Months after flying SAS business class across the Atlantic ocean for the first time, I'm still torn. But I'm fairly certain it'll be a one-and-done … for a few reasons.
Don't get me wrong: I'll never complain about the luxury of a lie-flat seat for a 10-hour flight. And there was genuinely plenty to love on this flight, especially the comfortable (and shockingly wide) seat and surprisingly good meal services.
But it was far from perfect. And stacked against the bevy of options to book an arguably better business class seat overseas – for fewer miles and without a surprise fee – I'm just not sure this one is going to be high on my list.
Read on for the full review.
How to Book SAS Business Class
The times, they are a-changin' for SAS. And that includes how to book flights to Scandinavia and back with miles.
For years, travelers could book SAS using miles from Star Alliance airline programs like Air Canada Aeroplan, ANA Mileage Club, or United MileagePlus. But everything began to change in late 2023.
That's when Air France/KLM took a major ownership stake in the airline, eventually pulling it into the SkyTeam alliance and introducing exciting new points redemption options. And it doesn't get much more exciting than using Air France/KLM's own Flying Blue miles:
I booked my one-way flight from Copenhagen back to Chicago for under 41,000 miles and about $70 and taxes and fees. Transferring Amex points from a card like the *amex gold* made it a cinch to book. You can also transfer points to Flying Blue from all the other major banks like Chase, Capital One, Citi, and others.
At Thrifty Traveler, we don't accept freebies. We use our own points, miles, or cash to pay for every single flight or hotel you see reviewed here – including this one.
Unfortunately, it seems that deal was a little too good. Air France/KLM have since recently raised award rates … by close to double: One-ways between the U.S. and Scandinavia now start at around 80,000 miles each way. Longer flights to and from the West Coast can clock in north of 100,000 miles each way.
Combined with the fact that award space through SkyTeam partners with Air France is sparse, it's hard to put this one among our go-to options for getting to Europe in a lie-flat seat. While other SkyTeam mileage programs like Delta SkyMiles might be an option in theory, the deals there are even worse.
And while the surcharges are low on these awards, there's an extra expense to factor in you won't find flying business class with many: Seat selection fees.
Yes, really: Even with a business class ticket, SAS makes you pay to select a seat in advance – or get assigned a seat randomly at check-in. Those fees typically start around $110 or so each way. In my case, I paid $140 to pick a seat before departure.
Lounge Access & Boarding
On paper, all SAS business class passengers departing (or connecting through) Copenhagen should have complimentary access to the flagship SAS Lounge in Terminal 3, near gate C10. It looks quite nice, albeit small.
In practice, I didn't get a chance to visit thanks to one of the many quirks of the Copenhagen airport. After flying in from London-Heathrow (LHR) earlier in the morning, I was already behind the airport's passport control checkpoint. And considering the lounge is located before that checkpoint, there was no realistic way for me to pop in.
There is an easily accessible Priority Pass lounge in the airport's C Concourse: The Eventyr Lounge. But that was at capacity with premium cabin passengers from Emirates, Thai Airways, and other carriers that contract with the company for lounge access.
The airport's C Gates where U.S.-bound flights depart from was undeniably Danish and quaint … but not necessarily in a good way. Honestly, the whole concourse felt a bit disheveled and out-of-date, from the loose ceiling panels to the slapdash passport checkpoint before allowing passengers to proceed to the gate.
SAS has grand plans to turn Copenhagen into a marquee European airport and a true “global hub” with a major overhaul on the books … but not until at least 2028. The airport needs it.
The boarding process was disorderly, too: After an hour-plus delay, the airline skipped any semblance of the usual zone-by-zone process and invited everyone to board at the same time.
SAS Business Class Cabin & Seats
Aside from a select few routes like Boston (BOS) and Washington, D.C.-Dulles (IAD) where the airline flies a narrowbody Airbus A321, SAS business class is largely identical whether you're flying on an Airbus A330 (like I was) or a newer Airbus A350-900.
The whole cabin is laid out in a 1-2-1 configuration, ensuring every passenger has direct access to the aisle. This A330-300 has 32 business class seats in a single cabin while the A350-900 has another eight business class seats in a mini-cabin behind the galley.
The seats in each row are staggered: Some are closer to the aisle with a console table along the side, while others are positioned farther away from the aisle and separated by the console, alternating row-by-row.
Solo flyers should gravitate to even-numbered seats along the windows, which are positioned further away from the aisle.
Odd-numbered seats, meanwhile, are exposed to the aisle – with a console table hugging the window.
And then, in the center section, there are seats in pairs – again, some closer to the aisles and others positioned further away. With only a console table between them, these are decent for traveling couples or companions … but not great if you don't know your neighbor, as there's not much for additional privacy.
How you feel about the SAS business class cabin likely hinges on how you feel about Scandinavian minimalism. There are lots of grays and dark tones, punctuated only by the occasional pop of light brown at each seat. I sure do love that bulkhead, though: A geometric slate gray stone-looking wall.
These seats are a dead ringer for Delta One Suites – they're from the same manufacturer, in fact – with one key exception: There's no door. Combined with the fact that the seats themselves are pretty low to the ground, there's not a ton of privacy onboard. You've got a fairly clear view of all your fellow passengers throughout the flight.
