sas business travel

Review of SAS Business Class

SAS offers one of the best long haul Business Class experiences of any European carrier, with solid cabin products and an innovative food & beverage offering. Staying true to its roots, the airline provides a genuinely Scandinavian travel experience with a strong focus on local touches and sustainability.

Scandinavian Airlines System, generally referred to as SAS, is the flag carrier of Denmark, Sweden and Norway. While domestic and regional flights form the backbone of the airline's operation, long haul Business Class remains a flagship product. SAS serves almost a dozen destinations to the USA, China and Japan from its three central hubs in Copenhagen, Stockholm and Oslo, respectively, and with the introduction of the latest-generation Airbus A321LR aircraft, the carrier is  returning to Canada  after a 30-year hiatus with flights from Copenhagen and Stockholm. After more than three decades, SAS also  resumed a daily route  from Copenhagen to New York John F. Kennedy International Airport.

SAS is a founding member of Star Alliance, which includes partner airlines such as Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, United Airlines and Ethiopian. Members of SAS EuroBonus or any other Star Alliance loyalty program can earn and redeem frequent flier points on SAS and enjoy benefits associated with elite status within the alliance. However, SAS is set to leave Star Alliance on 31st August and transition into life with SkyTeam on 1st September. However, no set date has been given by the Scandinavian carrier for when it will become a fully-fledged member of SkyTeam. EuroBonus members will have until 8th September to claim missing points for flights on Star Alliance airlines that they have completed until 31st August.

Airport experience

Passengers flying SAS Business Class enjoy a hassle-free airport experience with benefits such as dedicated check-in and bag-drop counters, fast-track security, lounge access and priority boarding. In Copenhagen, the airline even offers a private fast-track for premium passengers, separate from the one provided by the airport.

SAS offers a user-friendly app, which has become the most common way of checking in.

Expansive SAS branded lounges are offered in Copenhagen, Stockholm and Oslo, split into sections for Business Class passengers and Star Alliance Gold card holders. While similar in style and character, the Gold card lounges offer a wider range of food options, wine is served from bottles rather than tap, and liquor is available.

The interior design of the SAS lounges is contemporary Scandinavian, accentuated with light colours and light woods. Although an informal self-service buffet, breakfast is fairly extensive, while the cuisine on offer later in the day is mainly limited to salads and snacks. Soup is often found to be the only hot option. Showers are available in the lounges, as are customer service desks. The airline has experimented with concepts such as barista stations, daylight booster zones and innovation hubs displaying new technology in some lounges.

SAS recently closed its lounges at Helsinki and Paris Charles de Gaul Airports but still offers lounges in New York - Newark, Chicago O'Hare, and Gothenburg, with Bergen, Tromsø and Trondheim featuring more basic lounges branded as SAS Café Lounge. At other airports in the network, SAS offers lounge access via its Star Alliance partners to over 100 lounges worldwide.

Cabin & Seat

SAS has opted for a relatively dark and masculine design in their Business Class, with tones of grey, touches of black, brushed steel, leather and orange trim accents. The cabin, seat, and finishes are well-designed, giving SAS Business Class an elegant and contemporary character. The comfortable seats are upholstered in charcoal fabrics and convert to a fully flat bed at the touch of a button. Set in a 1-2-1 configuration, seats have been staggered to provide as much personal space as possible and offer direct aisle access for every passenger.

Thanks to the staggered configuration, seats on each side of the cabin alternate between being closer to the window or aisle. While seats by the window provide more privacy, those closer to the aisle offer easier access. The most generous footwells are found on bulkhead rows, which offer more space than other seats. Centre seats are close enough for conversation yet separated by a fixed privacy partition and a generous armrest, avoiding the potentially awkward situation of being too close to a stranger.

While the SAS A330-300 accommodates all Business Class passengers in a single cabin, the A350-900 also offers a second "mini cabin". Featuring a total of eight seats on two rows, this second cabin is popular due to its intimate and exclusive feel. However, service can be slower since SAS offers service from front to back.

The airline's newest single-aisle  Airbus A321LR fleet  can fly non-stop from Scandinavia to the Middle East, India, Canada, and the northeast USA. Offering 22 Thompson Aero Vantage fully flat seat beds, the Business Class cabins have seven rows – in an alternating 2-2 and 1-1 seating pattern with six "throne seats" in rows 2, 4 and 6 – ideal for the solo traveller - who will enjoy extra space, comfort, and privacy. The seat comes in a light grey hue with splashes of SAS blue. Every seat has inflight entertainment screens and power sockets.

The SAS Business Class seat converts into an almost two-metre-long bed, with armrests lowered to add width. SAS has partnered with premium brand Hästens, the oldest manufacturer of beds in Sweden, to provide high-quality bedding. Hästens is known for its iconic blue and white checked pattern, but a unique adaptation in light grey was specially designed for use on board.

Sadly, advance seat selection is sadly no longer included in SAS Business unless you have SAS EuroBonus Gold or Diamond status.

The flight search on  BusinessClass.com  includes images, videos and seat maps for most airlines and aircraft. Search results also include details such as seat pitch, width and recline. This way, you can see the seat and cabin configuration of the flight in which you are interested before making your choice.

SAS Business Class features some of the best in-flight dining in its class. Passengers can expect two meals - with the first offering a more elaborate dining experience. Flights departing from Scandinavia feature menus with a strong focus on Scandinavian suppliers, and the airline also tries to offer local delicacies on flights from outstations.

Lunch and dinner start with drinks and warm nuts presented in a ramekin. Tables are set with light grey table linens, Georg Jensen cutlery specially designed for SAS and a bread & butter plate. Orrefors of Sweden provide glassware and fine china by Royal Copenhagen, underlining the emphasis on Scandinavian design.

With a nod to the Scandinavian concept of smörgåsbord, SAS offers most of its meal service in Business Class from display trolleys – reverting to the much-favoured pre-pandemic service – though due to the single aisle of the A321LR, passengers receive a tray service on these aircraft. Passengers appreciate this since it offers an opportunity to see the food before making a choice. The first trolley rolled down the aisle displays a choice of two different cold starters. Salads are also offered - with a choice of dressing and a selection of bread and rolls.

In 2017, SAS trialled a new starter which became so popular that it has been offered as a signature dish ever since. Vendace roe, a Swedish alternative to caviar, from Kalix in the north of the Baltic Sea, is served in small glass jars, topped with organic crème fraiche and chives, with crisp bread baked with Västerbotten cheese on the side. Bright orange in colour and sublime in texture, the Kalix Vendace roe holds a protected status similar to other regional delicacies in Europe, such as Parma ham. It is served at royal dinners, at the Nobel prize banquet, and to passengers lucky enough to fly SAS Business Class during the six-month season that annual stocks normally last.

The second display trolley offers a selection of four main courses. There is usually one red meat option such as beef, lamb or even reindeer, one poultry dish, one seafood and one vegetarian alternative. On flights to and from Asia, one of the options is Asian in character. The main courses are followed by a third run down the aisle by the display cart, offering cheeses, fresh fruits and desserts, often including a cake and ice cream. Handmade pralines are also offered.

The pre-landing meal is a more simplistic affair using trays placed on linen-lined tables. Flights from Scandinavia to the USA usually offer a traditional open sandwich with cut fruits or a cake on the side. Westbound flights from Asia offer a more substantial selection, with hot options offered as a buffet, plated by the cabin crew. A similar setup is used for breakfast, offering passengers various hot and cold options from a buffet, plus yoghurt, muesli and marmalade accompanied by hot croissants, bread and rolls.

Savoury and sweet mid-flight snacks are available from a dedicated snack bar adjacent to the galley. 

SAS offers one of the most extensive selections of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages of any Business Class cabin.

The airline is committed to working with Scandinavian suppliers and sources as much as it can close to home. Vodka from Mikkeller of Denmark, single malt whisky from Sweden's Västernorrland district and rye whisky from the west coast of Denmark, gin from Harahorn of Norway and a second Hernö gin from Dala Sweden may not be household names, but thanks to SAS, they are spreading their wings. The airline has a well-established partnership with Danish craft brewery (and vodka distiller) Mikkeller, supplying up to four different kinds of beer in addition to classic Carlsberg. SAS has also partnered with Tjoget in Stockholm, recently named one of the 50 Best Bars in the world, to offer a range of organic cocktails and mocktails with flavours tailored to conditions in the air. Classic cocktails are also available. Refreshing Ringi farm fresh apple juice from a tenth-generation family-run farm west of Oslo in Norway completes the local offering.

Wines in SAS Business class are a combination of old and new world, often including lesser-known grapes. A minimum of two whites and two reds are offered in addition to Champagne.

SAS has recently launched a new Champagne offering that rotates limited supplies of vintage Champagne from "grower producers" with a more readily available Champagne from a larger producer. Small batches of unique  'Special Club'  Champagnes will be served twice a year for 2-3 months while stocks last. An example is Joseph-Loriot Pagel Special Club 2012, with only 3,600 bottles produced during 2012. Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve will be the backbone of the airline's Champagne offering for the rest of the year.

Vintage port and sweet dessert wine are available to compliment cheeses and desserts, with cognacs and liqueurs rounding off the meal service.

A selection of fine teas is available from Dammann Frères, while espresso and cappuccino are made from Illy coffee using an onboard espresso machine. Organic and Fairtrade-certified French press coffee by Stockholm-based Johan & Nyström is also available.

The flight search on  BusinessClass.com  includes information on which Champagne is served in Business Class and First Class on many airlines. We do our best to keep track of any changes but feel free to  let us know  if we missed something.

The culture of Scandinavia is typically practical and egalitarian, and this is also reflected in the service on board SAS. Although the passenger experience is generally good, service delivery is unfortunately somewhat inconsistent. On a good day, SAS cabin crew deliver a world-class level of hospitality and attention to detail, while on another flight, they may come across as indifferent and less service minded. Most crew come from Denmark, Sweden and Norway, and a mix of nationalities regularly work together. Flights operating in and out of China and Japan often include native cabin crew, enabling SAS to offer a customised service experience and local languages.

Air Hosts and Hostesses work under the supervision of a senior Air Purser. More often than not, the Air Purser provides some of the best service on board, combining the role of an experienced host with a touch of finesse and, in many cases, a good dose of humour.

