British Airways - BAW

Until quite recently I flew weekly from London to Copenhagen, and back. At first, as a patriotic Brit, I wanted to use BA. Then I realised it offered me nothing. SAS is much better... (All these comments relate to trips to and from Copenhagen).

First as a holder of discounted economy tickets I would get precisely NO air miles/executive member points even flying every week - discounted tickets don't count for this on BA. SAS (Skandinavian Airlines) on the otherhand give you points whatever type of ticket you use, independent of whether they're discounted or not (you get double points in Business class).

Second, and I know this is petty, but that's why it iritates me, on SAS they have a generous stand of UK and Danish/Swedish newspapers outside the plane for you to pick up as you board - i.e. first come first served, independent of class. On BA, they wheel a trolley around business class and economy gets nothing (normally). For 35p per paper, that's unbelieveably mean.

Thirdly, BA staff have an air of "we are BA, we are too important to serve the likes of you, you know nothing". Difficult to put a finger on exactly what this is, but it's definitely there, and it gets me down. For example, the safetly announcements are always patronising and irritating beyond believe, as though passengers genuinely are stupid and know nothing. I rarely get irritated with SAS in the same way - maybe this is because with my limited understanding of Danish, or their (very good) second-language use of English, any patronising tones get lost? I don't know, but I don't think so.

Fourthly, and this is also petty, the bread you get on BA is sealed in a plastic bag (probably in a "protective atmosphere") so that is can be weeks old and you wouldn't notice. Either way, it's grim. On SAS however, you get wonderful hot/warm fresh bread, which is really tasty.

Finally, BA flies to Copenhagen from Terminal 1 at Heathrow, which sucks big-time. It's a dreadful terminal - checking in is a nightmare. SAS flies from Terminal 3, which is much better and more organised from a check-in perspective.

Oh, and SAS is also cheaper.