What does it take to chase the aurora in Iceland and Norway? For someone based halfway across the globe from the Arctic circle, making the journey up north was a feat. Add on to the challenge that Singapore Airlines only flies to selected European cities. Consequently, we had to connect to Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) to travel in and out of Iceland. And due to our unique journey planning, we actually got to experience SAS’s SAS Plus and SAS Go classes (their Premium Economy and Economy Class, respectively), while exploring Copenhagen and Oslo airports along the way.
From Singapore, we took Singapore Airlines’ A350 Business Class to Copenhagen. We then switched to SAS to enter Iceland at Keflavik Airport. For this part of the flight, we got to experience SAS Plus – the Premium Economy of SAS. Departing Iceland, we took SAS again, but on SAS Go (Economy Class). We had a 5 hour layover at Oslo, before setting off on another SAS flight to Tromso, Norway. After our stay in Tromso, we departed on SAS again.
This would be the first of a 2-part series of my intra-Europe flights on SAS, focusing on the SAS Plus, via SK595 from Copenhagen to Keflavik.
Trip Overview
Copenhagen, Denmark to Keflavik, Iceland (CPH – KEF)
Flight Number: SK595
Aircraft Type / Registration: A320neo / SE-ROU
Class: Premium Economy (SAS Plus)
Departure (ETD/ATD): 0830hrs (CET) / 0833hrs (CET)
Arrival (ETA/ATA): 1040hrs (GMT) / 1035hrs (GMT)
Duration (Estimated/Actual): 3h 10m / 3h 2m
Seat: 1D
Meal Service (Snack): 0905h (25 min)
Keflavik, Iceland to Oslo, Norway (KEF – OSL)
Flight Number: SK4788
Aircraft Type / Registration: A320 neo / SE-ROF
Class: Economy
Departure (ETD/ATD): 1045hrs (GMT) / 1059hrs (GMT)
Arrival (ETA/ATA): 1425hrs (CET) / 1418hrs (CET)
Duration (Estimated/Actual): 2h 40m / 2h 19m
Seat: 15A
Meal Service: Coffee and tea service
Oslo, Norway to Tromso, Norway (OSL – TOS)
Flight Number: SK4434
Aircraft Type / Registration: A320 neo / OY-KAR
Class: Economy
Departure (ETD/ATD): 1930hrs (CET) / 1957hrs (CET)
Arrival (ETA/ATA): 2130hrs (CET) / 2132hrs (CET)
Duration (Estimated/Actual): 2h 0m / 1h 35m
Seat: 12D
Meal Service: Coffee and tea service
Tromso, Norway to Oslo, Norway (TOS – OSL)
Flight Number: TK8285 (SK4409) (Bought on Turkish Airlines, operated by Scandinavian Airlines)
Aircraft Type / Registration: A320neo / SE-ROX
Class: Economy
Departure (ETD/ATD): 0845hrs (CET) / 0854hrs (CET)
Arrival (ETA/ATA): 1045hrs (CET) / 1035hrs (CET)
Duration (Estimated/Actual): 2h 0m / 1h 45m
Seat: 11D
Meal Service: Coffee and tea service
Scandinavian Airlines’ SAS Plus Experience – Pre-Flight
Transferring at Copenhagen Airport
The journey from Singapore to Copenhagen then to Keflavik (SIN-CPH-KEF) was purchased on a single ticket through Singapore Airlines. Since Singapore Airlines doesn’t operate intra-Europe flights, our Copenhagen-Keflavik leg was on codeshare with Scandinavian Airlines (SAS). Additionally, we had bought the Business class airfare on SIA, so we were placed on SAS Premium Economy class (“SAS Plus”) for this 3-hour flight. Our luggage was also checked through to Iceland, so we needn’t collect them and re-check in when transferring at Copenhagen.
Our transfer at Copenhagen was tight. After disembarking our 13 hour flight on Singapore Airlines, we had less than 1.5 hours to hop on to our connecting flight to Iceland. We landed in the non-Schengen section of the terminal. As such, we had to cross over to the Schengen side, since our flight was between two Schengen countries – Denmark and Iceland. That meant we had to clear the passport control in that 1.5hours.
Thankfully, Copenhagen Airport isn’t huge. We were at the passport control to cross into the Schengen region in no time. The queue was also short and speedy. The officer asked me plenty of questions, which was a first for me. I had assumed Singaporean travellers doing a transfer wouldn’t be much of a concern.
Copenhagen Airport, while small, was very crowded. We were literally brushing shoulders with other travellers. Their gate hold room was also open planned with minimal seating. Most people were just standing around, or loitering in the passageway connecting the gate hold rooms. It was also interesting that the central area of the terminal were aesthetically renovated with earth and dark tones, while the boarding gates were decked out in sterile white walls reminiscent of a hospital corridor.
