Azores Airlines Comfort Class Review: Is It Worth It?
Most flights to the gorgeous Azores archipelago route through Lisbon, which adds about seven hours of travel each way if you’re flying from the US or Canada. But there’s a direct option with an affordable premium cabin that skips the backtrack entirely and will get you there in less than six hours. It doesn’t surface easily in a standard search, and the airline behind it has some quirks worth reviewing before you book. Knowing how to find it, however, can result in huge savings for your trip and potentially add a little comfort. We’ll tell you exactly how to find this option, how much we paid, and a full airline review on whether it’s worth it.
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The Secret Search
When we planned our trip from Philadelphia, we wanted to skip the time and chaos of a Lisbon transfer, especially since we’ve already been to Lisbon a few times and the Azores were our only destination.
By using Google Flights, we found direct flights out of Toronto, Montreal, Boston, and JFK on SATA Azores Airlines (Azores Airlines). Flying out of Toronto was a fraction of the price of other airports and airlines. So, we used a handful of American Airlines miles for a quick flight to Toronto and spent two days exploring the city before heading to Ponta Delgada, on Azores’ main island, Sao Miguel.
But discovering these flight routes is a challenge – even if you’re a savvy Google Flights searcher – for a few reasons:
- They only operate on select days
- You’ll need to search for Ponta Delgada, the main hub on Sao Miguel Island.
- They market their premium economy product as business class, so it won’t show up in a premium economy search (it’s definitely not business class, but we’ll review fully below)
- While they do partner with JetBlue, the connection price is usually ridiculous. It’s better to find a positioning flight to Toronto on your own and book separately.
Azores Airlines operates an A321neo on this route, and their Comfort Class – which we’ll refer to as Premium Economy even though it’s marketed as business class – is the highest level of service they offer on this aircraft. It is a great middle ground for travelers who want more space but don’t need a lie-flat bed for a relatively short six-hour red-eye. We’ll break down exactly what to expect from this airline and its premium cabin.
🗺️ Planning a Trip to the Azores? Check Out Our Perfect 3-Day Itinerary
The Smart Stopover: Two Days in Toronto
Don’t overlook Toronto as a departure point. The flight from Toronto to Ponta Delgada (PDL) is only about five and a half hours – which is way shorter than most flights to Western Europe. We made the most of the positioning flight by booking on American Airlines miles and staying at the Hyatt Regency Toronto on Chase Ultimate Rewards points.
Redemption Value: We booked the Hyatt Regency Toronto for 15,000 World of Hyatt points per night. It’s located in the Entertainment District, which makes it a perfectly walkable base for our favorite food spots. If you have Chase Ultimate Rewards, transferring them to Hyatt for a stay in Toronto is one of the best ways to find luxe-for-less value.
A week combining the culinary scene of Toronto with the natural beauty of Sao Miguel makes for a perfect, multi-city trip. But if you’re just looking for a long-weekend getaway, it’s easy to line up your positioning flights to just transit through Toronto. Just note that the 8 PM arrival back in Toronto might make for a late connection home. We would’ve made the 11 PM flight back to Philly, but we got an airport hotel and finished our journey in the morning instead.
🍜 Toronto: 10 Top Places to Eat and Drink
Ground Experience at YYZ and PDL (3 Stars)
Unlike flying a major legacy carrier in a premium cabin, the ground perks with SATA are minimal. In Toronto, we had priority check-in and priority boarding, which helped us skip the long lines and was very efficient overall.
A Comfort Class ticket does not grant you lounge access at Toronto Pearson. So, you’ll need the right credit card or elite status. We used our Priority Pass to access the Plaza Premium Lounge in Terminal 3. It’s nothing special but a nice option since the gate areas can get crowded and the food offerings are generally lackluster. On the return leg from Sao Miguel (PDL), we did not have a lounge option at all. We found a small cafe in the main terminal that had some sandwiches and drinks, which was totally fine, but nothing special.
The A321neo Cabin and Seat (4 Stars)
SATA has updated much of its fleet to the A321neo and A321LR. If you’ve seen older reviews showing dated interiors and worn-out seats, those are likely the older A310s or A320s. The newer cabin is a massive improvement. You can check out your exact plane here at AeroLOPA.
The Seat: The Comfort Class cabin is arranged in a 2-2 configuration. Unlike European Business Class on carriers like Lufthansa or TAP, where they simply block the middle seat in a standard row, these are dedicated, larger seats similar to a domestic First Class seat in the US. They were very comfortable.
Seat Features:
- Pitch: Approximately 45 inches.
- Width: 21 inches.
- Recline: 6 inches.
- Power: Each seat has a dedicated USB port and a standard power outlet.
- Comfort: This was a nice seat that felt like a true upgrade from economy, though definitely far from a business class experience.
While it isn’t a lie-flat seat, the extra width and recline made it possible to get about three hours of decent sleep. For a flight under six hours, we’ll call that a win.
Service Inconsistencies (3 Stars)
The in-flight service was friendly and professional, though not overly attentive. Shortly after takeoff, we were served a full hot meal. The food was adequate but just the basic airline chicken or pasta. However, the Portuguese wine was a standout. They take great pride in their local grapes, and it was a nice introduction before we even landed in the Azores.
The Amenity Kit: We received a full amenity kit in a cute little gray pouch. It was basic but always appreciated:
- Eye mask and earplugs.
- Socks.
- Toothbrush and toothpaste.
- Lip balm and hand cream.
The Blanket Situation: This is where our experience took a turn. On the overnight flight from Toronto to Sao Miguel, there were no blankets available. The cabin was freezing. We were shocked that a premium cabin on a red-eye flight wouldn’t provide this basic item. Interestingly, on our daytime flight back to Toronto, everyone was given a blanket. So, it was completely inconsistent. Fortunately, I had a pashmina in my carry-on to keep me warm.
Be Sure to Check Baggage Rules (2 Stars)
One major detail we missed when booking was the strict baggage policy for “Comfort Light” fares. Most premium economy products on major carriers include a generous carry-on allowance, but SATA is different.
Pro Tip: If you book the Comfort Light fare, you are restricted to a combined weight limit of 8kg (roughly 17 lbs) for your carry-on and personal item. We are used to these stingy limits in basic economy, but we were surprised to see them enforced in a premium cabin.
If you are a heavy packer or traveling with camera gear, you’ll want to weigh your bags before you get to the airport. They do weigh bags at check-in, and they may force a gate check if you are over the limit. The “Comfort Plus” fare allows for a more reasonable 15kg (33 lbs) total but it was also much more expensive.
Final Verdict on SATA Azores Airlines (3 Stars)
When evaluating this product, you have to look at the total value. We didn’t book this for a five-star luxury experience. It was an affordable, direct way to reach a unique destination. I don’t think the main cabin would have been enjoyable, but Comfort Class was a good offering.
What We’d Change: Next time, we would be much more proactive with the crew. If you don’t see a blanket, ask immediately before they disappear. It was very confusing, but we think they just ran out of products for that leg. We would also be more intentional about our packing to stay under that 8kg limit for the Comfort Light fare.
The Biggest Highlights: The ability to leave Toronto in the evening and be standing on a volcanic island in a few hours is incredible. We’ll take a few minor service hiccups and a missing blanket for that alone. Not to mention that avoiding the backtrack through Lisbon saves you about six to eight hours of travel time each way.
We paid $1400 each for our round trip from Toronto to Ponta Delgada in Comfort Light. And an economy fare was about $500 at that time. We think that’s worth it.
Have you flown Azores Airlines? What did you think? Let us know in the comments.
