Having flown Business Class with Scandinavian Airlines quite a few times now, I am excited to write this SAS Business Class review about their long-haul offers.
Each time I have actually been upgraded after bidding for it, so make sure to read my guide to bidding for upgrades as well! If you are curious about Scandinavian Airlines’ Business Class (including the stewardess who was incredibly rude to me), keep reading.
Table of Contents
My SAS Business Class History
I first flew SAS Business Class from Boston to Copenhagen in June 2019, and then SAS Business from Oslo to New York (Newark) in July 2019. Both times I bid for an upgrade and got lucky.
Finally, I also flew Scandinavian Airlines Business Class from Newark to Oslo in August 2019, and these 3 trips in such a short time really gave me a taste for continuing this trend. Since then, I have flown SAS Business at least 1-2 times a year, usually between Scandinavia and the US.
My longest flights (and I dare say, the best) were on their Bangkok to Copenhagen route (respectively 11 hours and 12,5-hours in each direction) in the Spring of 2026.
So, hopefully you’ll find that this is the right place to start for a Scandinavian Airlines review! Let me know if you are interested in a review of their SAS Plus (or even economy) too, as I fly SAS quite often.
I’ve tried to split this SAS Business Class Review into relevant sections, similar to my Emirates Business Class review and my Qatar Business Class Review. This way, you can jump straight to the part that interests you, whether that’s the flat-reclining seats, the service, or the food. So let’s jump in!
If you are curious as to how I have gotten upgraded so much lately, it’s because I’ve discovered the secret of bidding for upgrades! Here’s my guide to bidding for a flight upgrade (so you can do it too)! Alternatively, you can read all about how I got upgraded with Emirates here.
SAS Business Class Review: Seating
The Business Class cabin on most SAS flights are laid out in a 1-2-1 layout. This means that there is 1 row of seats by the window, then there’s an aisle, followed by 2 seats together, and then another aisle before the last row by the window again. I am a window seat girl, so I always aim for a window seat.
What’s worth noting about SAS Business Class is that the seats are set out in a way so that the table section and the seat itself alternates along the rows. So if you sit on the front row by the window (which I did on my first Business flight with SAS), you’ll be right by the aisle with your table and shelf section between you and the window.
But if you sit on the second row (which I am doing as I am writing this, actually), you’ll have your table and shelves between you and the aisle. Personally, the latter is my favourite, as it means you get a little more privacy. This is particularly golden if you are on an overnight flight trying to sleep.
I always double check on SeatMaps which rows have the table between the seat and the aisle before choosing my seat. In my experience, it is always the even numbered rows (2, 4, 6, etc).
Boarding
Upon arrival, you are served a glass of champagne (or orange juice or water if you are boring) and left to browse the menu. I’ll speak more about the food below, but I love having a menu with a proper wine list to choose from when I’m travelling (and in general).
This is also the time to favourite any movies or TV shows you are planning on watching during the flight!
The seat comes with plenty of options for charging your devices as well, so really there’s no reason to complain on this flight.
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 is quite nice, with hand-selected products and a little leaflet inside explaining each brand that had contributed.
The pouch itself used to be 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 for her. The new pouches are by DUX.
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 and duvet (not just a blanket) for when you want to rest. 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. 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 2-3 options for the starter and dessert (in addition to cheeses) and 3-4 options of mains.
If you want to see the SAS 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 usually love 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 I go into detail on 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. On all my flights, especially CPH-BKK, I have had impeccable service.
Then there was that one exception (I’m sure you’ve been waiting for it).
My one bad experience with SAS Business Class
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?
Scandinavian Airlines Business Class: Conclusion
So, there you have my SAS Business Class 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’re considering flying SAS Business Class on a long-haul route, here’s the short version: it’s absolutely worth upgrading for.
Over the years, I’ve flown SAS Business Class on multiple intercontinental routes, from Bangkok to Copenhagen, Washington to Copenhagen, Newark to Oslo, Boston to Copenhagen and more, and the experience has consistently delivered where it matters most.
The fully flat beds are comfortable and private enough to actually sleep (which is everything on an overnight flight), and the onboard dining is genuinely good. Think proper Nordic presentation, solid wine pairings, and meals that feel thoughtfully put together rather than just “airplane food.”
Would I pay full cash price every time? Probably not. But if you can upgrade with points or find a reasonable fare, I think it’s one of the best ways to elevate a long-haul journey to or from Scandinavia.
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