Long-haul flights also feature Air Stewards, whose primary responsibility is to ensure that food is served at the right time and to the correct standard. Originally SAS required Air Stewards to be qualified chefs, although this has later been modified to simply having a passion for food and wine. Air Stewards dress in white chef jackets for the main meal service, adding a touch of theatre to the dining experience.

Entertainment

Entertainment is provided on individual 39 centimetres (15.4-inch) HD touchscreens, although options are limited. There are around 200 movies, including new releases, Scandinavian, International and television shows, plus a selection of music. Sadly, only a few series offer multiple episodes. A dedicated "Kids zone" helps young passengers and their parents find suitable entertainment.

In addition to the always popular moving map, SAS offer views from exterior cameras on all long-haul aircraft, with the A350 also offering a tail camera. Noise-cancelling headphones are provided, although the quality could be better. Passengers wanting to connect their own headphones need to bring a two-prong adaptor.

SAS Business Class passengers enjoy complimentary and unrestricted Wi-Fi access, offering acceptable speed for a satellite-based internet connection. Power sockets and USB ports are available in every seat.

SAS provides newspapers, magazines, and the inflight magazine Scandinavian Traveler. Passengers can also download a wide range of reading material to their devices via the SAS app starting 30 hours before departure.

The flight search on  BusinessClass.com  includes information on inflight entertainment and Wi-Fi.

Amenities & Facilities

The airline has recently introduced the SAS Comfort Kit – all the same wonderful locally-sourced, Swedish amenities – but now wrapped in a suitcase organiser created by the world-renowned luxury mattress & bedding brand Dux.

Dux – which started life in the city of Malmö in 1926 – has provided SAS with three different items - a travel pouch, a shoe bag, and a laundry bag.

The new Business Class amenity kit contains all the old favourites: toothpaste from Sweden’s Humble Co. Dental Care, eye mask from Dux, earplugs from Swedsafe, recycled socks from Swedish Stocking Socks and minty lip balm and skin gel from Stockholm-based Verso Skincare.

The new kit comes in two colours, grey and orange – complete with matching coloured sleep masks. The new kits also have more visible distinguishing features to highlight the airline's name alongside that of Dux.

Hot towels are provided once airborne as well as before the second meal service. Slippers are only offered as a standard on flights to and from Asia but may be available on request on other flights.

Short & Medium Haul

SAS discontinued Business Class on flights within Europe back in 2013. Short-haul flights now offer a choice between SAS Go (Economy Class) and SAS Plus (Premium Economy Class). Passengers connecting to or from long-haul flights in Business Class will usually fly SAS Plus on short connecting flights. The airport experience in SAS Plus is thankfully similar to Business Class. SAS Plus offers seating in the forward part of the cabin, complimentary beverages, snacks or cold meals and free Wi-Fi. Seating is exactly the same as in SAS Go, meaning no blocked adjacent seats and no cabin divider.

SAS added  20 new popular Mediterranean destinations  to its 2023 summer short-haul itinerary from its airport hubs in Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm. It has also announced a Copenhagen to Newquay (England) route. 

Sustainability

SAS wants to lead the way in sustainable aviation, and this commitment encompasses every aspect of the airline's operation. A lot is done behind the scenes, including using green approaches, lobbying for more access to biofuel, dry washing of aircraft and implementing technical solutions that help reduce the carbon footprint. SAS is working closely with Airbus on a project to develop electric aircraft for large-scale, commercial use, with the ambitious end goal of climate-neutral air travel.

Passengers will notice sustainability initiatives such as the commitment to using local suppliers, environmentally friendly packaging of items such as snacks and a focus on recycling. SAS even removed inflight duty-free sales, citing the benefits of cutting weight to reduce fuel consumption. SAS has launched new  Biofuel ticket options  for domestic, Scandinavian and European flights. Go Smart Bio and Plus Pro Bio tickets include up to 50 per cent biofuel. Passengers For members of SAS EuroBonus, the airline automatically offsets carbon emissions at no extra cost to passengers. Thanks to the reach of its loyalty program, SAS now carbon offsets over 40% of all CO2 emissions from their aircraft.

The flight search on  BusinessClass.com  includes information on CO2 emissions for each flight. Our quality algorithms also give a higher score to flights operated by the most modern and environmentally friendly aircraft.

What We Love

• The food and beverage in SAS Business Class, some of the best in its class
• The exclusive and contemporary look and feel of the Business Class cabin
• The dedication of SAS to sustainability, in particular to working with local partners

BusinessClass.com searches hundreds of travel sites at once to help you find the best premium travel offers for both flights and the finest hotels.

Review: SAS Business Class in the Airbus A350 (Los Angeles – Copenhagen)

In October 2021, Travel Dealz author Peer returned to Europe from Los Angeles. To do this, he chose a flight in SAS ‘ business class, paid for with EuroBonus points. Read below how he liked the business class in the Airbus A350 , where there is still room for improvement, and what surprises awaited him while flying over Greenland.

Before we start the review, first a few flight details:

• Flight : SK932 Los Angeles LAX – Kopenhagen CPH
• Seat : 8H 9H
• Plane : Airbus A350-900 SE-RSE (delivered in March 2021)
• Scheduled time of departure : 11:00
• Scheduled time of arrival : 07:10
• Flight time : 11h 10min
• Month: Oktober 2021

Table of Contents

Sleeping comfort.

• Food & Drinks
• In-Flight Entertainment

Connecting Flight to Berlin in SAS Plus

Impressions from dennis on cph-lax.

Some time ago I booked a cheap one-way ticket from Copenhagen to Toronto with LOT for around 130€. An inbound ticket was still missing to get back to Europe after a month-long journey through Canada and the USA.

Inexpensive one-way tickets in economy class could not be found. So I decided to redeem a few Membership Rewards points for a business class ticket. SAS was my choice for various reasons:

• The SAS business class in the Airbus A350 makes a very comfortable impression in the pictures and reviews
• The taxes & fees that SAS Eurobonus charges for award flights are extremely low
• In fact, I had never flown SAS before
• Cancellation and rebooking are possible free of charge up to 24 hours before departure

Around a month before departure, availability on the route from Los Angeles to Copenhagen was very good. However, this is an exception that was only possible due to the travel ban that was in place at the time. Normally such seats are very difficult to get. At the moment I can’t find any more availability in business class on the route.

So I transferred 75,000 points from my Membership Rewards account to SAS EuroBonus and within 24 hours 60,000 points went into my EuroBonus account. I was then able to book a ticket LAX - CPH - OSL - BER directly online for 60,000 points + €21.80.

Since the ticket was fully flexible, I tried to rebook the connection to a day later than planned about 26 hours before departure. Theoretically, such a rebooking is possible directly online at EuroBonus. However, the attempt failed due to a price difference of -€3, because the new routing was now only LAX - CPH - BER . After a 30-minute queue on the EuroBonus hotline, the rebooking could be carried out over the phone. However, the price difference was not refunded.

The online check-in at SAS opens 30 hours before the scheduled time of departure. In business class, the seat can also be reserved in advance free of charge. I chose the bulkhead 9H in the second, more private, business class cabin.

I took the hotel shuttle to the airport just under 3 hours before departure and arrived at Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) 10 minutes later. Most international flights from Los Angeles don’t depart until midday to afternoon. So it was still very quiet in the entire terminal.

It didn’t matter whether you were an economy passenger, a Star Gold customer or a business class guest: there wasn’t a queue at the SAS counter and everyone could check in immediately. Theoretically, there would still be the option of self-check-in at the machine, but no documents can be checked there. I presented my passport and was asked for proof of vaccination or test and the travel registration. I was then handed the boarding pass.

Interestingly, LAX-CPH and the connecting flight CPH-BER were printed together on one boarding pass:

The baggage allowance in SAS’ business class is 2 x 32 kg. As a frequent flyer with Star Alliance Gold status, even 3x 32 kg is allowed. Since my purchases in North America added up to around 30 kg, I made good use of the baggage allowance and checked in two heavy bags.

After checking in, I went straight to the security check. Fortunately, SAS takes part in the TSA Precheck program and there is now a corresponding checkpoint in the southern part of the terminal. As a member of the Global Entry program, liquids and laptops did not have to be taken out from the hand luggage. Alternatively, according to the boarding pass imprint, there would also have been a fast track for business class guests, but then without TSA Pre benefits.

Although there were also numerous passengers without TSA Pre in the same queue, 15 minutes after check-in I was already in front of the Star Alliance Lounge.

Normally, passengers with international business class tickets would be able to use the United Polaris lounge. This is located in United’s Terminal 7 and is about a 20-minute walk from TBIT. A walk that is usually worthwhile due to the a la carte service.

However, the Polaris Lounge in Los Angeles was closed in 2021, due to the pandemic. So the only choice was between the United Club, Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge or the Star Alliance Lounge. The latter is located directly in the international terminal, not far from the SAS gate. In addition to business class passengers, it is also open to all Star Alliance guests with Gold status.

At just before 9:00, I was the first guest in the lounge. Breakfast was freshly made and consisted of:

• Waffles, bagels and toast
• Fresh fruits
• Scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage
• Muesli with milk
• Smoothies, juices, soft drinks and all kinds of alcoholic beverages

All these dishes were self-service, i.e. offered as a buffet. The quality was quite satisfactory and (apart from the watery orange juice) at least on the level of a mid-range hotel. Unfortunately, the ramen bar was not filled in the morning, so I focused on breakfast:

The lounge was opened in 2013, but it is still (or is now again) in good condition. There are showers, sufficient toilets and two nice terraces: the larger of the two offers a view into the terminal, and a smaller open-air terrace allows a view of the apron.

An hour before boarding, I took another look at the seat map via Expertflyer. Only a few seats were occupied in all travel classes (business, premium eco and economy). I was even supposed to be the only passenger in the second business class cabin (rows 9 and 10):

When the public announcement system called my name as I was leaving the lounge (10 minutes before departure), I had a certain premonition of what to expect. This was confirmed upon arrival at the gate: the rear business class cabin had been closed and I had been assigned a new seat. The employee immediately tore up my boarding pass for 9H and issued a new one for seat 8H.

With the aircraft’s low load factor, there was still plenty of room for me in the front business class cabin. However, it is incomprehensible to me why the decision to close rows 9 and 10 was only made 10 minutes before boarding. If the seats had been blocked from the start (or at least at the start of online check-in), this unnecessary situation would not have arisen in the first place.

