SAS Scandinavian Airlines Danmark

Pretty bad. Every airline has delays but this lot are entirely unapologetic and inclined to blame the passengers. Not really into please and thank you.

I flew on Scandinavian Airlines Economy Class three times, and surprisingly, it was one of the worst airlines I have ever dealt with in my life. For those three flights, I flew from VCE (Venice Marco Polo) to CPH (Copenhagen Kastrup), HEL (Helsinki Vantaa) to ARN (Stockholm Arlanda), and ARN to CDG (Paris Charles de Gaulle)
Long story short, I was supposed to fly from Paris to Copenhagen, but it got cancelled, due to a vague «technical problem». This resulted in more than 100+ upset passengers stranded in Paris, and the airline had no clear contingency plan. Fortunately, I was re-​booked to an Air France flight from Paris to Venice, then an SAS flight from Venice to Copenhagen, however, I lost 9+ hours as a result of this cancellation. I was not sure on what happened to the other passengers, but some were also re-​booked to other flights. I was given no compensation as a result of this cancellation/​delay.
Customer service was very unacceptable. I lodged an European Union Passenger Rights complaint form to the airline after my trip in August. They finally responded in November, when I seriously considered filing a complaint to the French authorities (since the incident happened in France). I was finally compensated in early December after an exchange of emails.
As for my actual experience flying on Scandinavian Airlines, the seats were not very comfortable, they only give you free tea and charge you if you want to order food. As for the flights from HEL to ARN, and ARN to CDG, I mostly slept through those flights, so I don’t remember, but at least I slept comfortably and didn’t experience any major problems.
Overall, this airline was one of the worst airlines I have ever dealt with. I have lost a lot of confidence in SAS as an airline, and they almost ruined my holiday in Europe.
If you want to read further details of my story with this airline, you can read my guest post on my friend’s travel blog, special thanks to my friend, and trip organiser Calvin for letting me tell this story:

Hang on to your luggage when flying SAS! I managed to hold on to my luggage for 2 flights on route to Copenhagen from North America with 2 other airlines. On the last leg of Berlin to Copenhagen with SAS, they made me check in my luggage as it was about an inch bigger than the mold. Yet other passengers with way bigger suitcases were allowed through. Sure enough, my luggage was lost when I landed in Copenhagen and was not found for 7 days which was extremely inconvenient as I was headed for a cruise. Many locals and my cruise line told me Copenhagen airport is notorious for lost luggage so at first I did not blame SAS. My gripe with SAS is the snail pace claim process. No one answers the phone. Each email took about 6 weeks for an acknowledgement. The North American SAS contact office did not help. Even after they confirmed re-​reimbursement of expenses via email after filling all the forms and questions, I have received nothing to date and it has been 5 months.

Norway
Sweden
and
Denmark
Scandinavian Airlines is the largest airline in Scandinavia and is centered in Copenhagen, Demark. It you are heading to the Nordic countries from somewhere else, then there is a good chance you will end up on SAS.
The company was founded right after world war two and now has over 180 aircraft. Most are Airbuses but with some Boeing 737s and also aircraft from the Bombardier company.
Flying on SAS is pretty basic but pleasant. The planes are clean and we got to where we were going on time and got some decent food along the way and even got to look at the cool moving maps behind the seats. All the employees we interacted with were efficient if not exactly friendly.
If you are heading out to the Scandinavian or leaving the Nordic lands to go somewhere else. SAS is a good option. Flying long distances is never particularly pleasant but SAS makes it as painless as possible.

Terrible flight experience and I’m concerned they’re not safe. Short flight from Bergen to Copenhagen and they did not check id, did not ask people to put seats forward, offered no water, and seats are so close together you can barely see. I sense the crew is untrained and does not have procedures to follow.
Then to make it worse they lost our bags before a big cruise and were absolutely terrible in our attempts to get the bags back.
I would never fly SAS even though I’m a 1k on united and have several million miles. The airline is an embarrassment.

