SAS’ New Business Class in Europe!
After more than 12 years without a traditional Business Class on its European flights, SAS has finally brought Business Class back to Europe.
The new product promises a more premium experience than the former SAS Plus, with a dedicated Business Class cabin at the front of the aircraft, an empty middle seat, upgraded onboard dining and proper porcelain tableware. But how much of a difference does it actually make on a relatively short European flight?
Thanks to SAS Fly Premium through my SAS Mastercard, I was able to book this Business Class flight for the same number of EuroBonus points normally required for Economy – just 15,000 EuroBonus points plus taxes and fees.
I had just arrived in Amsterdam after flying all the way from Santiago with KLM, so this SAS A320neo Business Class flight from Amsterdam to Oslo was the perfect way to finish the trip – and a great opportunity to see what SAS’ new European Business Class is really like.
So, has SAS created a genuinely premium Business Class experience for flights within Europe? Let’s find out.
Flight Details
Airline: SAS
Flight: SK822
Aircraft: Airbus A320neo
Cabin: Business Class
Seat: 2F
Date: 10 August 2026
Route: Amsterdam (AMS) – Oslo (OSL)
Departure: 10:45
Arrival: 12:30
Booking: 15,000 EuroBonus points + taxes and fees
Ground Experience at Amsterdam Schiphol
I arrived at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport from Santiago at around 09:00, after the overnight journey from South America with KLM. With my SAS flight to Oslo departing shortly afterwards, I had roughly an hour to make the connection and there wasn’t much time to waste.
Fortunately, the transfer through Schiphol was extremely smooth. Both security and passport control were very quick, and within a short time I was already on the Schengen side of the airport heading towards my next flight.
Despite being one of Europe’s largest airports, Amsterdam Schiphol is generally an easy airport to navigate, and on this occasion the connection between my arriving KLM flight and the SAS departure area was very straightforward. With everything moving so efficiently, I even had enough time left to make a quick visit to the lounge before boarding.
And since lounge access is one of the important benefits of flying SAS Business Class in Europe, it was worth seeing what the ground experience in Amsterdam had to offer.
KLM Crown Lounge at Amsterdam Schiphol
SAS Business Class passengers have lounge access at Amsterdam Schiphol, and for this flight I used the KLM Crown Lounge.
As this was outside the busiest period of the morning, the lounge was noticeably less crowded than I have experienced on previous visits, which made for a much more relaxing stop before the flight.
I generally enjoy this lounge. My main criticism is the lack of natural light, but otherwise it offers a comfortable place to spend some time between flights, with plenty of seating and a decent selection of food and drinks.
One particularly fun addition was a food truck inside the lounge, something I had not expected to see and which gives the space a bit more personality than the average European airport lounge.
The food selection was decent, as it usually is here, and if you have a longer connection, showers are also available to book – especially useful after arriving from a long-haul flight.
I only had time for a short visit on this occasion, but considering my tight connection from Santiago, it was impressive that I could still fit in a proper lounge stop before continuing to Oslo.
SAS A320neo Business Class Cabin & Seat
I was lucky enough to be the first passenger onboard, which gave me a rare opportunity to photograph the cabin while it was still completely empty.
The SAS Airbus A320neo cabin has a clean and distinctly Scandinavian appearance, with different shades of grey combined with subtle wood-effect details. It is quite understated, but I think it works well and gives the cabin a modern and elegant feel.
As with most European airlines, however, SAS Business Class does not come with a different seat. You are sitting in essentially the same seat used in Economy Class, although the first rows offer a little more legroom.
What does change is the space around you.
The middle seat is blocked in SAS Business Class, meaning nobody will be sitting directly next to you. I know this is sometimes dismissed as a rather unimpressive feature of European Business Class, but personally, I think it makes a significant difference.
Having that extra seat beside you gives you considerably more personal space, somewhere to place a few belongings during the flight and, perhaps most importantly, means you don’t have another passenger sitting just a few centimetres away. On a short flight like Amsterdam to Oslo, I value that more than having a slightly wider seat.
My seat for this flight was 2F, a window seat on the right-hand side of the aircraft.
Power and Starlink WiFi
One area where the SAS A320neo is beginning to show its age slightly is connectivity at the seat. There are USB-A charging ports, but no USB-C ports, so bringing the right cable is important if you want to charge a newer phone or tablet during the flight.
The much more exciting feature is the internet.
SAS has introduced Starlink high-speed WiFi on its Airbus A320neo fleet, providing a huge upgrade over traditional inflight internet. Access is free for EuroBonus members, and because EuroBonus itself is free to join, this is a genuinely useful benefit for almost everyone flying with SAS.
Having fast WiFi on a short European flight might not sound revolutionary, but it makes a real difference. Instead of the slow and often unreliable connection found on many European aircraft, you can stay connected almost as you would on the ground.
Combined with the blocked middle seat and slightly better legroom at the front, the cabin itself might not be radically different from Economy, but the overall experience already feels considerably more comfortable.
Boarding and Departure from Amsterdam
Boarding at Amsterdam Schiphol was organised by groups, with SAS Business Class passengers invited to board in Group 1. Being at the front of the queue meant I was the first passenger onboard, giving me a few minutes to photograph the empty A320neo cabin before everyone else arrived.
I was greeted by a friendly member of the cabin crew and handed a bottle of water as I took my seat, which was a nice touch and a good start to the flight.
Boarding itself was efficient, and despite Schiphol being a busy airport, we pushed back right on schedule.
What followed was the familiar long taxi across Amsterdam Schiphol towards the Polderbaan, the airport’s remote runway on the western side of the airfield. It can take quite some time to reach, but for an aviation enthusiast it also gives you a good tour of Schiphol along the way.
