SAS has combined its Gold and business lounges at its three main Scandinavian hubs, creating unified spaces that now offer a single, upgraded experience for eligible travelers.
SAS Combines Gold And Business Lounges In Scandinavia
As of October 1, 2025, SAS merged its SAS Gold Lounge and SAS Lounge spaces at Stockholm Arlanda (ARN), Copenhagen (CPH), and Oslo (OSL) airports. The carrier says the move “creates more space and enhances the overall experience,” with the combined lounges adopting the higher-tier Gold Lounge standard for food, drinks, and amenities.
We’re excited to announce that we’re merging our SAS Gold and SAS Lounges at Arlanda, Copenhagen and Oslo airports into one shared lounge starting 1 October 2025. This will create more space and enhance the overall experience. The food and beverage offerings will be harmonized to reflect the premium experience currently available in our Gold lounges—making every lounge visit more enjoyable.
The newly combined lounges now feature harmonized catering, updated interiors, and expanded seating areas. SAS Elite members, along with eligible business class travelers and SkyTeam Elite Plus members, continue to enjoy access and guest privileges under the airline’s revised lounge access policy.
Why SAS Made This Change
It’s not coincidental that this change came the day that SAS reintroduced business class on its intra-Europe flights. As SAS invests in its onboard product and as it positions itself as a more premium carrier, it recognizes that a sizeable aspect of the value transition of flying in business class within Europe is lounge access. After all, the business class seat itself is identical to economy class (though SAS has begun blocking middle seats once again).
I don’t get to Stockholm or Oslo often, but I also noticed during my recent travels through Copenhagen over the last few years that the SAS Lounge and SAS Gold Lounge frequently had inconsistent crowding levels between them. By consolidating, SAS can relieve some of the pressure on the downstairs SAS Lounge while offering a higher level of service like barista-made coffee to all lounge guests. The goal is to get more people to buy business class seats.
Winners And Losers
As with any policy change, there are winners and losers.
Winners:
- Business class travelers now enjoy the premium food and beverage offerings once reserved for the Gold Lounge, making the overall experience noticeably better for non-elites (I mentioned the barista coffee in CPH, which for me creates tremendous additional value for this lounge)
- Casual travelers and connecting passengers during peak hours will appreciate larger, unified lounges with more seating capacity
- SAS can market this change as an upgrade for most travelers
Losers:
- Frequent flyers and top-tier elites lose exclusivity. Gold Lounges were traditionally quieter, offering a refuge from the crowds
- Travelers seeking privacy or tranquility may find the unified lounges louder and more congested, especially during morning and evening rush
- Brand loyalists who valued the old SAS distinction between tiers may see this as another step toward a dismantling of what made SAS special by Air France/KLM.
New Lounge
Finally, I should mention that a new flagship lounge is coming to CPH in the summer of 2027, which may help to explain at least there why the two lounges were combined.
CONCLUSION
SAS’s decision to merge its Gold and regular lounges across Scandinavia is consistent with its larger SkyTeam transition: fewer distinctions, more standardization, and a push to elevate business class. For most travelers, the new format means better food and drink in a larger space. For loyal elites, it may feel like the loss of one of the last meaningful perks SAS offered before its transformation.
A logical decision… Adapt or perish!
Dr. Güntürk Üstün
Darn, I was there in the beginning of September when the lounges were still separated. Was flying Austrian, and the SAS lounge still welcomed LH group premium passengers. Can confirm that the lounge was crowded and food was ok for an evening departure.