Flying Business Class with Family on SAS A350 This Christmas

Business Class Experience

I’ve had many wonderful experiences flying business class with SAS on previous long-haul flights, and this journey was no exception. It wasn’t just the comfortable seats and delicious food that made it special; it was also the timing of the flight. Traveling to Europe on Christmas Eve isn’t typically how I celebrate the holiday, but sometimes the availability of reward tickets can change your plans.

Luckily, this business class flight on the A350 to Copenhagen was incredibly comfortable and enjoyable for the whole family.

EuroBonus Program

I absolutely love SAS's EuroBonus program. If you're willing to fly with SAS, there are plenty of opportunities to redeem points and enjoy more spacious accommodations compared to redeeming through their SkyTeam partners. Our tickets cost 60,000 miles each, and children under 12 only pay half price — a very family-friendly program. With no fuel surcharges, only government taxes, it’s fantastic that the entire family can fly business class!

Airport Check-In Process

We arrived at O'Hare Airport at 5:30 PM, just under two hours before our flight. The check-in staff were quite curious as to why we weren’t checking in online, especially since we had no luggage, but the airport was busy that day, and I found entering passport information quite time-consuming. After visiting the Air France lounge, we boarded the plane at 6:50 PM, about 30 minutes before departure.

Flight Information

Flight 944 from Chicago (ORD) to Copenhagen (CPH) departed at 7:20 PM and arrived at 10:50 AM the next morning, with a total flight time of 8 hours and 30 minutes on the Airbus A350-900. My seat was 4H (Business Class).

I couldn’t help but laugh when I remembered my wife, Heidi, bringing along her heavy blue backpack filled with her medical textbooks and laptop. A flight attendant welcomed us on board and, like a true gentleman, offered to help my wife with her backpack. He lifted it, and before I could remind him, he exclaimed in surprise and gently dropped it — we all shared a laugh at that unexpected moment.

Seating on the Plane

That day’s flight had few passengers, which allowed SAS to provide more spacious accommodations in all three classes. The business class cabin on the SAS A350 features 40 Thompson Aero Vantage XL seats arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration, with a galley and restrooms in the middle. The A and H seats are the true window seats.

Each seat is 22 inches wide and can convert into a flat bed measuring 78 inches long. The seats come with a foldable dining table and a compartment for noise-canceling headphones. The soft Dux mattress made my sleep comfortable, and I even grabbed an extra one for additional cushioning.

Amenities and Entertainment

SAS's amenity kit hasn't changed much over the years. It includes facial moisturizer, lip balm, a dental kit, a sleep mask, and earplugs. Free Wi-Fi is available for business class passengers, which was good enough for me to send and receive messages and emails, although I mostly disconnected.

Food and Beverage Quality

After a night flight from LA, I was ready to sleep but not before having a meal. Fortunately, the service was quick, and dinner was served right after takeoff. The menu included warm towels and roasted cashews. The main course I pre-ordered was salmon with lentils, which was delicious, complemented by a blend of muhammara and tahini.

Arrival and Conclusion of the Flight

The flight ended very smoothly and peacefully in Copenhagen. While I love spending “Heiligabend” (German for Christmas Eve) at home with family, sometimes you just have to take what's available. SAS once again provided a comfortable journey; I’ve never encountered a bad meal on their flights, and I truly enjoyed this overnight adventure.