Toilets were also far and few. Therefore, I’d go for it when I see one, rather than “wait till I get to the gate hold room”.
What is SAS Plus?
As we were transiting from Singapore Airlines on Business Class, we were placed on Scandinavian Airlines’ (SAS) SAS Plus. Physically, we were seated at the pointy end of the plane. However, it was not exactly Business Class. I thought I could get a clearer idea on SAS’ website.
SAS was being ambiguous in their copywriting, which as I would explain in this review, was on purpose. Simply put, SAS Plus is “Premium Economy”. Through all its description, the benefits one gets with SAS Plus puts it just one class above Economy, but not yet Business Class.
SAS Plus is treated as Business Class by Star Alliance airlines, which explained why we were “downgraded” even though we had bought the Business Class tickets on SQ. Considering that SAS Plus is just Premium Economy, it sounded like Singapore Airlines’ we got the short end of the stick. However, considering that SAS Business Class is not available on their intra-European flights, there was really no other option available.
Overall, our SAS Plus experience from Copenhagen to Keflavik consisted of these “premium services”:
- Priority boarding
- Seated at the front
- Free inflight meals
- Option to purchase onboard WiFi
*There’s also priority check in for SAS Plus, but since we were transferring at Copenhagen Airport, we didn’t get to enjoy that service.
Boarding and Pre/Post Take-off Service for SAS Plus
As SAS Plus passengers, we were one of the first to board – after SAS’ loyalty programme’s premium members. Since boarding was via the front door between the cockpit and SAS Plus seats, we also got to “enjoy” the satisfaction from seeing every SAS Go passenger walk past us.
Just kidding. It was more of a nuisance, since many of them brought large bags that brushed against my shoulders when they passed through. Most of the time, they were waiting in the aisle because passengers at the back were taking their time to settle down.
There was no pre-take off service for SAS Plus so to speak. Considering all factors, there was literally no value add for SAS Plus when it comes to boarding.
Scandinavian Airlines SAS Plus Seats – No Differentiation from Economy Class
We were on an Airbus A320neo, which is a narrowbody aircraft, for the flight. Due to the aircraft configuration, all seats were in a 3-3 arrangement. The middle seats weren’t blocked for SAS Plus to create more room and private space for the passengers. Moreover, the SAS Plus seats themselves were exactly the same as those of the Economy Class. Therefore, despite being premium passengers, we were still squeezed into economy seats.
Thankfully, I was seated at row 1 (we couldn’t select our seats throughout the entire reservation and check in process), hence I enjoyed bigger leg room. I couldn’t say the same for the premium passengers seated from rows 2 – 4. According to Aerolopa and Seatguru, only rows 1 and the emergency exit rows (rows 11 and 12) had extra legroom. There was no ergonomic form to speak of, armrest space was pathetic and the recline was limited.
All seats come with USB ports and coat hooks. I found my coat hook on the wall in front of me, but the USB port remained elusive. And since I was at the first row, my tray table was tucked away in the handrest, which sort of ate into my seat width. Guess that was the trade off for the extra leg room (which, by the way, is typical for all bulkhead seats, so that was within expectations).
Ideal Seat Location for SAS Plus
My seat was near the galley and the toilet. During take off and landing, it was possible to hear the cabin crew chatting (quite loudly) and preparing for meal service. Passengers using the lavatory added to the disturbance too. Add on to what I mentioned earlier, where I basically brushed shoulders with all the passengers during boarding, there was nothing desirable to speak of for my seat 1D.
Considering the pros and cons, the best seats on SAS Plus on their A320neo would be the window seats – 1A and 1F. You get the most leg room on the entire plane and enjoy slightly more privacy.
SAS Plus Inflight Meal
As SAS Plus passengers, we got a cold meal as breakfast. The “cold meal” consisted of cheese and ham, yogurt with mixed nuts topping and a can of juice (orange and elderflower). On top of that, it came with hot buns (superb with the ham and cheese) and coffee/tea. For a regional flight on a European airline, that was considered good.
Since the meal was pre-prepared and required no plating nor table service, the meal service took just under 30 minutes.
By comparison, there was only “free flow coffee and tea” for SAS Go. With this in mind, it did feel boogie to be savouring the cold meal on this short flight.
Inflight Entertainment (IFE) on Scandinavian Airlines A320neo
There was no IFE on SAS’ A320neo flights. Hence, we were relegated to either using the spotty WiFi, reading, or (for me) catching some forty winks / jotting down every single bit of criticism I had of the flight.