Boarding started 35 minutes before departure – five minutes earlier than announced on the boarding pass. Initially, business class passengers and frequent flyers with Gold status were allowed on board with priority boarding .

To my surprise, no boarding pass was required for boarding. At gate 154, where my flight departed from, the airport installed new gates for biometric boarding. After two error messages, it actually worked and I got on the plane without showing a passport or a boarding pass. Overall, the technology didn’t convince me. If the biometric boarding takes longer than the regular boarding process, you can forget the whole thing.

I also find it worrying that every passenger – whether they want to or not – is automatically registered for biometric boarding. The data will probably be compared with the American CBP (Customs and Border Protection). There was no indication anywhere as to whether or how passengers could object to biometric boarding. According to the press release , this option is only open to US citizens:

U.S. citizens have the option of opting out of the facial image capture and may be processed by airline agents with a passport and boarding pass.

When I got on board, I briefly pointed out to a flight attendant (after he asked) that I had reserved row 9 specifically for the wider footwell. He then explained to me that there were no differences between the seats in terms of legroom. But I think the pictures speak for themselves:

I was offered a middle seat in row 1 as an alternative, but not taking a window seat wasn’t an option for me. So I sat down in seat 8H. Except for the narrower leg room (and the fact that there is only one window), the seat was on par:

Luckily, all the seats around me remained free (see screenshot above). Later in the course of the flight, it turned out that the crew used the second part of the cabin as a rest room and therefore did not want any other passengers there.

A total of 40 passengers can be seated in the business class of a SAS Airbus A350. 32 seats are located in the front business class cabin in rows 1-8, while the rear cabin consists of only two rows of four seats each. The seating arrangement is always 1-2-1.

This is not a reverse herringbone configuration, but the seats are staggered. In my opinion, such a configuration (if it is well executed) combines the advantages of two worlds: no passenger has to climb over their neighbour to get up – but there is still a natural sitting position (in the direction of flight) from which you can comfortably look out of the window.

Between both business class cabins, i.e. between rows 8 and 9, there are two toilets and the galley. Even though I sat right next to it, I didn’t hear much noise. If you’re a light sleeper, you might want to avoid the two adjacent rows. Likewise row 1, because according to Seatguru there is a small galley and another toilet (possibly only for the crew?).

There are luggage compartments at SAS both above the windows and in the middle. Unlike other airlines, SAS has therefore not started to eliminate the overhead compartments in the middle. Therefore, there is still enough space for the hand luggage of all passengers – presumably, even if every business class passenger were to use the entire free allowance (2 x 8 kg + personal item).

Still, the cabin doesn’t feel cramped at all. Especially not when only a quarter of the seats are occupied, like on my flight. I also really like the combination of dark tones with a few orange accents. Modern Scandinavian – that’s the way it should be.

Seats 2A, 2H, 4A, 4H, 6A, 6H, 8A, 8H, 10A and 10H offer extra privacy for solo travelers. These are located far from the aisle, right by the window. The odd-numbered seats, on the other hand, are directly on the aisle and therefore not quite as private. Looking out of the window is also difficult there.

Personally, I would still prefer 1A, 1H, 9A and 9H for more leg room, but I guess that’s a personal choice. Rows 9 and 10 basically have the advantage of the quieter location in the smaller business class cabin (provided it is not closed spontaneously).

The choice is more difficult for those who are travelling in pairs. There is no optimal choice there because the partition between the middle seats makes private conversations difficult. However, rows 1 and 9 also offer extra legroom in the middle, so I would prefer 1D + 1F and 9D + 9F respectively.

SAS installs Thompson Vantage XL business class seats in the Airbus A350. The same seats are also used in the Airbus A350 operated by Delta and Philippine Airlines, and by SAS in the A330.

The A350 is a comparatively wide aircraft, leaving enough room for a comfortable 1-2-1 configuration. The seat not only offers enough shoulder room but also hardly narrows towards the bottom. Although the leg room is limited, it is still significantly more generous than, for example, with Swiss or the typical reverse herringbone seats.

All passengers must wear a shoulder belt during take-off and landing. Not a perfect solution, but definitely better than a thick belt with an airbag that constantly presses into the groin region.

The seat adjustment works electronically and also includes adjustable lumbar support. There is also the usual choice between sitting, relaxing and sleeping mode. The table is big enough to use a computer mouse in addition to the laptop. If it is not needed in its entirety, it can also be folded up and used in half size.

I could now explain each function of the seat, including the reading lamp, individually, but that would unnecessarily lengthen the review. Overall, I was very satisfied with the seating comfort. Of course, privacy isn’t as good as, say, in the United Polaris business class or the Delta One Suite (which uses the same seat with a door). The seat feels very spacious and offers space for tall people.

However, there is also one point of criticism that I do not want to hide: the storage space. It is almost non-existent. The only options are:

• A small pocket on the seat, which, according to the label, may only be used for (non-existent) literature
• An additional pocket underneath. By default, it is equipped with the Safety Card, but it can still hold an iPad or something similar
• The shelf on the seat between the headphones and the water bottle. Here you can at least stow a small bag and the charger for a laptop or something of similar size. However, this is not sufficient – especially since the space cannot be used during take-off and landing
• At the window seat, there is still a small gap between the seat and the wall covering. I stowed my laptop there during meals. In sleep mode that would be too risky for me.

Anything larger than a tablet goes in the overhead bins. Accordingly, it is good that there is enough space there for all business passengers.

In my opinion, sleeping comfort is one of the most important aspects of an 11-hour redeye flight. It is good to know that the Vantage XL seat is very suitable for redeyes. Since the seat is not restricted by walls, I could even bend my legs a bit as a side sleeper. The lowerable armrest creates additional space.

However, there is definitely still a need to catch up when it comes to bedding. Of course, each seat has a pillow, a blanket and a small sheet for the seat. But everything was more on the level of a premium economy. Admittedly, I might be a bit spoiled by the excellent bedding on United’s Polaris business class. Nevertheless, the blanket was simply too thin and the pillow too small and airy.

Luckily I was able to help myself a lot from the 24 free seats and thus snuggle up under several blankets. So I managed to get at least four hours of sleep. If I hadn’t spent the night trying to photograph the northern lights, I’m sure it would have been a little longer.

Many airlines have now restored full service in business class. Unfortunately, this was not yet the case at SAS. On my flight there were:

• No pre-departure drink
• Only three instead of four main courses to choose from
• No desserts

A water bottle (depending on the seat 0.5 or 0.33 litres) is already at each seat upon boarding. The actual service began shortly after the seat belt sign turned off with a small bag of salted cashews:

Shortly thereafter, the first round of drinks arrived. Unfortunately, there is no drinks menu. However, an overview of all available drinks, each with a brief description, can be called up on the touchscreen of the in-flight entertainment system:

The selection was quite extensive with a total of 29 options (plus soft drinks). I especially liked the delicious apple cider. I can’t comment on the alcoholic drinks, but there should be something for everyone.

Unfortunately, this digital menu only shows the drinks, main dishes are not listed there. Since there was no printed menu for the dishes either (“ due to Covid “), SAS came up with a strange solution: The crew came through the aisles with an iPad showing photos of the three options:

• Beef with garlic and mashed potatoes
• Chicken breast with corn
• Dumplings (I forgot the details. There was no menu)

I opted for the chicken. Shortly thereafter, it was served on a tray along with all the other “courses”. I had already removed the plastic or aluminium covers for the photos:

Of all the dishes shown, I liked the salmon starter the best. The main course was okay overall, but the chicken was rather rubbery. Nothing that will be remembered – but at least enjoyable.

A minus point was definitely the packaged bread. I think it’s inedible even in economy class – but it has no place in a long-haul business class. So I skipped the bread and waited for dessert.

And waited. And waited…

But no dessert came. The crew brought over a small box of three chocolates and that was it:

When asked, it was said that desserts were not available on this flight. At least I received a small load of pre-packaged snacks from the snack basket to satisfy my hunger:

A good hour after takeoff in Los Angeles, I was already done eating. With the low utilization, however, it is not a big surprise.

Midnight Snacks

I managed to sleep for a few hours before feeling hungry again somewhere over Nunavut. The crew then handed me a turkey sandwich and a bag of chips when I asked:

The sandwich gave no cause for criticism, and neither did the chips. Later I also found a small selection of snacks in the galley, including more sandwiches. When they eventually ran out (not just my fault) they weren’t refilled either:

I was a little surprised that the flight attendant was able to conjure up more snacks an hour and a half later. I could have used the muffin as a dessert for lunch – but I was also happy to receive it across the Atlantic:

As for the food, the salted caramel muffin was indeed the highlight. In any case, I was able to survive the few hours until breakfast.

There was no choice for breakfast. I would have expected at least one hot and one cold option, but without comment a cold breakfast plate was served. It consisted of:

• Bowl with yoghurt and fruit + muesli
• Brioche buns and Ritz crackers
• Lots of cold cuts
• Small jar of jam

A small brioche bun for the jam, two pieces of cheese, two slices of turkey breast and four slices of salami? Somehow it doesn’t quite work. But overall I liked the composition – and in an emergency, the cuts are known to taste good even without bread.

Some employees seemed rather distant, while others were very friendly. But there are such discrepancies with every airline and, to be honest, I prefer it to a too obviously fake smile.

Shortly after departure, one of the crew members asked if I would like to be woken up at breakfast or not. The drinks were also carefully refilled during the night.

The screen is around 15 inches big and, according to SAS, has an HD resolution. This is neither oversized nor particularly high-resolution but sufficient in every respect.

What is missing is the content. I’m really not one to value the 1,000 films in the Emirates entertainment system. But with just 38 films to choose from (even I’ve seen quite a few of them), it’s obvious that something isn’t quite right. The series didn’t look any better either, especially since there was often only a single episode to choose from.

I also found it a bit strange that only English, Japanese and Chinese were offered as the menu languages of the IFE. Not that I have a problem with it – but I’ve never come across such a small selection.

My main content in the entertainment system is the FlightMap. This worked perfectly but is also very limited in terms of functionality. There is only an automatic slide show and no option to change the view or section manually.

There is a remote control next to the seat so you don’t always have to stretch your arms out to the screen. Due to a lack of interesting content, I didn’t use it and just ran the flight map. The same applies to the headphones at each seat, but they don’t do particularly well in other reviews. Luckily I had my iPad with me as a game console.

