16.12.2025
Stay in contact with your family or office on Scandinavian Airlines long-haul flights
Effective March 2005, Scandinavian Airlines will be the first airline in the world to be able to offer its passengers the possibility to connect to the Internet onboard using wireless broadband on all of the airline's long-haul aircraft. This possibility is already available on two Airbus 340 aircraft that serve Scandinavian Airlines intercontinental destinations and as of mid-February it will be available on all flights to Asia and Seattle.

The service, SAS Net Access, is available throughout the cabin and is provided by the company Connexion by Boeing. The cost is USD 29.95 for an entire flight or USD 9.95 for 30 minutes plus 25 cents for each additional minute. Members of SAS EuroBonus can pay for the service using points, but it is also possible to use most credit cards.

Since the connection is wireless, it requires that the computer being connected has a network card that enables wireless connections (WLAN) and which supports as a minimum the standards 802.11a, b or g. Those who connect to their company's internal networks using VPN (Virtual Private Network) will be able to do so onboard. PC power outlets are already available for passengers traveling in Business Class and Economy Flex.

"We want to be able to offer our customers choices for their journeys. The customer must have the possibility to use the time on board for such activities as working, stay in contact with friends and family or relaxing. When new technology enables it, it is our ambition to be one of the first to meet the customer's needs," says Lars Lindgren, Head of Scandinavian Airlines International.

14.12.2025
The Star Alliance Network Launches Global Interline E-Ticket
Star Alliance announced the launch of its global interline e-ticket product. Following an extensive testing schedule, interline e-ticket is now being rolled out across the member carriers. Air Canada and Lufthansa was the first pair to launch in November. ANA and United are coming online this month, with Air Canada and Air New Zealand due in January. In addition to these launches, the following Star Alliance member carriers already offer interline e-ticket:

• Air Canada - Lufthansa - United
• Austrian - Lufthansa
• Lufthansa - Scandinavian Airlines
• Scandinavian Airlines - Spanair
• United -US Airways

All other e-ticket pairings will become live as part of the Star Alliance global interline e-ticket roll out, which will be completed by the end of August 2005. At that point customers can travel across the entire Star Alliance Network using one single e-ticket.

From a technical standpoint, all the information contained on a paper ticket is stored in an electronic form in an airline’s e-ticket database. The crucial part is exchanging this e-ticket information with other airline systems, through an agreed message format. Using the Star Alliance infrastructure, StarNet, one single standard has been developed for exchanging e-ticket information between the individual member carrier’s systems. The advantage of this, versus individual bilateral links, is that new members or changes in the system can be integrated more easily and quickly.

“Global interline electronic ticketing is a further example of how Star Alliance can help reduce complexity, while at the same time improve customer service and drive down costs for our member carriers”, said Jaan Albrecht, CEO, Star Alliance.

With interline electronic ticketing, frequent fliers no longer have to worry about waiting for tickets to arrive by post, queuing to collect tickets at a counter, nor can tickets get lost. Furthermore, travelling on e-tickets also speeds up check-in and boarding.
For the member carriers, electronic ticketing allows them to lower their distribution costs. According to IATA, ticketing costs for a paper ticket average between seven and nine US Dollars, whereas an electronic ticket only averages two US Dollars. Moreover, it also simplifies many of the airport processes as well as revenue accounting which also lower costs.

Star Alliance was established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance to offer customers global reach and a smooth travel experience. The members are Air Canada, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, bmi, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Spanair, Thai Airways International, United, US Airways and VARIG Brazilian Airlines. The member carriers offer more than 14,000 daily flights, serving 772 destinations in 133 countries.