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was my first time flying with SAS, Scandinavian Airlines System. This
airline is a cooperation of three countries in Scandinavia, Denmark,
Sweden and Norway. The flight to Copenhagen started in Singapore via
Bangkok. It departed from Bangkok at 00.20, whilethe airport were
congested, as many flights departed for European destinations at this
peak hour.
I
arrived at the check-in desk at 22.00. And the desk was opened already.
But I didn’t have to wait in a long queue at all, since there
were not many people waiting for checking-in. Thai Airways staffs
ran the check-in procedure under cooperation and control with some
SAS own staffs. The Thai Airways staffs were nice. The check-in
process didn’t take long. Beside this manual check-in by person,
SAS also offers an automated self-service system for fast and convenient
check-in. I took my boarding pass and my passport back, and I got
a window seat as I wished. Actually I had already done it since
I bought the ticket. The agency fixed it up for me.
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SAS
usually had flights from Singapore to Copenhagen via Bangkok almost
everyday in summer schedule. This flight is usually operated on airbus
A340-300, one of them biggest wide body carrier that SAS has in their
fleet. Before SAS used Boeing 767 on this route. But they have replaced
this airbus 343 since early 2001. This aircraft is such a exciting
thing for me, like my new toy, because on SAS A343 a small own private
TV screen is put in every seat in economy class. So passengers can
enjoy this toy during their stay on board. At
around 23.30 I was ready to board the aircraft. So they were ready
also. As I arrived at the boarding gate, the staffs have already started
boarding passengers. Both SAS |
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Thai Airways officers ran boarding procedure. After
getting through boarding control I walked straight to the aircraft,
where I met nice and friendly cabin crews welcoming passengers nicely
at the door, and were helpful leading them to their seats. Personally
I admire them, because they look smart in their simply well designed
uniform. I have heard that their former uniforms designed by Calvin
Klein but I have no idea about these current ones. But they look nice
anyway. After having found my seat and storing my stuff at the compartment
above, then I seated peacefully next to an Asian girl, who was going
to accompany me on this plane for about 10 hours. She looked like
Asian, but with a little bit of Indian mix, which I knew later that
she is from Bhutan, going to Denmark for studying. My seat was relatively
far in the rare section cabin. |
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Economy
class cabin on A340-300 |
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After
being seated I started to try the new toy in front of me –a
private screen. This toy offers many entertainment menus, like various
music channels, some movie channels and games. Beside those main entertainments,
an air-show is still offered. By two cameras, one downward and one
forward, you can keep tracking your travel during take-off, cruising
and landing. But technically I couldn’t see anything, as we
flown in the night, so the only thing I saw through the cameras was
nothing but darkness. But at least passengers could enjoy it while
the plane was taking off. It was so beautiful getting to see thousands
tiny light spots from the sky above, I think. Also, passengers can
track where they are during the flight also. There is one menu offers
map overview of the flight route to the destination. I really enjoyed
them, I didn’t watch any movies during the flight. |
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Flight started on
time. After plane getting stable on its cruising level crew started their
service by first distributing traveller kits, which contain eyeshade,
earplugs, small toothbrush and toothpaste in a nice simply Scandinavian
design plastic bag for economy class passengers. And also the menus during
the whole flight were also distributed to passengers.
On SAS intercontinental
flight has three classes –business class, economy extra class and
economy class. I guess everyone knows how does business class look like.
In Economy Extra class on SAS flight seats are wider than in economy class.
But foods are the same as in economy class. Therefore the ticket fare
is a little more expensive than economy class and a little cheaper than
business class.
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Food
served on my flight was Roasted Chicken with Noodle Salad, followed
by traditional airlines coffee and tea. The food was acceptable, as
I had no expectation for a delicate food. After all food trays were
collected after the night meal. Crews still walked along the aisles
and offered some beverages. Not too long after they had done their
entire job enthusiastically. The cabin light was off. So passengers
were allowed to sleep. Some were still reading book with their own
small light above their heads. But for me, I was enjoying the music
and the trip tracking. But after a while I also felt asleep.
I
was waked up again by the sound from the galley. I guessed the crew
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were
preparing the breakfast. I slowly opened the window shield, as I didn’t
want to disturb other passengers who were still sleeping. The morning
sunshine at 30000 feet was very strong. The cabin was still dark.
After the girl next to me woke up, I excused her to go to toilet.
And after coming back we had a small chat, so that’s why I knew
where she is from. Not so long after I woke up the cabin light was
turned on again. The entire crew were working on their morning service
by serving water and hot towels first. And then followed by warm bread.
The breakfast was omelette with tomatoes. Butter, cheese, dessert,
fruits and juice were served together in the tray, then again with
traditional coffee or tea. After all foods were collected crew began
to sale in-flight duty free goods. |
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about two hours after breakfast we should land in Copenhagen. Finally
at 6.00 we landed in Copenhagen with a quite nice weather in Copenhagen,
but a little bit cold that morning. Plane didn’t have to wait
for taxiing to the parking position, as it was first arrival of the
day at Copenhagen Kastrup airport. After the aircraft stopped at the
parking position ground staffs began their work outside, passengers
slowly began to embark the aircraft while friendly crews said goodbye
to them at the door, and hoping to see us on board again. I also hoped
to see them on board again. This trip impressed me much. |
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| Try
It's Scandinavian service here |
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Trip
to Sweden 1 |
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