One area where SAS can stand out from the competition is the wifi. It is completely free in business class (and also in SAS Plus). Entering the booking number and surname is sufficient.

Unfortunately, free access is limited to one device. However, it is possible to decouple a device (e.g. the smartphone) from access and to log in with the laptop. Otherwise, access credentials for the 2nd device could of course be purchased regularly. But that didn’t work for me, so I can’t say anything about the price structure.

There is no data limit. The speed was okay at around 4 MBit/s down and 1 MBit/s up. It is sufficient for browsing and reading e-mails. Theoretically, streaming videos should also be possible at this speed. However, all the services I tried (including Netflix and Prime Video) were blocked.

Below are a few more comments that cannot be accommodated in the other sections.

Hygiene Measures

While masks were no longer required on flights within Scandinavia, they were still mandatory on all other routes. When entering the aircraft, everyone was given a hygiene kit consisting of a disinfectant wipe and a surgical mask.

The mask could of course be removed for drinking and eating. As far as I could see, sleeping passengers were also not checked.

No Air Vents

Unfortunately, SAS does not have air vents in business class. It is therefore not possible to regulate the temperature for the seat individually. I find that completely incomprehensible because there would definitely be room for it.

Amenity Kit

An amenity kit was on the seat. I was surprised by the comparatively high-quality socks and the bamboo toothbrush. Otherwise, the content is nothing special:

Northern Lights

Unfortunately, Airbus missed the opportunity to install windows of the same size as Boeing on the A350. But they ( currently still ) offer a decisive advantage: physical window shades that can be pushed up and down in a classic way. So it doesn’t get too hot during the day and at night everyone can decide for themselves whether they want to look out or not.

On my flight, it would have been highly unfortunate if the flight attendants could lock the window electronically. Having just missed the northern lights in Canada, I sensed new hope with a look at the US Meteorological Service’s Aurora Forecast :

When we reached Greenland, there wasn’t much to see from the window, but a green line could already be guessed from the photos. Instead of going back to sleep straight away, I decided to check on the snacks and keep an eye on the situation.

The further east we flew, the better the view actually got. A view of the glaciers was denied by the cloud cover, but in the sky, a dancing, green veil could now be seen. After I got the hang of it (preventing annoying reflections with a blanket), I managed to get reasonably usable shots of the Aurora Borealis with my smartphone:

As soon as we left Greenland behind us, the spook was over. And I used the remaining flight time to catch up on some sleep.

After arriving in Copenhagen, my trip continued on to Berlin. Within Europe, SAS no longer has a true business class. Instead, they only have a premium economy called SAS Plus. This usually includes lounge access, snacks & drinks, front row seats and baggage allowance.

Unfortunately SAS Plus was a huge disappointment on the Copenhagen to Berlin flight (on board a CRJ900 operated by Cityjet). Only tea and coffee were offered. Only on request did I get a bottle of water. The promised snack? There wasn’t one. The flight time would have easily been enough for a small snack box, as is apparently standard on other flights through Scandinavia.

The seat pitch also did not differ from the economy class. However, I was lucky and the next seat remained free – not guaranteed in SAS Plus. Overall, the connecting flight would not have earned more than two out of five stars – but it is not included in the overall rating of the long-haul route.

Travel-Dealz author Dennis also flew the flight, but in the opposite direction. Below are his impressions:

Overall, I agree with Peers’ assessment. Overall, I liked the catering a little better. I had excellent salmon as the main course and a very tasty smørrebrød as a second meal (see photo). Unfortunately, I also missed a pre-departure drink and dessert. I really liked seat 1H.

The WiFi was very slow and the blocking of YouTube and Instagram really annoyed me personally. But after I switched on my VPN Unlimited , all pages worked and, strangely enough, it was even faster than before.

I didn’t like the service. But that was also because all the flight attendants repeatedly addressed me in Danish. At some point you should remember it, I think.

• Check-in & Boarding
• Comfort & Cabin

There is only one aspect of SAS’ business class that really won me over: the seat. However, this is also the most important aspect when it comes to weighing up travel classes. I had never dealt with the Thompson Vantage XL before and was particularly impressed by the generous amount of space. Unfortunately, the storage space fell victim to this – a compromise that I am happy to accept.

Catering was always hailed as one of SAS’ strengths before the pandemic. Unfortunately, SAS was not able to meet my correspondingly high expectations. The main course was ok. However, I find it intolerable that no dessert is offered on an 11-hour flight. Nobody has to tell me that a piece of cake or a pre-packaged sundae is a problem because of Covid-19. Due to the extensive selection of snacks, I was full, but this is not an adequate alternative. As a business class guest, I also expect a printed menu.

Hopefully, SAS’ business class can regain its former strength after the pandemic. It is currently an average product with (in my opinion) a very comfortable seat.

Comments (5)

Very informative review. My question is related to the leg room in SAS business vs the Polaris leg “tunnel” in non-bulkhead seats. With Polaris, I could not comfortably sleep on my side due to my legs being constricted in a narrow tunnel space. I couldn’t really bend my knees and turn over easily.

Do the non-bulkhead seats on SAS present a similar problem? Thanks.

I’m a 6’6″ side sleeper and know exactly what you mean. And I’m happy to tell that SAS Business (as well as Delta One, same seat) is much better in this regard.

While the footrest itself is about the same width (slight advantage for SAS), it does widen up significantly from the knee on. It’s easy to bend your knees on SAS and therefor, way more comfortable for side sleepers imo. I often get a cramp in my knees when flying Polaris, but never had on the “Vantage XL” seat SAS is using.

Your mileage may vary, of course. But I’d say that it’s one of the best seats for side-sleepers. If you could get a bulkhead, it’s even better.

do the arms in business class move down or do they stay up when sitting.

The small armrest between aisle seats and the aisle itself can be lowered. If you mean that one.

Thanks for the great report! Takeaway for me is to try to always fly European airlines going west and American airlines going east, since catering seems to be best when loaded from the airlines hub.

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A nice improvement: A review of SAS business class on the new Airbus A350

[tpg_rating ticket-class="business" tpg-rating-score="84" ground-experience="15" cabin-seat="25" amens-ife="10" food-bev="19" service="15" pros="Amazing food, unique drink selection, exceptional service, brand-new cabin and seats." cons="Limited IFE selection, seat storage and privacy; inoperable Wi-Fi." /]

The Airbus A350 is one of the newest wide-body aircraft to grace the skies. Since its introduction in 2013, flyers around the world have enjoyed many of the plane's passenger-friendly features . From oversized windows to quiet engines and increased cabin pressure, there's a lot to love about this jet . The A350 has proven to be a popular choice to replace older long-haul planes.

Scandinavian airline SAS is the latest to commence service with a new Airbus A350 . The plane just recently began flying on the carrier's route from Copenhagen (CPH) to Chicago-O'Hare (ORD), and here's my experience in business class aboard the airline's new flagship.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8Pcy3_lWI8/

SAS plans to add more A350 routes as it takes delivery of more of these fuel-efficient planes . Per its latest guidance, the airline will will begin flying the A350 from its Danish hub to Beijing Capital (PEK), Hong Kong (HKG), Newark (EWR), San Francisco (SFO), Shanghai Pudong (PVG), and Tokyo Narita (NRT) later in 2020.

SAS is a member of Star Alliance, so you have lots of options for redeeming miles. The prices for the CPH to ORD route with three of the major programs are as follows:

• Air Canada Aeroplan for 55,000 miles
• Avianca Lifemiles for 63,000 miles
• United MileagePlus for 70,000 miles (or more, since United has introduced dynamic award pricing .)

In my case, I chose to save some miles and book with Aeroplan. That turned out to be an annoyance, as I needed to wait three hours on hold with them twice . At long last, though, I had a confirmed ticket to fly the brand-new plane.

[flight_stats ticket-class="first" review-stat-section="Ground Experience" tpg-rating="15" tpg-rating-max="20" tail="SE-RSA" age="0" departure="15" departure-2="54" duration="9" duration-2="04" live-tv="0" tailcam="0" headphones="0" comp-alcohol="0" extra-pillows="0" turndown-service="0" /]

My time with SAS began in Frankfurt with a short flight from Germany's largest airport to Copenhagen. We landed on time, and fortunately parked at a gate. Once off the plane, I was already in the sterile transit area, and just a few minutes away from Gate C36 in the C pier.

Copenhagen is one of Europe's most manageable airports, and I wouldn't hesitate to connect there again. The published minimum connection times are around 45 minutes, which would've even given me a few minutes in the lounge had I booked a tight connection.

However, I'd arrived at CPH about 5 hours before the A350 departed for Chicago, so I exited the terminal and started fresh for the sake of the review.

Check-in was completed at one of the multiple business-class priority counters. After answering some security questions — including whether I'd been to Mainland China within the last 14 days — I had my boarding pass issued for the flight to Chicago.

The friendly agent explained the location of fast-track security and wished me a pleasant flight. I went up the escalator to the departures level and immediately found plenty of navy-blue signs pointing in the direction of priority security.

This area was totally separate from the main security queue. With a quick scan of my boarding pass, gates opened into the two priority lanes. Within minutes, I was airside once again and found myself in a hallway that deposited me right in front of the SAS Lounge.

The SAS Lounge is located just before the international C pier. There are actually two lounges within the bi-level complex. Downstairs is the SAS Lounge and upstairs is the SAS Gold Lounge. The former is open to all Star Alliance biz passengers, while the latter is open to Star Alliance Gold members . There are a few other travelers who can access both lounges, so just be sure to double check the entry rules.

Though there's a welcome desk, a stop here isn't needed unless the automated gates can't read your boarding pass.

I spent two hours in the overcrowded SAS Lounge , which I accessed thanks to my biz ticket.

The lounge is split into two rooms.

The larger room, which contains most of the seating, is located just as you enter the space.

Connecting the two rooms is a short hallway lined with workstations. In the space at the back, there's more seating, as well as three conference rooms that can be reserved on a first come, first served basis.

The biggest issue with the lounge was finding a seat. For the first 30 minutes, it was so crowded that I stood around waiting for someone to leave.

And when I finally managed to snag a barstool, the area was dirty since the lounge attendants couldn't keep up.

