Sultanils From Belgium, joined Mar 2010, 1173 posts, RR: 29 Posted (1 year 1 week 4 days 3 hours ago) and read 7050 times:
introduction
Sometimes people do quite impulsive things in life... While I’m certainly not the impulsive type - but not the most rational either - I sometimes have my moments though.
Some of you may remember one of my missions dating back to Nov 2011, where I succeeded in getting myself on a rather empty Kuwait Airways A300-600, flying from FRA to GVA: A Taste Of The Middle East On KU: BRU-FRA-GVA-BRU (by sultanils Nov 14 2011 in Trip Reports).
To accomplish that mission and to reduce the costs, I booked a BRU-FRA-BRU on LH back then, adding a € 99 to be debited from the cc. The BRU-FRA was used on that particular day in Nov as a starter to the Kuwait Airways main dish. The date for the return FRA-BRU was chosen in the evening on May 1st the next year, being a holiday I thought that would give me a nice closing flight on a yet to build itinerary for that day.
Some months later I started looking for a way to fill up that day which obviously had to include a late afternoon arrival in FRA. Browsing the Brussels Airlines website, I stumbled upon a reasonable one-way fare in their ‘b.light’ cabin to CPH, price = € 69. I booked this one without hesitation, as it was already some time ago since I last had a flight with the home carrier. Now I did not realize that I was stuck in a rather small timeframe to get myself from CPH to FRA on the same day. Being the stupid and impulsive me, I did not think of first checking the CPH-FRA possibilities and prices. And there you have it: the only afternoon and well timed departure was on SAS and priced at some > € 300. No good, no good, no good...
So now I had 2 flights on the same day booked without any decent or well priced possibility to connect them... Damn, now what? The options were in fact quite simple: either book an alternative to FRA and drop the SN to CPH or book a CPH-BRU and drop the LH flight from FRA. An alternative route to FRA in 1 day proved to be too costly but luckily there was SAS to the rescue offering me a well-timed CPH-BRU one-way for € 63. So in the end, my booking ordeal came out as follows:
BRU-CPH on Brussels Airlines’ A319
CPH-BRU on SAS’ A321 FRA-BRU on Lufthansa’s CRJ-700 (too bad I missed this one, it would’ve been a new subtype for the log...)
In fact, this would give me a nice chance to compare the offerings on the same route, so not all was lost.
And on a map (thanks to the excellent www.gcmap.com, copyright Karl L Schwartz):
on to CPH
On a nice and sunny morning - has spring finally managed to find it’s way here? - I find myself cruising on the highway again, direction airport. Not much traffic due to the fact that it’s Labour Day today and in no time I park the bike at my usual spot near the underground bus station at BRU. OLCI done the day before and boarding passes printed, I make my way down into the dreaded tunnel towards the Schengen terminal:
Just as I step off the first escalator and make a turn to take the second one, I spot some strange subjects on the apron:
3 KLM’s parked on a remote position and including a B737? That’s not SOP for BRU. Later in the day I learn from fellow user airbuseric that severe thunderstorms were hitting on AMS that very same morning, causing some diversions to alternates such as BRU. Well, that makes sense and in fact it’s very nice to see some light blue as opposed to the dark blue of Brussels Airlines
It’s a lovely day outside, some light clouds and a spring breeze. That makes quite a difference when taking photos. Here’s the Finn and the Brit:
As usual I wonder around some and at gate A51, I spot this one. Well I’ll be damned! Those who followed my previous story - The Swiss Sisters... Or Nearly: BRU-ZRH-LYS And Vv (by Sultanils Apr 27 2012 in Trip Reports) - know for sure that I missed out on this beauty back then. Here it is in full splendour on it’s way to ZRH:
No gate assigned yet for the 11h00 service to the Copen-of-Hagen:
Here’s another one for fellow user MSS658 (the one on the left of course):
And this one’s for fellow user FlyingFinn76 (sorry for the bridge in the way, I was a bit too late getting my camera positioned):
Next destination for this T-tail is CPH as well, it is scheduled to depart 20 mins before the SN flight:
A quick glance at a FIDS again reveals gate A50 as today’s winner. OO-SSP is seen here being serviced after an arrival from the Czech Republic’s capital Prague, and is 1 of the (currently) 11 A319’s in the fleet:
Here’s the gate area. Seats are reasonably comfortable and they are plentiful. More importantly, the terminal is airy and spacious:
Boarding is called some 10 minutes late but that doesn’t really matter since the schedule claims a 1h50 flight. This as opposed to SAS where the schedule indicates a 1h30 flight. In such a timeframe, you’re practically always ‘on time’
BRU to CPH
SN2257
A319 OO-SSP
STD-STA 11h00-12h50
Y class
seat 23F
I greet the F/A at the door in Dutch and get a reply in Dutch (well, Flemish Dutch that is ) back. It’s always nice to be greeted in your own language and thus I feel ‘at home’ instantly. I make my way to the back section, meanwhile passing some more friendly F/A’s. Unlike my previous flight on one of SN’s A319 last year - B-Light = Delight? A Trip On SN To GVA (by sultanils Jul 13 2011 in Trip Reports) - where the last row had no window, the last row on this machine does have windows. But it doesn’t have the ‘LH NEK’ seating installed. Instead there are these pretty good leather Recaro’s which as well feature a good legroom and I have 3 of them for me::
The cabin is clean but looks well used.
This is the contents, the magazine is not very interesting...
