Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) has updated its flagship lounges in Copenhagen, with several new elements I look forward to checking out.
First, the lounge will retain its “Fast Track” dedicated security entrance for SAS premium cabin travelers as well as elite members of the SAS EuroBonus program and Star Alliance Gold members traveling on SAS.
My favorite part of the new lounge is that barista-made coffee will be available. Of course a barista is not all that meaningful without great coffee, but I’m hoping for the best.
There’s also a new kitchen-style buffet area that features foods similar to what SAS has traditionally offered in its lounges.
Seating is Scandinavian (some might say Ikea) style. In that sense, the lounge doesn’t look all that much different than before, though the red colored furniture has been replaced with blue colored furniture.
The Apple iMacs are gone in favor of HP desktops. A few private workrooms are also available as well as a kid’s area.
While Copenhagen is not as far north as Olso or Stockholm, by winter solstice the sun will rise at about 8:40 A.M. and set at 3:40 P.M. To compensate for the sun set deficit, the new lounge features a “daylightbooster” section, offering simulated natural light.
Agents will be present in the lounge to assist with flight irregularities.
CONCLUSION
This update impacts both the business and Gold lounges. I have not reviewed either lounge in nearly a decade. All my recent SAS flying has been via Stockholm or Oslo. The new lounge looks nice and helps to justify the fact that SAS doesn’t really have a real intra-Europe business class onboard.
All images courtesy of SAS / H/T: InsideFlyer.dk
One correction: SAS Fast Track is for SAS pax only. That means Business, Plus, and SK elites (Silvers might be included). It EXCLUDES *A premium cabin and *G on SAS/*A flights, unless they’ve changed the access policies recently and made it part of “Gold Track.”
In any case, I wonder if they did anything to help alleviate the crowding in the lounge…
Thanks. I’ve updated the post.
Great! Still one correction, though. Unfortunately, *G on SAS don’t have access to Fast Track.
Matthew, visited this lounge a couple years ago. Are you writing about the business lounge downstairs, or the upstairs gold lounge? Thanks Jimmy
Hi Jimmy, both the business lounge and gold lounges have been updated. It wasn’t clear if there a barista on both levels, but hopefully someone will chime in with clarification.
Only barista upstairs. Downstairs many coffee machines
Thanks!
Is there infra-Europe business class worse than LH? I guess it was slightly worse food-and service-wise, but both have the same seating.
My biggest gripe with SAS is how they charge for water in Econ.
SAS doesn’t have intra-Europe business class. They have SAS Plus, which is premium economy. Basically, unlike Euro Biz, middle seats aren’t blocked. You get the business class ground services (but only at airports with a *A airline operated lounge/fast track) and free f&b and WiFi (if they have it) onboard.
So yes, their business class is worse than LH.
>Seating is Scandinavian (some might say Ikea) style
In that case, ‘some’ should probably get a little cultured.
‘Danish Modern’ characterizes a period in time when functional and minimalist Danish furniture designers built world classics that still, to this day, define what Scandinavian design looks like.
Try classics like The Egg and The Swan by A. Jacobsen, the UN Headquarters’ interior design by F. Juhl, or any of the works of P. Kjaerholm, H. Wegener or B. Mogensen.
The interior design in the lounge upgrade certainly pays a healthy respect to the local, proud traditions. Which have little to do with IKEA.