together.

Greetings,
Markus(FLIEGER67)

Hi Nils,

Nice to see a report featuring SAS that isn't mine around here...  . Sure an enjoyable day of flying around. Nice shots especially from around BRU.

Your really got quite lucky with the cockpit visits on all three occasions, congrats.

Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): Booking was done via the excellent SAS website which enables you to book one way journeys at sometimes decent prices, thank you for that.

Yeah, this is one of the best things that they have implemented in the recent then years or so.

Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): here but a 50 min layover only in CPH so hopefully that would work out…

No problem, it's a very easy airport to connect in and you will almost certainly get jetways on both flights anyway. And the interhub flights like the OSL one will usually arrive in the B pier as well, which is smack middle of everything.

Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): Then by bus for about 20 mins

Why didn't you take the train all the way? Or has it been suspended because of the construction works?

Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): SAS’s boarding pass was printed on just 1 paper with a bar scanning code, the 3 flights were listed so I had to keep this valuable paper all day with me.

This is nowadays standard on them. Still confuses a lot of gate agents who aren't used to it, though.

Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): Different carriers, same destination

Nice to see my hometown airlines in a joint shot!

Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): Customs clearing for the T-gates which are located at the far end of the A-gates and where SN’s African destinations are served from

Hey, that's handy, considering how easy it makes transferring between SN's African and European network. That hike to the other pier otherwise is quite a long one.

Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): Reg LN-RPH

Three flights with this one in my log! Curiously all around 2003 and all on HEL-ARN or vice versa.

Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): Construction going on for a new railroad connection from the north to BRU

Finally! Should make it easier reaching Antwerp by eliminating that annoying train change.

Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): And then in the terminal building. OSL is a very nice airport, I was impressed… also with the prices of food & drinks…

Yep, it is a very beautiful building. And yes, it is Norway, and an airport, so everything costs an arm and a leg.

Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): Pushing back with a view

A Norwegian view, don't you mean? 

Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): (hey, that’s me!), BRU = gate 5. …And this aircraft will arrive at gate B3. How convenient!!

See, I told ya!

Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): This plane was equipped with drop down monitors which were actually used, that’s was a first for me on SAS! They even had a nose and belly camera which were turned of during takeoff and landing, very nice!

Yep, those LCD screens and especially the airshow (I don't think they ever play anything else on them) are a great feature on those A321s. I'm not sure if the few A319s also have them.

BTW All the Airbuses in the AY fleet also use the nose camera.

Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): This one’s for FlyingFinn76, Euro Atlantic Avro going to the Faroe Islands

Thanks, although I must correct you - it is actually Atlantic Airways. Euro Atlantic Airways is a Portuguese charter carrier.

Quoting sultanils (Thread starter): Next episode, another 'Tales from the North on LH: Heaven & HEL?'

Hey, tell me more!

Hi everyone, glad you liked my report and many thanks for your very much appreciated comments!

Quoting gabrielchew (Reply 18): confused having all my boarding passes on one piece of paper

Yes at first when I opened the PDF on my PC I thought: is this it??? Went for a check at BRU checkin and they told me it's indeed 1 (one) piece of paper. Good idea with all this paper waste. You know I even saw someone boarding in CPH with a barcode on his cellphone so technology is rapidly taking over things.

Quoting FLIEGER67 (Reply 19): May I should do this also sometimes?

Hi Markus! Well I think you are indeed an inspirational source to some of us  

Quoting FLIEGER67 (Reply 19): Same happened to me often on SK, mostly nice flight deck crews

Indeed the cockpit crews were nice this day, 2nd time I got photos of every plane's cockpit   

Quoting FLIEGER67 (Reply 19): That´s the real life isn´t it, bringing family, job and passion together

I totally agree, trying to keep everyone happy!

Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 20): Nice to see a report featuring SAS that isn't mine around here

Hi P! Well actually your stories of Scandinavia keep inspiring me and there's more to come  

Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 20): Why didn't you take the train all the way? Or has it been suspended because of the construction works?

I wanted to try something different. By train from where I live involves a stopover in Brussels North station. So I got off before Brussels (Vilvoorde station that is) and then went by bus to BRU). First of all it is much cheaper than the train ride and it's quicker too (there's a bus from Vilvoorde station almost every 10 mins).

Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 20): Finally! Should make it easier reaching Antwerp by eliminating that annoying train change

Indeed, construction however will take some more time and by my knowledge it is a very expensive project. Most likely train prices to BRU will go up...again  

Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 20): I'm not sure if the few A319s also have them

Last time from CPH on SAS some months ago I did not see the screens flipping down.

Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 20): in the AY fleet also use the nose camera

Wow, one more reason to fly AY then
  

Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 20): it is actually Atlantic Airways. Euro Atlantic Airways is a Portuguese charter carrier

  

Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 20): Hey, tell me more

Well, in a few weeks I have a daytrip scheduled on a full service carrier to HEL, see if it lives up to my expectations!

Bye,
Nils