Scandinavian Airline Systems

www.flysas.com

Types of Travelers

Business Travlers

4/5

High quality meal service, reclining chairs, generous baggage allowance

Family Traveler

3/5

Standard meal service and entertainment

Backpacker
Adventure Traveler

3/5

Interesting destinations (especially for winter sports)

Student
Budget Traveler

3/5

Competitive pricing in region

Elderly
Disabled Traveler

4/5

Above average accessibility

Long Term Traveler

4/5

Decent reach to Northern Europe

Novice Traveler

4/5

Easy to navigate website, good services

Introduction

Scandinavian Airlines, usually referred to as SAS, is Scandinavia’s largest airline and is the main airline of Norway, Sweden and Denmark. It is one of the largest airlines in Europe and serves more than 25 million passengers each year. The airline is one of the founding members of the Star Alliance.

SAS was founded in 1946. It was originally an alliance of several different carriers. In 1951, the three main airlines that were a part of the group merged and officially formed SAS. SAS is known for its long haul flights between Scandinavia and destinations in Asia and the Americas. It was the first airline to offer flights that went over the North Pole.

Ratings

Important Factors 4/5

Average Delay

16%

Cancelled Flights
(average per month)

Less than 2 %

Customer Satisfaction Rating

3 out of 5 stars

Types of Aircraft

Airbus A319, A321, A330, A340; Boeing 737; Bombardier CRJ900; McDonnell Douglas MD-82

General 3/5

Number of Domestic Flights (Daily)

Number of International Flights (Daily)

Size of Fleet

142

Major Airports and Destinations Served

Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm, Paris, Berlin, Beijing, Tokyo, Rome, Amsterdam, Chicago, London, Newark

Location of Hub

Copenhagen Airport; Oslo Airport, GardermoenStockholm-Arlanda Airport

Countries Served

Sweden, Denmark, Norway, UK, US, China, Switzerland, Germany, Spain, Russia, Turkey, Italy, Croatia, Japan

Number of Routes

Most Popular Routes

From Oslo, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Trondheim.

In-Flight 3/5

Which Routes offer Meal Service?

Intercontinental Flights

Food Quality

Average

In-flight Menu

Intercontinental flights: 3 course meals, snacks, beverages, cocktails European flights: snacks and sandwiches for purchase only

Average Leg Room

30-33 inches

Types of In-flight Entertainment

Intercontinental flights: movies, television, and audio on seat back screens

Baggage 3/5

Baggage Fees

None

Number of Bags Allowed

Economy class: 1, Premium classes: 2

Weight Limits and Restrictions

Economy: 23kg each Business: 32kg each

Web Site 4/5

Online Check-in

yes

Web Site Usability

Above average

Special Needs 3/5

Handicap Accessibility

Above average as long as the airline is notified at least 48 hours in advance

Pets

In cabin (weighing less than 8 kgs) from 20 Euro depending on destination; in cargo hold, from 30 Euro depending on weight and destination.

Special Offers /Partners 4/5

Airline Alliance Membership

Star Alliance

Hotel Partners

EuroBonus

Competing Airlines

Finnair, KLM

Strengths

Great long haul services
More than one hub
Lots of regional and domestic flights
Star Alliance member

Weaknesses

Domestic service only
No extras available (business class)
Not part of airline alliance (limited miles-earning potential)
No assigned seats

Frequent Flier Program and Airport Lounges

The airline’s frequent flier program is called EuroBonus. Members can earn miles on SAS flights and also on flights operated by other Star Alliance member airlines. The program has four loyalty tiers. EuroBonus has been given awards for quality in the past, although some members claim that it is not as useful as other Star Alliance frequent flier programs.

Conclusion

SAS is mostly known as a long haul carrier. It focuses on long haul flights, offering better service and amenities compared to domestic and regional flights. This makes SAS a good choice for people flying to Europe and then connecting to other destinations in Central or Northern Europe. Fares are generally competitive, although there are cheaper regional options.