Easter 2025. I’m visiting my uncle and aunt in Leland, North Carolina. It’s my first trip of two to the United States in 2025. I haven’t seen them live since February 2020 just before the first lockdown and I haven’t travelled to this area since 2019. I’m flying with SAS and Delta. The itinerary: Brussels in Belgium – Copenhagen in Denmark – Atlanta in Georgia – Wilmington in North Carolina.
So I paid for an upgrade to business class. My policy is no business class for transatlantic flights, especially to and from the American East Coast.
What do I expect from business class?
- Lounge access, which I got.
- Quality food and drinks.
- A great lie-flat seat. I want a good sleep. I sleep everywhere, but not per se well.
- This means that between the meals there must be enough sleep time. New Yo to Brussels is some six hours. Subtract time for the meals and there’s not much left to really enjoy the seat.
- More personalised service. I don’t want ti feel like cattle, but as a person.
That’s why I shouldn’t do East Coast to Europe in business class. Not enough quality sleep time. But the flesh is weak, and thus I paid for the upgrade
SAS SK930
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport to Copenhagen Airport.
Scheduled: 7:55 PM EST to 10:50 AM CET.
Actual: 8:37 PM EST to 11:07 AM EST.
Equipment: Airbus A330-343 (SE-REH).
Boarding
Travelling in business class means you board in the first group. If you’re only acquainted with intra-European travel, you would think it’s crazy to want to spend as much time on the plane. But as I or you pay for this premium product, you want return on investment.
So I boarded amongst the first. I installed myself in seat 2F and put my backpack in the overhead compartment, after taking out my pouch with charging cables.
As a pre-flight drink, there was a choice between champagne, red wine and water. I had champagne.
The seat
The SAS Business, now just Business seat is a cocoons-shaped unit with fair privacy, a lie-flat seat and a console on one side. Seating in 2F, the console was on my left. There is no extra little privacy panel or sliding device to block off my neighbour.
The colour palette is dark grey. The seat is comfortable, with good padding.
What I like about the SAS Business seat and surrounding:
- Two USB-A plugs: one next to you, one attached to the IFE screen.
- Many lights options.
- Enough leg room.
- A very comfortable DUX Beds & Furniture cushion.
- A very cosy DUX Beds & Furniture quilt or duvet.
What I liked less about the seat and surroundings.
- More storage space would have been nice.
- There are two panels to adjust the seat. I kept touching the lower one with my elbow, and thus my seat moved without warning.
- There is a massage function, but I didn’t feel anything. Maybe it didn’t work.
But it’s a good seat. Not great in the segment of business class seats. But pretty decent.
The amenity kit
The amenity kit by DUX looks like a laundry bag. I prefer a toiletries type bag. Inside: an eye mask, lip balm, face lotion, socks, a dental kit, ear plugs. Nothing spectacular.
Food and drinks
Food and drinks are an important part of the business class experience. I expect a bit of a show.
The ‘Main Event’
SAS calls the main meal the ‘Main Event’ and I think that’s cute. The service started an hour into the flight, I think. First some drinks. I chose the alcohol-free Above the clouds, which mixes cranberry juice, apple juice and Sprite. This drink was accompanied by warm cashew nuts.
As a starter the options were duck prosciutto or crab salad. I went for crab salad. Both were accompanied by mixed salad with watermelon radish.
For the main event I avoided roasted chicken breast with lemon and herb jus as I had eaten that in the Delta Sky Club lounge. I also avoided the beef, and went for the white truffle risotto with wild mushroom conserva and grilled baby zucchini.
And as desert. I chose the matcha cheesecake with chocolate syrup over the cheese selection and the fruit. I should have asked for mix, as passengers around me did.
With my meal I drank Apple Must by Ringi, a fresh apple juice. I liked the non-alcoholic options SAS offers. I did have some port with dessert.
And I ended the meal with some tea. A praline or cookie would have been nice.
Pre-landing
Pre-landing, breakfast consisted of overnight rice pudding with morello sour cherry compote and fresh strawberries, assorted local cheeses and charcuterie.
Mid-flight snack
Mid-flight snacks are said to be offered, but I didn’t see any.
So, the food?
The food is good, very good even. I enjoyed my meals. Was I surprised? No and yes. I appreciate the non-alcoholic options. I don’t tolerate alcohol as well as I used to and certainly not up in the air.
The crew and service
The crew were friendly, helpful and sometimes funny. After take-off they asked if we wanted to be woken up for breakfast (yes of course). One helped me opening the amenities kit (“you just need strength”).
So?
So, looking at my expectation, most were met. But the flight is perhaps too short to warrant the extra price tag. I don’t regret doing it, but it wasn’t a rational decision. Eight or ten seats weren’t occupied so maybe I was the only bidder.
SAS Business is a decent product. Nothing really disappointing, but nothing out of the ordinary. If ever I fly really long-haul with SAS, I will consider booking business class.
Oh by the way. I did not use the in-flight entertainment and there’s no WiFi.
North Carolina 2025
- REVIEW | SAS Scandinavian Airlines System – Brussels to Copenhagen – economy – Embraer E195LR.
- REVIEW | SAS Scandinavian Airlines System – Copenhagen to Atlanta – economy – Airbus A330.
- REVIEW | Delta Air Lines – Atlanta to Wilmington – economy – Boeing 717.
- NORTH CAROLINA | Wilmington Riverwalk.
- NORTH CAROLINA | Walmart Supercenter Leland.
- WILMINGTON | USS North Carolina – Costco – Tidewater Oysters – Lewis Strawberry Nursery and Farm.
- CAPE FEAR | Fort Fisher in North Carolina.
- NORTH CAROLINA | Wilmington International Airport.
- REVIEW | Delta Sky Club Lounge at Atlanta Airport Concourse F.