BACKGROUND Founded in 1962, Denmark-based (but Icelandic-owned) Sterling started life as a traditional carrier. Over the past 45 years it has worn many faces and changed hands on several occasions. It wasn’t until 2002 – under Norwegian ownership – that it developed into Scandinavia’s first low-cost airline. Last January, Sterling was purchased by the FL Group, which now controls its daily operations. The carrier operates flights out of three main Scandinavian hubs (Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm) to major European cities, including Amsterdam, Rome, Nice and Brussels.
All three hubs serve London Gatwick, where flights can also be taken to two further Danish destinations, Aalborg and Billund. In addition, Sterling operates services from both Nottingham and Edinburgh to Copenhagen and Stockholm, while flights to Oslo are also available out of Nottingham.
CHECK-IN I arrived at Gatwick’s South Terminal at 1755 for a 1940 flight, the last of Sterling’s three daily departures to Copenhagen. I was delighted to find four check-in desks open in Zone H, with friendly staff and no other passengers, and also to have the luxury of choosing my seat instead of being assigned a boarding group. The queue for security looked as horrendous as ever but was fast-moving, and I was airside within 20 minutes of arriving. (On my return journey, there was a huge queue for check-in at Copenhagen airport, but the self-service terminals – which Sterling shares with other airlines such as Alitalia – worked perfectly, and the baggage drop took about five minutes.)
BOARDING The boarding time was originally given as 1910 but the gate wasn’t called until 1920 and we were finally called at 1950.
THE SEAT If you were wondering where Sterling has saved its kroner, look no further than the interiors. On the outward journey, the blue seats were ancient and frankly tatty, with minimal padding and coffee-stained seat-back trays. Those on the way back were slightly smarter – in pale grey, with a fraction more under the bum, but still showing plenty of signs of wear. However, the operational bits of the 737-500s looked in perfect working order, and who needs plush comfort on a flight of less than two hours?
THE FLIGHT We were about 40 minutes late taking off, but the captain told us very politely that the plane had been delayed coming into Gatwick and that we should make up time on the journey thanks to a good tail wind. As soon as we were under way the refreshments trolley was pushed through, after we had been told that we were “not allowed to eat and drink purchases you have brought with you” (my water bottle wasn’t confiscated, though, and the announcement was omitted on the return journey). The in-flight menu offered an extensive selection of soft and alcoholic drinks, including a tea or coffee (€2), strawberry smoothie (€3) and Ice Tea (€3). Food options on evening flights run to snacks, bagels (€7) and sandwiches (€6), while in the morning a “brunch basket with rolls” is available, including cheese, yoghurt, jam and juice. Items are swiped on a bar-code reader, which gives prices in four currencies. Payment is accepted in sterling (notes and pound coins only), but change is given in euros, Swedish krona or Danish kroner (credit card payments are also accepted).
ARRIVAL We landed (very smoothly) at 2245 local time. We were waved through passport control, and walked miles through Copenhagen’s sleek wood-and-glass airport (Sterling flights are from Terminal 2, while the train station is in Terminal 1). The baggage-retrieval hall was particularly well-organised, with screens giving approximate arrival times for the luggage from each flight. Mine was initially predicted to take 17 minutes, but in fact was out within five, and I was able to catch the 2324 fast train into the centre of Copenhagen.
VERDICT A great-value way to travel to Scandinavia. The plane interiors are a bit shabby but more than made up for by the efficient and friendly service, and the rest of the product is modern and high-tech.
PRICE From £24 each way.
CONTACT sterling.dk.
Lucy Fitzgeorge-Parker
