• Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
  • Advertising Disclosure
Live and Let's Fly
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
  • Advertising Disclosure
Home  >  A350 • Flight Reviews • sas  >  A Royal Experience In SAS A350 Business Class
A350Flight Reviewssas

A Royal Experience In SAS A350 Business Class

Matthew Klint Posted onDecember 16, 2020December 17, 2020 16 Comments

A long-time Award Expert client and friend recently returned home from Europe and had the great fortune of having the entire business class cabin to himself onboard a brand new SAS A350-900 in 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 3rd male FA, perhaps the purser for the flight.  There was a 4th 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.

CONCLUSION

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?

Previous Article 10 Things I’d Like To See From Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg
Next Article Planning An Epic Trip To Greenland!

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.

Related Posts

  • Qatar Airways A330-300 First Class Review

    Review: Qatar Airways A330-300 “First Class” Doha – Amman

    January 26, 2023
  • Qatar Airways 777-300ER Qsuite Business Class Review

    Review: Qatar Airways 777-300ER Qsuite Business Class

    January 23, 2023
  • JAL 777-300ER First Class Review

    Review: JAL 777-300ER First Class Los Angeles – Tokyo

    January 18, 2023

16 Comments

  1. DTWNNYC Reply
    December 16, 2020 at 12:54 pm

    ” 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 🙂

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      December 16, 2020 at 3:41 pm

      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!

  2. Christian Reply
    December 16, 2020 at 12:56 pm

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

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      December 16, 2020 at 3:39 pm

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

      • GUWonder Reply
        December 16, 2020 at 5:28 pm

        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.

    • janyyc Reply
      December 16, 2020 at 11:32 pm

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

      • Matthew Klint Reply
        December 17, 2020 at 2:21 am

        That was my fault.

  3. D Reply
    December 16, 2020 at 3:30 pm

    Mackmyra whisky is Swedish, not Danish.

  4. Derek Reply
    December 16, 2020 at 6:16 pm

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

  5. Tennen Reply
    December 16, 2020 at 6:25 pm

    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

  6. Dave G Reply
    December 16, 2020 at 9:27 pm

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

    • Aaron Reply
      December 16, 2020 at 9:49 pm

      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”

  7. Aaron Reply
    December 16, 2020 at 9:52 pm

    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…

  8. Lukas Reply
    December 17, 2020 at 5:56 am

    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.

  9. Stuart Reply
    December 17, 2020 at 11:30 am

    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! 🙂

  10. Yup Reply
    December 10, 2021 at 6:45 pm

    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.

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Search

Recent Posts

  • United Airlines Cuts Los Angeles – Tokyo Narita Route Ahead Of Haneda Launch February 6, 2023
  • Navigating The Touts Of Petra, Jordan February 6, 2023
  • What Annoys Flight Attendants Most… February 6, 2023
  • Mövenpick Resort Petra Review
    Review: Mövenpick Resort Petra, Jordan February 6, 2023

Categories

Popular Posts

  • Spirit Airlines Captain Runs Out Of Cockpit After Woman Yells “I Hope Y’All Crash And Die!” January 17, 2023
  • Hotel Worker entered room
    Woman Demands $3,000 In Compensation After Hotel Worker Walked Into Her Room At Midnight January 24, 2023
  • United Airlines 2023 Status Extension
    United Airlines Quietly Extends MileagePlus Premier Status…Again January 14, 2023
  • United Airlines Polaris Meal Service: The Sad State Of Affairs January 27, 2023

Archives

February 2023
M T W T F S S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728  
« Jan    

As seen on:

live_and_lets_fly

The new United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles The new United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles is the most beautiful of all Polaris Lounges. Stay tuned for a detailed look and many more photos on the blog tomorrow. Well done @united.
@malaysiaairlines just announced it would retire i @malaysiaairlines just announced it would retire its A380 fleet. While not surprising, it is sad to see the growing list of carriers retiring this superjumbo jet. On Malaysia Airlines, I flew the #A380 once from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to London (LHR) and had the entire first class cabin to myself (full review on the blog). It was a beautiful flight that I will always remember.
Welcome to @fly_bur @aveloair! I am so excited tha Welcome to @fly_bur @aveloair! I am so excited that a new carrier, Avelo, has launched, especially from an airport just 12 minutes from my home!
I greatly miss the @lufthansa #747-8 at @flylaxair I greatly miss the @lufthansa #747-8 at @flylaxairport. Hopefully this summer it will return.

