Sabena Airlines?
 

We're considering a trip from Washington DC to Brussels on Sabena, and are interested in experiences on that airline. I've checked the archives, but would like more recent information than I found there. <BR>Thanks!

Flew it a few years ago (1995) to Brussels. I didn't find it to be anything special, but I didn't have any negative experiences really. I would use them again. The only thing I found a little odd on this particular flight was the persistence of the crew in preventing cabin passengers from using the restroom up in First Class. They even put up a rope. I have never encountered this on another plane.

If you can take advantage of Sabena's package deals, then do it, because they are generally pretty good. Otherwise, you may want to look into less expensive alternatives. I have a friend at the Belgian embassy who says that he and his colleagues, more often than not, don't fly Sabena to Belgium because they are usually pretty pricey.

Anne: I saw those great fares from DC to Brussels on Sabena too and was wondering the same thing! Very tempting. If you go, let us know how Sabena was -- no one I know has ever flown them.

I have flown Sabena and didn't mind it at all. The service was friendly and the flights were on time. We actually flew on to Vienna and found that it was the cheapest far around.

<BR>We flew Sabena from N.Y. to Brussels several years ago and we still refer to it as the best flight we have ever had to Europe. The service was excellent -- even the food was good. Hope you have as good an experience as we did!!

We had a bad experience on a cancelled Sabena flight from Brussels to Boston. Thought they handled the cancellation and rebooking VERY poorly. Eventually got home but more based on our initiative then their assistance. Because of cancellation, we actually never flew with them but we would be wary. Obviously others have had better luck.

Zagat's rating (a compilation of individual travellers' experiences) for Sabena is 18. For reference, British Airways is 22, Virgin 23, Air France 21, Lufthansa 22, KLM 22. <BR>US carriers: United, American, Delta all 18. TWA 17.

Thanks for all your input. I think we'll go for it - can't beat DC-Brussels for $330 for this time of year!

Definitely go for it! I flew on Sabena last March to Paris, with a stopover in Brussels. The flight attendants were very nice, the food was good, and they showed two movies on our way flying back from Brussels to Chicago. The price also couldn't be beat. I would fly Sabena again in an instant. Have fun!

Hello Anne, I have to agree with some of the other post. I flew from Atlanta to Italy on Delta, with a stop over in Brussels. The Brussels to Linate flight was on Sabena and it was okay. Coming home it was completly a Sabena flight, and we had some delays and the food was just okay, considering we hadn't had time to eat before we left the hotel. But, in retrospect for the price I have to say I have received worse service in the US on Continential. I would fly Sabena again if the fare was right, where as nothing would get me back on Continential.

We have flown Sabena three times this year. To Brussels, Paris and Italy out of Cincinnati. Excellent prices. Excellent service.

Sabena also offers special fares inside Europe -- a kind of "airpass." It's a good way to get around Europe. You can fly from one city to another -- anywhere Sabena goes -- for as little as $99. Lufthansa has the same thing, called a Eurofare. And so does BA. But you have to ask for it.

I travel 3-4 times a year to Europe. This past July I flew Sabena from Montreal to Brussels and then Brussels to Newark. Both flights were excellent. They were not packed (and this was during the height of the tourist season) and the service was among the best I have ever had. The flight attendants could not have been better (yes sir. of course, sir.)