First this is not a review of economy class. Economy class is the same on every airline as is evident with bad Unilocaleviews everywhere. There are exceptions: Korean, EVA and Asiana. In my opi, these international carriers still treat their economy class passengers with respect and with upgraded services, except for seat, pitch, width of course. They are all the same. You get what you pay for. I like and don’t mind flying economy. You just have to know the trick (exit row aisle or window) to getting decent seats. Sometimes, it’s a good treat to go business or first because on international flights… you’re happy and refreshed when you land. And why not?
This is a review SAS new international business class service from CPH (Copenhagen) to EWR (Newark): It’s Hygge: Cozy, Intimate, Relaxing.
There’s something to be said about Euro and Asian airlines business or global business services. U.S. carriers cannot hold a candle to them. SAS service from Europe to America is considered their intercontinental brand.
Verdict? I loved it. I’d do it again if the price is right.
Here are some major features:
a) Fast Track. From the time you checkin at CPH there is a separate pathway that takes you straight into the SAS business lounge and to the gate. This is standard service for most airlines on business, first or high flyers (lots of miles flown annually 50K+). It’s nice to go to airport security and you’re the only one there :)
b) SAS Business Lounge: small, comfy and intimate. It’s hygge. It has sections for lounging, working meeting rooms, showers. It’s Danish design so really cool. For a second though you think, upgraded IKEA, but still comfy and intimate Food is fairly standard except they have more proteins (cold cuts, cheeses) and pastas than American carriers. Drinks are overflowing. WiFi is free. I saw people sleeping on the couch; it’s that comfy and intimate. There’s a big sign that says Refresh. Done, I did that.
c) SAS International business Class. Their new business class is in tones of blue, brown, black and grey… comfy and intimate. But it is waayyy better than any of US carries: United, American, Delta, US Air.
SEATS:
Comfy, private unlike United’s (3 year old) configuration (as many seats as they can fit, 2−4−2 configuration in most planes) United might as well give everyone pajamas and start playing slumber party games– it’s that packed in business class. I don’t’ fly United’s business class anymore, b/​c it’s no longer about passenger service and comfort. On this SAS flight however, my cabin was small 1−2−1 configuration and intimate They approach you individually for quilts, water, assistance with coffee, sweets, liqueur. The TV was large easy to navigate with great resolution, definitely upgraded service.
FOOD:
Comes in courses… the quality bar none. I’ve added photos for you. Denmark is totally organic: produce is remarkably delish, meats have flavor. It’s done very well at the level of cuisine but earthy and good. For starters, they give you nuts and champagne/​cocktails which is standard fare in business/​first class. They serve cashews and almonds only. Nice touch but doesn’t bowl me over. Carriers I’ve flown like Air New Zealand, British Airways, JAL, Singapore, Asiana, Cathay, ANA, Korean are at this same level of quality of service and food, some better. Dessert was real, not the olé’ ice cream cart or warm cookies.
Snack Bar: Midflight, there is a snack bar where you can get chocolates, marzipan organic fruit and cheeses, Illy espresso, select juices, breads.
SERVICE:
The staff working international business are not tired and wanna get their shift over with like their American counterparts. At least on this shift, Flight SK909 from CPH to EWR, they actually pause, give you eye contact, and after they’ve heard your request, smile, respond and anticipate. That’s customer service. I had to notice because they all behave the same way. If you’ve flown premium classes on American, United and Delta you know what I’m talking about. American customer service is worlds primitive in comparison. Impressed.
One less star: It’s a new service: my TV froze once, staff are not fully trained with the seat controls yet because some passengers (non-​techie) were having a difficult time. But if ya follow the simple buttons, they work :)) But the staff were attentive service-​wise, food and liqueur, wine, beer were served professionally like it should be.
Visits: International business (2), Economy (5)
Tip: Arrive early (at least 2 hours) because you have access to Business Lounge and do work or just chill.
Shout out to Frederikke at the SAS checkin, thank you for getting me a good seat on this flight! Your customer service is noteworthy and coool!

