First Experience with SAS in SkyTeam: A321LR Business Class from Copenhagen to New York JFK (Review)

When looking for return flights after my summer holidays, I explored several routing options on both SAS and partner airlines using EuroBonus points. I knew this would probably be one of my last redemptions on Star Alliance, so I carefully looked into interesting flights and cabins. Finally, I decided to book on SAS due to the convenient pricing and the free upgrade thanks to the FlyPremium benefit.

I was excited about this trip: it was my first time trying SAS Business Class on the A321LR and my first time flying SAS as part of SkyTeam. My first leg was from Amsterdam (AMS) to Copenhagen (CPH), where I had a two-hour layover until the next flight to New York (JFK). Here’s my experience.

Note: We’ve covered the inaugural flight for this route in the past.

How I Booked This Flight (EuroBonus)

I was able to book this trip for 30.000 EuroBonus points (one-way), plus 1115 SEK in taxes (~$110 USD), thanks to the Fly Premium benefit from the SAS EuroBonus Mastercard. This perk lets you book an award seat in SAS Busienss (Business Class) at the price of SAS Go (Economy Class). The full itinerary was from Amsterdam (AMS) to New York (JFK).

Transit in Copenhagen (SAS Business Lounge)

I landed on time in Copenhagen and went straight to the SAS Business/Gold Lounge. The lounge was still full of SkyTeam celebrations, including banners, napkins, and even small cakes/muffins.

The lounge itself is pretty solid. Instead of going to the SAS Gold Lounge (which we’ve reviewed before), this time I decided to give a shot to the SAS Business Lounge (bottom floor). Both are very similar.

I’d say the Business Lounge is still quite solid when it comes to food and seating areas. However, it feels much more packed and crowded. There are three large buffet bars with salads, hot meals, bread and drinks. I grabbed a bite and worked the rest of the time. Inside the lounge it was warm and not particularly quiet.

Boarding

Right before boarding time I went straight to gate E136 (10 minute walk). Before reaching the gate, the staff was doing a mandatory documentation check you needed to go through at a different gate (E119). The whole process took roughly 5 minutes. They agents checked passports, visas and asked security questions, then stamped the boarding pass with the well-known “DOCS OK”.

As soon as I arrived at the gate, the boarding process had already started, so I jumped on the plane right away.

Seat and Cabin

As you enter the A321LR, you can definitely feel that the cabin is much smaller and more intimate than on widebody jets (A330s and A350s). The crew was extremely friendly and welcomed everyone with a smile, escorting them to their seats.

The layout of this particular airplane is different, allowing for rows with a single-centered “throne” seat, great if you are flying solo. As I was traveling as a group, I had the chance to try both seats and compare them. The solo seat feels cozy and private, although there’s no division/door to isolate from the aisle like other airlines have implemented (Qatar Qsuites, ANA The Room, JetBlue Mint, etc.)

At the seat, there was a blanket, pillow, amenity kit, and a bottle of water.

The seat itself is spacious, with plenty of legroom. The tray table is in the middle between the seats, and you have to pull it down. I was surprised that it turned out to be smaller than I remembered, and the arm does not extend very much. That’s something to keep in mind if you are planning on working with a large laptop or for long periods of time.

The headphones are solid, and there’s quick access to a power outlet, USB chargers, seat controls, and the IFE remote.

A few minutes after arriving at the seat, the crew offered a welcome drink (a glass of champagne or water). I chose the champagne.

The whole boarding process took about 30 minutes. We pushed back on time and took off 10 minutes after leaving the gate. The window seat had a great view, and the sky was extremely picturesque that day.

Bathroom

I was curious about the lavatories, as SAS had some interesting touches, such as windows and blinds, on both their A330s and A350s. Unfortunately, in this case, it’s just a standard A32x lavatory—quite basic—and it had absolutely no difference from any Economy Class toilet.

IFE and WIFI

SAS offers free WIFI onboard for Business class passengers as well as for EuroBonus Gold and Diamond members. There’s a leaflet with simple instructions on how to connect. Overall, it’s one of the most straightforward processes I’ve seen to get online, especially compared to my previous experience with JAL, which involved a long registration form and lenghty process. The leaflet shows a map with coverage.

The IFE screen is not the largest in the industry, but it works well for the distance and feels very responsive. The movie selection was quite large, with a few recent releases.

Amenity Kit

SAS continues to push hard on sustainability, and the efforts are evident in its amenity kit. The bag is made from recycled plastic. Inside, you’ll find a sleep mask, socks, earplugs, toothbrush, lip balm, and cream. Most of the item containers are made from recycled materials.

Menu

The menu was simple, with one hot meal after takeoff and one cold dish before the arrival.

Meal 1 (Lunch)

Right before the first meal and tray table preparation, the crew passed around handing out hot towels.

Before the starter, they offered salty nuts and drinks. I went for another glass of champagne and water.

These were the two starter options, on the left the local lomo, and the tuna tartare on the right. I felt the portion was good as a starter and it tasted decent.

Although the meals were not outstanding, the highlights for sure were the main courses. The braised beef was tastier than the mexican-style chicken. I did not take pictures of the vegetarian/vegan meals (pasta).

The dessert was lame and boring: a very small apple tartlet with coffee on the side. Here’s where you can tell that Nordic countries are not very into sweet stuff in general.

After lunch, the entire cabin was dimmed, and I tried to get some sleep, as my first flight from Amsterdam started very early.

Bar

On the A321LR, the Business Class bar is smaller and way less fancier than on the A350. It’s located at the front of the cabin, on the right, before the lavatories.

Meal 2 (Pre-arrival)

After a solid 4 hours of sleep, there were only 1.5 hours left until arrival. The crew started preparing for the pre-landing meal, and they also handed out hot towels.

This service was much simpler: an open face sandwich with some fruit and chocolates. Drinks plus coffee or tea are also served.

Arrival

The approach to New York was smooth, very scenic and beautiful.

Summary

Overall, my first experience flying SAS Business on the A321LR was positive. The cabin is comfortable and intimate, and the crew was kind and attentive. I still love the simple, free WIFI included. While the food and some aspects of the seat configuration are not groundbreaking, the overall experience was solid and made even better by the FlyPremium upgrade benefit, which provides excellent value for the points spent. I still prefer the A350 Business Class cabin, though.

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