Flying SAS for the first time. Thoughts on the airline?

If you go on the internet, you will see both good and bad reports on...every...single...airline. Some prefer airline A, some hate airline A. Some prefer airline B, some hate airline B.

You already have the tickets. Just make sure you understand any particulars to SAS (baggage rules, check in, etc.) and enjoy the flight.

I’ve flown with SAS several times and have only good things to say— good service, professional crews and customer-friendly website and App. SAS seems to have a customer-friendly, common sense approach to luggage rules also.
Have fun in København—- it’s a fantastic city!

I don’t know where you fly out of. (Edit - oops, you said SFO!) That can make a difference for plane metal. I am out of ORD. Most recent experience July 2023, flight canceled on return due to equipment issues - plane couldn’t turn around at O’Hare, sat for multiple days being repaired.

We were offered unacceptable alternative arrangements involving multiple layovers at various airports for departure on same day as booked. Opted instead for 2 additional days in Copenhagen and a direct flight home. Because of EU rules, we were compensated for hotel and meals - all booked by me, not airline.

Same trip, the plane type was changed on the flight over. No PE, downgraded to Economy- no chance to upgrade to Business. Business was available on our delayed flight home.

Several pre-Covid experiences- mixed. FAs were curt with surly service on at least one occasion. Other journeys were acceptable if not gracious. I did notice friendlier service on the 2023 trip, but in Business that is typical.

Economy- same as everyone else I fly to Europe - nothing to praise. Business was flat bed, comfortable, recommended.

All that said, SAS is my best option from ORD. Will be flying them again soon. Good luck - my bottom line: it is what it is.

We flew SAS in May/June 2023. Our routing was Chicago-Copenhagen-Oslo-Kirkenes. Later a flight from Oslo to Ålesund. Our route home was Ålesund-Oslo-Stockholm-Chicago.

We were able to choose our seats in advance at no extra charge. All flights operated on time. Inflight service was friendly. The meals were better than any of the meals I have been served by American Airlines in the last few years. All checked bags arrived when we did.

Our transatlantic flights were booked in SAS's premium economy.

I have not flown long haul with SAS, but as they're my "home airline" I have used them quite a few times for short and medium haul flights.

My thoughts on them are positive.

I have no negative experiences with SAS, and all the staff and crews I have interacted with have been professional and serviceminded. I would not (and do not) hesitate to fly with them again.

I've only flown on SAS once, and it was in business class (so perhaps not a valid indicator if you're seated in the back), but it was a lovely flight on a brand new airplane (an A350, it still had that New Airplane Smell). This was in late COVID/early recovery times, from Copenhagen to Chicago, and things could not have been more delightful. We had the entire business class cabin nearly to ourselves - there were just 4 passengers seated up front including us (so only one other couple); it felt like a private jet but huge - with 4 flight attendants working our cabin and just 4 passengers, a 1:1 ratio so we got plenty of attention, needless to say, the service was great. Good food, comfy seats, modern entertainment system (modern everything), plenty of room to take a stroll, it was pretty sweet. I would fly SAS again without any hesitation.

I'll never fly SAS if I can avoid it. Business class flight was quite substandard LAX - CPH, with numerous broken and inoperative parts, including the IFE screen. No offer to refund any of my fare: "We sold you a seat; whether anything works isn't part of our contract with you." Return flight was unremarkable.

Eurobusiness CPH - AGP and return were ridiculously bad; much more cramped than US basic economy. The price was good, which seduced me. Not again.

Eurobusiness CPH - AGP and return were ridiculously bad

SAS doesn't have eurobusiness. But they're reintroducing it soon: https://www.sasgroup.net/newsroom/press-releases/2025/sas-reintroduces-european-business-class-starting-october-1/

I fly SAS often. Your flight should be non-stop. Just note that they left Star Alliance last autumn, so you would get miles on Delta, or any Sky Team alliance airline, rather than UA, for example. I think they manage their flights well & in general offer a great service, but read the fine print. If you don't have status or business class, they might up-charge you for some interesting unexpected items - like water, (!) which I experienced flying basic economy, whatever they call it, from LHR. But coffee is free, a Swede explained to me they can't get away with charging for coffee.

Posts in another forums say that a cup of water is included since April.

Posts in another forums say that a cup of water is included since April.

How generous.

Posts in another forums say that a cup of water is included since
April.

Time may roll on and some things may be gone, but if it has ever been the case that Scandinavian Airlines System have denied their valued paying passengers a simple drink of water, they should be fined, avoided like the plague and their corporate structure deservedly decay and dismantle!
Though a number years have passed since i last let them welcome me aboard a plane, though how welcome their passengers are now seems debatable, they can't be allowed to do anything they bloody well please. This is an unethical, unacceptable, unnecessary and unscandinavian break with tradition. There is no shortage of water in Scandinavia. Enjoy our high quality tap water free of charge in any restaurant. What's next? Slave labour in the galley? Thank the gods for KLM!

Anders, I'm so glad to hear water is now included. I 'got around' it quickly by walking up with a pill in my hand and asking for a glass of water to take meds!

Hi, you didn't say when you were flying SFO to CPH, but I just thought you should know that the departure time for flight SK 936 (the one(?) direct SAS flight from SFO to CPH) has been bouncing about a bit.

When I first booked my June 4 flight, it was scheduled to depart at 7:40 pm, but a couple of weeks ago I received an email telling me the departure time has been moved back to 6:20 pm (which I actually prefer, it now arrives at 2 pm instead of 3:20, in theory anyways). Although, it appears not all of the daily departure times have changed, various SK 936 departures in May & June are still showing 7:40 pm, with no rhyme or reason as to why some have changed and some haven't. Eh, whatever.

Enjoy your flight & your time in Copenhagen!

(Oh, this'll be my first time flying SAS as well. We'll see what transpires)

@msrosie

Thanks for the heads up! We are flying in September. I will keep my eye out for any changes. You are right. Leaving an hour early wouldn’t be a bad thing.

Thanks!