SAS A330 Business Class Review: My Chicago to Stockholm Flight
In 2019, I flew SAS Business Class nonstop from Chicago O’Hare to Stockholm Arlanda on an Airbus A330-300. As of September 2026, SAS no longer operates this nonstop route, but the flight gave me a firsthand look at the SAS A330 Business Class experience.
I originally booked a round-trip economy ticket to Stockholm for under $600. A few days before departure, SAS gave me the opportunity to bid for an upgrade to either SAS Plus or Business Class. I decided to skip SAS Plus and bid directly for Business Class.
My bid was accepted, and I ended up in seat 5A for my first experience in a true long-haul Business Class cabin.
The upgrade included Business Class check-in, Fast Track security, lounge access, priority boarding, upgraded meals, and most importantly, a lie-flat seat. During the flight, I was able to work on my website, enjoy a multi-course dinner, and sleep for four and a half hours.
That last part was especially important. Before this flight, I had never been able to fall asleep on an airplane.
This review is based on my 2019 flight. The Chicago-to-Stockholm nonstop route no longer operates, and some airport and onboard details have changed since my trip.
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How I Upgraded to SAS Business Class
My original round-trip economy ticket cost less than $600 and included a carry-on and checked bag. I did pay extra to select my seat.
A few days before the flight, SAS gave me the opportunity to bid for an upgrade. I could choose between SAS Plus and Business Class, and I decided to go straight for Business Class.
For my SAS Business Class upgrade, I bid $651, about $51 over the minimum bid.
I wasn’t sure that would be enough, but the evening before departure I received notification that my bid had been accepted. I was then able to log into my reservation and choose a Business Class seat.
I selected seat 5A, a single window seat.
My upgrade gave me Business Class check-in, Fast Track security, lounge access, priority boarding, Business Class meal service, and the lie-flat seat.
For me, paying an additional $651 turned out to be well worth it.
SAS still offers eligible passengers the opportunity to bid for upgrades. On current flights to and from North America and Asia, bids can be placed up to six hours before departure. SAS says passengers are notified between 25 and six hours before departure if their bid has been accepted. Current upgrade rules also state that the baggage allowance remains based on the original ticket.
SAS A330-300 Business Class Seat 5A
The SAS A330-300 Business Class cabin on my flight had a 1-2-1 configuration, giving every Business Class passenger direct aisle access.
I chose seat 5A, which was a single window seat. The layout alternated, with some window seats positioned closer to the window and others closer to the aisle.
Although 5A was positioned closer to the aisle, I liked the setup because my storage areas were located between me and the window. I could keep my computer, phone, and other personal items farther away from people walking through the aisle.
That worked well for me and was one of the things I liked most about SAS Business Class seat 5A.
SAS’s current long-haul Business Class product continues to use a 1-2-1 configuration with direct aisle access and seats that convert into fully flat beds.
Space, Storage, and Working From My Seat
The first thing I noticed after sitting down was how much more room I had compared with Premium Economy or Economy.
My seat had a large foldout table, footrest, seat controls, electrical outlet, USB connection, reading light, entertainment controls, headphones, and multiple storage areas.
The table gave me enough room to comfortably work on BuzzinAroundTheWorld.com during the flight. Instead of balancing my computer on a small tray table, I had plenty of space to work without feeling cramped.
The window-side storage area was especially useful. When I wasn’t using my computer, I could place it there and keep it safely away from the aisle.
SAS A330 Business Class Seat Controls
The controls next to my seat allowed me to recline, extend the footrest, adjust the seat, turn on mood lighting, activate the massage feature, or put the seat into its fully flat position.
The massage setting was more of a gentle pulsing and vibration than the kneading or rolling I would normally associate with a massage chair.
There were also entertainment controls, power connections, a reading light, headphones, and additional storage around the seat.
Wi-Fi and Entertainment
SAS provided Wi-Fi for Business Class passengers on my flight. I logged in using my reservation information and was able to work on my website while crossing the Atlantic. At the time, I could only connect one device at once, although I was able to switch between my computer and phone.
SAS currently includes free Wi-Fi in Business Class on its long-haul flights to North America and Asia.
SAS Business Class Amenity Kit
There was an amenity kit waiting at my seat when I boarded.
Mine included a Humble Co. toothbrush with a cornstarch handle, natural mint toothpaste, face moisturizer, lip balm, earplugs, a sleeping mask, and socks from Swedish Stockings.
Sleeping in the SAS Lie-Flat Seat
When it was time to sleep, I used the seat controls to convert my seat into a fully lie-flat bed.
I changed into gym shorts and took off my polo shirt, leaving my undershirt on. Within a few minutes, I was asleep.
I slept for four hours and thirty minutes.
That may not sound remarkable to everyone, but this was the first time I had ever been able to sleep on an airplane.
My phone and computer charged next to me while I slept, and the storage area beside the window gave me plenty of room to keep everything close without leaving anything near the aisle.
I continued sleeping until a flight attendant woke me for breakfast about an hour before landing.