Outside, the handlers are still loading bags:
While inside, the last pax trickle in and take their seats. One particular male passenger in his 30’s (I guess) wearing a gigantesque bag pack comes to the F/A in the back and asks where row 17 is. ‘You can find the row numbers there sir’ (she points at the labels under the overhead bins). ‘You are too far back’. ‘Oh, I did not know, thank you’ says the man and retreats, his bag hitting some fellow seated passengers. ‘Sorry’ ‘Sorry’ ‘Sorry’.
I know, everybody once has their first flight
I estimate the load about â…” full:
We push back 15 mins after STD. The plane starts rolling forward and the very same man - who has found row 17 in the end, gets up and wants to take something from his bag in the overhead locker but a stern voice from one of the F/A’s has him seated back in a jiffy. Who says that bog standard flights are boring
I spot some Dutch neighbours also leaving for the active, probably the weather in AMS cleared up and they are allowed to go back to ‘home base’ (note OO-SNC, the latest A320 arrival and OO-VEK, one of the soon to be retired 737-400’s from the Virgin Express era):
Must have an SN A330 in a report:
Takeoff is from the 3638m long runway 25R and features some nice views at last. Some army C-130’s and a government A330 are parked on the apron:
A SIA cargo plane:
We make a right turn to the north and continue the climb towards cruising alt. If you follow this highway (E19), for some 30 km’s, you are at my place:
The city of Vilvoorde, close to Brussels:
Grimbergen airport, used for leisure flights as you can see:
And I always break my neck by looking backwards for a last view of BRU:
Next up is the city of Antwerpen and the Schelde river:
And it’s port:
The nuclear power plant of Doel:
Some 10 minutes after takeoff the clouds thicken and we overfly - what I believe - is AMS airspace. The shape of the clouds make me think that indeed the weather down there is or was not the best:
Next on the blower are the folks from up front who advise us of a 1h05 flight time in good flying conditions and promise us nice sunshine in the Copenhagen area. Sounds good to me!
Being in a ‘feelgood mood’ I decide to let myself go in some BOB. Waiter, the menu please
A chocolate muffin and a 33cl can of cold Ice Tea do fine by me. And pretty good value for € 4. Sorry 717flyer, I was too lazy to conduct your trademarked muffin test. I can just say it was good, without being outstanding
‘b.cool’... I am
Having poured down quite some fluids for the last hour, my bladder starts acting up and forces me a way into the ‘small room’ (sorry Jonas, no pics). This is what the cabin looks like when I get back. Note the different colours of the seat covers.
The peasant’s must sit with the red ones, the upper class get the light blue ones. I don’t mind having the red and being a peasant
The rubbish is cleared and not long thereafter the throttles are pushed forward and we descend towards Copenhagen’s Kastrup airport. The weather is quite good but a little hazy:
Pictured here is the seaport town of Køge, in the vicinity of CPH:
The last part of the descent is overseas, obviously over the Bay of Køge:
Landing is on the 3600m runway 4L with some good views to celebrate my arrival here:
We taxi on and on. The distinctive blue finger gates of CPH are a true feast for the eye... not! I just think they’re plain ugly.
Besides these ugly buggers, I really have nothing negative to say on CPH, I simply love this airport
We dock into an A gate at the very end and I’m greeted by an alien-like reflection of our plane in the terminal window:
I bid the crew farewell - apparently there is a crew change here since they all get their rollerboards and coats out - and head my way into the terminal. But not before asking the captain for a quick pic of his office. He says he’s sorry for all the paperwork in the way but I say that I don’t mind, that’s sure no Labour Day for you. He agrees with that and wishes me a nice stay:
Bye for now! On a positive note I must say that the blue colour of the finger matches the blue sky very well as you can see:
After doing what all passengers do - besides visiting the loo upon arrival - and that is switching on the phone, I get a text message from user makeree, who decided as well to spend his Labour Day the same way as I do: not working but enjoying the good things in life. As he’s entitled to use the SAS lounge, he has kindly offered to come over to CPH and guest me in. And that’s warmly welcomed!
The text message reads: ‘I’m the SAS lounge opposite gate C10’. Welcome to CPH.’
Well, welcome to you too, but first things first. I make a leisurely way over there - it is quite a distance - and take my time to absorb the beauty inside and outside:
AF decided to dispatch the retrojet here today:
The terminal is quite busy:
FIDS. The return flight to BRU on SAS is listed but not ‘gated’ yet (if that’s a word...):
A place like home - as they say - for the next hours or so:
So inside I go where I meet up with makeree. We talk aviation and other stuff and do our inner selves good with all the offerings that are presented. For excellent pics and a more detailed descriptions of this lounge, I gladly refer to LH4116’s most recent report (he visited the lounge the same day as I did it seems but at a later time): SAS, Lounges & Lovely Bavaria: ARN-CPH-MUC (pics) (by LH4116 May 4 2012 in Trip Reports).
on to BRU
After some 2 hours it is time for our ways to part again. Thank you makeree for the excellent company and of course for the lounge invitation, I had great fun and will see you most likely in BER in a few weeks?
With about half an hour to spare, I quickly make my way to one of the B gates. It turns out that the flight to BRU has once again been assigned B5 today. Of all the times I have been to CPH - not that much actually - this very flight to BRU has been assigned this very same gate every time:
CPH is really a T-tail haven. Seeing this one actually reminds me of that Roxette song ‘The Look’ (mind the registration):
’Heavenly bound
Cause heaven's got a number
When she's spinning me around
Kissing is a color
Her loving is a wild dog
She's got the look’
or if you will Prince’s ‘Sexy M F’:
’But I'm happy 2 change my state of mind for this behind
I bet that if you threw that ass into the air it would turn into sunshine’
I wonder if it’s still so windy over there?
