SAS Business Class Short-Haul Review: Worth It on the A320?

Booking an SAS business class short-haul flight can surprise North Americans, especially because the seat looks a lot like economy. But there are a few key perks that make it a premium experience. We’ve flown SAS many times, and this time we tried a SAS A320 business class fare from Copenhagen to Palma de Mallorca. Learn about the seats we picked, what the meal looked like, and how the priority perks work for an intra-Europe flight on SAS. Plus, we’ll share why our flight home felt like a completely different airline.

👉 Comparing airlines for a trip within Europe? Read our guide: Is Business Class in Europe Worth It? We Tested 4 Airlines

What to Expect From SAS Business Class Short-Haul Flights

A business class flight within Europe is very different from the lie-flat seats on a long-haul route. On the A320, SAS business class has the same 3-3 seat configuration as economy, with the middle seat blocked, so you only have two passengers and some space between you. But you won’t get the wider seats and extra legroom of US domestic first class, which usually has a 2-2 layout.

While the seat size and legroom will be the same as economy, the extra space from the empty middle seat and some key perks still do make it a premium experience. On many flights, you’ll get lounge access in Copenhagen, priority security, first boarding, a hot meal, and attentive service. Just note that the perks can vary by route, so always check your particular fare.

We flew SAS A320 business class on a three-hour flight from Copenhagen to Palma de Mallorca with a 6 a.m. departure. It was a very comfortable flight with elevated service, and Theo and I came away with the same favorable impression.

👉 Flying SAS across the Atlantic? Read our full guide: Should You Fly SAS to Europe? What to Know First

Priority Security and Boarding at Copenhagen Airport

SAS business class gives you access to the priority security lane, so we knew we didn’t need to rush to the airport for our 6 a.m. flight. We were the only ones in the priority lane at that hour, so security was a breeze. You’ll need to look for the priority security signs, because they will funnel you through the same area regardless of your terminal. We’ve had to loop back on a few trips to make sure we were taking advantage of the 10-second security line. We also boarded first, which made it easy to settle in and stow our bags. We always travel carry-on only, so we didn’t use any checked bag perks, but you do get a bag allowance with SAS business class short-haul flights.

Planning Tip: If you’re staying in central Copenhagen, the metro goes straight to the airport. It’s very easy, but Uber also works if you’d rather not deal with luggage and public transport. The airport is very close to the city center, which makes it convenient either way.

SAS Business Lounge Copenhagen: Access With a Short-Haul Ticket

SAS business class out of Copenhagen includes access to the SAS lounge, and we love this perk of flying SAS through Copenhagen. We’ve used it on many SAS trips. It has a buffet with really good food options, self-serve soft drinks, beer and wine on tap, showers, and comfortable lounge areas. On this trip, our flight left at 6 a.m. on the dot, so we didn’t have time to enjoy the lounge, even though it was actually open. We highly recommend checking out and using it as a place to refresh between flights on a layover.

👉 Read more about the Copenhagen lounge in our full review: Is SAS Business Class Worth It? An Honest Review

SAS A320 Business Class Seats and Cabin Layout

SAS A320 business class seats are standard economy seats at the front of the plane with the middle seat left empty. They were very comfortable for a three-hour flight, and the empty middle seat gave the two of us plenty of space. The bulkhead row has even more legroom if you’d like that, but we wanted to cozy in and keep our bags under the seat in front of us, so we chose the second row. This SAS flight also has the new high-speed Wi-Fi.

SAS A320 Business Class Breakfast Menu

Breakfast was a complete hot meal, and it was quite good on our flight to Palma:

Cooked ham, cantaloupe, radishes, and frillice lettuce
Egg soufflé with Cheddar, smoked-herb hollandaise, grilled marinated shiitakes, and semi-dried cherry tomatoes
Organic yogurt with pineapple compote and roasted coconut flakes

It came with crispbread and butter, and of course, we each had a mimosa. The meal options will depend on your flight, but we enjoyed this one.

SAS Business Class Service on Short-Haul Flights

The service was very attentive, just like you’d expect in US domestic first class. The flight attendants were fantastic, and everything went smoothly from boarding to landing. Even with a standard seat, the crew made it feel like a premium flight experience.

What We Paid for SAS Business Class Short-Haul

We paid $607.20 for the two of us, one way from Copenhagen to Palma de Mallorca. That’s $303.60 each, which includes a $285.60 fare and $18 each to choose our seats.

We booked it as a separate one-way ticket because we spent a few days in Copenhagen first. We flew SAS Premium Economy across the Atlantic, and our business class flight home from Palma was actually included as part of our long-haul itinerary with all the same perks.

