Norwegian removes flex tickets ahead of possible SAS strike – NRK Nordland

Communications consultant Ellen Heijn Skari of Norway confirmed to NRK that at around 3pm on Friday they decided to stop selling Flex tickets.

– Scary says the consequences are that people don’t show up and we go with empty planes.

This applies to holidays and leisure trips, to Spain, Split and France.

Norwegian removed ticket category

On Thursday, SAS pilot unions handed over redundant SAS pilots to nearly 900 pilots in Norway, Sweden and Denmark.

If the mediation attempt is unsuccessful, it will begin to strike from June 29.

After that, thousands of passengers will be affected. According to TT, there will be 250 departures and 45,000 passengers per day.

Fearing to miss the summer vacation, many passengers took action.

Many of them booked an airline ticket twice for fear that their flight with SAS would be canceled in the event of a strike.

“In the past 24 hours, there has been an additional increase in sales of our more flexible tickets, Flex, especially for departures after June 28, which may indicate double bookings,” said Gret Roald, Norwegian Director of Communications at the time.

She noted that they do not have a large surplus of tickets this summer.

– So we hope it’s not the case that a lot of people like seats that they end up not using, which in turn leads to others not being allowed to travel at all.

But then the airline turned around. They have removed the opportunity to purchase flexible tickets.

We are affected by the uncertainty surrounding the SAS Traffic Program. So we are now choosing to remove this ticket category in some destinations – including in France, Spain and Croatia, says communications consultant Eileen Heijn Skari.

Don’t think there will be a strike

Fellesforbundet will meet employers at the NHO Luftfart in Ombudsman on Monday 20 June, with a deadline being midnight on the same day.

It is not certain that the dispute will be resolved if the pilots are satisfied.

In addition, there is mediation for aircraft workers, which includes ground crews such as aircraft technicians, mechanics, housekeepers, drivers, and cleaners.

However, Hans-Jürgen Elnas, aircraft analyst at Winair AS, is not entirely sure of a strike.

I think there is a greater chance of no strike, than of a strike. Especially now that Denmark has said it will take a larger stake in SAS, says Elnæs.

He points out that there are many who can leave their beard in the mailbox if they book twice.

– If you buy non-refundable tickets and there is no strike in SAS, you will suddenly get 2 tickets. Then you are likely to experience a ticket loss that you are not used to.

Bad business of airlines

But the aircraft analyst stresses that SAS has been informed that it will cancel 4,000 routes in the May-August/September period because it is short on crew and not all of the aircraft it is supposed to have have been delivered.

– How might it affect the aviation market that people buy double tickets for one destination?

– It would be bad business for airlines who will cancel new bookings afterwards.

For example, if a lot of flexible tickets are booked with Norwegian and it turns out at the end of June that there will be no strike at SAS and the market chooses to cancel many of the Norwegian tickets, the trip analyst explains.

– Then Norwegian has a challenge to sell those tickets at the end of July.

Could there be a shortage of tickets in the market?

– In case of increased demand, prices naturally rise. Technical solutions are used to ensure that you get the most out of your best-selling ticket. Eventually, says Elnæs, the planes were sold.

For those sitting on the fence, it is advised to pay close attention to the media and information from the airlines.

Rights apply regardless

The Consumer Council reminds people that the rights you have when flights are canceled or delayed also apply in the event of a strike.

You have the right to rebook, says Thomas Iverson, senior legal advisor at the Consumer Council.

– Your rights are the same. If the flight is cancelled, you have the right to rebook as soon as possible, or you can choose to get your money back.

This also applies if the delay is more than five hours.

Compensation does not occur if cancellation or delay is due to circumstances beyond the Company’s control – such as bad weather or airspace restrictions.

– Iverson says a strike in your company is not such a circumstance.

The obvious advice from the Consumer Council is to use a credit card when booking airline tickets.

If the airline has problems with payment, the customer will be able to get a refund from the card company.

It can be a meager consolation for those who may not embark on the much-anticipated journey south.

Consumer Council has one Internet service Which helps in calculating compensation.