Is SAS Business Class Worth It? An Honest Review

When you book a business class ticket, you expect a premium experience that feels consistently better than economy or premium economy. Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) offers an upgrade bidding process that sometimes makes business class super affordable. But does it deliver enough to justify the extra cost? We recently flew SAS business class on the Airbus A350 from Washington Dulles (IAD) to Copenhagen (CPH). We’ll tell you all about the experience and brake it down into key categories.

Lounge Access at Dulles

Many airlines give business class passengers access to any partner lounge at the airport (Sky Team in this case), but SAS assigns passengers to a specific lounge. At Dulles, we were directed to the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse, which was just OK. Unfortunately, most other lounges we could access with Priority Pass were already at capacity with waitlists. We did quickly get into Virgin’s lounge and found seats in the bar area, even though it was also reaching capacity.

The lounge itself was clean, well-organized, and staffed by friendly employees. However, the food and beverage setup was limited. Most of the food and drinks came with an extra fee. The complimentary options included a small selection: Pabst Blue Ribbon (PBR), a decent Chardonnay, and some sandwiches.

The sandwiches were fresh and tasty, so we didn’t leave hungry, but compared to other business-class lounges, the offering felt minimal.

Takeaway: You’ll have lounge access, but don’t expect much unless you’re fine with limited complimentary options.

Virgin Lounge at Dulles

Boarding Process

Boarding was smooth and well organized, with a dedicated line for premium cabins. We were in bulkhead business class seats on opposite sides of the plane due to SAS’s upgrade seating process (more on that later). The cabin was in a 1-2-1 configuration, which meant every passenger had direct aisle access.

The seats looked modern, with a clean design and comfortable finishes. Having a private space felt like a real upgrade from premium economy, especially with extra room in the bulkhead row.

Takeaway: Boarding was straightforward and efficient, with seats that looked and felt premium (and were comfortable throughout the flight).

Cabin Crew and Service

Here’s where the service experience felt inconsistent. During boarding, one crew member was abrupt when I asked to use the front lavatory and crossed the galley to give Theo a kiss before settling in. It turned out that the front lav was crew-only, but the curtains were open and there was no signage. On other airlines, the front lavatory is usually available to business class passengers, so the setup was confusing. Instead of calmly explaining, the crew member was dismissive and somewhat rude.

Fortunately, the overall service improved once we were in the air. Another flight attendant, originally from Copenhagen, was friendly and engaging. We talked about Washington, D.C., and Copenhagen, and he made a real effort to make the experience pleasant. He was attentive throughout the flight, offering drinks, snacks, and even bringing coffee and a croissant outside the regular breakfast service window when I woke up later in the flight.

Takeaway: Service can feel uneven. Some crew members are excellent, others are less so. If you’re lucky with your assigned crew, the experience improves significantly.

The IFE served as an awkward mirror the whole flight 😉

Food and Drinks

The pre-departure beverage service included sparkling wine and bottled water, which was a nice touch. Shortly after takeoff, we were offered warm nuts and drinks.

Dinner service began soon after reaching cruising altitude. The menu choices were beef or salmon. I chose the beef, which was tender, well-prepared, and presented nicely. The portion size was perfect, and the flavors were fresh. While it wasn’t the most memorable airline meal I’ve ever had, it exceeded expectations compared to many premium economy or economy options.

Breakfast was served well before landing. Unfortunately, the timing was less than ideal. The cabin lights were turned on three hours before arrival, which interrupted my sleep. Even with an eye mask, the brightness made it hard to rest. That said, the croissant and coffee I received later were appreciated.

Takeaway: The food was solid, with dinner especially standing out. Early breakfast service and lighting, however, were disruptive.

I ate every bite

Seat and Comfort

SAS uses a 1-2-1 seating layout in business class on the Airbus A350, ensuring aisle access for every passenger. The bulkhead seats in row one were especially spacious, with extra legroom and storage. The lie-flat feature worked well, and the seat felt comfortable for sleeping.

I slept three to four hours solidly, though I would have slept longer if not for the early lighting before landing. The seat width and length were generous enough for comfort, and the blanket and pillow provided were adequate.

Temperature control was a downside. The cabin was really warm, and there are no individual air vents. Bringing a portable travel fan is a smart move if you’re heat-sensitive. I never regret it!

Takeaway: Excellent seat layout and comfort in the bulkhead, with lie-flat sleeping a big plus. Cabin heat and early lighting reduced overall restfulness.

Ready for some zzz’s

Amenities

SAS provides an amenity kit with a good-quality eye mask, lotion, and other travel essentials. The kit wasn’t luxury-level but was practical and nicely packaged.

The lavatories were also spacious and remained clean throughout the flight.

One thing worth noting: SAS kept bottled water available throughout the flight. On some long-haul flights with other airlines, I’ve run into situations where bottled water runs out. I always drink about 50 oz on a long-haul, so this is essential even when I bring my own refillable bottle. The availability of water made a big difference in comfort here.

Takeaway: Thoughtful amenities, with access to water and clean lavatories. These may seem like little things but they make a big difference on a long flight.

The Upgrade Bidding Process

SAS runs an upgrade auction system. We placed a bid from premium economy to business class and paid $385 each to secure the upgrade. For an overnight flight, it felt worthwhile since we had a long layover in Copenhagen afterward.

However, there are significant downsides. You don’t get to choose your seats. You’re automatically assigned at the same time as everyone else who is upgraded, so all the seats are filled immediately.

In our case, that meant being separated. While the extra space was welcome, it was disappointing not to be seated side by side or at least one in front of the other.

Because of this, we’ll probably withdraw our upgrade bid for the return flight. For us, premium economy is good enough without the seating risk, especially for a day flight home when we want to chat and hang out together rather than sleep.

Takeaway: The bidding system can make business class super affordable but, if traveling with a companion, be prepared to sit apart.

✈️ Click here to follow our latest adventures on Facebook!

Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Lie-flat seats with direct aisle access for all passengers.
  • Spacious bulkhead seating with extra comfort.
  • Friendly and attentive service from some crew members.
  • Decent meal service, especially dinner.
  • Clean, organized cabin with reliable amenities.
  • Water and snacks available throughout the flight.

Cons:

  • Upgrade bidding means no control over seating assignments.
  • Lounge access at Dulles was limited with few complimentary offerings.
  • Some crew interactions felt curt or unfriendly.
  • Cabin too warm with no air vents.
  • Lights turned on very early before landing, disrupting sleep.
  • Breakfast service interrupted sleep time.

Is It Worth It?

SAS business class is worth it if:

  • You get a reasonably priced upgrade (like our $385 bid).
  • You’re on a long overnight flight where lie-flat sleep will make a difference.
  • You value direct aisle access and a modern seat design.

It’s not worth it if:

  • You expect consistent premium service across the board.
  • Lounge access and pre-flight perks matter.
  • You’re traveling with a partner and want to sit together.
  • You’re paying full price (compared to other airlines’ business class, SAS lacks polish).

In short, SAS business class is comfortable and practical but not luxurious. The experience feels closer to an enhanced premium economy with a lie-flat bed than a truly premium product. If you can secure an upgrade at a good price, it’s worthwhile. But it’s not an experience worth seeking out at full fare.

Read More of Our Travel Tips and Reviews

Discover more from LiAnn and Theo Travel

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Explore More of Our Guides

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.