👉 Want to save on the long-haul part of your trip? Read our guides: Is SAS Plus Worth It? An Honest Premium Economy Review and Cheap Premium Economy Flights to Europe: 3 Ways to Save

Nice Priority Pass lounge in Palma de Mallorca

SAS Business Class on a 737: Our Flight Home From Palma

SAS also provided lounge access at Palma airport in Mallorca at Sala VIP Formentor. There was some construction and confusion, though, so we used a Priority Pass lounge before our flight home. It was a big open hall and nothing super upscale, but it had a decent buffet, soft drinks, a full self-serve bar, and big windows with views outside.

An equipment issue on the way home led to a significant delay and a plane swap, so we wound up on an older Boeing 737-800 operated by Jettime. The great service and the blocked middle seat were the same, but everything else was a downgrade, from the seats to the catering. There was also no Wi-Fi on this route, which kept us in the dark about our connection in Copenhagen until we landed.

The food was disappointing, too. I chose the salmon with cheese ravioli, sage-lemon browned butter, sautéed spinach, and roasted yellow zucchini, plus a barley bulgur salad and lemon meringue shortbread. The ravioli were rubbery and tasteless, the salmon was overcooked, and the roll was hard. The dessert was the only thing that was alright.

👉 Don’t miss out on money owed to you. Read what happened when we missed our connection: How to Get EU261 Compensation for a Cancelled Flight or Missed Connection

Nice presentation but this meal was not edible

Is SAS Business Class Short-Haul Worth It?

We absolutely loved our flight to Palma. The seat is the same as economy, but we had an empty middle seat, priority security, first boarding, a hot breakfast with a mimosa, and a fantastic crew. On a three-hour flight, that made for a very comfortable start to our trip. Our flight home showed that the plane matters, though, so your experience can vary by route and aircraft.

Book It If: You’re flying out of Copenhagen with time to use the SAS lounge, you want a hot meal and an empty middle seat on a longer European flight, or you’re connecting from a long-haul flight and want priority through the airport.

Skip It If: You’re expecting a wider seat and more legroom like US domestic first class, or you’d rather put the money toward a long-haul upgrade where a lie-flat seat makes a bigger difference.

👉 Read how we upgrade on long-haul SAS flights: How to Bid for a Scandinavian Airlines Business Class Upgrade

The long-haul SAS business class experience is totally different

SAS Business Class Short-Haul Pros and Cons

✅ Pros:

Blocked middle seat, so couples sit together with no one sharing their row
Priority security and first boarding
SAS lounge and partner lounge access on some routes (confirm first)
Hot meal with a printed menu and beverages
Attentive, friendly flight attendants

❌ Cons:

The seat is the same as an economy seat
A plane swap meant an older aircraft on our way home with a partner airline, a bad meal, and no Wi-Fi

👉 More ways to fly business class for less: How to Score Business Class Seats Without Paying Full Fare and Our 10 Best Flight Booking Strategies That Actually Work

Theo enjoyed the flight to Palma de Mallorca

SAS Business Class Short-Haul: At-a-Glance

Our Route: Copenhagen to Palma de Mallorca, about three hours
Aircraft: Airbus A320
Layout: 3-3 with the middle seat blocked
Our seats: Second row
Meal: Hot breakfast with a mimosa
Lounge: SAS lounge in Copenhagen
Price: $303.60 each, one way, including seat selection
Flight home: Jettime Boeing 737-800 after a plane swap

👉 Looking for things to do on a Copenhagen layover? Check out our full guide: Copenhagen Layover Guide: What to Do in 5 to 8 Hours

SAS Business Class Short-Haul FAQ

What Is SAS Business Class Like on Short-Haul Flights?

SAS business class on short-haul flights uses the same seats as economy with the middle seat blocked. The upgrade comes from lounge access in Copenhagen, priority security, first boarding, a hot meal, and more attentive service. On our A320 flight to Palma, it felt like a very comfortable, elevated flight.

Does SAS Business Class Include Lounge Access in Copenhagen?

Yes. SAS business class out of Copenhagen includes access to the SAS lounge, which has a buffet, self-serve drinks, beer and wine on tap, and showers. Our 6 a.m. flight to Palma was too early for us to use it, but we’ve enjoyed it on many other SAS trips.

Is the Middle Seat Blocked in SAS Business Class in Europe?

Yes. On both our A320 flight to Palma and our Jettime 737-800 flight home, the middle seat was blocked. Couples get a window and an aisle seat with an empty seat between them.

What Is on the SAS Business Class Menu in Europe?

The meal depends on your flight. Our morning flight to Palma served a great hot breakfast with an egg soufflé, cooked ham with cantaloupe, and yogurt with pineapple compote. Our flight home had a hot light meal of salmon with cheese ravioli on a partner airline and it was disappointing.

Does SAS Business Class Have Wi-Fi on Short-Haul Flights?

It depends on the plane. Our A320 to Palma had a sign on the seatback advertising SAS’s new high-speed Wi-Fi. Our Jettime 737-800 flight home had no Wi-Fi at all.