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A good sale to Vilnius

The $655 fare includes one checked bag each way.

The $585 fare is a Basic Economy / Economy Light fare with restrictions. Scandinavian Airlines Basic Economy / Economy Light fares

• DO NOT include checked bags – they are $60 each way if you buy 22 hours before checkin. It will be $120 at airport checkin
• DO NOT allow for changes
• DO NOT allow for cancellations – so if you cancel after the 24 hour risk free period, the Basic Economy version will have no value for future purchase
• Most online travel agencies are not displaying Scandinavian Airlines Basic Economy / Economy Light fares as such.

Vilnius, Lithuania – Photo: aivas14 via Flickr, used under Creative Commons License (By 2.0)

Sample Travel Date:

• This is just ONE SAMPLE travel date, for more availability, please follow the “Fare Availability” and “How to Search for Availability” instructions below

Fare Availability:

• Valid for travel from late October – early December or late January 2024 – mid February 2024. A Sunday stay required. Availability is limited. Must purchase at least 28 days in advance of departure

• Please note that while this fare is valid at time of posting, if this post is more than two days old, the fare is likely gone.

How to Search for Availability:

• This is just to search for availability. To buy your tickets, scroll down to “How to Buy” section of this post

• Use Matrix Airfare Search by ITA Software and use the following search criteria:
  • Origin: SFO
  • Origin Advanced Routing Code:
    • Routing Codes: sk sk
    • Extension Codes: maxconnect 300
      • This is instructing Matrix Airfare Search by ITA Software to search for the Basic Economy fare. Use those dates on Scandinavian and you will be presented with the option to upgrade to the regular economy fare.
  • Destination:  VNO
  • Return Advanced Routing Code:
    • Routing Codes: sk sk
    • Extension Codes: maxconnect 300
  • (Click on Advanced Codes link to enable advanced routing code input)
  • Select “See calendar of lowest fares”
  • Duration “3-10” (This is just a sample, you can use any 7 day date range like 3-10, 7-14 etc)
• Beginner’s Guide on How to Use Matrix by ITA Software
• How to Read Airfare Rules and Use It to Your Advantage

• The Matrix Airfare Search by ITA Software search page should be like below when all values are inputted

• You cannot buy tickets using Matrix Airfare Search by ITA Software. To buy, follow our instructions in the “How to Buy” section below.

Fare Class:

Routing:

• SFO – CPH (Copenhagen)  – VNO (Vilnius) – CPH – SFO

Stopover:

Mileage:

Scandinavian Airlines is a member of the Star Alliance and United partner. Mileage earning with United is as follows:

• Miles Flown: 11,944 miles or 4.9 cents per mile (Basic Economy) / 5.5 cents per mile (Regular Economy)
• Redeemable Miles: 5,972 miles

How to Buy:

• Book on Scandinavian with dates found on Matrix Airfare Search by ITA Software .

Accommodations

• TripAdvisor – One of the leading hotel meta-search engines. Find the lowest hotel prices from 200+ sites.

Car Rentals

• Rental Cars – One of the world’s leading car rental agencies. Includes all the major brands like Hertz, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise etc.

Activities and Tours

• Viator – The world’s largest marketplace for destination activities and tours

Background Information:

• Visa: US Citizens – Not required. Other nationals, check the TIMATIC Visa Database
• Currency: Euro (EUR). $1USD = 0.92 EUR

Tips for saving when using credit cards at international destinations:

For more of the latest cheap San Francisco / Bay Area Flight Deals:

* The Flight Deal will receive a commission if you use the Priceline, accommodation, car rental, activities, or travel insurance affiliate links to make a booking or apply and is approved for a credit card using our link above. Thank you for your continuing support.

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The Flight Deal does not sell travel products or services. We provide you with information about third-party travel suppliers’ offers, and link you to their sites. The information posted by The Flight Deal is valid at the time of publication. However, we have no control over the suppliers, and we therefore do not warrant or guarantee that their offers will not change or become unavailable. Nor are we responsible for their products, services or site content. Please see their sites for their most up-to-date offer information and all applicable terms and conditions.