WiFi – Spotty Connection
WiFi was complimentary only for Eurobonus (SAS’ loyalty programme) Diamond and Gold members. For passengers on SAS Plus, we had the “privilege” of buying the access (as announced by the flight attendant). SAS Go passengers, though, had to buy the WiFi package. Yep, you got it right. The onboard announcement made it sound like it was a privilege, but SAS Plus passengers literally had the same WiFi access – to buy it.
Not all was bad, though. At USD5.90, one gets the internet access for the entire flight. Therefore, the longer the flight, the more value one gets.
But then again, the internet was spotty. It dropped off frequently throughout the flight. There was no internet coverage over the Norwegian Sea. That made the actual time of internet access under 20% of the flight. I believe this wouldn’t be an issue for flights over continental Europe. Therefore, it’s really important to do some homework before buying the onboard WiFi!
Lavatory over Norwegian Sea
There is 1 lavatory at the front and 2 at the back of the aircraft. That made for 3 lavatories for a total of 168 passengers. Since there was no physical separation of the SAS Plus and SAS Go classes, the single toilet at the front wasn’t exclusive to SAS Plus passengers. It also saw quite some traffic, since people tend not to turn to the back when looking for toilets.
The toilets were functional and their design was within the expectations for Economy Class standards. That being said, let’s just say the fixtures were so old that the kevlar in the toilet bowl wasn’t working as it should. On a short 3 hour flight, I would rather practise some kegel exercise and release my negative energy when I’m on ground.
Staff and Service
Service standards from SAS was a mixed bag. Right at the boarding gate, the ground staff only reserved her smile for fair skinned passengers. But ground staff aren’t exactly an airline’s employee, so I guess that didn’t really count as a disservice.
The cabin crew fared much better. Although I could sense that they were offering “corporate smiles”, their service standards definitely exceeded my expectations.
The flight attendants were also efficient. As mentioned earlier, the meal service was wrapped up in under 30 minutes. They were equally swift in preparing the cabin for landing. From the time the pilot instructed the cabin crew to prepare for landing to the time we touched ground, only 15 minutes had lapsed. But perhaps – perhaps – we were also a flight full of obedient passengers who made their jobs much easier. In between the meal service and performing landing checks, they congregated at door 1 for a gregarious chit chat session.
What exactly is SAS Plus?
Back to the topic of why SAS was ambiguous in their marketing about SAS Plus and SAS Business. As seen in the screenshot I shared earlier, they phrased SAS Plus in the same clause as SAS Business. At a glance, it made people think that SAS Plus is SAS Business on regional flights. However, further down the webpage, where they provided a breakdown of the services and hardware one would receive for each category, we would see that SAS Plus was nowhere near SAS Business. Even then, they still stopped short of saying SAS Plus was Premium Economy.
And as evident from my experience flying on SK595 (CPH – KEF), SAS Plus is only Economy class with slightly better services (free meals on that short flight, priority check in and boarding; we didn’t enjoy priority check in since we were transferring from Singapore). Compared with the Premium Economy of the likes of Singapore Airlines and Emirates, which provided hardware and services with a larger margin of value add from their Economy classes, SAS Plus is really just “forward seating” in aviation terms.
Parting Words
Truth be told, I had set my expectations low for the flight from Copenhagen to Reykjavik on Scandinavian Airlines. That being a regional flight on a narrow body aircraft meant that there was nothing to fantasize about the trip when it comes to SAS A320neo’s hardware. It would also be preposterous to expect the services of European airlines to be on par with the east Asian airlines that I am used to.
The seats were the same as that of the Economy Class, with no extra legroom or seat width. Most of the perks of flying premium on SAS was on the intangibles, which when scrutinised, were marginal in value. One should really not spend the extra bucks on SAS Plus, and stick to their Economy Class.
And recall from my earlier post that our luggage didn’t make it from Copenhagen. This was despite the fact that we had priority tags on, had 1.5hrs of transit time, and one of the bags did arrive. How on earth did one make it and the other didn’t? Ironically, we chose to transit through Copenhagen Airport because we had believed it was one of the more efficient ones in Europe. And since it wasn’t humongous like London Heathrow Airport, the chance of it not making it through during transit should have been low.
Should.
Will I fly SAS again? I will definitely not plan my trip around taking an SAS flight. However, if part of my journey requires it, or if it’s the only way to get to a place (like my current trip), then I wouldn’t mind flying on SAS.
In the meantime, do check out my travelogue on the rest of my aurora chasing holiday, timed to the peak of the solar cycle. We had signed up for a week long tour to see the best of Iceland’s natural wonders. Following that, we took SAS – on Economy Class this time – to our next part of the northern lights chase.
Till then, stay wanderlust!
All photos and videos were taken using Google Pixel 7 Pro, and edited with Google Photos.