Is SAS back? A350 business class Bangkok-Copenhagen

Join me today on a flight from Bangkok to Copenhagen in Scandinavian Airlines' flagship business class product on the A350. It's a long 12-hour overnight flight so we'll have plenty of time to test out the seat and the soft product while also attempting to get a full nights' sleep. SAS business class isn't necessarily top of mind for a lot of people who live outside the Nordics but it just might be worth paying more attention to. Watch this trip report and flight review to find out more!
Flight information:
March 21, 2024 | SK974 BKK-CPH
A350-900
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Shot on: Sony FX3 & iPhone 15 Pro Max
Music: Epidemic Sound
Camera and script: Gabe Leigh
Edit: Kai Costiuc

[@marcbolling1002]

SAS is one of the most underrated operators on long-haul routes. Understated elegance!

[@airedition]

Agree!

[@tvfd-thevirtualflightdispa978]

My first flight to Europe was on SAS in 1979. F class on the 747-200 combi. Incredible. During the eighties, I flew exclusively SAS between Seattle and Europe in J/F class. I was a RVC member for a number of years during the eighties, but sadly, after 1990, when I moved out of Seattle, SAS was not available to me. Over the years, I've seen SAS develop, and what I see now is back to what J class was in the 80s (soft product); not a four-course meal, but high quality. I look forward to flying SAS on my next Chicago to Scandinavia trip.

[@francesboyd8913]

I flew to Stockholm from Chicago business class. It was a brilliant flight, special because it was my retirement trip home to England to visit my family after many years.

[@joeriuffink5033]

Flew with them in February. Was absolutely amazing

[@airedition]

Nice to hear!

[@joeriuffink5033]

Just a pity they are not in star alliance anymore

[@elevat1on]

@@joeriuffink5033 They are, but not for long, sadly...

[@michaelfulton5518]

Such a great summary Gabe. I always have looked forward to boarding SAS business for that efficient, calm, very quiet (crew and almost always passengers). Gives the feeling that you're already on Scandinavian soil with that. So refreshing after being in the hustle and noise of Bangkok, LA, Shanghai etc. No times more so than during the pandemic and on way home from CES show (via LAX). The food is also excellent and agree on the locally sourced drinks being so much more interesting than all of the usual labels.

[@airedition]

Thanks I’m glad you enjoyed it!

[@johnnilsson9603]

Great video as always, love the airbus 350 (and the engine noise...😁)

[@TheMaartian]

I'm happy to see that SAS are putting out such a nice product now. Almost 30 years ago, I had to deliver the keynote address at a conference in Stockholm. I flew in and out of Sweden on a couple of SAS narrowbody planes. This was long enough ago that smoking was still permitted in airplanes, as long as you were sitting in a designated smoking area. Every other airline I'd ever flown designated the back row (First)/rows (Economy) for smoking. Not SAS. No. They designated by port and starboard. I can't remember which side was smoking, and which wasn't, but effectively, the entire cabin was in a cloud of smoke. It was an awful experience. I never flew them again. I'm Platinum for life on OneWorld, but living in France now with Air France and KLM being SkyTeam, I'd definitely give SAS Business Class a try once their switch is completed. Thanks for the review.

[@airedition]

Wow that sounds crazy! Glad I never had to fly in that kind of setup. Thanks for the comment!

[@duggsie75]

Great Review Gabe

[@airedition]

Thank you!

[@Johnmell100]

Looks like a very nice experience, I would very much like to try it sometime.

[@airedition]

Thanks yeah I think you will enjoy!

[@christianeduardo1]

My only complaint… This video is way too short Gabe! Awesome as usual 😊

[@airedition]

Ah thank you, will try to add a few more minutes next time! 🙂

[@elevat1on]

@@airedition I think it is just about the right length

[@muddywatersbookshelf7758]

Just flew SAS in Premium economy to Helsinki from Canada. Amazing. I am a SAS fan!!!!

[@airedition]

Alright nice! I have a long haul in premium economy this week, video coming soon!

[@Xlastsuspectx]

Would love to see how SAS plus compares on the 350 long haul. Any chance of that comming up any time soon on the channel? :)

[@airedition]

I’ve actually got a SAS Plus video coming out tomorrow, but on the A330! Quite a similar product so hopefully that’s helpful. Eventually I’ll do the 350 too.

[@Xlastsuspectx]

@@airedition What timing haha tack Gabriel!

[@OtakuAviators]

Awesome video again Gabe, but we are all waiting for your friend Pete to return to the series.😁

[@airedition]

Haha I’ve created a monster inviting Pete along!

[@OtakuAviators]

@@airedition We very much enjoyed Pete’s honest enthusiasm about aviation😂

[@ScottStingel]

Good summary, and makes me want to try it on my frequent flights to Europe. I wish they weren't switching to SkyTeam though - preferred my United connection since I'm out of SFO. My only suggestion for the video, and this is nit picking, is to shorten the video of the takeoff roll. Frequent flyers have seen a million of these, and at night there's not much other than an engine or two. (though I used to love watching the wing flex on the 747 haha!)