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information.

If you’re considering applying for the American Express® Gold Card, odds are you may have been drawn in by the incredible rewards for foodies – 4 Membership Rewards points per dollar on dining at restaurants.

The big picture highlights of the Amex Gold make it a great card — from the up to $240 in annual statement credits that almost entirely offset the $250 annual fee (see rates and fees) to the 4 point per dollar bonus categories, which TPG values at an 8% return on spending.

Enrollment is required.

While the Amex Gold Card isn’t as weighed down with perks and benefits as some of its premium competition, it offers some solid and underrated perks that help seal the deal. Here are four of our favorites.

While Amex opts for a more restrictive travel bonus category than Chase (only offering 3 points per dollar on flights booked directly with the airline or through Amex Travel), they do include a hotel-specific benefit that carried over from the old version of the Amex Gold Card.

When you use your Gold Card to book hotels through The Amex Hotel Collection, you’ll earn 2 points per dollar and enjoy an up to $100 property credit and space-available room upgrades on stays of two nights or longer. This might be a good option if you don’t have a card that gives more bonus points for hotel bookings. And on short, cheap, stays, the up to $100 property credit can be a pretty serious rebate.

Related: Everything you need to know about The Hotel Collection

Baggage insurance is one of those perks, especially since some airlines do a surprisingly poor job of remembering to put bags on the plane.

If you purchase the entire fare of your common carrier ticket with your Amex Gold Card, you’ll be eligible for up to $1,250 in reimbursement if your carry-on bag is lost, stolen or damaged, and up to $500 if it’s your checked bag.*

There are two important things to point out here, the first being that there’s no insurance for luggage delay. The second is that you must purchase the entire ticket with your card to be eligible, so simply paying taxes on an award ticket would not count.

This fits well with the bonus categories on the card, as anything other than purchasing the full fare (directly with the airline or through Amex Travel) will only earn you a meager one point per dollar.

*Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

Related: Everything you need to know about Amex’s baggage insurance plan

If you charge a rental car to your Amex Gold Card and decline the collision damage waiver at the counter, Amex will cover you if your car is damaged or stolen.**

This is secondary coverage that kicks in after and in addition to your own personal policy, and there are exclusions to be aware of.

For instance, rentals in Australia, Italy and New Zealand are not covered, certain types of ATVs, limousines, and exotic cars are excluded, and coverage only applies for the first 30 days of the rental. This also does not insure against injury to you, your passengers or others, or against property damage.

**Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered, and geographic restrictions apply. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

Related: Best cards for car rental insurance

The Amex Gold Card also comes with a variety of purchase protections. For example, if you drop your recently bought (in the last 90 days) phone, you may be eligible for up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per calendar year to replace lost, stolen or damaged items.***

You’ll also enjoy extended warranty protection when you use your Gold Card for a purchase. You can get up to one extra year added to a manufacturer’s warranty of 5 years or less. Terms and conditions apply.***

***Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

Related: Review of the Amex Gold

You might not be aware of other perks, such as free 2-day shipping when you enroll with Shoprunner and preferred seating at concerts. Many of the perks listed here are not unique to the Amex Gold Card and probably won’t tip the scale one way or another to decide whether this card is right for you.

They really act as a secondary reward; if you make a financial commitment to American Express, they’ll reciprocate and help you out when your travel plans go off the rail or your expenses unexpectedly surge for a month. Most of these perks will sit quietly in the background, and if you’re lucky, you’ll never need them. But if and when things go wrong, knowing what you’re entitled to can help save you a nice chunk of change.

Apply for the Amex Gold with 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on the card in the first six months of card membership.

Check the CardMatch Tool to see if you’re targeted for a 60k-75k-point Gold Card offer. These offers are subject to change at any time.

However, you might be able to earn a higher welcome offer through a friend or loved one’s referral link through June 7.

Additional reporting by Emily Thompson and Chris Dong.

For rates and fees of the American Express Gold Card, please click here.