Food and beverage is located at a buffet in the main room. Unfortunately, the only hot food available was a choice of two soups – chicken or tomato. The rest of the food was served cold on the salad bar.

To drink, there was Carlsberg beer, Chardonnay and Zinfandel on tap plus a soft-beverage fountain, as well as some coffee machines.

In terms of amenities, the lounge has free speedy Wi-Fi (50 Mbps download, 45 Mbps upload), computers for printing, a family room, European-style power outlets and six showers.

The shower rooms are quite bare-bones, but this was the first time I'd seen one with a Bluetooth speaker for playing your own music.

I didn't want to waste my entire connection in an underwhelming lounge, so I spent some time roaming around the modern terminal. Before long, it was time to head to the gate for boarding.

Gates in the C pier handle international flights, so there's a passport control just before entering the pier.

Even as departure time approached, the gate area was eerily quiet. As I boarded the flight, the gate agent mentioned that's because the flight was only about 50% full.

Before heading onboard, I snapped a few pictures of the beautiful, months-old A350-900 that would be taking me to Chicago.

[flight_stats ticket-class="first" review-stat-section="Cabin and Seat" tpg-rating="25" tpg-rating-max="30" configuration="1" configuration-2="2" configuration-3="1" width="22" bed="78" tray="20" tray-2="13.5" lavs="2" live-tv="0" tailcam="0" headphones="0" comp-alcohol="0" extra-pillows="0" turndown-service="0" /]

SAS didn't install a new biz product on the A350s. Instead, you'll find a slightly improved version of the Thomson Vantage XL seats that fly on the carrier's other long-haul aircraft.

The seats are split across two cabins and arranged in a 1-2-1 layout giving each passenger direct aisle access.

The larger forward cabin has eight rows, and the more private mini-cabin has just two rows. I'd do everything in my power to sit back there, since there are just eight seats.

Like other Thomson Vantage XL products, the single seats alternate between being closer to the aisle and the window. Interestingly, SeatGuru lists the bulkheads as being flush with the window, but that's not the case on the plane. In odd-numbered rows, seats are closer to the aisle, and in even-numbered rows, they are closer to the window.

The biggest advantage to sitting in the bulkhead is the oversized footwells compared to the standard 15-inch wide and 11-inch high ones in the rest of the cabin. You'd be sacrificing some privacy in exchange for added wiggle room, so it's a personal choice.

I was quite happy with seat 6H for my flight. This pod has two windows and offers a fair amount of privacy from the rest of the cabin.

Though window seats are slightly staggered from the center ones, there's limited privacy with Vantage XL seats. SAS could've definitely pulled a move from Delta's book and installed sliding doors on this plane.

The center seats aren't ideal for couples since they're not right next to each other. There's a fixed privacy partition and an oversized armrest between seats, making it hard to talk to a travel companion.

If you're left to choose from a seat in the middle, I'd definitely recommend one that has the large side table adjacent to the aisle.

The 22-inch wide seats are very comfortable. Like in United's Polaris pods , there's a shoulder harness to be worn during takeoff and landing.

When in bed mode, the seat goes fully flat and measures 78 inches long. The armrest can also be lowered to add a bit more width to the sleeping surface.

I loved the cabin finishes, especially the orange trim accents, which made me feel like I was in a luxury sports car. The seats are well designed, especially the built-in water bottle holder and headphone hook.

Aside from privacy, the other big issue is the lack of storage. The only place to keep loose items is on the shelf built into the seat dividers. There are no enclosed storage compartments, so be sure to keep track of all your belongings.

There is a small folder-sized shelf next to the TV monitor which could be a good place to keep a book or iPad.

There are two seat control panels, one right next to the tray-table and the other next to the reading light. The former has just five basic presets, but the latter has more fine-tune options, including lumbar support.

The tray table itself measures 20 inches wide and 13.5 inches long. It's got a tablet stand and cupholder and moves forward and backward for easy egress during meal service.

I loved the oversized windows and large overhead bins, even though SAS decided to install them over the center seats. The 24-inch-wide aisles allow for easy maneuvering during the flight.

Sadly, SAS elected not to add individual air nozzles on this new bird.

There are just two standard-sized lavatories dedicated to the 40 biz passengers. On my flight, there was never a wait, but I've got to imagine that would change with a sold-out cabin.

Overall, I liked the cabin and seats. These aren't my favorite or the most revolutionary biz seats flying around, but they get the job done. I just wish SAS found a way to add more privacy and storage.

[flight_stats ticket-class="first" review-stat-section="Amenities and IFE" tpg-rating="10" tpg-rating-max="15" screen="18" movies="97" tv-shows="129" live-tv="No" tailcam="Yes" headphones="0" comp-alcohol="0" extra-pillows="0" turndown-service="0" /]

The business-class amenities were on par with what I'd expect for a daytime transatlantic flight.

Waiting at my seat during boarding was a Hastens duvet, thin mattress sheet and light pillow, as well as an amenity kit. I found the blanket to be really comfortable, but the mattress sheet and pillow were too thin for my liking. Thanks to the light passenger load, I doubled up on pillows and slept great for about three hours.

The bare-bones amenity kit was stocked with products from multiple Scandinavian brands, all focused on sustainability. It had a wooden toothbrush, earplugs, eye mask, socks and Verso face moisturizer and lip balm.

There were no pajamas or slippers on offer.

The seat's power outlet and two USB ports are located right next to the three-prong headphone jack and retractable touchpad remote.

While the 18-inch HD touchscreen had potential, SAS really dropped the ball with the IFE content it loaded. There were just 97 movies, including 17 new releases like The Current War and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

Of the 129 TV shows, there were just a handful – including Big Bang Theory, Big Little Lies and This is Us – that had more than one episode.

There was no live TV, but there was an HD tailcam and forward camera which kept this AvGeek occupied throughout most of the flight. Unfortunately, the live map was on a loop and didn't have any customized views.

While the IFE content was quite limited, the user interface was really responsive and quite advanced.

The noise-isolating headphones provided were just OK, so I'd definitely recommend bringing your own . Note that you'll need a two- or three-prong adapter to connect to the audio jack.

Though a satellite dome has been installed on this plane, the Wi-Fi was inoperable on my flight. When it's working, biz passengers get free, unrestricted access to the internet – a really valuable perk that other airlines should offer .

[flight_stats ticket-class="first" review-stat-section="Food and Beverage" tpg-rating="19" tpg-rating-max="20" live-tv="0" tailcam="0" headphones="0" meals="2" champagne="Gosset Grande Reserve Brut" dine-on-demand="No" comp-alcohol="0" extra-pillows="0" turndown-service="0" /]

While SAS didn't really innovate with the hard product on this new jet, the soft product blew me away.

To start, beautifully designed menus illustrated by Japan-born Natsko Seki were handed out during boarding. The menu cover rotates every season, and the current one depicts the Scandinavian winter.

The menu had the most extensive and unique drink options I've seen in biz. There was a huge emphasis on serving locally-sourced liquors and beer, including vodka from Denmark, gin from Norway and Sweden and beer from Denmark.

The wines served focused on lesser-known grape varietals, which I really appreciated. There were over 10 cocktails, as well as a bunch of mocktails designed to enhance wellbeing. The small details weren't overlooked either. Teas were provided by Dammann and coffee by Illy.

But the coolest part was the specials menu. I've never before seen an airline offer such a robust list of rotating drink choices. The menu also served as an introduction to new SAS offerings including salads catered by urban vertical farms and the launch of a new partnership with a Sweden-based coffee roaster who'll be providing French press coffee on board.

When the drink cart came through an hour after departure, I sampled the Apple Must, which is renowned as some of the best apple juice. It was great. I also tried a refreshing gin-based cocktail from the special menu, called Above the Clouds.

Not only did the drinks taste good, but they were served in beautiful glassware, à la KLM . SAS even had the A350 logo embossed on the glasses!

The first course was served about 90 minutes after takeoff. The Kalix roe starter was a nice treat for business-class catering. The side salad was plated at my seat and tasted quite fresh as well. Along with the starter, I was offered a selection of breads, from which I chose a slice of sourdough and a sesame roll. The bread was served alongside some delicious Danish butter.

At this point, I'd switched to drinking the signature Herb and Tonic cocktail, which was created with Stockholms Branneri Dry Gin.

The highlight of the meal service was the main dish of cod with black garlic, mashed potato, green beans and grilled peppers. It was simply incredible. I liked it so much that I ordered seconds.

After two servings of fish, I was quite stuffed. Fortunately, the dessert options weren't too heavy. I had the choice of a cheese plate, two small brownies, lingonberry ice cream or fresh fruit. I had a bite of the brownies and some fruit to end one of the best meals I've had in biz.

Unique to the A350 is a snack bar right next to Door L2.

Flight attendants set up this area with some wines, packaged snacks and pralines after the first meal was completed.

There's also an espresso machine on board.

The pre-arrival meal was served about 80 minutes out of Chicago. This pre-plated tray consisted of an open-face sandwich topped with chicken curry, served alongside some fresh fruit and chocolate pralines. I wasn't hungry at this point, but my fellow passengers really enjoyed this dish.

All in all, SAS offers an excellent food and beverage service.

[flight_stats ticket-class="first" review-stat-section="Service" tpg-rating="15" tpg-rating-max="15" live-tv="0" tailcam="0" headphones="0" comp-alcohol="0" extra-pillows="Yes" turndown-service="No" /]

The crew provided excellent service throughout the flight.

Before departure, flight attendants handed out a selection of pre-poured beverages and newspapers. Once airborne, they sprang into action and hustled all the way until landing in Chicago.

Though there was a menu, no meal orders were taken. Instead, you chose your dish when one of the stewards came by with the meal cart. I really liked this setup, as I got a chance to look at the food before ordering it.

Furthermore, the entire first meal service was done without trays. All plates were placed directly on the tray table, a nice touch that made the service feel more personalized.

Throughout the meal, flight attendants were incredibly friendly and proactive about drink refills. All in all, a great crew.

Overall impression

With the introduction of the Airbus A350, SAS is charting an exciting new future. From a passenger perspective, the A350 brings modern enhancements, like larger windows and higher cabin pressurization.

In business class, the airline installed its signature seats, but added a few bells and whistles. Though I would've preferred if the airline introduced a totally new, revolutionary seat, these are perfectly comfortable for a transatlantic hop.

