10 Reasons To Love Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) Premium Economy

As frequent travelers, it’s safe to assume we’d all like to fly business or first class whenever possible. This might be feasible with a large stash of unlimited miles, points, or disposable cash.

Without those resources, traveling on a budget with a desire to be comfortable leaves limited options.

Today, we’ll discuss how Scandinavian Airlines, better known as SAS, can help fill the void of affordable comfort availability with its premium economy product. We’ll explain how passengers can enjoy comfortable seating, priority boarding, Fast Track security, a free checked bag, and much more for an affordable price.

While SAS has recently changed what’s included with its premium economy product, incredible value remains.

Here are all the reasons you may want to consider SAS premium economy.

1. Value for Your Money

SAS currently calls its premium economy class SAS Plus. However, on October 1, 2025, SAS will rename SAS Plus to “premium” and simplify SAS Go to “economy” and SAS Business to “business.” For this reason, we’ll refer to Plus as its more logical and future name, premium economy.

When SAS runs a sale, premium economy fare prices can yield outstanding value. SAS runs sales several times yearly, including Black Friday, spring, back-to-school periods, and more.

Premium economy fare sale prices from the U.S. to Dublin (DUB) are typically the least expensive. If you can catch a few of these, you can affordably reach all the major European and Nordic cities.

Premium Chase Ultimate Rewards points-earning credit cards can redeem points for SAS premium economy flights through Chase Travel using Points Boost for up to 2 cents per point. With Chase Travel, you can pay cash, use points, or a combination of both.

SAS premium economy fares may be nonrefundable or subject to change fees and other restrictions.

Bottom Line:

SAS premium economy fares can offer exceptional value. You’ll receive priority boarding and security, a free checked bag, a comfortable seat, elevated meals, a blanket and pillow, and bottled water.

2. Fast Track Security and Priority Boarding

Avoiding long security lines is a thing of the past when flying SAS premium economy. As tickets include Fast Track access, you save time at the airport.

Entering the security area is as simple as scanning your boarding pass, and you have a shorter, faster experience.

Plus, once you’re at the gate, you’re among the first to board the plane, as your premium economy ticket includes priority boarding.

3. Comfortable Seats and More

The seat you receive depends on the aircraft, but compared to economy, you can count on a larger reclining, comfortable seat with a footrest and greater legroom.

In addition, you receive a pillow and blanket, as well as bottled water. On select flights, you also get a small amenity kit that includes a shoe bag, toothpaste, toothbrush, and earplugs.

Premium economy meals include a premeal snack of cashews or mixed nuts, real silverware and glasses, an upgraded entree, salad, fresh bread, cheese, dessert, and beverages (including alcohol).

Seating in premium economy on the A330-300 is in a 2-3-2 configuration, while the A350-900 is a 2-4-2 layout. Seat selection is available for a fee when booking, but it is complimentary if you have SkyTeam Elite status.

6. Bidding for an Upgrade

One of the nicest features of purchasing a premium economy ticket with SAS is the ability to bid for an upgrade to business class.

Upgrade pricing depends on availability, but bids can start at $200.

As an example of how upgrade bidding works, the flights below on a recent SAS reservation I booked started out requiring a minimum bid of $800. Closer to departure time, the minimum bid came down to $470, and at departure time, you could purchase an upgrade for $225, as there were still a few business class seats open. On several occasions, I’ve successfully secured an upgrade for a bid of $305 (my personal bid limit). Not bad for a 9-hour flight.

The upgrade offer is included in your online flight reservation. You must provide your credit card information when bidding, but your card will not be charged unless your bid is accepted.

Bids are limited to a specific flight. If available, each flight has its own minimum bid based on availability. Some flights offer live bidding 25 hours before departure. Bidding ends 6 hours from departure, but you can still purchase upgrades, if available, at the gate.

If you paid less than $800 for an SAS round-trip flight in premium economy and secured upgrade bids for a total of $800, that’s just $1,600 for a business class experience. And it’s possible to do it for less.

