- I flew round-trip in business class with Scandinavian Airlines from Chicago to Copenhagen and back.
- My business-class ticket cost about $3,646, and I spent eight hours in the air each way.
- I loved the complimentary WiFi, food presentation, entertainment options, and comfortable seat.
To be honest, I only flew with Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) because it was my only option for flying direct from Chicago to Copenhagen.
Fortunately, my sole choice didn't actually make me feel like I was settling. The Scandinavian flagship carrier is known for efficient and friendly service — and I'd say it lived up to its reputation.
I spent about $3,646 on a round-trip business-class flight and about eight hours in the air each way.
Here's what the experience was like, with a focus on my flight to Copenhagen.
The business-class section felt spacious and neat.
The A330 plane interior looked modern and well-maintained, with a 1-2-1 configuration in the business-class cabin and Thompson Vantage XL seats that lie completely flat.
Each of these particular seats is at least 23 inches wide and has a massage function. The massager undulated along my back, although it made a whirring noise and only lasted for a few minutes before stopping.
My seat was comfy with plenty of storage and workspace for my laptop.
Overall, the seat was fairly comfortable and seemed well-designed.
I appreciated having storage space accessible on the floor next to my seat, even when it was in lie-flat mode, and ample desk space to work on my laptop.
The amenity kit was pretty simple.
The amenity kit is not as robust as some other airlines offer, but I respect the commitment to sustainability in some of the products selected, like the bamboo toothbrush by The Humble Co.
The travel pouch was by Duxiana, which also supplied the pillows and blankets on board. I also received Verso Skincare lip balm and moisturizer, and soft socks from Swedish Stockings.
My flight included decent entertainment and complimentary WiFi.
The in-flight entertainment system felt modern and easy to navigate.
I was more than satisfied with the selection of hundreds of movies and TV shows, which includes a mix of classics and new releases.
As a business-class passenger, I had access to complimentary WiFi for the entire flight. Not all airlines offer this, and I thought it was a great perk.
I was impressed by my delicious in-flight drink selection.
The drink menu didn't have as many wine offerings as I'd have liked, but SAS made up for it with a wide selection of Scandinavian spirits and beer.
Passengers could sample Swedish or Norwegian gin featuring unique regional botanicals or even Danish rye whiskey, which felt like a thoughtful nod to our final destination.
I ordered a Forest Spring signature cocktail with whisky, apple juice, and ginger ale. It was refreshing and not too strong.
Copenhagen is known as a craft-beer capital, so I also tried a non-alcoholic beer from Mikkeller, the Limbo Dragon Fruit. It had a great tart tropical flavor with a slight tannic quality like a saignée rosé wine.
Meals were served from trolleys, which was very helpful.
Something that makes SAS stand out from other airlines I've flown with is that its starters and main courses are served from a trolley. This way, travelers can see all of the options before ordering.
Most airlines ask you to order based on a written menu, but I prefer this service style because it eliminates the FOMO I often feel when ordering something that sounded more appetizing on paper than it ended up being on the plate.
The food wasn't exactly Scandinavian, but I didn't mind.
The food offerings were not Scandinavian, but rather part of a globally-inspired menu including Asian and European influences.
Options ranged from cheese tortelloni to slow-cooked beef brisket with mac and cheese and beets.
While serving food, flight attendants also seasoned dishes with salt and pepper to order. They even sprinkled sesame seeds on the ponzu chicken as a thoughtful final touch.
For one of my meals, I had a chicken thigh with a sweet and sour sauce that was mildly flavored but tender. It was pretty good for plane food.
There was also a solid bread selection.
The only noticeably Danish touch on the culinary side was Danish rye bread, or rugbrød, which is studded with sunflower seeds, flax seeds, and whole rye berries.
It's fermented with a tangy sourdough flavor and packed with protein and fiber.
The incredible Danish rye bread paired nicely with bubbly.
I had seconds of the bread during my flight, this time with Arla Unika salted butter and parsley oil.
It paired well with the Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve I got, too.
Overall, my flight felt like a great value.
I was pretty pleased with my business-class flight, from the food selection to the comfortable seat.
There weren't as many bells and whistles as you find on some other airlines in business class. For example, I would've appreciated a more robust snack selection or a snazzier amenity kit — maybe one with extra products or pajamas.
Still, I had a positive experience and I'd fly SAS again — especially if I were going to Scandinavia. I've found it offers the best routes there from the United States and the most direct flights between the US and Copenhagen.