The highlight of my flight, however, was the soft product , including the high-quality meals and an incredible assortment of beverages. Combined with a professional crew, I had a great flight.

SAS's flagship aircraft may not offer the world's best business-class, but it doesn't need to. It improves upon an already solid foundation and takes the carrier to new heights.

All photos by the author.

A Royal Experience In SAS A350 Business Class

When we booked his ticket and assigned his seat, we noticed that there were only three other seats showing assigned in the entire 40-seat business class cabin. Turns out those were just blocked and no other passengers were onboard.

He shared the following thoughts and pictures with me on his flight from Copenhagen to Newark, which I am pleased to pass on to you.

The Only Passenger Onboard: SAS A350-900 Business Class Review

Visited lounge before flight. Most empty. Only Schengen lounge open.

Walked right on board and to the seat. FA showed up with an amenity kit.

There were what looked like two blankets in the seat, and I put them into the 3H seat for more room.   They were from Hästens, the super-expensive bed people.   But I can’t comment on them as I never used them.

I was the only person in business, including the sector behind the galley.

I like the seating.   It is better than most first class and superior to just about any other business except Singapore A380.   It is worth going out of the way for.

Much wider, at least by 6 inches from the outbound [ed. note: he flew United on the outbound].   Really comfortable.  

Plenty of foot space without having to twist my toes in like the cheap Air Canada and United.  

The work area on the side gives plenty of space for food or drink or documents.   Inside the corner where the electrical items are is plenty of room so things don’t go flying; slightly back and out of the way.   It is where the water bottle is also stored.

Kept the iPhone connected the whole flight and it was safe and out of the way.

Flight time was estimated at 7 hours, 45 minutes.   We pulled back from the gate about 35 minutes late.

Big 15 inch HD TV at the right distance for my glasses to keep all in focus.   Touch screen, and intuitive to use.   It had a handset, but the touch screen was so easy, I tried out most of the options; movie, about SAS, music, drinks, including the cameras on the tail and the one under the cockpit.  

I did not sleep on the return. Read and watched the two movies.

The movie selection was mostly old stuff, so I selected a Danish film with sub titles, and then an American indie film.

Music selection even more limited. Listened to 4 of 7 (playlists) no Jazz and no Classical.

The wines were listed on the TV, so I knew what I wanted. Started with a Portuguese Red.   Nuts were given in a sealed bag.

About an hour into the flight the FA came by with a menu in his hand, which he showed me (I was instructed not to touch). So no printed menu for the passenger, just a photo (this was interesting concept) of the two choices, salmon or chicken.

I did not select the chicken, but he said I could have that too if I wanted.

No more than two minutes after selecting the mean, it showed up hot.   So it must have been already prepared.

FA asked if I wanted to change wine, so I selected a white.   He kept filling the glass to that I actually consumed almost the whole bottle while eating the tray.

At the end of food service I asked for ice cream.   He said there was none, but what about chocolate, but not the usual, it was an unusual candy bar.   Then later in the flight he brought me another.

I was intrigued with the alcohol available that I saw under drinks option on the screen.   It had two Swedish whiskies.   He described them and I asked to sample them both.   So he brought both.   After about 20 minutes he came by to ask which I preferred.   He said that usually they have full bottles in business, but he had had to go to the back and get the little bottles for me (they were served in a glass so I did not make the connection).

Two thirds through the flight I had an extended conversation with the female FA and a 3 rd male FA, perhaps the purser for the flight.   There was a 4 th who stayed mostly in the galley and seemed to serve the food.

The first FA who kept filling the wine glass was a former purser who had retraining and now was a FA.   So apparently seniority was also used at SAS for layoffs.

Matthew here. I appreciated this look at the A350 so much and cannot wait to try it myself, especially once full service is restored. The last time I flew SAS transatlantic was on an A330 from Los Angeles to Stockholm and I had a wonderful flight. I look forward to flying the A350 myself.

Have you flown the new SAS A350? What were your impressions?

About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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17 comments.

” It is better than most first class and superior to just about any other business except Singapore A380. ” Huh?

Better than other First classes is debatable. Superior to other business class except Singapore Airlines is indisputable. SQ has a terrible business class , unless you are under 5ft tall and/or don’t mind sleeping at a weird angle. Plus the seat is rock hard and very uncomfortable when upright.

This invalidates the whole rest of his review. I think he was unduly influenced by the amount of booze consumed 🙂

In his defense, I’ve long said that SAS is one of my favorite overall business class products. I also know he can hold his alcohol very well!

Nice review. How is SAS with releasing business class award space?

They are good with releasing space far in advance and close-in (24-72 hours before). Not so much in between.

Actually when it comes to using UA, AV, AC or A3 miles, I have found that they are historically awful about releasing business class award space near in to departure on most US-CPH/ARN flights of mine. But this year is different/better in the regard.

Anybody who’s a CPH regular will ID the lounge as SAS’ regular lounge which is Schengen.

That was my fault.

Mackmyra whisky is Swedish, not Danish.

That looks like an economy meal. Unacceptable that is served in premium economy, much less business class

SAS doesn’t have a Non-Schengen lounge, but I can see how the author made the mistake. The combined Business/Gold lounge is close to passport control for the Non-Schengen gates.

Personally, I think SAS Business is just fine – not bad, but not great. Vantage XL isn’t my favorite seat, but it does beat LH and LX. Service pre-pandemic was a bit like an assembly line, even though they did spruce it up a bit with the chef coats and trolleys.

In any case, it’s refreshing to see a review from a different perspective, especially one so enthusiastic about a product. It’s a good thing he didn’t have an intra-Europe connection; SAS Plus without a blocked middle and the horrendous cubes would’ve been a let down… :-p

There is nothing called swedish scotch whiskey…it should be swedish whiskey..lol

I mean, Kavalan and a couple other brands call themselves “scotch” even though they’re nowhere near the UK. I guess they’re trying to say that they are “scotch style”

Hah “super expensive” is an understatement! You have expensive (every mainstream brand), super expensive (Duxiana, “high-end” version of the mainstream brands), then you have Hastens… mattresses that cost more than luxury cars…

Any trip report is highly appreciated in these times, but as a regular SAS Business Class client (at least 20 legs a year), I really can’t wrap my head around “I like the seating. It is better than most first class and superior to just about any other business except Singapore A380. It is worth going out of the way for.” I would say that it’s worth going out of the way to avoid SAS A330/A340 since the seats’ air bladders are broken at least 50% of the time, and the A350s (who lack air bladders thankfully) are better than LH/OZ/LX/UA but still average at best. To say that SAS Vantage XL is “better than most first class” is simply not true.

I like this concept of having regular reader guest reviews. It’s fun to get different perspectives and see what they highlight. I really think you should encourage more of them…and it’s also fun for people to be a “reviewer for a day” and not have to commit to it long term. Gives you more content as well.

As well, I finally got to see a seafood entree in business, ya know…given your love of beef, Matthew! 🙂

I can’t see anything really other than the extra 6 inches of space on the seat that makes this business class product worlds ahead of other offerings. Seems a heavily biased review.

I have flown them earlier this year on CPH-LAX in C – it was a great experience: The seat is one of the best in C, very spacious and comfortable. The crew was attentive, nice but not too close (which I prefer). The quality of food was very good, enjoyable drinks and free Wi-Fi for Gold-Members. Overall much better than LH, UA and others.

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The welcome pack

As with most Business Class flights , you are given a little comfort pack to make the experience just a little better. The Scandinavian Airlines one was quite nice, with hand-selected products and a little leaflet inside explaining each brand that had contributed. The pouch itself is from Filippa K, a brand my sister was obsessed with when I was little. Too bad it’s labelled SAS, otherwise it would have made for a great present.

Inside the bag are the normal amenities you may need during a long-haul flight: socks, earplugs, a sleeping mask, hand cream, lip balm, toothpaste, and (most impressively) a bamboo toothbrush (yayy environment). For me, this is everything I need to make my flight as comfortable as ever (except for my Sony Noise-cancelling headphones ).

Side note : you actually get noise-cancelling airphones when flying Business Class with Scandinavian Airlines (not to keep). They are great, but my Sony ones are a little better, so I always use them when I travel; even when I get other options.

SAS Business Class Review: Seats & Comfort

It isn’t a real Business Class flight unless the seats recline all the way so you can lie flat, am I right? Well, these do, and you are welcomed with a pillow, duvet (not just a blanket) and a mattress pad (if that’s the word) to lay out on the bed before you lay down. Lying flat on a plane is a whole new way of travelling, and one I will miss when the day comes that I am not upgraded.

The buttons by your seat also allow you to set the firmness of your seat and turn on and off the massage function. So if you are bored while waiting for dinner to be served there are plenty of fun buttons to play with.

Scandinavian Airlines Business Class Food

The best part of travelling with SAS Business Class (in my opinion) is that there are several options for each course for your meal. The SAS Business Class Meny 2019 was great on every single flight I had this year, with the meal pictured below being my favourite. Naturally, there are several courses too. As mentioned above, you are given a menu shortly after boarding, where all the options are laid out. For all my flights with SAS so far I have had 3 options for the starter and dessert (in addition to cheeses) and 4 options of mains.

If you want to see the SAS Business Class Menu, they always update it here (for European SAS flights) and here (for US and Asian SAS flights).

A huge shoutout to the MVP which was the chicken, asparagus, carrots and truffle tortellini in a red wine sauce served on my flight to Newark recently. The best in-flight meal I have ever had . Though, to be fair, whenever truffle is involved, I’m sold.

I loved the food on my Business Class flights with SAS, but wish there were more options for the lighter (second) meal. I am not a huge carnivore and don’t eat seafood at all. So when the only option includes prawns, I am left just eating the bread roll that came with it. I feel as if this could have easily been saved by always offering a vegetarian option . It is worth noting that a vegetarian option can be booked in advance, but since I am not a vegetarian per se, just picky about seafood, this isn’t something I had planned on doing.

So, to end the food section of my Scandinavian Airlines review, the food is great, but some more vegetarian options would be nice.

The service onboard SAS Business

Overall, I have experienced some amazing service on my SAS Business Class flights ( with one exception, which you’ll see below ). On my flight from Oslo to Newark, there were several stewards who really stood out to me, in the way they presented themselves, the onboard services and even the way they served the food. I literally felt as if I was in a restaurant dining, and believe that was in great deal due to the service provided by the crew.