While passengers suing airlines is pretty common, this has to be one of the most bizarre instances, as reported by PYOK.

EL AL faces business class seat lawsuit

An EL AL customer is suing the Israeli national airline over an incident that happened on October 23, 2022, on a flight from Tel Aviv (TLV) to New York (JFK). According to a lawsuit filed in New York, a “gentleman of advanced age” (as the lawsuit describes it) got stuck in a business class seat and a flight attendant had to pull him free, leading to serious injuries.

Lawyers for the man are arguing that the airline should be held accountable under the Montreal Convention, as flight attendants didn’t properly explain to the passenger how he could safely recline his seat.

According to the lawsuit, the traveler became stuck in the seat as it was being reclined. A flight attendant then had to “forcibly” free him, resulting in an injury that has caused “great pain, agony, and mental anguish.” He has now reportedly had to spend money on medical treatments for the injuries he sustained during the flight.

The Montreal Convention holds airlines responsible for any injuries that passengers sustain, unless it can be proven that it was due to the customer’s negligence.

For context, this flight was operated by an EL AL Boeing 787, featuring fully flat beds in business class with direct aisle access (you can read my review of the product here).

How can you get injured in a business class seat?!

Admittedly business class airline seats can be pretty complex nowadays. They typically cost tens of thousands of dollars to produce (or even more than that), and have several motorized functions that can be complicated to use. It can be easy to get small objects stuck in the seats and then damaged, whether it’s a smartphone or a pair of glasses.

But I can’t wrap my head around this situation. How do you get your body stuck in a business class seat, to the point that you’re seriously injured? It sounds like the passenger was reclining his seat when this happened. Did the passenger have some awful pre-existing injury, and/or how bad were the injuries he sustained on the flight?

The Montreal Convention of course puts the burden on airlines to ensure that passengers don’t get hurt. This should be an interesting case when it comes to deciding where exactly the line is drawn for negligence. Millions of people manage to use airplane seats every single day without injury, so what made this situation so different?

Bottom line

A “gentleman of advanced age” is suing EL AL after he got stuck in a business class seat on a flight from Tel Aviv to New York. A flight attendant allegedly had to “forcibly” free him, leading to injuries that required medical treatment. This whole situation has caused “great pain, agony, and mental anguish.”

There are more questions than answers when it comes to this situation, and I’m curious to see how this case plays out.

What do you make of this EL AL business class seat situation?

Low-cost carrier Vueling has been fined by Catalonian labor inspectors in Spain after the airline was criticised over its treatment of female cabin crew members.

According to local reports, female cabin crew members were instructed by the Spanish airline to wear high heels and makeup while on duty.

The case was brought to the attention of the Catalan government’s labor and workers department by the workers union STAVLA, which was representing the cabin crew members.

Spanish publication, El Periódico reported that female flight attendants were not allowed to wear “artificial-length or looking” eyelash extensions and if lipstick was worn, it must be a “low-key” shade.

Female members of staff were reportedly instructed to apply a foundation that matches their skin tone and only permitted to use black mascara.

The heels on female flight attendants’ shoes were also required to measure between two and three inches.

In contrast, male crew members were simply told to maintain a “clean and neat appearance” and were not instructed by the airline on choice of footwear.

The airline was fined $33,000 and told it could still maintain a business image in a “less burdensome and more balanced way, without affecting the fundamental rights” of workers.

Vueling has the right to appeal the Catalan government’s decision.

According to Newsweek, Vueling is currently looking at its options in the wake of the fine and the airline has been reviewing its style guide.

Vueling forms part of the International Airlines Group (IAG) along with British Airways, Aer Lingus and Iberia.

AeroTime has contacted Vueling and STAVLA for comment.

DALLAS – South American Ultra low-cost carrier JetSMART Airlines (JA) has revealed that it is no longer interested in purchasing Columbia-based Ultra Air (U0), and the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two airlines has been canceled. 