[@airedition]

Thanks! This is a dilemma I always face. There are the frequent flyers who don’t really need to see the whole takeoff, but there are also the avgeeks who will get very upset with me if I cut any part of it out or speed it up 😂. It’s good you bring it up though because I never know what proportion of each the audience is!

[@hayatori1]

I love SAS business

[@zlauriault]

I wish they had this review video included on The Points Guy channel, as they have very little about SAS (nearly nothing) while having some great videos about other airlines. Business class is exactly what I wanted to know about, as well as what is like on any other long flight models they have. I think a great trifecta would be a partnership with SAS included with Delta and Virgin Atlantic (or if they are already please do say), to cover Scandinavian and Baltic countries, and I agree I hope they expand their route. I would really like to see a chance to transfer Delta points not just to Virgin but also SAS to get max benefit covering more of Eastern Europe, not just US and Western Europe.

[@airedition]

Luckily you can come watch my videos instead of TPG in this case 😁. Would love to see more SAS partnership with DL and VS, agree.

[@gunvaldsandhaland7757]

I Am Agreed Whit You The Cabin Is Great,But I Like Tray Tabel On A330 Better.Great Video And Info

[@airedition]

Thanks for watching!

[@andreashaaland]

Going this route in desember, but with kids and in economy. Looking forward anyway!

[@airedition]

I think with kids in economy the A350 is the best possible aircraft; I’m sure it’ll be a great flight!

[@mr_matcheu]

You're right, I found recently very good prices in Business for a BRU-JFK via CPH/OSL, BUT... they were asking for more than 100€ for each flight for a seat selection ! That's really a bad point, when you pay business to charge you a second time... That said, I'm sad they're leaving Star Alliance, all the 'nordic' destination were a plus on the Lufthansa network.

[@airedition]

Oh yeah I also can’t stand this trend of charging for seats in business. Sadly seems to only be spreading across the industry, in Europe at least!

[@jayl549]

Your voice (and face) is very calming!

[@airedition]

Thank you!

[@vinniechudam1835]

I can't say how many times I've flown longhaul overnight from Asia to Europe and I can barely manage no more than a few hours sleep in a lie flat bed. Earlier this year on a 14hr flight on Singapore I just couldn't manage more than a couple hours' sleep in business class. And I take melatonin to try to sleep. Result was jetlag for several days afterwards. I pray for a flight like yours next time.

[@airedition]

It is definitely tough to sleep on any airplane for many people. I was like that until pretty recently. Maybe excessive amounts of flying is the answer? 😁

[@TheMaartian]

@@airedition By the end of my working life at 54 in '04, I was flying around the world twice per month, 10 days each trip. Six nights sleeping in hotels and 3 nights sleeping on airplanes. I learned out of necessity. I'd stop in the arrivals lounge for a shower and then head straight to a client meeting. I was actually grateful when the original Motorola dissolved and paid me for a year to play golf. I loved my job, but that schedule was killing me.

[@kaicostiuc6482]

I think there are a few trick that help- in my noise canceling headphones I often play white noise or rain sounds or something and I sleep 5 hours on the flights from USA to Europe!

[@airedition]

Yep good noise canceling headphones (gotta have your own as most airline offerings are not good enough) are essential.

[@user-dw8ud2hw5d]

you did not mention the 2 styles of window seat. You can me more protected from aisle or open to the aisle??

[@GiovanniPietro9000]

wtf?! I love SAS now ❤

[@airedition]

😁

[@thomasmoore9421]

With SAS joining skyteam, I think I'll be more interested in trying them out. Skyteam is become my first choice & one world 2nd.

[@kaicostiuc6482]

How did you get to that conclusion? Skyteam by far my least favorite

[@thomasmoore9421]

@@kaicostiuc6482 just because it's my first choice doesn't mean it's anyone else's. You do you.

[@airedition]

Interesting! Which Skyteam airlines do you fly the most?

[@thomasmoore9421]

@@airedition I don't fly much since I'm part of the working poor and live in rural area, so makes travel tricky. I've enjoyed my flights with delta, virgin and klm. I've also enjoyed American. United is okay but alot of times I hit a snag with them. Air France seems like a decent airline. So if I travel skyteam, may just stick with those four. Trying Korean's 747-8 would be interesting but I doubt I'll have the opportunity.

[@thomasmoore9421]

@@kaicostiuc6482 I've flown Delta four times over the past three years and had a great experiences. Nice staff, nice seats, seat back monitor. Which is why I give them the edge over American. United is okay but usually fall a bit short, but maybe they'll improve once they get more of their new planes with more premium seats and seat back monitors. Since I don't travel much, my standards are a bit lower and can only base my opinions on my own experiences and perspective.

[@user-se4wd4cm1e]

sas is to expensive

[@airedition]

Is it?