Had a very tough time flying with them. They were very nice to let us fly without charging us extra because our bags were over however every single bag in our party was lost! We did not get our bags until 4 days had passed. This was very stressful I am hoping they get this corrected in the future so other travelers don’t experience the same thing.

Horrible airline. Our luggage never made it to Wroclaw during the connection. They said they would send it in the next flight. Then SAS crew went on strike that night and my luggage still never made it to Wroclaw airport. No one answers their phone. Except for the lost luggage phone # at the Wroclaw airport thankfully, but there’s nothing they can do. Never flying this airline again.

Aus lauter Gewohnheit habe ich mich am Economy-​Schalter angestellt. Dabei sollte dieser Flug doch ‘Premium’ sein. Die Dame an der ‘Schlangeneingangskontrolle’ wies mich freundlich darauf hin, dass ich doch den Schalter ohne Schlange nehmen könnte. Das war schon mal nett.
Nett ging es auch weiter. Zum Beispiel mit der Wasserflasche (0,5l), die sich in jeder Sitztasche befindet, in allen Klassen. (Und so schlau, ist doch viel weniger Arbeit für die Flugbegleiter.) Oder mit der Handcreme in der Toilette, die laut Aufschrift gegen Air Condition bedingte trockene Haut helfen soll. Außerdem kam ich das erste Mal in den Genuss eines Rentier-​Sandwiches.
Es gab circa 20 Filme on Demand, gut durchmischt, für jeden etwas dabei. Und eine echte Decke, nicht so ein zu kurzes Teil, das einfach nicht alle Körperteile auf einmal warm halten will.
Sogar das Sicherheitsvideo zu Beginn ist erwähnenswert, hat es doch glatt meine Aufmerksamkeit erhascht: «Passengers are not supposed to sleep on the floor.» Good to know.
Alles in allem finde ich nichts zum Mäkeln, würde SAS wieder buchen.

Unfortuntely this pains me to have to wright this review, being from Denmark
SAS has to be the worst airlines my family and I have ever flown with
Customer service is 0
Left us stranded with 2 small kids and never once asked if they could help or try and make it better

I had a great flight, easy change. Just avoid NEW York slights if you are going to change over and go elsewhere. It takes forever. its litterally a cluster…

SAS has worst customer service in the world.
They lost our luggage, rescheduled our flight giving us 14 hour wait.
Wrote them 3 times and still no answer.
Will NEVER fly SAS again and recommend no one else does.
SAS the airline that does not give a damn

CPH is tricked out to make you stay long and buy expensive stuff. In fact, if you leave from any of the bus gates in the commercial zone of the terminal, they will not call the flight or your name as it is a «silent airport». They also provide only five seats per those gates, so you have to sit in a café and consume.
There you will not see the announcement on their display, which is the only thing they will do to alert you on your leaving SAS flight. Once the gate closes they disappear and leave you hanging. Take a number and wait an hour for customer service of SAS. Crap service, crap airport, arrogant and oblivious agents if you can find one.

A week ago Friday, I had plans on flying to Copenhagen out of recently added San Francisco to the SAS dot map. By Saturday things changed and I wasn’t quite so sure and was now considering Krakow, Poland or Luxembourg. By the next day Copenhagen was back on track and I would be on my way to the beautiful Danish capital city.
But I took a different carrier into CPH (via Frankfurt) and made plans to fly back home on SAS. I was excited to check out SAS as I had never flown them and the last time I tried I was bumped off three flights out of Newark (Oslo, Stockholm and Copenhagen. what are the odds?) and ended up on a Continental flight to Munich.
Finally the day came and I arrived at the SAS check in counter. The staff was perfectly nice, but a little reserved. The check in procedure is fairly straightforward and easy to figure out. The Customer Service Agents were helpful and all were multilingual.
The boarding process was fine and the inflight service above average. But not the best that I have encountered from competing airlines (unless you’re flying on an US based airline then of course this is not the case).
It’s nice now that we San Franciscan’s have another option when traveling to Northern Europe.
3 ½ Stars.