A glance over at the A terminal reveals this Estonian Jungle Jet. I decide to have another look - I’m in a blue theme anyway today so this one fits in perfectly. Besides, the photo from this morning was taken last minute and not of the usual quality
And another one from up close reveals a rather young cockpit crew:
Yes, CPH allright! Pictured this way it sort of has a look of a well fortified prison:
Next door - gate - to the Estonian plane sees this interesting visitor from the Czech Republic operating a charter to KEF:
After this small intermezzo, boarding time for my flight is imminent. I make my way over to the B gates area:
The boarding area features a sign that says ‘photography prohibited’ but I do manage to secretly take this one, OY-KBE today to BRU:
And this one:
CPH to BRU
SK1593
A321 OY-KBE
STD-STA 15h10-16h40
Y class
seat 36F
The boarding pass is scanned and my fellow pax - quite a lot of them today - and me make our way to our seat. The captain has turned the wheel in order for me to fully appreciate the tail logo on our chariot:
And this is ‘really good to know’ to put it in Markus’s words
I take my seat on what I believe is the best seat in Y in this plane: good legroom ans seating comfort and no row on the other side. No 3 for me on this flight, the aisle is in last instance taken by a Russki style man who keeps on messing with his cellphone during the whole flight even. I suspect him of having his phone on during the flight but I don’t know for sure...
The cabin during boarding: the flight is nearly sold out, there are just a few empty spots here and there:
A look out of the window reveals another company A321:
Suddenly there’s the familiar ‘boarding complete’ announcement. So here I sit in my seat and nothing happens for the next 10 mins. Then the captain comes on informing us of a problem with a ‘certain’ compartment which has to be checked prior to departure but they apparently don’t have a key to open it. A technician is called in to solve the problem and we should be on our way within the next 20 mins or so. End of message.
Some 20 mins later, the captain again, saying that the compartment has been opened and it was empty and we are good to go! Good! Some ‘phews’ are heard and not long thereafter we push back and make a way to the 3300m runway 4R.
And I once again get a salutation from the same folks as this morning! Thanks a many!
Yes, it is four-right-allright:
A look onto the ceiling sees the overhead screens deployed and yet better: the nose cam is turned on.
This leaves me with a difficult choice: looking outside or looking at the screen. Luckily I don’t have to wait too long to decide and turn my head direction window because the views on takeoff are great. I let the photos do the talking here:
You know this one, don’t you?
We make a right hand turn and this visualizes the airport very well:
One last shot of the Øresund disappearing in the water:
Over the Bay of Køge once again, but now on the other side:
And over the seaport city of Køge once again as well:
We steadily climb into cruise mode and when the seatbelt sign extinguishes, the crew gets up to do their duties.
Meanwhile, I pop in my headphones and listen to some mellow and less mellow tunes. Oh, here’s the contents of the seat pocket, which for many of you probably features nothing new or exciting:
A young female crew member passes by and asks me politely if I would like anything. Having eaten enough in the lounge I decide to have some of that ‘recently introduced free tea’, accompanied with some extra sugar and a slice of lemon. The sesame bar is from the BYO (Bring Your Own), I love that stuff!
Occasionally, I have a look at the screen to learn our whereabouts:
After some 1h10 of air time, the descent into BRU is initiated. We overfly my house, I wave but nobody waves back unfortunately The arrival into BRU’s 3211m runway 25L involves some twists and turns and enables me to enjoy some views of the homeland’s countryside:
Unfortunately it’s somewhat cloudy and hazy...
But eventually, the debris clears up!
Concrete in sight!
Touchdown is quite smooth, as is the ride to the terminal. We dock into the very first gate at the A-terminal, meaning the walk to bagage claim is shortened quite substantially. It obviously takes quite some time for everyone to deplane, but my neighbour Mr Russki doesn’t mind as he elbows his way to the front - hanging on the phone of course - causing quite some passengers to give him the angry look.
As the last passenger off, I ask for yet another flight deck visit which is granted by the nice and accomodating folks at SAS.
conclusion
I must say that my booking ordeal resulted in yet another very joyful day out. Destination and equipment wise there was nothing special involved yet I was able to sample two different products on the same route. SN was able to seduce me with the smart looking ‘b.’ branding, the attractive price and the ability to speak my own language on board. The flight was on time, the cabin was clean and BOB prices were acceptable.
With SAS I knew what I was in for as it was not my 1st flight with them. After some flights on their B736’s, I feel this A321 is comfortwise the better choice. Seats are comfy, better than the ultrathin LH ones but not as good as the Recaro’s I found on the SN flight of today. Extra bonus points go for the re-introduced free coffee/tea. Overall, my personal favour goes to SAS but next time I will most probably choose the carrier who offers me the best price and timing for my needs, be that SAS or SN.
Thanks for reading and do leave a comment, they are very much appreciated
jwhite9185 From United Kingdom, joined May 2007, 714 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (1 year 1 week 4 days 3 hours ago) and read 6953 times:
Nice read. Interesting to see that the SN 319 that you went on was quite different to the one i went on (OO-SSC) a month or 2 back. I noticed my one had no windows in the last row - glad i didn't choose that seat as i normally would.
OA260 From Ireland, joined Nov 2006, 24873 posts, RR: 60 Reply 2, posted (1 year 1 week 4 days ago) and read 6653 times:
Hey Nils ,
Thanks for a lovely read. I never flew SN Brussels still on my to do list Shame they don't fly to DUB or BFS! I'd like to try them on the JFK-BRU service sometime too.
Knightsofmalta From Malta, joined Nov 2005, 1408 posts, RR: 17 Reply 3, posted (1 year 1 week 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 6590 times:
Hi Nils
What a lovely report. Thanks for sharing!
