Brussels Airlines joining Star Alliance in December 2009

[fretn]

I once heard that SN didn't configure their seats in economy with ptv's because the africans often broke them, because they had no clue how they worked. (Not being racist, just meaning as in less familiar with electronics)
Is there anything true in this?

[RoMax]

I once heard that SN didn't configure their seats in economy with ptv's because the africans often broke them, because they had no clue how they worked. (Not being racist, just meaning as in less familiar with electronics)
Is there anything true in this?

Well that can be a reason. Sabena had PTV's in their newest airplanes, so they should have expierence with it. If they had the experience that they often broke them. SN probably decided to not use them. Above that, the AFI routes are often pretty short long haul routes (5:30 -7 hours) so that's not so much to fly without PTV's as especially because the AFI-BRU flights are night flights so they would not used that much either on the way back.

But then again, I am only talking about business class. SN should know that they have to use good seats.

[b720]

That is a an anapropriate remark, and I do hope that that was not the policy of Sabena.

So what is being siad is that africans, who pay a FORTUNE for "short" longhaul flights..and are the bread and butter of SN and Sabena previously... do not deserve inflight entretainement..as they might mess up the system??? I do not think this was SABENA or any airline policy for that matter, and certainly not in the 21st century..

How come systems not messed up on AF?

[RoMax]

That is a an anapropriate remark, and I do hope that that was not the policy of Sabena.

So what is being siad is that africans, who pay a FORTUNE for "short" longhaul flights..and are the bread and butter of SN and Sabena previously... do not deserve inflight entretainement..as they might mess up the system??? I do not think this was SABENA or any airline policy for that matter, and certainly not in the 21st century..

How come systems not messed up on AF?

Hey hey, I've never said this IS the reason. I only react on the thing "fretn" said, I think there's nothing wrong with that. And about Sabena, I only said they had PTV's on their newest airplanes, I never said they weren't happy with the African people that maybe broke them down. BUT if it is correct what "fretn" said, it was the choice of SN (so not Sabena) to not use PTV's anymore.
"...who pay a FORTUNE for "short" longhaul flights..." I don't think the price SN asks for their economy to AFI is a Fortune (not for the kind of pax that use these flights), AF is much more expensive. And the long haul flights to AFI are indeed SHORT in terms of long haul. Most destinations are only 5:30-6:30 away (maybe a bit longer if it is 1 stop), that are pretty short routes in long haul terms.

[134flyer]

The Gulf carriers are not much of a threat to SN regarding Africa. Most transferpax on SN flights come from North-America and not a chance they would use a Gulf carrier if there is a European alternative. The backtracking is way to big...

The remark in 'De Tijd' about the expansion of the Gulf Carriers in Africa was a more general remark. I agree that it won't affect the North-America to Africa (via Europe) traffic, and only (very) limited on the Europe to Africa traffic. It's indeed just too much backtracking. Asia (China) to Africa might be a little different.

Regarding the Business seats on the 5th SN A330. I don't know what SN has decided, but if they use the old Sabena Business seats for a limited time until decent (lie-flat) ones arrive, that would be fine. Perhaps SN has ordered (sort of) lie-flat ones, but there maybe delivery problems, I don't know.
Look e.g to LX; they are having problems to get their new Business seats delivered to get the A340's reconfigured. Apparently the delivery problems are rumoured to be so 'big', that there apparently are 2 new LX A333's waiting at TLS just to get the Business seats delivered & installed and until then, they can't be delivered to LX.

As an alternative (also because the current SN Business seats are apparently out of production), maybe LH has some spare Business seats available?

Anyway, it would be very bad to use the old Sabena seats on the 5th SN A330 for a number of years, also, or actually especially out of a high paying business pax point of view.

[RoMax]

Regarding the Business seats on the 5th SN A330. I don't know what SN has decided, but if they use the old Sabena Business seats for a limited time until decent (lie-flat) ones arrive, that would be fine. Perhaps SN has ordered (sort of) lie-flat ones, but there maybe delivery problems, I don't know.
Look e.g to LX; they are having problems to get their new Business seats delivered to get the A340's reconfigured. Apparently the delivery problems are rumoured to be so 'big', that there apparently are 2 new LX A333's waiting at TLS just to get the Business seats delivered & installed and until then, they can't be delivered to LX.

Is it possible SN ordered new seats with the same company as LX did? That could explain allot as LX has problems with their seats also.

[fretn]

Why is my comment inapropriate?

It is a fact that most people in Africa are not that used to electronics as us.
please state your point?
Am i being racist in any kind of way?

(ps i heard this from a FA)

[RoMax]

Why is my comment inapropriate?

It is a fact that most people in Africa are not that used to electronics as us.
please state your point?
Am i being racist in any kind of way?

(ps i heard this from a FA)

Well if that's true I really believe you as FA's are the first people (exept of other pax)to see who and when they broke a PTV.

[fretn]

Why is my comment inapropriate?

It is a fact that most people in Africa are not that used to electronics as us.
please state your point?
Am i being racist in any kind of way?

(ps i heard this from a FA)

Well if that's true I really believe you as FA's are the first people (exept of other pax)to see who and when they broke a PTV.