Then there was that one exception (I’m sure you’ve been waiting for it).

On my first Business Class flight with SAS ( the one I initially said I’d review, but chickened out at first due to this one incident ), I went to look for the bathroom after dinner. I thought it was towards the front of the plane, as I was used to (#EconomyProblems, ey?).

The aisle I was sitting by had a curtain covering the front saying ‘crew only’, so I crossed the seats to the other aisle, thinking that the toilet could be there. As mentioned earlier, there was one row of seats between the window and first aisle (where I was sitting), then 2 (empty) seats between the aisles, and then another row of seats. I checked the second aisle, but that one too had a curtain saying ‘crew only’.

Since both aisles between me and the toilets were blocked by the trolleys still gathering up the passengers’ plates, I went to sit back down and wait for the aisle to be clear. Naturally, I had understood that the toilets were behind me, not to the front.

Then, an older Norwegian stewardess proceeded to walk up the aisle to my seat, hold up the ‘crew only’ sign in front of me and ask me if I could read it. Her literal words (in Norwegian) were “ are you able to read what this sign says? ”

Side note: I am not even exaggerating, as these are my notes from my iPhone right after the incident. I was so shocked that she had actually asked me if I could read (and heald the sign up for me) that I didn’t know anything else to do after but to write it down.

I told her that yes (I can read), that’s why I went to sit back down and smiled politely. She proceeded to explain to me that only crew members were allowed behind those curtains before she left. It wasn’t until after she was gone that I realised how rude it was and the pit in my stomach it gave me to be spoken to in that manner. I felt as if I had done something wrong and started questioning whether I had actually crossed a line in any way (I hadn’t).

The flight was delayed, and I am sure she was tired and had had a long day. Perhaps she thought I was trying to sneak into the crew area or something. So in the end, I made myself let it go and not worry about it, but it’s still one of the strangest experiences I’ve had on board a plane in connection with a crew.

What would you have done in that situation? Was it fair to include it in my SAS Business Class Review?

So, there you have my SAS Business Class 2019 review, and I hope you found it interesting! If you were considering upgrading yourself to Business Class with Scandinavian Airlines, maybe this review helped you make the decision. If you have any further questions, let me know in the comments below!

If you want to fly business and taste a bit of the luxury yourself, but travel with children, fret not. Here’s exactly how to go about flying business class with kids!

Read next : Qatar Airways Business Class Review

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Amenity Kit Review: SAS Business Class

Welcome to another installment of our amenity kit review series. As in previous reviews, I will be reviewing this amenity kit on a scale from 1 to 5 (being the best) and will rate it based on five categories:

• Bag/container: design, quality and reusability/collectibility of the bag.
• Product: quality, size and variety of the facial and body products.
• Comfort items: eye masks, ear plugs, etc.
• Miscellaneous: pens, tissues and everything else.
• Extras: additional items that make your flight just a tad more comfortable including pajamas, slippers, etc.

SAS Business Class Amenity Kit

Bag/container.

To put it charitably, this is a basic bag.  It seems sturdy enough, with a good quality cloth bag.  But there’s really no distinguishing features at all.  The only clue it’s even a SAS-branded bag is the logo on the zipper handle.  I suppose my dislike of minimalism skews my opinion, but this just seems underwhelming.  On the other hand, it is decent sized, and would make a decent toiletry bag.  Score: 2.

It’s a basic kit, with just lip balm, hand lotion, a toothbrush, and a tube of Colgate toothpaste.  At least the skincare products are good quality, provided by British company REN Clean Skincare.  A small tube of REN lip balm retails for $24, so these are high-end products.  REN’s focus on sustainability and zero waste also fits the image of a Scandinavian airline.  Overall, though, there’s just not much here; not even mouthwash, which is a must on a long-haul flight.  Score: 2.5.

Comfort Items

The kit includes socks, eyeshades, and some basic earplugs.  The eyeshades effectively block out light, but felt uncomfortable, with the mask pressing against my forehead.  My favorite item of the kit was probably the soft, warm socks.  I also give credit for the shades and socks matching the bag.  Score: 3.

Miscellaneous and Extras

Sadly, the kit includes nothing in either category.  Not even a pack of tissues or a pen.  Score : 1 in each category.

SAS Business Class Amenity Kit Overall Thoughts

The SAS Business Class amenity kit rates a 1.9/5 .  I enjoyed SAS Business Class overall, but this is a truly disappointing kit for international business class.  The bag is nothing special, and the contents are quite basic.  But where I think SAS really missed the mark is the lack of any unique Scandinavian touches.  SAS did a nice job with adding local flair throughout the rest of the experience, including the menu and bedding.  So that made the lack of imagination with the amenity kit especially disappointing.

Other Amenity Kit Reviews

• Japan Airlines First Class
• ANA First Class
• British Airways First Class
• Virgin Atlantic Upper Class
• Qantas First Class
• Thai Airways First Class (Rimowa 2014)
• Japan Airlines Business Class
• Lufthansa First Class (Escada)
• Cathay Pacific Business Class (new Seventy-Eight Percent)
• United Airlines BusinessFirst (Cowshed Kit)
• United Airlines BusinessFirst
• American Airlines Transcon First Class (Reno Air Heritage Series)
• United Airlines BusinessFirst (new TEAM USA kit)
• Lufthansa Business Class (Bree)
• Etihad Business Class (LUXE)
• Qatar Airways Economy Class
• American Airlines Business Class (Cole Haan 2016)
• American Airlines Business Class (Cole Haan 2017)
• Austrian Airlines Business Class
• Delta One Domestic Tumi
• Air France La Premiére
• Qantas First Class Martin Grant
• American Airlines Business Class (Cole Haan 2018)
• Lufthansa Business Class (Reisenthel 2018)
• American Airlines First Class (2019)
• Swiss Business Class (Victorinox 2018)
• American Airlines Business Class (This is Ground 2019)
• American Airlines Premium Economy (STATE 2019)
• Cathay Pacific First Class Travel Kit

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About Sriram Srinivasan

Sriram is an aficionado of all modes of travel, by land, air, and sea. A recovering frequent business traveler, he shows how to make the most of your vacation time, even without status.

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Review: SAS A330-300 Business Class Review – San Francisco to Copenhagen

Posted by Family Flys Free | Sep 11, 2021 | Flight Reviews , Reviews and Reports | 8

A Three-Stop Itinerary? Why Not.

When you’re traveling from a tiny, regional U.S. airport to one of the least visited countries in Europe, any itinerary will have multiple stops. My destination? Kosovo, the tiny, landlocked, contested state in the Balkans. Friends of mine relocated to Pristina, the capital of Kosovo, earlier this year. I decided to visit them for a week, tacking on a quick visit to both Tirana, Albania and Athens, Greece at the end.

The most direct itinerary from northern California to Kosovo is via either Frankfurt or Zurich. You could also fly on Turkish Airlines via Istanbul, but the timing is sometimes awkward. These would at least keep you to two connections. I struck out trying to book a Turkish Airlines itinerary out of SFO with Miles & Smiles, which meant I had to broaden the horizons to other options.

Multiple business class itineraries were available using United miles on my ideal travel day. I’d already flown on a Lufthansa A340-300 , and although I enjoyed the experience, the appeal wasn’t great; I like trying new products. Two domestic connections would let me fly the Lufthansa A350. A decent idea.

Alternatively, and unexpectedly, I could book an itinerary including SAS A330-330 business class. The downside is that I’d have two intra-Europe segments on Austrian Airlines. I try to avoid connections after a long-haul. But it won out. New carrier and new business class product. I’m in.

After some confusion on the entry requirements for Kosovo, my day of travel arrived. A short hop to SFO, and I had a few hours to kill before my SAS business class flight.

• Flight : SK 936
• Equipment : Airbus A330-300
• Seat : 8H (business, window)
• Route : San Francisco to Copenhagen
• Price : 77,000 United miles and $11.70

Lounges? Closed.

One bummer of the trip was that the Polaris lounge is still closed. This is my first time flying Star Alliance business class out of SFO in years , and it would have been a great opportunity to see this new lounge. Even with travel returning, the COVID-19 closures are still here. The United Club in Concourse G is closed as well. International travel isn’t the same yet.

My remaining options were to head to either United Club in Concourse E or Concourse F, or enjoy the Centurion for maybe the last time before I cancel my Platinum Card. Given the proximity to Concourse G, the latter was my preferred option.

Amazingly, the Centurion was not especially crowded. During pre-COVID-19 times, this lounge was sometimes a madhouse, to the point that not visiting was almost preferred.

A couple hours of work and a glass of bubbly later, and it was time to head to the gate.

SAS Initial Impressions

The Airbus A330 is a fairly rare specimen at SFO. You can expect far more 777s, 787s, and A350s. As SFO is a United hub and Delta and Hawaiian are the only U.S. airlines operating the type, they aren’t a common sight in the Bay Area. Off the top of my head, the only other airlines that I know operate an A330 to SFO are Iberia/LEVEL and TAP Portugal (the A330-900neo). Oh, and Finnair when they were flying here. The SAS A330-300 service between CPH and SFO is one that I’ve overlooked.

I’ve been on quite a few completely full flights during the pandemic, even when flying internationally. So it was a bit surprising to see so few passengers waiting for the SAS flight to Copenhagen. My guess is that the 262-seat SAS A330-300 was barely a quarter full.

Boarding started right on time with pre-boarding and then business class. The only thing that surprised me is that SAS did not check whether I had a COVID-19 test or not. You need either a test within 72 hours or a vaccination card to enter Kosovo. It was a good thing I knew the requirements .

I had to exchange my mask upon entering the cabin. Other who did not have flat, surgical masks had to do the same. Some European airlines have made this a requirement. I remember getting eyed by a KLM flight attendant until she asked me if I had another mask. I was unaware of the policy at the time.

The SAS A330-300 business class cabin was appealing upon first glance. It offers 32 Thompson Vantage seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, all with direct aisle access.

I did note that none of the seats are true “pairs” that would be ideal for traveling with a companion. The dividers wouldn’t make conversation impossible, but it isn’t the same as some products where you can book seats where you feel like you’re traveling together.

With only 17 people in business class on my flight to Copenhagen, everyone was settled quickly. By picking a seat in the back of the cabin, I’d unknowingly segregated myself from everyone else. Row 5 and forward seemed to be the place to be.