The weather looks absolutely lovely, especially in Copenhagen with that bright blue sunshine. SN don't look bad either. I'll be flying them for the first time this summer from Stockholm via Brussels to Basel. Although for some strange reason the Brussels to Basel sector will be operated by an Austrian Airlines Dash-8. Not quite sure where that came from actually!
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): 3 KLM’s parked on a remote position and including a B737? That’s not SOP for BRU. Later in the day I learn from fellow user airbuseric that severe thunderstorms were hitting on AMS that very same morning, causing some diversions to alternates such as BRU. Well, that makes sense and in fact it’s very nice to see some light blue as opposed to the dark blue of Brussels Airlines
Oh really, thunderstorms in Amsterdam on Labour Day? Tell me about it!
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): CPH is really a T-tail haven. Seeing this one actually reminds me of that Roxette song ‘The Look’ (mind the registration):
’Heavenly bound
Cause heaven's got a number
When she's spinning me around
Kissing is a color
Her loving is a wild dog
She's got the look’
or if you will Prince’s ‘Sexy M F’:
’But I'm happy 2 change my state of mind for this behind
I bet that if you threw that ass into the air it would turn into sunshine’
CaptainRed From Germany, joined Oct 2010, 578 posts, RR: 19 Reply 4, posted (1 year 1 week 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 6547 times:
Hi Nils,
cool report, looks like you had another nice day of flying. Looks like you had some great weather as well, nice pictures. And even an a.net meet and a visit to the lounge, sounds like a perfect day for me.
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): Being the stupid and impulsive me, I did not think of first checking the CPH-FRA possibilities and prices. And there you have it: the only afternoon and well timed departure was on SAS and priced at some > € 300. No good, no good, no good...
Oh, too bad. That's why I usually check out the whole route before booking anything. But fortunately that didn't ruin your trip completely.
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): his as opposed to SAS where the schedule indicates a 1h30 flight.
Interesting, almost 2 hours is definitely a long block time for that route. Maybe they want to beat FR as being the most on-time airline, just make the block times ridiculously long and be almost always on-time ...
Nice picture. And it seems to be still operating, something which gets rare in Germany.
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): the throttles are pushed forward and we descend towards Copenhagen’s Kastrup airport.
Well, actually pulled backwards, they wanted to descent not climb ...
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): A glance over at the A terminal reveals this Estonian Jungle Jet.
Nice, that livery is definitely very beautiful, it suits the Embraer very well.
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): Then the captain comes on informing us of a problem with a ‘certain’ compartment which has to be checked prior to departure but they apparently don’t have a key to open it.
Hmm, quite embarrassing, wonder what sort of compartment that is. Well, at least the delay caused by it wasn't too long.
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): It obviously takes quite some time for everyone to deplane, but my neighbour Mr Russki doesn’t mind as he elbows his way to the front - hanging on the phone of course - causing quite some passengers to give him the angry look.
gabrielchew From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 2512 posts, RR: 14 Reply 5, posted (1 year 1 week 3 days 20 hours ago) and read 6362 times:
Nice report Nils! Thanks for posting
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): Well I’ll be damned! Those who followed my previous story - The Swiss Sisters... Or Nearly: BRU-ZRH-LYS And Vv (by Sultanils Apr 27 2012 in Trip Reports) - know for sure that I missed out on this beauty back then. Here it is in full splendour on it’s way to ZRH:
Quoting Knightsofmalta (Reply 3): I'll be flying them for the first time this summer from Stockholm via Brussels to Basel.
BMA-BRU-BSL? Excellent, I’ll be on the lookout for your story then!
Quoting Knightsofmalta (Reply 3): Although for some strange reason the Brussels to Basel sector will be operated by an Austrian Airlines Dash-8. Not quite sure where that came from actually!
Some of the Avro-85’s are end of lease and are replaced by these birds. Some of them will wear the SN livery (those who come from FlyBE), but there are others that come from Austrian Arrows and I think they will not be repainted.
cool report, looks like you had another nice day of flying.
Thanks CaptainRed!
Quoting CaptainRed (Reply 4): Oh, too bad. That's why I usually check out the whole route before booking anything. But fortunately that didn't ruin your trip completely.
I normally do too, but this time.. I don’t know what happened. Either I wait too long or am too impulsive
Quoting CaptainRed (Reply 4): just make the block times ridiculously long and be almost always on-time
Exactly my point. I guess they want the title of ‘Most punctual airline of the yea’?
palmjet From United Kingdom, joined Nov 2001, 1050 posts, RR: 20 Reply 7, posted (1 year 1 week 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 5992 times:
Hi Nils
Great report! Wow, you were so lucky with the weather on your day out. Great pics of your flights. That Estonian EM170 is such a cutie! Seems like SN did the business - I've never travelled with them before. Glad to see you managed a pic of an SN 330 in your report. On my last transit through BRU, I managed to take quite a few pics of 3 of them but then lost my camera at the end of the trip, so goodbye all the pics. Actually, I left the camera onboard the aircraft but sadly, whomever must have found it on the seat was not honest enough to hand it in to Lost Property.
Nice to see you were able to sample the lounge in CPH - A.net does wonders for our world wide contacts for sure!
RvXKaz From Singapore, joined Apr 2011, 182 posts, RR: 3 Reply 8, posted (1 year 1 week 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 5936 times:
Hi Nils!
Nice to see you up and about so soon! Looks like you had again a lovely day in your favorite place: up in the sky and I really liked your title photo! Its really eye-catching!
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): Some of you may remember one of my missions dating back to Nov 2011, where I succeeded in getting myself on a rather empty Kuwait Airways A300-600, flying from FRA to GVA: A Taste Of The Middle East On KU: BRU-FRA-GVA-BRU (by sultanils Nov 14 2011 in Trip Reports).
