We began our journey back to the USA with a morning flight from Zurich to Copenhagen on an Airbus A320 in business class, my first chance to experience the “new” SAS premium cabin on a shorthaul flight.
SAS A320 Business Class Review (ZRH-CPH)
The “new” SAS Business Class on intra-European routes is a big upgrade over the SAS Plus service the carrier offered for years. As part of its rebirth in SkyTeam, now closely tied to Air France-KLM, SAS has brought back “proper” business class on these routes, with blocked middle seats, a curtain dividing cabins, and meals served on “real” tableware.
We flew from Zürich to Copenhagen in business class to start our trip back to the United States, an A320-operated flight. Check-in is handled by dnata at a desk that handles ticketing and check-in for several carriers. As business class passengers, we were invited to use priority security, which certainly saved a few minutes and now features a second set of e-gates to control usage (before, anyone could go to whatever line they wanted once in the security checkpoint area).
The flight departed at 10:20 am and we had a nice breakfast in the SWISS Lounge prior to the flight.
Boarding commenced at 10:05 am.
SAS 602
Zurich (ZRH) – Copenhagen (CPH)
Thursday, January 1
Depart: 10:25 AM
Arrive: 12:10 PM
Duration: 1hr, 45min
Distance: 591 miles
Aircraft: Airbus A320
Seat: 4H (Business Class)
Onboard, we found a fairly large business class cabin with a very light cabin load.
Seat
Business class was marked as rows 1-8, though the cabin size can adjusted based on cabin loads, the one advantage to having “regular” economy class seats. Yes, for my American readers not used to European business class, there is no fancy seat. If your’e thinking business class is 2-2 and economy is 3-3, think again…it’s the same old economy class and on SAS the same 30 inches of legroom.
The difference, however, is that you are a guaranteed an empty middle seat (in addition to the enchained ground product and soft product onboard). Worthwhile? Well, it was part of my Zurich – Copenhagen – Chicago ticket, but I quite like the extra space and meals onboard…only you can determine whether it is worthwhile.
Seats are Recaro BL3520 slimline seats…not particularly comfortable or well-padded. Each seat does have its own USB-A outlet. There are no A/C outlets.
Seats recline three inches and are 18 inches wide, which is comparatively wide, though I don’t think they feel particularly wide.
The cabin was booked only 6/32, with four of the passengers being my family and a very nice Swiss mother and son seated in front of us.
Food + Drink
Recall that for about a decade, SAS has served meals like this in its premium cabin (that it did not label as business class, but “Plus” class) on flights within Scandinavia and Europe:
These were very fresh meals, though the presentation left much to be desired, with meals served in cardboard boxes and drinks in plastic cups.
That changed last autumn with the formal re-introduction of business class. Meals are now plated on ceramic tableware, metal cutlery is used, and drinks are served in “real” glasses and mugs.
Lunch on my flight featured:
- Beetroot tzatziki with dill oil
- Bresaola with tuna ensaladilla, Taleggio cheese, and pickled brown beech mushrooms
- Mango and coconut entremet cake with fresh blueberries
It was delicious…especially the beetroot tzatziki. There was no choice, though you can order special meals, which I did for my kids. I figured the SAS kid’s meal would be healthier than a kid’s meal on a U.S. carrier and it turned out this was a very nice meal including pasta shells with cheese (and served hot, despite the short length of the flight), a salad of corn, cucumbers, and tomatoes, and a chocolate brownie with blueberries for dessert:
I had sparkling water to drink and coffee with my blueberries.
Service
Service is a bit odd…there are indeed time constraints, but meals were served first, then drinks directly after. However, the flight attendants working business class were very nice. Multiple refills were offered and the kids were also offered snacks from the economy class buy-on-board menu like gummy bears and potato chips (much to their delight and our horror considering we had just had breakfast in the lounge and lunch on the plane…).
Wi-Fi + IFE
W-Fi is free for business class passengers (and SAS Gold and Diamond passengers). There is no other IFE available on the Wi-Fi network nor are there any screens in the cabin.
Lavatories
Business class passengers have a dedicated lavatory in the front of the business class cabin.
CONCLSUION
We landed to a cold, gray day in CPH, passing a very attractive A319 with retro livery.
Intra-Europe business class is still just a coach seat with a blocked middle, but SAS had really upgraded the product compared to what it was…I was impressed by the food on my flight to Copenhagen and commend SAS for what it has done to improve its soft product. I’d like to see drinks served before meals (which was no problem on my flight, but I’d imagine it could be a problem if the cabin had a lot more passengers), but overall I quite enjoyed it. Just set your expectations accordingly.
