Inside the SAS Airbus A350, in all classes
SAS, the airline of Scandinavia, recently took delivery of its first Airbus A350. This plane was designed with lots of passenger-friendly improvements, like larger windows and overhead bins.
Like the airline’s other Airbus wide-body aircraft, the A350 features business class, premium economy and coach.
I flew this new plane in biz from Copenhagen to Chicago, but the flight was about half full, so I had the opportunity to check out the other cabins. So here's an inside look at the newest wide-body serving the U.S.
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Business class on the SAS Airbus A350
Seats in the biz cabin are arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration with each offering direct aisle access.
The 40 pods are split between two cabins. The larger cabin, with eight rows, occupies the area between doors 1 and 2. Then, there’s a really private, eight-seat mini-cabin between door 2 and premium economy. If you’re planning to fly this product, I’d definitely recommend selecting a seat in rows 9 or 10.
SAS selected the well-regarded Thompson Vantage XL seat for biz. Unlike Delta, they didn’t modify the seat with doors, so there’s not all that much privacy.
Additionally, there’s no enclosed storage space. You’ll need to store all your things on the exposed shelf next to the seat.
Tray tables fold out from the seat’s armrest and have a cupholder and tablet stand.
Each seat features an 18-inch HD monitor, AC outlet, two USB ports and a touchpad remote.
The size of the footwells is about average. Bulkhead seats have much larger footwells, but are also more exposed to the aisle.
Although it’s not the world’s best, I quite liked the biz cabin. For a closer look, check out my in-depth review of the SAS Airbus A350 business-class.
Premium economy on the SAS Airbus A350
The four rows of premium economy are located just behind the biz mini-cabin and are in a 2-4-2 configuration.
The seats themselves are essentially identical to the ones United’s installed in Premium Plus. They’re not the most cutting-edge, but they do the trick.
Recline is quite generous, and there is a legrest and footrest for added comfort. Headrests have adjustable wings for added support.
Each seat has an oversized armrest, bi-fold tray table, AC outlet and 13.3 inch personal IFE monitor.
In addition to the seatback pocket, there is a storage compartment built into one of the armrests.
In terms of amenities, waiting at each seat was a pillow, duvet, amenity kit and low-quality headphones.
Though I wasn’t flying in this cabin, it looked quite comfortable for a short transatlantic hop— as long as you avoid one of the middle seats.
Economy on the SAS Airbus A350
The 228-seat economy cabin is arranged in a 3-3-3 configuration. Unfortunately, SAS installed slimline seats on this aircraft, and they aren’t too comfortable.
Additionally, the armrests are very thin, making it really hard for two people to share one at the same time. At least the aisle armrests could be raised for easy egress.
Though the seats themselves aren’t very comfortable, the recline feels more generous than most other carriers. Combined with the winged headrest, I actually thought these seats were above average for economy.
The relatively large tray table folds down from the seat in front of you revealing the contents of the literature pocket.
Each seat has a 11.6 inch personal TV with a powered USB port, but— rather annoyingly — there are no power outlets in coach.
A pillow, blanket and small bottle of water were waiting on each seat.
The most unique feature of the economy cabin is the snack bar at the rear end of the plane.
SAS charges coach fliers for snacks, but they still deserve props for how it presents the nosh.
Overall impression
Thanks to passenger-friendly improvements, I really enjoyed my flight on SAS’s new Airbus A350. Throughout the plane, you’ll love the large windows and large overhead bins. And the A350 is one of the quietest planes in the sky, making it a joy to fly.
The aircraft itself is configured in a three-class arrangement. The biz cabin sports Thomson Vantage XL pods each with direct aisle access and large IFE screens. Premium economy has an all-new seat with both legrests and footrests. Lastly, thanks to the generous recline and a winged headrest, the slimline coach seats are actually more comfortable than they appear.
All photos by the author.
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
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- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.