And it was only for economy.

[sn26567]

An interesting comparison between AF and SN on flights to Africa (sorry, French only, but nevertheless very interesting):

http://www.pagtour.net/article-Air-Fran ... -1620.html

The comparison is not in favour of SN:

• AF has more destinations in Africa
• AF has direct flights, whereas SN has triangular or W flights
• AF has 4 classes, SN only 2
• AF is cheaper out of Brussels (even when including first class TGV between Brussels and CDG). Strangely enough, AF is more expensive to Africa out of CDG than out of BRU. SN is probably playing the same trick out of Paris!

[MAM]

AF is cheaper out of Brussels (even when including first class TGV between Brussels and CDG). Strangely enough, AF is more expensive to Africa out of CDG than out of BRU. SN is probably playing the same trick out of Paris!

This is to attract pax from France to choose for SN and pax from Belgium to choose for AF in order to fly to Africa. It's a simple marketing trick

[SmilingBoy]

[*]AF is cheaper out of Brussels (even when including first class TGV between Brussels and CDG). Strangely enough, AF is more expensive to Africa out of CDG than out of BRU. SN is probably playing the same trick out of Paris![/list]

This is absolute standard pricing in the airline industry. You always pay a premium for non-stop flights.

[sn-remember]

Might be off-topic to post this,
but a experienced tripreporter on airliners.net has just posted a trip report about brussels airlines from Kinhasa to Brussels, and it was his best flight EVER up to date.
Good job Brussels Airlines!

(here's the link, quite decent and it shows the SN business class in all it's glory)
http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forum ... in/165613/

i really suggest yo read this!

/Off-topic

Very nice trip report
Thank you for sharing fretn !
Thumbs up for SN long haul product (what about Y is not reported)
Keep up the good job !

Just a suggestion ..
Why would SN not publish this report on their face book fan page if they have any ? (as 9W did)
(Quote from comments about a similar trip report on 9W)

Quoting Nimish (Reply 17):
Alex - super report, it's heartwarming to read of the crew trying to make the flight truly comfortable. BTW, the URL for this report was posted by 9W on their Facebook fan page, that's how I chanced upon it when I did.

[regi]

the second but last picture showed "Batangu Surgery"
Imagine you have a appendicitis ...

A question difficult to answer is:
Must Brussels Airlines continue activities to places where its customers have to undergo the most unbelievable treatments and humiliations during airport presence ? ( I don't talk about the rest of the country and legislation )
The report didn't really criticise it, the check inn was done by an agency.

My point is: if SNBA can not prevent this maltreatment of its own passengers during its own operations ( check inn for example ) , can we call SNBA an accomplice of this?

But I do realize that it is probably a matter of "take it or leave it"

And the profit margin...

[Bralo20]

IATA S10 has started... Anyone an idea when we can expect the new codeshares with the TATL *A partners?

[RoMax]

IATA S10 has started... Anyone an idea when we can expect the new codeshares with the TATL *A partners?

In the new timetable you can download on the BRU website or find it at the airport itself, there is only the UA and US codeshares on SN operated flights mentionned. So no AC, CO and SN codeshares on UA, US, AC, CO operated flights: so the timetable isn't complete (yet).
But to give you an idea: US codeshare on something like 50 destinations (all 18 AFI included), UA codeshares on more than 40 destinations (also all 18 AFI included). I was suprised about the amount of US codeshares as they only mentionned something like 20 destinations in their press release.

As the AA codeshares ended yesterday/today, I think we don't have to wait to long anymore before SN will make something official. US said in their press relaese the bookings could start around 7(3?) April if the codeshare is aproved by the autorities. So I suppose SN will announce the new codeshares this week?

[Sabena320]

And today was the launch of the second United flight to ORD, operated by 763. Some photos can be found here: http://www.flightlevel.be/1483/eerste-u ... d-een-feit

As from April, SN will codeshare on this route according to the Vice-President of United.

[Bralo20]

Codeshare news:

United Airlines on Brussels Airlines: UA9908-UA9999
No specific flights loaded yet, range reserved for SN operated flights.

Brussels Airlines on United Airlines: SN8801-SN88xx

SN8801/2: IAD/LAS
SN8803/4: ORD

No further flights loaded yet

UA/SN codeshares will become effective on 06APR2010.

No US, CO or AC codeshares found/loaded yet.

[Conti764]

Codeshare news:

United Airlines on Brussels Airlines: UA9908-UA9999
No specific flights loaded yet, range reserved for SN operated flights.

Brussels Airlines on United Airlines: SN8801-SN88xx

SN8801/2: IAD/LAS
SN8803/4: ORD

No further flights loaded yet

UA/SN codeshares will become effective on 06APR2010.

No US, CO or AC codeshares found/loaded yet.

How come the CO flight to EWR was announced with a codeshare from SN at the flight information screens in the airport a few weeks ago? If I remember correctly, it was announced as SN8005/6

[airbuske]

The codeshares with Continental Airlines and Air Canada are being developed.

Brussels Airlines with put their SN code on 42 US Airways destinations as from the 7th of April
and on 34 destinations as from the 5th of May.

US Airways will puth their code on several european and african flights.