Wow, has it been so long? I remembered reading that one very fondly.
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): It’s always nice to be greeted in your own language and thus I feel ‘at home’ instantly.
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): Besides, the photo from this morning was taken last minute and not of the usual quality
Estonian Air really has a nice livery.
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter):
Yes, CPH allright! Pictured this way it sort of has a look of a well fortified prison:
I see the uncanny resemblence now that you've mentioned!
You've got very lovely views of the Copenhagen scene during take-off!
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): Having eaten enough in the lounge I decide to have some of that ‘recently introduced free tea’, accompanied with some extra sugar and a slice of lemon.
Wow, this is a SAS which I've not been introduced to! Really? Free tea onboard SAS? Thats a nice touch and a nice way to go!
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): As the last passenger off, I ask for yet another flight deck visit which is granted by the nice and accomodating folks at SAS.
Very nice indeed!
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): Extra bonus points go for the re-introduced free coffee/tea.
Again, really neat and well-writtened TR and thanks so much for enlightening about SAS's new free coffee/tea service. Its really good to know! Very nice to have a taste of two different carriers on the same route as well! Its great to make comparisons and I personally do like SAS too!
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): Overall, my personal favour goes to SAS but next time I will most probably choose the carrier who offers me the best price and timing for my needs, be that SAS or SN.
Very well-said
Bests,
Gavin
They say that I'm a dreamer. But I'd only Dreamt Skyward.
Quoting RvXKaz (Reply 8): Looks like you had again a lovely day in your favorite place: up in the sky and I really liked your title photo! Its really eye-catching!
Ha ha, I specifically took that pic with the title pic in mind. Beforehand I knew where I wanted to go with the report
Yes it looks good although I find the lettering of the reg a tad too large. It’s.. let’s say: too distractive. It’s like a beautiful long legged blonde wearing an ugly big hat
Quoting RvXKaz (Reply 8): You've got very lovely views of the Copenhagen scene during take-off!
The views were breathtaking indeed and made me think of some sort of tropical destination.
Quoting RvXKaz (Reply 8): Free tea onboard SAS? Thats a nice touch and a nice way to go!
SAS on the rise here and definitely a positive thing to see this increase in free service.
Quoting RvXKaz (Reply 8): Its great to make comparisons and I personally do like SAS too!
I’m glad I made you another customer-to-be with this nice airline.
FlyingFinn76 From Finland, joined Jun 2009, 1705 posts, RR: 42 Reply 10, posted (1 year 1 week 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 5664 times:
Hi Nils,
Nice to read on your little Mayday (yes, pun intended) up to Kastrup and back. That is a good way to put an unused flight segment to use without actually putting it to use
Good to see something about SN Brussels again - two segments (well maybe just one after the announcement of the BER fiasco today...) with the carrier coming up in a month for me, my first time since 2004 with them so nice to know what lays ahead.
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): Some of you may remember one of my missions dating back to Nov 2011, where I succeeded in getting myself on a rather empty Kuwait Airways A300-600, flying from FRA to GVA:
Yes, as a matter of fact I do!
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): Browsing the Brussels Airlines website, I stumbled upon a reasonable one-way fare in their ‘b.light’ cabin to CPH, price = € 69.
Hey nice, I actually booked this very same flight for this very same price for June to bring me a bit closer to home after arriving on the JFK flight. Unfortunately the main reason why I booked it - to try the SN A320 which it was scheduled to be was fubarred as it got changed to an ARJ-100. Still hoping they will change it back, although not holding my breath.
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): Being the stupid and impulsive me, I did not think of first checking the CPH-FRA possibilities and prices.
Ahh, I've been here quite a few times myself, most recently just last week. But there are always options and ways to turn it into something interesting if you look hard enough and have the correct attitude!
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): In fact, this would give me a nice chance to compare the offerings on the same route, so not all was lost.
There you go. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): It’s a lovely day outside, some light clouds and a spring breeze. That makes quite a difference when taking photos. Here’s the Finn and the Brit:
Like brothers, like sisters.
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): know for sure that I missed out on this beauty back then. Here it is in full splendour on it’s way to ZRH:
Ahh, nothing like rubbing it in your face...
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): And this one’s for fellow user FlyingFinn76 (sorry for the bridge in the way, I was a bit too late getting my camera positioned):
Thanks. Still a beauty, she is.
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): Next destination for this T-tail is CPH as well, it is scheduled to depart 20 mins before the SN flight:
That is weird - considering they are both alliance partner airlines and apparently codeshare on each others flights they could coordinate the flight schedules a little better and spread the flights out a bit more evenly. You'd understand it if they were rivals, but not when they're both part of *A.
I had this very same thought a couple of years ago when I was flying TAP (operated by PGA) OPO-BRU and was watching an SN 737 that was departing around the same time as us - both flights carried both the SN and TP flight numbers so it seemed rather pointless to me...
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): Having poured down quite some fluids for the last hour, my bladder starts acting up and forces me a way into the ‘small room’ (sorry Jonas, no pics).
Please, too Jonas to me already!
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): Besides these ugly buggers, I really have nothing negative to say on CPH, I simply love this airport
Well you haven't been to the Low Cost pier. Or the toilets in the Servisair lounge, those are frankly horrible.
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): I get a text message from user makeree, who decided as well to spend his Labour Day the same way as I do: not working but enjoying the good things in life.
Very nice that you too could hook up for a little lounge meeting.
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): The text message reads: ‘I’m the SAS lounge opposite gate C10’. Welcome to CPH.’
So the *lounge* actually sent you a message?