Eventually we lined up for departure and began the short journey north towards Oslo.
SAS Business Class Food & Drinks
Around 10 minutes after takeoff, the crew handed out the menu for today’s flight.
There was only one meal option available, which is perhaps a little disappointing for Business Class. The menu itself was also very minimalistic – essentially just a small card with the meal printed on it. That is admittedly a very minor criticism, and perhaps I am being a little picky here!
Shortly afterwards, the crew came through the cabin with the drinks service, accompanied by a bag of nuts.
Then came the main event.
Dinner in SAS Business Class
Rather than serving the different courses separately, the entire meal was presented together on one tray. It was relatively simple, but the presentation was attractive and immediately felt like a significant step up from the old SAS Plus product.
The meal consisted of:
- Muhammara with chopped walnuts
- Sous vide beef with rice and grilled peppers
- Red berry cheesecake for dessert
Everything was served on proper tableware, and despite being presented together rather than as a multi-course service, it looked surprisingly elegant for a flight of less than two hours.
More importantly, the food itself was good.
The combination of the muhammara, beef and cheesecake made this feel like a proper meal rather than simply an upgraded airline snack, and this is one area where SAS’ new European Business Class really does feel substantially better than the SAS Plus product it replaced.
Coffee With a Clever Scandinavian Detail
After the meal, the crew offered coffee, served in SAS-branded ceramic cups.
This might sound like a tiny detail, but I really liked them. The cups use SAS’ familiar colours and appear to have a double-wall design, which helps keep the outside of the cup from becoming uncomfortably hot while you are holding it.
It is such a simple idea, but also exactly the kind of thoughtful detail I enjoy finding on board.
Overall, I was very impressed with the SAS Business Class meal from Amsterdam to Oslo. The lack of choice is one area that could certainly be improved, but the food, presentation and small details made the experience feel much more premium than the old SAS Plus service.
For a relatively short European flight, this was a genuinely good meal – and so far, SAS’ decision to bring proper Business Class back to Europe was making quite a lot of sense.
Service
The service on this flight was excellent from the very beginning.
I was already greeted warmly and attentively when boarding, and that same friendly approach continued throughout the flight. The crew were efficient, professional and present in the cabin without the service ever feeling rushed.
One small moment in particular stood out to me.
A passenger sitting behind me was travelling with children, and the flight attendant offered them a children’s meal. What impressed me even more was that she continued to pass by during the flight to make sure the children were enjoying the food and had enough to drink.
It was a simple gesture, but exactly the kind of attention that can make a big difference when travelling with children – and I could imagine it being especially appreciated by their mother.
These are the details I tend to remember after a flight. Good service is not just about serving the meal efficiently; it is also about noticing what passengers might need and making the journey a little easier for them.
On this flight, the SAS crew did exactly that.
The Flight to Oslo
After the long taxi to the Polderbaan, we took off on time from Amsterdam Schiphol and began the relatively short journey northeast towards Oslo.
One of the things I enjoy about daytime flights within Europe is how much the landscape changes even during a flight of less than two hours.
Shortly after departure, there were great views over the towns and countryside of the Netherlands before we continued north towards Denmark. Later in the flight, I could see the beaches and coastline of western Denmark below us as we made our way towards Scandinavia.
The scenery changed again as we approached Norway. The flatter landscapes gradually gave way to the much more rugged, forest-covered terrain of southern Norway, a clear sign that we were getting close to Oslo.
Combined with the clear daytime views, good meal and excellent service, it made for a very pleasant final flight after the much longer journey from Santiago.
Final Verdict: Is SAS Business Class Worth It?
So, would I fly SAS Business Class within Europe again?
Absolutely – but not at any price.
If the fare is reasonably close to Economy, perhaps no more than around twice the price, or if I can find a good EuroBonus redemption like the 15,000-point deal I used for this flight, I think SAS Business Class can represent very good value.
You get the benefits that really define European Business Class: priority services at the airport, lounge access, a seat at the front of the aircraft with nobody sitting directly beside you, proper food and drinks onboard, and more attentive service.
And while the seat itself is essentially the same as in Economy, I think the blocked middle seat makes a much bigger difference than it is sometimes given credit for. Add the slightly better legroom, good catering and free Starlink WiFi for EuroBonus members, and the overall experience is considerably more comfortable than flying Economy.
But that leads to another question:
Is SAS Business Class Better Than Its European Rivals?
Probably not.
SAS has created a solid European Business Class product, and bringing proper Business Class back after more than a decade is certainly a welcome move. However, there was nothing on this flight that made me feel SAS had suddenly moved ahead of the best European competitors.
The meal was good and nicely presented, the crew were excellent, and the blocked middle seat delivered exactly the extra space I wanted. At the same time, the single meal option, relatively basic menu presentation and standard Economy seat mean there is still room for SAS to make the experience feel more premium.
If I were rating the European Business Class products I have flown on a five-star scale, my current ranking would be:
SAS Business Class: ★★★☆☆
A good and comfortable Euro Business product, particularly when booked at the right price.
Air France Business Class: ★★★★☆
A more refined overall experience.
KLM Business Class: ★★★★☆
Strong catering and service with plenty of attention to detail.
Iberia Business Class: ★★★★★
For me, currently the strongest overall European Business Class experience of the four.
That does not make SAS a bad product – far from it. It simply means the airline has returned to the European Business Class market with a product that is competitive rather than class-leading.
For 15,000 EuroBonus points, however, I certainly wasn’t complaining. With lounge access in Amsterdam, good food onboard, excellent service, an empty seat beside me and fast Starlink WiFi, this was a very comfortable way to finish my journey from Santiago.
Would I book SAS Business Class again? Definitely – as long as the price is right.
