If you’ve ever wondered if upgrading to business class is worth it, let me share my experience flying Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) Business Class. Spoiler alert: This might be unbeatable. It’s not just about the larger seat or the champagne upon boarding—though those certainly don’t hurt. It’s about the entire experience, from the moment you step into the priority check-in line to when you’re slipping into those lovely SAS-provided slippers for a mid-flight nap. SAS has truly taken its Scandinavian hospitality to the skies, and I’m here for it.
Airport Lounges
One of the first perks of SAS Business Class is the access to airport lounges. The lounge at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) - Star Alliance Lounge - is a welcome respite from the usual chaos of one of the busiest airports in the world. The space is modern and comfortable, offering a mix of quiet nooks and open seating. The food spread provides a nice balance of light bites and heartier options, perfect for holding you over before the flight. I opted for a cold Weihenstephaner beer, which felt like a little reward after navigating LAX's labyrinthine terminals. With a drink in hand and a comfortable seat, the pre-flight stress starts to dissolve before you even board.
The Aircraft
This aircraft, operated by SAS, is the fresh, relatively new Airbus A350-900. It features 40 luxurious lie-flat business class seats, 32 recliner economy plus seats, and 228 standard economy seats. Each seat is equipped with in-flight entertainment touch screens, headphone aux plugs, AC and USB power outlets, in-flight Wi-Fi, and multiple meal services. It’s designed to make even the longest journeys comfortable, no matter where you’re sitting.
Business Class Cabin
Once on the aircraft, you’re greeted by an airy cabin with a simple yet elegant layout. The seats in SAS Business Class are generously sized, each with direct aisle access (goodbye, awkward climb-over moments). The design follows that Scandinavian ethos: clean lines, muted colors, and no unnecessary flash. It feels more like stepping into a cozy living room than a plane cabin. The seat itself transforms into a lie-flat bed, which, combined with a fluffy comforter and a surprisingly comfy pillow, makes sleeping at 35,000 feet actually achievable.
The Flight
This flight takes us from Los Angeles International to Copenhagen Airport in Denmark, with a total flight time of 10 hours and 40 minutes—just enough time to enjoy a meal, sip a few cocktails, and catch some quality sleep.
As soon as you enter the cabin and set your things down in your seat, you are greeted by a SAS flight attendant with a warm towel and a crisp, cold glass of champagne. Settle into your seat, sip your champagne, and prepare for departure. Before you know it, the flight attendants are back, this time offering a bowl of warm, roasted, and salted cashews along with a beverage of your choice. I opted for a Mikkeller IPA, brewed in Denmark.
Pre-flight goodies
Settle in for push back and prepare for takeoff. Relax in pure comfort as the aircraft hurtles forward, powered by its two Rolls-Royce engines. The flight is buttery smooth and remarkably quiet as we climb to cruising altitude. Browsing through the infotainment screen reveals a wide array of options—movies, games, and even external cameras mounted on different sections of the plane, which were particularly fun to watch during push back and taxiing.
The Food
Once we reached cruising altitude, the three-course meal service began. There’s something undeniably luxurious about flying through the air at 500 mph while being served fine dining-level cuisine by SAS’s own chef. Each course offered several options, and I’ll share my selections. The first course was a chilled appetizer: sliced filet mignon—an interesting choice to serve cold—accompanied by beets, cheese, and sweet potato. Alongside this was a fresh salad, and a bread basket was brought around, allowing you to handpick your preferred type of bread.
The main course was a braised beef roast in a red wine sauce, served with sautéed greens and mashed potatoes, all presented in a piping hot dish. The quality was outstanding—bold, rich flavors and meat so tender you could easily eat it with a spoon. It was the kind of dish that made you forget you were thousands of feet in the air, feeling more like a cozy dinner at a high-end bistro than an in-flight meal.
The dessert was a surprising choice: a caramel-filled churro with chocolate sauce poured directly into the center. While I couldn’t help but think that serving the sauce in a bowl for dipping might have been more fitting, the churro itself was delightful—crispy, sweet, and satisfying. It was a relatively small dessert, which was just right after the decadent and filling main course, providing a perfect touch of sweetness without feeling overindulgent.
With the main dining service complete, I took the opportunity to stretch my legs and stroll around the spacious cabin. Toward the back of the business class section, I discovered a snack and drink bar with a generous "help yourself" selection. There were fruits, nuts, and chips available for snacking, along with a variety of beverages—beer, wine, and spirits—all there for the taking without needing to ask. I grabbed a snack and a drink, returned to my seat, and put on a show on my iPad to relax a bit before preparing for sleep. I fully reclined the lie-flat bed, donned the complimentary eye mask, and popped in some earplugs (since, unfortunately, there were babies in business class) and fell alseep under the dimmed cabin lights. Despite the circumstances, I managed to get some solid sleep—at least, as good as it gets on an airplane with infants nearby.
I was gently awoken by a flight attendant (they had asked previously if we would like to be woken up for breakfast service or not – to which I obviously said yes) to have breakfast service. Fresh and quite good breakfast on this aircraft, I felt as if I was already in a Danish café. I was served a plater containing roast beef, ham, vegetable quiche, some sort of sausage, fruit and yogurt parfait, croissant, orange juice and coffee. Delicious and filling to prepare us for our journey into Copenhagen that day.
Final Thoughts
Overall, my experience flying SAS Business Class was nothing short of exceptional. From the comfort of the spacious lie-flat seat to the high-quality dining that made me forget I was thousands of feet in the air, SAS delivered a genuinely enjoyable journey. The thoughtful service, complete with warm touches like the snack bar and the choice to be woken for breakfast, truly set the experience apart. While no flight is without its minor inconveniences—babies in business class being one of them—SAS made it easy to relax, rest, and arrive feeling refreshed. If you’re considering whether the upgrade is worth it, I can confidently say that the comfort, hospitality, and distinct Scandinavian calm of SAS Business Class make it an easy yes.