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): And another one from up close reveals a rather young cockpit crew:
Well that is Estonia for you - the whole population is rather young, especially people in prominent positions. A nice change from the grandmothers and -fathers with SAS.
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): The boarding area features a sign that says ‘photography prohibited’ but I do manage to secretly take this one, OY-KBE today to BRU:
Really? I've never had any problems with photos at Kastrup and never seen any signs forbidding to do so either!
LH4116 From Sweden, joined Aug 2007, 1672 posts, RR: 15 Reply 11, posted (1 year 1 week 2 days 19 hours ago) and read 5600 times:
Hoi Nils, seems like you had a nice little adventure to CPH.
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): Next destination for this T-tail is CPH as well, it is scheduled to depart 20 mins before the SN flight:
Well a shame you didn't book SAS on both segments, and you'd have been able to catch the rare and lucrative MD-87. Oh well, maybe you should be less impulsive next time.
I personally found the terminal to be very sterile and dull, but that's just my opinion.
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): The plane starts rolling forward and the very same man - who has found row 17 in the end, gets up and wants to take something from his bag in the overhead locker but a stern voice from one of the F/A’s has him seated back in a jiffy.
Jesus, the man seriously got up from his seat during the actual takeoff!? He must've been smoking something strong, that's for sure!
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): my bladder starts acting up and forces me a way into the ‘small room’ (sorry Jonas, no pics).
Hehe, well we all know how the "business center" of an A319 looks, unless it's clad in grey marble then I'd have been more interested in seeing a pic
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): that’s sure no Labour Day for you. He agrees with that and wishes me a nice stay:
Well in other words, it was a day full of labour for him! Huh Huh
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): A place like home - as they say - for the next hours or so:
Yes it's indeed a place like home. Still surprised you didn't like the place, I find it great and could easily spend some 10+ hours there if necessary (or even if not).
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): (he visited the lounge the same day as I did it seems but at a later time):
Yes, never really thought about that until you mentioned it. But I stayed there for too short so would hardy call it a visit, at least not by my standards.
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): The sesame bar is from the BYO (Bring Your Own), I love that stuff
Hmm, might consider introducing that service concept on my future flights with SAS!
"Wheels Up!"
//Jonas
I won't stop complaining until SAS reintroduces free service in Economy Class!
Ha ha, good one! How come I did not come up with that
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 10): to try the SN A320 which it was scheduled to be was fubarred as it got changed to an ARJ-100. Still hoping they will change it back, although not holding my breath.
Don’t count on it, SN is the king of type changes on some routes. The A320 is highly unlikely, it’s mostly deployed on routes like AGP, NCE, FAO,...the holiday ones. It’ll be either an A319 or the Avro 100 series. It would however b.cool to get one of the /-es but that’s even more unlikely...
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 10): But there are always options and ways to turn it into something interesting if you look hard enough and have the correct attitude!
I lack the latter, I’m too soft...
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 10): That is weird - considering they are both alliance partner airlines and apparently codeshare on each others flights they could coordinate the flight schedules a little better and spread the flights out a bit more evenly.
Yes, I find that a bit weird too. But I guess perhaps SN counts on it’s longhaul feed to get extra revenue maybe?
Saw it somewhere in some report and thought it was a good quote
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 10): Ahh, this one is always very easy to recognize from the air - it is one of my cue navigation spots when flying over Belgium.
If the skies are clear, yes. And usually AMS is visible as too which is a nice landmark to see as well.
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 10): Very nice that you too could hook up for a little lounge meeting.
I owe him a fine Belgian beer of his choice for that
Nope, read carefully: I bring my own catering. Besides, the text on the pack is in Dutch so quite unlikely that it came from the lounge.
Quoting LH4116 (Reply 11): Hoi Nils, seems like you had a nice little adventure to CPH.
Hallo Jonas, thanks for writing some words on my story
Quoting LH4116 (Reply 11): Well a shame you didn't book SAS on both segments
Not a shame at all, the main rule is: the more diversity the better!
Quoting LH4116 (Reply 11): Jesus, the man seriously got up from his seat during the actual takeoff!?
Not during takeoff, but during taxi. The F/A was polite but quite stern in having him to sit down again.
Quoting LH4116 (Reply 11): Hehe, well we all know how the "business center" of an A319 looks
How mundane it may look, it is still far more of an interesting place than the loo
Quoting LH4116 (Reply 11): Yes it's indeed a place like home. Still surprised you didn't like the place, I find it great and could easily spend some 10+ hours there if necessary (or even if not).
I did not say I did not like it. It’s just that so many people rave about this lounge that maybe my expectations were too high. I do liked the relaxed atmosphere and the offerings although the only ‘hot item’ available - besides tea and coffee - was instant noodles. I hoped there was something more than that. Still I found it very nice to being able to spend some time there thanks to makeree.
Quoting LH4116 (Reply 11): Hmm, might consider introducing that service concept on my future flights with SAS!
Please do, it saves you from being dissapointed about the so-called lack of service.
LXM83 From Switzerland, joined May 2005, 569 posts, RR: 5 Reply 15, posted (1 year 1 week 21 hours ago) and read 5226 times:
Hello Sultanils
Nice report again!
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): So now I had 2 flights on the same day booked without any decent or well priced possibility to connect them
Now that's a pity. Always hurts to let go of a booked and non-refundable segment...
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): Well I'll be damned! Those who followed my previous story - The Swiss Sisters... Or Nearly: BRU-ZRH-LYS And Vv (by Sultanils Apr 27 2012 in Trip Reports) - know for sure that I missed out on this beauty back then.