What it lacks in privacy, SAS makes up for it in additional space to stretch out. I could be wrong, but I swear the lack of the door gives each seat another few inches of shoulder room. That's a trade I'll gladly make: Doors in business class are overrated, anyway.
That said, the seats throughout the cabin were showing a fair amount of wear. And my seat wasn't particularly well-cleaned before boarding, either – there were plenty of crumbs and smudges.
At each seat, there's all the basics: A small (and exposed) storage cubby, universal power outlets and a USB socket, a wired remote for the seatback screen, and a set of seat controls – all built above a fairly large storage console table.
And that's about it for storage. While the footwell is fairly large, there's nowhere to store a bag underneath – you'll need to put that overhead.
But with that large footwell, a surprisingly well-padded seat (with the ability to customize the firmness using the seat controls), and an armrest that you could raise and lower with the push of a button, this made for a very comfortable place to nap while crossing the Atlantic Ocean.
There were three lavatories, but only the two at the back of the cabin were available to passengers – flight attendants blocked off the bathroom at the front of the plane for pilots and crew. Bonus: Both bathrooms at the rear of the cabin have windows and a full-length mirror, too.
Amenities
SAS's business class amenity game is cozy but basic.
A bedding set was waiting at every seat in the cabin, including a light-yet-structured duvet that did the trick. The pillow, however, was large yet economy thin.
There was also an amenity kit in a cute cloth knapsack matching the bedding. The contents were fairly basic: There's an eye mask, a dental kit, socks, ear plugs, and tubes of lip balm and facial cream from the Swedish brand Verso.
Finally, every passenger gets a pair of noise-canceling headphones. While comfortable, they weren't particularly high quality … and like the seats, were showing plenty of wear.
Service & Dining
I'll be honest: I had low expectations for the onboard experience heading into this flight. But SAS exceeded them … and then some.
The service was warm and cheery from start to finish. And everything from the dishes to the drinks available had a distinctive Scandinavian feel, giving the whole experience a sense of place that many airlines miss.
The crew sprang into action less than 20 minutes after takeoff, offering a ramekin of roasted cashews and a drink. Champagne for me, please – SAS serves Charles Heidsieck, which is quite nice. There's a clear focus on Scandinavian spirits and beverages on the drink menu, including an airline exclusive beer from Danish brewery Mikkeller.
From there, SAS offers a pretty hearty meal service with several different starters, entrees, and dessert options.
But SAS does something different for meal service – something I wish more carriers would copy. Rather than taking a gamble on a dish that sounds good on paper, flight attendants roll a trolley down the aisle with each option on display, allowing you to get a glimpse, then point and choose.
My choice for a starter – togarashi yellowfin tuna tartare with a carrot and daikon salad – was tasty, even if the fish didn't seem tremendously high quality. It was accompanied by a simple yet crisp mixed salad topped with roasted seeds, a freshly baked (and warm!) roll, and a side of delicious Danish butter.
But the entree was a home run. I picked the braised beef burnt ends with potatoes, pumpkins, and I'm glad I did.
While the presentation was a tad sloppy, it was delicious. The beef was tender and flavorful, enhanced by the herbs and microgreens on top. Alongside the potatoes and pumpkin, it was rich in the best way possible.
Was it the highest quality dish you'll ever find on a plane? Hardly. But it was tasty and well done, a good reminder that airlines needn't try so hard to serve a solid meal.
After finishing every last bite, the flight attendants came through with their trusty trolley once more with a selection of desserts. Stuffed, I went with a plate of two Danish cheeses and a green tomato marmalade, plated right from the trolley. Yet again, it was simple, Scandinavian, and delicious.
Between meal services, the crew sets up a snack-and-beverage bar near the rear galley with snacks, drinks, and coffees. It's a great idea in theory, though it was pretty picked over by the time I made it back there.
The second and final meal service began about 90 minutes before arrival – and SAS serves passengers something more substantial than you'll find on many European carriers. This cold smoked salmon on rye with dill and pumpkin seed pesto was excellent. It was also the only option, so tough luck if you don't like smoked salmon.
There was also a small side of fruit as well as a box of two pralines from a – surprise! – Scandinavian chocolatier, Hedh Escalante.
Entertainment
The entertainment situation flying SAS business class is a real mixed bag. Let's start with the good.
Every business class passenger gets free Wi-Fi for the duration of the flight. Aside from a few predictable blips while crossing the ocean, it was steady throughout the flight.
Even on these older A330s, seatback screens at each seat are fairly large with a crisp display and responsive touchscreens. But the screens are also glossy … to a fault: With any natural light or even overhead light, there's just far too much glare.
The selection of movies and TV shows onboard was decent, though definitely skewed more towards older classics than new releases.
Bottom Line
There's a lot to like about SAS business class, but I'm still torn.
On the one hand, the service and meals onboard were a pleasant surprise. Same goes for the seat itself, which was surprisingly spacious. A comfortable lie-flat bed and a good meal should be everything, right?
But given how much harder (and more expensive) it is to book these seats using miles these days, I'm not sure it's worth the extra effort.