That meal presentation is indeed an improvement. Now lets see KLM do the same…
You are right – KLM is now dreadfully behind.
Today’s fun fact – the name “Haribo” is a syllabic abbreviation formed from Hans Riegel Bonn. Ha Ri Bo.
I hear you, but… well, always room for a few gummy bears when traveling. Especially after two solid meals.
Have you tried those ‘Santa Monica Vegobears’ on Delta yet? I think they’re distributed to Comfort+ and First on domestic routes. I’m a fan. (Some have said, they may alternate with Albanese ‘true to fruit’ which are not as good, IMO.)
I have a Delta flight coming up and will ask for them!
Hard to get excited for 3-3, blocked-middle. Really shouldn’t call this ‘business’ class (which I think of as lie-flat, at least). It’s not even really ‘premium economy’ (recliner). This nonsense should be called ‘over-priced economy’ (sometimes) with a meal.
This has been the way in Europe for decades and it won’t be changing…I look at the improvement over the previous product and count it as a victory.
I mean, some are trying new things (if it actually happens)… the Eurowings a320 with 2-2 recliners, but they were using it for Germany-Dubai, while others would use a widebody for that medium-haul route. Of course, I’d much prefer a321neos/XLR with lie-flat for 5+ hour flights/redeyes. Recliners for 2+ hour flights would be nice, too, but not super necessary. For most of the intra-Europe flights, efficient E2s with 2-2 seating is far superior experience than 3-3 anything.
SK’s food & drink service is amazing… Beetroot tzatziki with dill oil → Such a tasty and healthy modern appetizer!
Some European and North African carriers do provide true 2 + 2 Business Class seating comparable to domestic First Class (Turkish, Royal Air Maroc, Egyptair). I recently flew Royal Air Maroc FRA/ CAS and seating/ food were light years better than Lufthansa. I agree that the vegetarian food boxes on KLM’s European Business have moved to the bottom of the pile.
A peaceful and pleasant midday flight aboard one of SK’s 81 A320neo jets (aircraft’s average age is 2.4 years) in its current fleet.
Let’s add that “Ramlösa Original” is Sweden’s natural slightly carbonated mineral water with traditions since 1707. On SAS flights, this water is frequently among the basic beverages offered or sold.
I got such a deal on this Ramlösa
It’s rather interesting that SK’s new business class would include hot food on such a short sector whereas AF only serve cold meals all the way to IST/N. Africa.
It seems to me the child’s meal is standard regardless of flight distance, and hot, so that is why Heidi and I received a cold meal and the kids received hot meals. That said, I’d order the kids meal myself…looked like a very nice pasta dish for adults too!
i’ve been there! my friend tried to go in senator lounge bc looks like same entrance but not! interesting illusion. we were packed in like sardines (e.g. sharing tables/benches sitting on steps) in J lounge got to see the blue bloods thru the glass.
Some really hate European business class. I’m fine with it. Given the typical flight length, I’d probably never buy it. But, it’s “free” when connecting to my TATL J flights. I’m short, so no increased legroom isn’t a deal breaker. Wider seats vs. no one seated next to me? Undecided. I like my upcoming flight is on an AF A220, where the middle seat on the “3” side is blocked off, as is the aisle seat next to me on the “2” side. You experienced the one big extra feature: 26 of 32 assignable seats (and 42 of 48 total seats) were empty. When did you last see an empty US-domestic F seat?
Why wouldn’t you buy it? I think that, if you don’t have status, paying an extra €150 on a return transcon ticket (e.g. between UK/Ireland and Greece/Turkey, or Portugal and Scandinavia) makes a lot of sense when it gives you access to four lounges, basically unlimited luggage and a guaranteed empty seat next to you for 7+ hours in the air.
You’re probably correct on the routes you mention. I would buy at that price for that distance. But, my intra-European history is on AF and KL flights of <80 minutes or similar-length flights where the only n/s is Y only.
KL don’t even block any seats on the Embraers and the wines they serve within Europe are vile, Y literally is a better experience.
Yeah, I forgot that about KL, as last time I was the only pax in “J” on an Embraer with them. But, AF (including Hop!, I believe) are now blocking two seats each row on all narrowbodies in “J.” CDG tends to be closer to my destination in Europe. AMS was a real pain last time for passport control, though EES may solve that soon. AMS has the no-train, no-bus terminal transfer that otherwise would be nice. For now CDG has a much easier international-to-Schengen, couple that with nobody next to you even on Embrarers. [BTW, I reseved 6 hours for a CDG layover because if EES fears.]