Hot Tip:

You can book SAS premium economy using Delta SkyMiles or Air France-KLM Flying Blue miles. Premium economy (aka SAS Plus) is not available for purchase on every SAS flight.

7. Earning SkyTeam Elite Status

SAS is a member of the SkyTeam alliance. A strong partnership with Delta Air Lines and SAS has made earning SkyTeam Elite Plus status easier and more cost-effective.

Premium economy SAS fares are a sweet spot for earning Delta SkyMiles Medallion elite status. A premium economy fare yields 20% of the distance flown in Delta Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs), which you need to achieve elite status requirements.

For example, Chicago (ORD) to Copenhagen (CPH) is 5,339 miles flown one-way when the class bonus is included. MQDs are calculated at 20% of flown miles (including the bonus), resulting in $854 MQDs. A round-trip flight on this itinerary would earn $1,708 MQDs toward Delta SkyMiles elite status.

This can be an incredible value if you purchase SAS premium economy fares during a sale.

Our article on earning Delta SkyMiles elite status details how MQDs work toward earning status.

8. Lounge Access May Be Included

Depending on your routing and destination, your SAS premium economy ticket could include lounge access. SkyTeam Elite status customers also have access.

SAS premium economy flyers traveling within the Nordic countries and Europe could have limited lounge access included with their ticket. If you’re flying, for example, from Chicago (ORD) to Oslo (OSL) via Copenhagen (CPH), you would not have SAS lounge access in Chicago. Since inter-Nordic and inter-European premium economy flights qualify, you would have lounge access in Copenhagen.

Additionally, if you have SkyTeam Elite status and are flying on a same-day premium economy SAS ticket, you have lounge access throughout your trip. Delta Diamond, Platinum, and Gold elite status members qualify for access.

Bottom Line:

SAS premium economy Inter-European and Nordic flights include lounge access. Delta SkyMiles Diamond, Platinum, and Gold elite status members traveling on a same-day ticket also have lounge access at SkyTeam partner and global airline partner lounges.

9. Extra Carry-on and Free Checked Bag

You receive an extra baggage allowance when you purchase an SAS premium economy ticket.

An extra baggage allowance can save you plenty on baggage fees. The following are included in the price of the ticket:

• 1 underseat bag (40 x 30 x 15 centimeters (15 x 11 x 5 inches))
• 2 carry-on bags (55 x 40 x 23 centimeters (21 x 15 x 9 inches) and up to 8 kilograms (17.6 pounds))
• 1 checked bag of up to 23 kilograms (50.7 pounds)

The savings can be significant. Depending on when you pay, a checked bag could cost between $75 and $105 when traveling from the U.S. This can add up to as much as $210 round-trip. You receive a complimentary checked bag with an SAS premium economy fare.

Also notable is that the premium economy fare includes 2 carry-on bags plus a personal item, versus 1 checked and 1 carry-on (plus a personal item) with an economy fare.

10. Destinations

Thanks to SAS premium economy, discovering remote locations is possible and more comfortable. You’re most likely to find the bulk of premium economy fare sales to cities in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.

Previous SAS sales have also included major European cities, including Amsterdam (AMS), Barcelona (BCN), Dublin (DUB), London (LHR), and Paris (CDG).

SAS has 3 hub airports: Copenhagen (CPH), Stockholm (ARN), and Oslo (OSL). Copenhagen is its main hub. The airline flies to over 130 destinations in 40 countries, but not all flights have premium economy seats available.

Final Thoughts

Although SAS has changed its premium economy product, plenty of value remains. With the airline’s affordable sale pricing, you can enjoy comfortable seating, priority security and boarding, complimentary baggage, elevated meals, and limited lounge access with select inter-Nordic and European flights.

I’ve flown several of these flights and had great experiences. The ability to bid for an upgrade has also resulted in business class flights at an affordable price.

SkyTeam Elite members, especially, should consider SAS premium economy as a more affordable way to earn and maintain elite status and receive extra benefits when flying SAS.