Hey, now that's not nice. The missed catch dangling in front of your nose.... adding salt to the wound. I know how it feels.
signol From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2007, 2948 posts, RR: 7 Reply 16, posted (1 year 1 week 18 hours ago) and read 5196 times:
Hi Nils,
good report on a nice day out! Does this one count as "Operation Diaper Escape 2"?
A shame you didn't get to use the FRA-BRU leg, I know you said you forgot, and booked a BRU-CPH leg before checking for onward connections, but that's called "baby brain" Still, the flights you did get looked ok, reasonable service, ontime, clean, safe. A good chance to meet another A.netter in CPH and visit a lounge, and finally a flight on a Swedish friend's favourite airline!
Yes, we use that frequently but not in that sense. ("gated" for us gate agents means taking control of the flight meaning restricting the flight to check in)
Looking forward to hopefully see you soon in Berlin.
The777Man
Need a Boeing 777 Firing Order....Further to fly....GA, T5, CI and LX 777s
PlaneHunter From Germany, joined Mar 2006, 6183 posts, RR: 79 Reply 19, posted (1 year 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 5018 times:
Hi Nils,
very nice report with many great pictures! Very good to see you were allowed to take some flightdeck pictures.
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): The boarding area features a sign that says ‘photography prohibited’ but I do manage to secretly take this one, OY-KBE today to BRU:
MSS658 From Belgium, joined Oct 2010, 2202 posts, RR: 14 Reply 20, posted (1 year 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 4949 times:
Hi Nils
Great trip report, nice to see the SK-SN comparison. Looks very nice, surprised to see that NEK is not on all 320's yet.
I must disagree on the SK seating. I had the same seats on my ARN-BRU flight in january and found them actual very uncomfortable.
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): Here’s another one for fellow user MSS658 (the one on the left of course):
Thanks! However the plane on the right is one I've been on many times as well.
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): Next destination for this T-tail is CPH as well, it is scheduled to depart 20 mins before the SN flight:
Noticed the same on my BRU-CPH-BRU trip last month.
BZNPilot From Belgium, joined Feb 2006, 257 posts, RR: 3 Reply 21, posted (1 year 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 4928 times:
Hi Nils,
Great report from you, as usual, thanks for sharing.
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): I make my way down into the dreaded tunnel towards the Schengen terminal:
It is indeed a long tunnel, but I always enjoy entering it nonetheless...after all, it means I'm flying somewhere!
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): 3 KLM’s parked on a remote position and including a B737? That’s not SOP for BRU. Later in the day I learn from fellow user airbuseric that severe thunderstorms were hitting on AMS that very same morning, causing some diversions to alternates such as BRU.
Interesting. As I scrolled down and saw that picture, I was confused as well. But your explanation of the circumstances makes sense. Nice to get some diversion traffic once in awhile to make things interesting.
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): A quick glance at a FIDS again reveals gate A50 as today’s winner. OO-SSP is seen here being serviced after an arrival from the Czech Republic’s capital Prague, and is 1 of the (currently) 11 A319’s in the fleet:
I had the pleasure of flying on OO-SSP in August of 2010 on the BRU-MAD route.
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): I greet the F/A at the door in Dutch and get a reply in Dutch (well, Flemish Dutch that is ) back. It’s always nice to be greeted in your own language and thus I feel ‘at home’ instantly
It is only right that you are able to communicate with the crew of your native airline in your native language. I am a guest in your country and do not speak Dutch (nor Flemish Dutch)...at least not yet. The language of default is my own native language of English, which makes it easy for me, but a shame for everyone else. I'm glad to hear the crew of SN are local hires, as they should be.
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): One particular male passenger in his 30’s (I guess) wearing a gigantesque bag pack comes to the F/A in the back and asks where row 17 is. ‘You can find the row numbers there sir’ (she points at the labels under the overhead bins). ‘You are too far back’. ‘Oh, I did not know, thank you’ says the man and retreats, his bag hitting some fellow seated passengers. ‘Sorry’ ‘Sorry’ ‘Sorry’. I know, everybody once has their first flight
Hahaha...hopefully that guy will get the hang of it eventually.
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): Grimbergen airport, used for leisure flights as you can see:
Like many, I mostly know this place for the beer of the same name. Nice to see that there is a local airfield as well.
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): Destination and equipment wise there was nothing special involved yet I was able to sample two different products on the same route
Indeed, that is a worthwhile endeavor! Glad you had a successful trip. Great photos, too, by the way. The photos of the bridge-tunnel on your way out of CPH were really cool.
Parton87 From Sweden, joined Sep 2008, 523 posts, RR: 2 Reply 22, posted (1 year 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 4915 times:
Hello Nils
Thanks for another great story of yours. Nice to see a report with. You not see them that often here. It reminds me of my flights with them back in 2008 when I flew BMA-BRU-MAN with them. One of my best flights ever when it comes to service!
A full hot meal with drinks on the BRU flight and a hot snack on the short flight to MAN. Those were the days! I still wouldn´t hesitate to fly them again especially from BMA, really cool take off!
717Flyer From Finland, joined Jun 2011, 303 posts, RR: 10 Reply 23, posted (1 year 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 4825 times:
Salut Nils,
A simple routing maybe this time, but nevertheless a great report and an interesting comparison between SN and SK. Seems like they both did well and as diplomatic as I am I would like to declare both of them winners.
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): While I’m certainly not the impulsive type - but not the most rational either - I sometimes have my moments though.
Me too, I must say that last minute KF/SK youth tickets are addictive!
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): Some of you may remember one of my missions dating back to Nov 2011, where I succeeded in getting myself on a rather empty Kuwait Airways A300-600, flying from FRA to GVA:
Yes Nils, I remember!