The SAS Business Class lie-flat seat was easily the biggest reason the upgrade felt worth the money. I arrived in Stockholm feeling much more rested than I normally would after an overnight flight.
SAS Business Class Meals and Drinks
Shortly after takeoff, the flight attendants came through the cabin with drinks and snacks. I chose mixed nuts and a Coke Zero Sugar.
The main SAS Business Class meal service began about 90 minutes into the flight. I knew Business Class meals would be more elaborate than Economy, but I wasn’t expecting the full experience that followed.
The meal began with bread, and I chose an olive roll served with salted butter.
For my starter, I had the grilled beef tenderloin, which was delicious.
Next came the main course, which offered four choices: almond-crusted halibut, apple-glazed chicken, seared beef fillet, and lemon and ricotta ravioli. I thought about ordering the chicken but stayed with beef.
The beef was served with mashed sweet potato and a mixture of yellow and green squash. At the time, it was easily the best airplane meal I had ever eaten.
The Cheese Plate and All Three Desserts
One of the most memorable parts of the meal happened when a flight attendant noticed that I was working on my travel blog.
The meal included a cheese course with Grafton Village Cheddar and Cypress Grove Humboldt Chevre. I especially liked the Humboldt Chevre.
Dessert choices included dark chocolate cake with berry compote, Three Twins ice cream, and seasonal fruit.
After seeing what I was working on, the flight attendant suggested that I try the cheese plate and all three desserts because it would make a great picture for my travel blog.
Obviously, I wasn’t going to turn down that suggestion.
The desserts were all good, although the dark chocolate cake was my favorite.
Breakfast Before Landing
About an hour before landing, the flight attendant woke the passengers who had requested breakfast.
My breakfast included an English muffin, a bowl of orange, pineapple, and grapefruit, an egg with spinach, vanilla yogurt, and a meat and cheese plate with vegetables.
I chose orange juice to drink.
It was a substantial breakfast and much better than the typical Economy breakfast I was used to.
Other Details From the SAS Business Class Cabin
One unusual feature I noticed during the flight was the Business Class lavatory.
On my A330, there were two lavatories at the rear of the Business Class cabin. They felt slightly larger than the lavatories I was used to seeing in Economy.
The strangest feature was a window directly over the toilet. That was something I had never seen before. Naturally, if you’re using it while the aircraft is still on the ground, closing the shade would probably be a good idea.
The sink area also had flowers, wet towels, lotion, and spray deodorant.
I wouldn’t consider the lavatory a reason to choose SAS Business Class, but the window was certainly one of the more unusual things I remembered from the flight.
My O’Hare Experience Before the Flight
Because my flight took place in 2019, the airport portion of this review reflects what I experienced at Chicago O’Hare at that time. The lounge situation and other airport details have changed since my trip.
Checking In for SAS Business Class at Chicago O’Hare
I arrived at Chicago O’Hare about three hours before departure.
My flight departed from International Terminal 5, where I found the SAS check-in area. There was a separate Business Class queue, and within about 60 seconds I had my boarding pass.
The SAS Lounge at O’Hare in 2019
When I flew in 2019, Business Class passengers had access to the SAS Lounge at O’Hare. The lounge was relatively small, but it had a comfortable seating area where I could work. In fact, I wrote part of the original version of this article while sitting at one of the workstations inside the lounge.
There were meats and cheeses, salads, snacks, and drinks available. I tried a few salads, ate two mini hot dogs, and had a Coke Zero. It wasn’t an extravagant lounge, but it was a much more comfortable place to wait for a long flight across the Atlantic than the regular gate area.
The lounge arrangement at O’Hare is different today. SAS currently lists the Delta Sky Club in Terminal 5 between gates M11 and M14 for eligible passengers traveling from Chicago.
Priority Boarding
Boarding began on time, and as a Business Class passenger I was among the first passengers to board.
Waiting at my seat were an amenity kit, bedding, a bottle of water, and headphones. A flight attendant then came through the cabin offering a choice of juice, water, or champagne. From that point on, I knew this flight was going to be very different from my normal long-haul Economy experience.
Is SAS A330 Business Class Worth It?
For me, the $651 SAS Business Class upgrade was absolutely worth it. My original round-trip ticket cost under $600, so even after paying for the upgrade, I had spent far less than I would normally expect for a long-haul Business Class experience.
The lie-flat seat was the biggest benefit. Being able to sleep for four and a half hours completely changed how I felt when I arrived in Stockholm. I also appreciated having enough room to work comfortably, the upgraded meal service, lounge access, priority boarding, and the extra personal space around seat 5A.
Would I pay the normal full Business Class fare? Probably not. I travel frequently, and I would rather spend that additional money throughout my trip on hotels, transportation, attractions, tours, or even another trip entirely. For me, that is a better use of my travel budget.
But as an upgrade opportunity, SAS A330 Business Class was a completely different story. If I had another chance to move from Economy to a lie-flat Business Class seat for a price similar to what I paid in 2019, I would seriously consider doing it again.
For me, SAS Business Class was worth it as a $651 upgrade, but probably not worth paying full fare.
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