Ultra Air is a low-cost carrier based at José María Córdova International Airport (MDE) that operates ten domestic routes. In recent months, U0 has been struggling financially, so an acquisition would make sense for both airlines as JetSMART could add more services to Columbia and use Ultra Air’s existing infrastructure. 

JA had planned on purchasing U0 to create a larger footprint in Columbia. Now JetSMART will try to obtain a license to create its own airline in Columbia. Aerocivil, the Columbian aviation regulator, recently approved JetSMART to operate 27 domestic routes in Columbia. Utilising its Airbus A320 fleet, it plans on using Bogota El Dorado International Airport (BOG) as its central hub to launch operations.

About JetSMART

JetSMART is owned by US-based investment fund Indigo Partners which also owns European-based Wizz Air (W6), Mexico-based Volaris (Y4), and US-based Frontier Airlines (F9). Indigo Partners has previously stated that it was looking into acquiring Ultra Air. However, JetSMART commented that “diverse factors” triggered JetSMART to review the acquisition. 

Since its establishment in 2017, JetSMART has grown its presence across South America. It operates over 79 routes across the continent with a fleet of Airbus A320 family aircraft. The airline also has over 100 Airbus aircraft on order, expected to be delivered by 2027. 

Delta Propels the Future of Flight Training

This past Tuesday, Delta Air Lines announced a new pathway to the flight deck via the Delta Propel Flight Academy. In partnership with Skyborne Aviation Academy, who is located in Vero Beach, Fla., the carrier will offer a route for aviators to progress from student pilots to a commercial pilot for the airline. The program is currently accepting applications with a slated start in June of this year. 

Students wishing to participate in the pathway program will be eligible to apply to Propel after completing their first certificate or rating with Skyborne. If accepted into the Propel Pathway, applicants will receive a conditional job offer and follow the progression path of the program. 

Similar to United Aviate Acadamy in Arizona, the Atlanta-based carrier will have student pilots trained from student to flight instructor, and then offered employment with Skyborne to work as a flight instructor until they reach their required flight time of 1500 hours to progress to flying an airliner. Participants will then have the option to fly for one of Delta’s regional affiliates: Endeavor Air, Republic Airways or SkyWest Airlines. After completing the required service requirements at a connection partner, participants will flow to Delta in 42 months or less. 

ATP flight school estimates the cost to start from zero hours to a commercial pilot with flight instructor certificates to be just under $97,000 — a large sum of money to commit at the start of a career. Skyborne breaks down the cost for Porpel academy to be $83,955, plus housing and required extras, bringing the total to $92,064.

Delta understands the hardship faced by the large cost upfront, so the major carrier is offering $20,000 in financial support to eligible student pilots. Additionally, the airline will cover the cost of interest on student loans from select lenders, helping students cover the investment in their careers. The program is expected to take students from zero hours to flight instructors in one year. 

Skyborne’s facility is in Vero Beach, Fla. where weather is conducive to flight training year-round. The flight school operates a fleet of 50 aircraft consisting of Piper Warriors, Arrows and Seminoles. The school boasts a newly renovated 12,000-square-foot training facility on its campus. By establishing this partnership, Skyborne will see an uptick in students flowing through their program and an influx of flight instructors who will be working for the school after completing their training. The partnership also affords Delta the opportunity to have pilots trained at an already well-established school beginning in a mere couple of months. 

The Propel Pathway was established in 2018 by Delta to, as the company states, “select and develop the next generation of pilots.” The program has now four established pathways through Company, College, Community and most recently Propel Flight Academy. So far, the program has generated 100 pilots to Delta flight decks, with another 700 in the program flying for regional partners or at other stages in the program. Along with flying for Delta’s regional partners, participants of the program also have career progression options of flying for Wheels Up or flying military aircraft for the Air National Guard or Reserves.  

Delta is the most recent major U.S. airline to announce a flight program affiliated with their company. United Airlines operates its own in-house Aviate Academy in Arizona, and American Airlines has Cadet Academy in partnership with flight schools like CAE and other partners in Arizona, California, Oklahoma and Texas.

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