Greetings from Canada! Recently, I had the chance to fly in Scandinavian Airlines’ (SAS) Airbus A321LR business class during an 8-hour and 10-minute journey from Copenhagen (CPH) to Toronto (YYZ). I utilized Air France-KLM Flying Blue miles to book this flight. SAS operates just three of these premium A321LRs on transatlantic routes, and I was keen to try one out, especially since it had been some time since my last experience flying SAS’ long-haul business class on their A350.
In general, my flight was very enjoyable. Although SAS might not provide the most thrilling soft product, I found the cabin to be comfortable, the food enjoyable, and the entertainment along with free (and speedy) Wi-Fi to be exceptional. In this piece, I’ll share some of my first impressions, with a complete review to come shortly.
**SAS’ A321LR Business Class Seats Are Acceptable**
The A321LRs from SAS have a premium setup with only 157 seats, which include 22 business class seats, 12 premium economy seats, and 123 economy seats. The business class area is fairly spacious, spanning six rows. The seats are staggered, utilizing the Thompson Aero Vantage platform, with an alternating 2-2 and 1-1 arrangement. For solo travelers, the “throne” seats are fantastic, providing both an aisle and window, as well as extra space to the sides. However, these seats possess small footwells.
For those traveling with a companion, the pairs of seats could be more desirable. On my flight, the cabin was rather empty, so opting for one of these seats with an adjacent empty seat could be beneficial, as the footwells are a bit larger.
I selected a throne seat, which came with a small storage compartment on the side. Charging amenities included USB-A and AC outlets. The seat was comfortable when reclined to bed mode, and I appreciated SAS’ excellent bedding. The presence of individual air nozzles was also a nice addition.
One drawback of narrow-body planes is the single lavatory located at the front of the business class section, which isn’t ideal for 22 passengers and crew members. However, since the cabin was relatively empty, this wasn’t an issue during my flight.
**SAS’ A321LR Entertainment & Wi-Fi Are Quite Impressive**
I was struck by the entertainment choices available in SAS’ A321LR business class. The Viasat Wi-Fi was free for business class travelers, providing excellent speeds that kept me productive throughout the flight.
The A321LRs come equipped with 20.5″ seatback entertainment displays. Despite some glare, the screen was high-definition and the system was responsive. The selection featured hundreds of movies, TV shows, games, and more, offering a wealth of entertainment options.
**SAS’ Business Class Soft Product Is Generally Solid and Pleasant**
On this SAS business class journey, lunch was served shortly after takeoff, followed by a snack before landing. SAS’ catering is average—neither particularly notable nor disappointing, which is a compliment for airline cuisine.
Service started with beverages and warm cashews. I selected a negroni sbagliato, one of the canned beverages presented in a glass. The appetizer choices included prawns with lemongrass, black pepper mayo, crispy chili oil, and trout roe, served alongside bread and a side salad. While it was small, it was delightful.
For the main dish, I opted for braised beef with date demi-glace, salted lemon, honey, carrots, and sweet potato. I seldom order beef when flying, but this was quite commendable. Dessert consisted of a cheese plate and traditional cannelés with a red fruit and thyme compote, accompanied by coffee.
The pre-landing snack was an open-faced sandwich topped with smoked salmon, apple slices, and sweet mustard. Although modest in size, it was scrumptious.
Overall, the quality of the food was good. SAS employs an onboard chef or at least a flight attendant dressed in a chef’s outfit. However, due to the smaller dimensions of the A321LR and restricted galley space, the service isn’t as interactive as it is on larger aircraft.
**Final Thoughts**
I had an enjoyable flight in Scandinavian Airlines’ A321LR business class. While I typically prefer wide-body jets for transatlantic travel, I value the opportunity to experience narrow-body planes. SAS’ narrow-body business class presents a pleasant journey with comfy seats, quick and free Wi-Fi, good entertainment options, and decent food and beverages. While it may not be extraordinary, it’s a reliable product that I would happily choose again. The somewhat empty business class cabin certainly added to a more enjoyable experience.
What are your thoughts on SAS’ A321LR business class?