.
.
.
.
#Lufthansa #FirstClass #747 #747-8 #StarAlliance #Miles #Points
I recently spent a weekend at the @ventanabigsur. I recently spent a weekend at the @ventanabigsur. This is not only a lovely, all-inclusive resort, but one of the best properties to use your @hyatt World of Hyatt points.
.
.
.
.
#Hyatt #BigSur #California #WorldofHyatt #CA-1 #Points #Hotels
In terms of a spacious first class product, the @E In terms of a spacious first class product, the @Emirates suite on a 777-300ER is hard to beat. My preference is Suite 2K.

.
.
.
.
#Emirates #777 #firstclass
Nearly five years ago, I took a “break” from I Nearly five years ago, I took a “break” from Instagram ahead of the birth of my first child. Goodness, how time flies. While I’ve enjoyed catching up on others over the years, now it is time for me to return to Instagram. In this first post, I highlight two joys in my life, my two children, whom I trust will grow up to be prolific travelers that circumnavigate the globe as ambassadors of love and respect.

.
.
.
.
.

#travel #airplanes #airlines #miles #points #familytravel #human #integrity #honor
United Airlines' new Polaris seat is a huge improv United Airlines' new Polaris seat is a huge improvement over UA's current business class seat. Check out my blog at liveandletsfly.com for 70+ photos of how @united is transforming its entire business class experience starting this December!
The perfect @flysas name tag for #Longyearben! The perfect @flysas name tag for #Longyearben!
Spotted four #polarbear outside of #longyearbyen - Spotted four #polarbear outside of #longyearbyen -- oh, and I love 40°F summer weather!
One of the best crews I have ever had the pleasure One of the best crews I have ever had the pleasure of flying with in all my years of flying. Thank you @flysas SK940 on 11 Aug 2016
Next stop ARN! But dear @flysas , next time if I a Next stop ARN! But dear @flysas , next time if I assign a window seat months in advance, don't move me to a center seat "for my convenience" with no way to get my original seat back... 😞
Ready for #PIA from #MAN to #JFK -- we will be rac Ready for #PIA from #MAN to #JFK -- we will be racing the #Delta flight to JFK at the gate next to us, which also departs at 12:45p. With @onemileatatime
Another room with a beautiful view... #hyattregenc Another room with a beautiful view... #hyattregencycasablanca #cassablanca #hyatt
Enjoying #shanghai with @onemileatatime from the i Enjoying #shanghai with @onemileatatime from the inside of the @grandhyatt_shanghai ... It is 40°C outside! 😓
From my front gate to my boarding gate in 15 minut From my front gate to my boarding gate in 15 minutes flat. I ❤️ #bur #burbankairport
@malaysiaairlines #747 out of retirement and in se @malaysiaairlines #747 out of retirement and in service at #kul -- beautiful livery!
View from my 61st floor room at the beautiful bran View from my 61st floor room at the beautiful brand new @parkhyattguangzhou -- look for a full review coming soon on the blog #hyatt #parkhyatt #guangzhou #parkhyattguangzhou
Will miss the @united #globalfirstlounge at #ord, Will miss the @united #globalfirstlounge at #ord, which closes tomorrow and the Queen of the Skies #747 which will be retired in 2018.
The colonial #architecture of #mumbai is stunning. The colonial #architecture of #mumbai is stunning. If you're ever here, get up at 5am and have a walk around the city before it gets busy. You can hear the birds instead of honking horns.
Load More... Follow on Instagram
facebook twitter instagram rss

This site is for entertainment purposes only. The owner of this site is not an investment advisor, financial planner, nor legal or tax professional and articles here are of an opinion and general nature and should not be relied upon for individual circumstances.

 

Advertiser Disclosure: Some links to credit cards and other products on this website will earn an affiliate commission. Outside of banner ads published through the Boarding Area network, this compensation does not impact how and where products appear on this site. While we do try to list all the best miles and points deals, the site does not include all card companies or credit card offers available in the marketplace. Please view our advertising policy page for additional details about our partners.

 

Editorial Disclosure: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any entity mentioned herein. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.