I have a thing for seats in the corner of the business class cabin. Being at the very front can be nice, but it always depends on the seat and window configuration. Lately, I find myself selecting a seat at the back of the business cabin. SeatGuru told me that the proximity to the galley and lavatories might be annoying in the back row, but I didn’t find that to be the case at all.

SAS A330-300 Business Class Seat

The Thompson Aero SAS A330-300 business class seat is nice. The colors are a bit plain, but the cabin is still appealing. I believe they are the same seats offered on their newer A350 aircraft. I’d selected a true window seat, where the divider blocks the aisle and you’re adjacent to the windows. The one downside to seat 8H is that you’re missing a window with the bulkhead right behind you.

I really like the seat style. The business class seat is comfortable, reasonably wide, and the true window seats (choose A or H) offer the most privacy. You obviously have all the legroom you need. This might be an odd comment, but I actually thought the seat would be most comfortable if the back was a couple degrees closer to vertical when in the upright configuration.

SAS business class offers over-ear headphones (not noise canceling) and an amenity kit. They also have a bottle of water waiting for you.

The power outlets, headphone and USB plugs, and in-flight entertainment controls are all easily accessible. The seat control is directly to the side, and you can adjust leg rest independently from the rest of the seat. The reading light is in an slightly awkward spot, but it works well enough if you put a book on the tray table.

If you’re ever confused what aircraft you’re flying, check the safety card. I’m obviously meticulous when booking most tickets and always review the aircraft type. Even in economy class, some airlines and aircraft offer a far better experience, and it can be worth looking into ahead of time.

The SAS A330-300 business class seats also come with a three-point harness. I noticed this when I sat down, but then spaced when it came time to depart. The crew had to kindly remind me to fasten it.

Departure from SFO

Boarding finished after just 21 minutes, far ahead of schedule. The captain greeted us over the intercom in both Danish and English, and we pushed back soon after. There was no predeparture beverage service or introductions by the SAS crew, although they had plenty of time for this. Either it’s not part of their service, or it is suspended due to COVID-19. With little traffic at SFO, we were quickly cleared for takeoff.

I love departing SFO. You get some of the best views, although the smoke from California wildfires was unfortunately impacting visibility that day.

We still got an excellent view of San Francisco and the Bay Bridge. I may have my gripes about the City by the Bay, but its setting is certainly not one of them.

Meal Service

The SAS wasted no time beginning meal service, placing tablecloths and serving an aperitif within minutes once they could move about the cabin. SAS did not have menu cards, nor did the crew take meal orders during boarding, so the choices were a surprise. Whatever the options were, the smell coming from the galley made my mouth water.

As the one, lonely soul in the back of the business cabin, I was served last. Luckily, I still had a choice from among all three meal options: short ribs, lemon chicken, and a vegetarian option. I went with the chicken. The sides included a salad of mixed greens with jicama, cold vegetables and fish with a quail egg, and bread.

The chicken was juicy and flavorful, making the hot main dish a winner. Although simple, I liked the salad as well. But the cold vegetables were barely redeemed with a garlic sauce. However, the fish served with the cold veggies was terrible, to the point that I wondered if it was fake.

Rather than another glass of champagne, I opted for a red wine. It was at this point that I found the menu in the IFE. The red was a 2016 St. John’s Road Motely Bunch red blend from Australia. I thought it very good. The champagne served for the aperitif was a Gosset Grande Reserve Brut. The other options included a Sauvignon Blanc, and I forget the rest. The only beer option was Danish Carlsberg.

I finished things off with a cup of tea. SAS offered chocolates as well. On the whole, meal service was decent. My SAS A330-300 business class experience certainly wasn’t the best I’ve had, but I wouldn’t say it missed the mark in any way.

In-Flight Experience

One area where SAS missed the mark is with their in-flight entertainment. The airline had a total of just 38 movie titles to pick from. Among those, there were only seven kids titles. This is enough for a ten hour flight, I guess. On a flight like this, my kids would easily plow through at least four if I let them. I watched X-Men Origins: Wolverine, which I’d seen once before, quite a while ago. Beyond that, there really wasn’t anything that interested me.

The airplane does have an external camera which points straight down and lets you watch the landscape rush by. This is a pretty cool feature, especially as we passed over the Canadian Rockies.

Unfortunately, SAS has yet to install WiFi on this A330. With a limited IFE selection, this isn’t a good look. I’d brought three books to read, which occupied most of my time when I wasn’t sleeping.

I should have gotten a better photo of the seat in lie-flat mode, but I didn’t snap a shot before the cabin was completely dimmed. SAS provides a thin cover for the seat, plus a blanket and pillow. While the seat itself is spacious enough and comfortable for sleeping, the bedding is terrible . I had to fold the pillow in half for it to be semi-comfortable. The armrest to the side of the seat slides down, which gives you a hair more space and is still comfortable for the window seat.

I got maybe three hours of broken sleep, which would be enough to function through the following day. It was less than I’d hoped to get, though. After I sat up, a flight attendant came by with snacks and water. They would return routinely offering juice and water. Staying hydrated is a must when flying.

The SAS A330-300 business class lavatory on the right side of the aircraft is spacious, more spacious than the other. Staff kept it nice and clean and stocked with towelettes.

Arriving In Copenhagen

I managed to get a few hours of broken napping in during the flight. Ideally, I like to have one full sleep cycle, which is 3.5-4 hours for me. This didn’t happen. I knew it was going to be a brutal day finishing my trip to Pristina. I’d tried to walk back my wake up time to adjust early, but I didn’t get to earlier than 4:00 AM before I left.

The crew turned the lights on with about 90 minutes left in the flight. They we on low, matching the color just starting to appear in the sky. It was breakfast time.

The breakfast offered in SAS A330-300 business class is sub-par, in my opinion. Cold cuts and cheese don’t slice it for me, and this was the only option offered. You also have muesli, yogurt, bread, and a few pieces of fruit. This is closer to something I’d expect for a decent economy class meal.

I finished quickly and enjoyed the sunrise. Given our flight path, I went and sat at an empty window across the cabin at soaked in Norway. How I want to visit. It’s high on the list.

By the time we circled around and landed at Copenhagen, it was fully light and Denmark was looking gorgeous. I said goodbye to SAS and the excellent business class seat, exiting into a rather quiet and subdued Copenhagen Airport.

SAS A330-300 Business Class Review: Final Thoughts

The Thompson Aero seat offered by SAS is a very nice hard product. If your main goal is getting some sleep on your transatlantic flight, I’d definitely consider flying SAS A330-300 business class. For eastbound long-haul flights, this is the most important factor to me.

However, the experience is missing a few of the touches that would really make it stand out. The SAS crew, while pleasant, didn’t provide the same level of attention as I’ve had with most other carriers, and no one ever addressed me personally by name. Not that this is necessary. I definitely notice it, though, and it demonstrates a high attention to detail by the crew. The catering doesn’t quite hold up to the competition. I’d say that the SAS experience compares to my KLM business experience , but definitely lags Lufthansa and Finnair. The lack of IFE options is also a drag.

All things considered, I’d fly SAS A330-300 business class again, but I’d likely prioritize many other options over them.

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Summary SAS offers a fine transatlantic business class fight experience. The Thompson Aero seat is reasonably private and offers plenty of space when both upright and fully-flat. The IFE is crisp, but the selection is minimal and there is no WiFi. The catering lags behind some of the competition, and the crew were less attentive than my experiences with other European carriers, but I'd happily fly SAS again, all things considered.

Check-In, Airport, and Boarding Experience

Seat comfort, in-flight entertainment and wifi, fully flat bed comfort, crew professionalism, family flys free.

After igniting his passion for award travel while planning his honeymoon, Ian now enjoys using points and miles to see the world with his wife and three internationally adopted kiddos. He loves dissecting loyalty programs to find maximum value. His goal is to demonstrate that extraordinary travel is possible for the ordinary family. When he's not chronicling his latest adventures with his kids, you might catch him musing over the ever-changing travel industry or complaining about the woes of regional flights.

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Ok … everybody forgive me for having sat on this comment for too long …: I have had it with all these biz class reviews that NEVER mention the REALLY important thing …: THE LENGTH OF THE FLAT BEDDDD !!!!!!! STOP taking fotos of those damn cookies, or the tooth brush, PLEASE !!! I am 6’7”, I was the short guy on my B’Ball team … there’s a LOT of tall people out there … If all y’all are shorties, bless your hearts and ease, but can you PLEASE still enter the length of the flat beds into your reviews …  Read more »

Haha, thanks for the comment, Mark. I do recall thinking that I had a few inches above my head and beyond my feet. This bed felt roomy to me. But…I am only 5’10”, very average. I would estimate the flat bed is 6’4″ to 6’6″ on this particular aircraft. Hope that helps.

To be fair, the cold cuts are a very Scandinavian type of breakfast…

True. It is just unfortunate that it is the only option, as it wasn’t very good, either.

Thank you for the review. Why the passively aggressive, snide comment about San Francisco? Did the city do something to you in the past?

I’ve visited many times for work and pleasure and have very mixed feelings about SF. Some great areas. Some terrible areas. City really needs to clean itself up.

[…] 100 new releases in their IFE selection. This is worlds better than what was offered when I flew SAS business class on my outbound to Europe. I found the selection very good […]

Frankly SAS cannot compete, even their ticket prices are extremely pricey!

That is true of their business class. They will often compete very well in economy, but British Airways is the most consistent business class winner (in terms of cash price) from the West Coast.

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I am in business on SAS next month. As they are in the process of switching to Sky Team, are they using Sky Team lounges? My domestic leg is with Delta. Do I have access to lounges with SAS bus class?

2 replies to this topic

What's your route and what airport(s) are you looking to use a lounge? SAS has their own lounges at some airports.

"My domestic leg is with Delta"

Was this booked separately, or part of a single ticket that includes an SAS segment?

SAS isn't set to join SkyTeam until September https://www.skyteam.com/en/about/press-releases/press-releases-2024/sas-to-join-skyteam-alliance/

I'm in the same, uh, boat.

As best as I can tell, you and I will have access to Star Alliance lounges (United, Air Canada, ...) when flying SAS in June ... plus SAS' own lounges, of course. But not SkyTeam, not yet.

https://www.flysas.com/en/eurobonus/skyteam/

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