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): I stumbled upon a reasonable one-way fare in their ‘b.light’ cabin to CPH, price = € 69
Really? I've never seen SN offering any reasonably priced oneways but apparently they have learnt something!
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): And there you have it: the only afternoon and well timed departure was on SAS and priced at some > € 300. No good, no good, no good...
That's why you should have a booking department to blame for all possible mistakes.
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): And this one’s for fellow user FlyingFinn76 (sorry for the bridge in the way, I was a bit too late getting my camera positioned):
You can dedicate it to me as well as it looks so gorgeous (but the CRJ still wins!). I'm supposed to log both the types on OV within the next two months but let's see what happens.
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): Next destination for this T-tail is CPH as well, it is scheduled to depart 20 mins before the SN flight:
Now you're starting to regret you chose the A319 flight, no?
And 1h50 in schedules? Now that is schedule padding for you
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): Sorry 717flyer, I was too lazy to conduct your trademarked muffin test. I can just say it was good, without being outstanding
Good choice to go with the muffin! And I need to log SN now as well (not only because of the muffin....)
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): We taxi on and on. The distinctive blue finger gates of CPH are a true feast for the eye... not! I just think they’re plain ugly.
Did you see any 717s during your stay at CPH?
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): I had great fun and will see you most likely in BER in a few weeks?
More like TXL?
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): And this is ‘really good to know’ to put it in Markus’s words
But where is blue1.fi?
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): Meanwhile, I pop in my headphones and listen to some mellow and less mellow tunes. Oh, here’s the contents of the seat pocket, which for many of you probably features nothing new or exciting:
Now that if something is a severe understatement! If you ask me, Scanorama is the best inflight magazine on the continent. Did you enjoy reading it? And did you liberate it (to use the words of another A.netter)?
Many beautiful shots from the return flight as well, always nice with some eye candy!
roberts87 From Netherlands, joined Dec 2011, 655 posts, RR: 0 Reply 24, posted (1 year 5 days 2 hours ago) and read 4806 times:
Nice report, Nils! Always nice to compare two carriers on the same route.
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): Not much traffic due to the fact that it’s Labour Day today and in no time I park the bike at my usual spot near the underground bus station at BRU
So Labour Day is a public holiday in Belgium?
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): That’s not SOP for BRU. Later in the day I learn from fellow user airbuseric that severe thunderstorms were hitting on AMS that very same morning, causing some diversions to alternates such as BRU
Indeed. The sky was almost black that morning.
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): This as opposed to SAS where the schedule indicates a 1h30 flight. In such a timeframe, you’re practically always ‘on time’
Europe's most punctual airline
Quoting Sultanils (Thread starter): Luckily I don’t have to wait too long to decide and turn my head direction window because the views on takeoff are great.
They certainly are! Those views are why I love flying
25 deltamartin: Hello Nils! Great report, just as usual! What a nice daytrip to Copenhagen. Always good to fly one carrier to get there and then another one to get ho
26 sultanils: Hello a.netters, thank you for taking the time to post some comments, I like it! Hello Lars! Thank you, I appreciate your comments. Thanks for enlight
27 akhmad: Dag Nils, Another successful day trip with great product comparison of SN and SK. Thanks a lot for sharing. The same thing happened to me in 2010 when
28 sultanils: Dag Suryo mijn vriend Quite lucky indeed, but perhaps you booked a higher fare class that allows cancellations? It was more an embarrassing show to b
29 Widebodyroga: Hey Nils, My apologies for the late response but it's hard to catch up with everything that's going on these days. But as they say, better late than n
30 Sultanils: здравей Stojan! No worries, you don't have to feel obliged to post a reply Could that possibly be you? It is, but I’m over it now lol! I don
31 roberts87: No, May 1st is not a public holiday. But April 30th is, as we celebrate our famous Queensday then. Everybody wears something orange and goes crazy ht
32 Initious: Hi Nils, Thanks for an insight of Brussel Airlines, one that I am not very familiar with. The BOB looks pretty decent and the price is reasonable too.
33 Sultanils: I’m a bit surprised, I thought Labour Day was an official European holiday? As if you Dutch need a reason to go crazy Hello Daniel, thanks for read
34 ba319-131: Nice read Nils, perfect with the G&T i've just finished - I'm not up on these BOB fee's but that seems reasonable to me. - Nice looking machine. I
35 Sultanils: Hi Mark, how are you? There's no better way to savour some TR's than with a cool G&T Believe me, it is reasonable Wow, that's a long time ago, I
36 makeree: Hey Nils ! Sorry about my mega delayed reply ! It was great to meet you in CPH and have a chat about....aviation stuff It was just my pleasure to invi
37 sultanils: Hi Markku, many thanks for your reply and don't worry about it being late It was a real pleasure meeting you again, it definitely added value to my f
Sponsor Message: 
From Belgium, joined Mar 2010, 1173 posts, 
The arrival into BRU’s 3211m runway 25L involves some twists and turns and enables me to enjoy some views of the homeland’s countryside:
Sultanils
From United Kingdom, joined May 2007, 714 posts, 
From Ireland, joined Nov 2006, 24873 posts, 
From Malta, joined Nov 2005, 1408 posts, 
From Germany, joined Oct 2010, 578 posts, 
From Singapore, joined Apr 2011, 182 posts, 
From Finland, joined Jun 2009, 1705 posts, 
From Sweden, joined Aug 2007, 1672 posts, 
From Netherlands, joined Feb 2011, 774 posts, 
From Georgia, joined Sep 2003, 4387 posts, 
From Switzerland, joined May 2005, 569 posts, 
From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 6079 posts, 
Sponsor Message: 
Printer friendly format
