Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) has been undergoing some major changes in recent times, following its restructuring. The airline transitioned from Star Alliance to Sky Team, after getting an investment from Air France-KLM. We’ve seen the airline make all kinds of customer friendly changes in recent times, and here’s the latest example of that.
In this post:
SAS partnering with third party lounges for more access
Each airline takes a different approach to lounge access. Airlines sometimes operate their own lounges, sometimes provide access to lounges of alliance partners, and sometimes contract out to third party lounge operators, depending on what options are available at a particular airport.
In recent years, SAS has only offered access to its own lounges and to alliance lounges for its flights within Europe. That means if an airport didn’t have a lounge belonging to SAS or an airline alliance partner, eligible customers couldn’t get lounge access.
Fortunately this will be changing. Starting October 1, 2025, and on a progressive basis, the airline will be adding partner lounges to its network, for European airports where there’s not an SAS or SkyTeam lounge location. The airline describes this as a significant step in its long term strategy of strengthening its premium offering, by creating a more consistent journey for travelers.
With these changes, we can expect the airline to add lounge access at roughly 35 airports, including Aalborg (AAL), Aberdeen (ABZ), Alicante (ALC), Barcelona (BCN), Bergen (BGO), Billund (BLL), Bologna (BLQ), Edinburgh (EDI), Faro (FAO), Gran Canaria (LPA), Gdansk (GDN), Helsinki (HEL), Keflavik (KEF), Madrid (MAD), Malaga (AGP), Manchester (MAN), Milan (LIN), Nice (NCE), Palma (PMI), Prague (PRG), Stavanger (SVG), Tallinn (TLL), Vilnius (VNO), and Wroclaw (WRO).
Here’s how Theres Griger, SAS’ Head of Onground Product, describes this:
“This is a comprehensive upgrade of our Business Class offer, with lounge access as a key part of the experience. By partnering with established lounge operators, we can quickly give our customers access to a much broader network at important destinations across Europe and Scandinavia. The goal is to offer around 35 additional lounges at year-round destinations, and we already have agreements in place in cities such as Bergen, Helsinki, Billund, Stavanger and Aalborg.”
“Our ambition is to have as much as possible in place by October 1, while recognizing this is a dynamic process where new agreements will be finalized step by step,” Briger continues. “This means some destinations are already ready, while others will follow throughout the autumn. We will keep customers continuously informed about which lounges are available, ensuring they can plan their journey with ease and receive the experience they expect.”
The timing of this development is no coincidence
Why is SAS now suddenly reintroducing lounge access at more airports on intra-Europe flights? Well, the timing is obviously deliberate. As of October 1, 2025, SAS is reintroducing business class on intra-Europe flights.
In recent years, SAS hasn’t offered this product, but has instead sold SAS Plus, essentially a premium economy offering. SAS Plus had no blocked middles, no curtain between cabins, and a slightly improved food and drink selection, but not by much. Now SAS is introducing a proper intra-Europe business class, with blocked middle seats, elevated meals, and more priority ground services.
One major expectation of business class within Europe is lounge access, regardless of whether or not the airport has a lounge operated by that airline. So it’s nice to see that now introduced, since this won’t just be valuable for those flying business class, but also for SkyTeam Elite Plus members, who should get access to these lounges as well.
Bottom line
As of this fall, SAS is improving its lounge network in Europe. In recent years, the airline has only offered premium customers access to its own lounges, as well as access to alliance lounges. With this latest change, SAS will be partnering with dozens of third party lounges to provide access for its guests.
The timing coincides with SAS reintroducing business class on intra-Europe flights, where lounge access is an expectation. Fortunately even SkyTeam Elite Plus members will benefit from these changes.
What do you make of these SAS lounge access updates?
i wouldn't call that a 'lounge' (with the red seats and white tables). looks more like the food court at a mall.
Let's just hope they're nothing like the SAS "lounge" at ORD. Yuck.
The ORD lounge is pretty representative of SAS's own lounges (except the lack of toilets), plenty of chairs placed closely together to make room for the thousands of SAS Golds who fly once a year.
It wouldn't surprise me if some of these contract lounges are better than the SAS Lounges, such as the ERSTE Premier lounge in PRG if that's the one they decide on.
SK lounge at CPH is way above the ERSTE dump at PRG.
They should use the SkyClub now along with AFKL passengers.
If SAS has a contract lounge in City X, and a Delta Elite member flying KLM accesses the lounge, who pays for that lounge access? SAS, Delta or KLM?
You'll only get access if the carrier operating your flight has a contract. It's probably a theoretical question though I don't think there will be any airports where SK has got one and KL hasn't.
I'm pretty certain the operating carrier will be covering the cost of your lounge visit- and you will need Elite Plus status for it.
Not sure about SkyTeam but in *A your program pays (which makes sense since they're the ones who decided to grant you status - otherwise LHG would be paying for all those "cheap" A3 *Gs).
As @Throwawayname said, you can only access lounges contracted by your operating carrier. The lounge bills that carrier and it will in turn bill your FFP. The inter-airline charges are fixed, so they do not necessarily equal to what airline paid to the lounge.
One of the downsides contained in the announcement was the removal of the SAS Gold sections in OSL, ARN and CPH. An enhancement which will likely lower the standard of the SAS lounge for those who did have access to the SAS Gold section.
I have heard they're planning on making a dedicated SAS Diamond area at the new flagship lounges at ARN and CPH. As diamond is literally the new gold status, I guess it makes sense to consolidate the gold and business sections and 'up' the current gold section to a diamond one.
Otherwise I agree, not fan of the opening of the barriers between gold lounge and business lounge. Now all the plebeians can joins us golds.
@E39 I thought you were avoiding Skyteam!
I would, of course, but sadly I’m a victim of geographical isolation and lack of airlines flying to my home airport. Fortunately LH flies here so I’m saved
Unless you're into hard liquor, there's no difference between gold and "general" sections of SAS Lounge, and even then I assume some sort of spirits will be offered in the new merged lounges. As a STE+, I couldn't care less. I often went to the general lounge anyway because it was less busy.
Totally agree with Samo. The "oh look at me I'm so special I'M A GOLD MEMBER" attitude of some of the crowd, especially at my home airport was nauseating, as if being a Gold member with EB is anything special these days. Most of the time I choose to take my chances with E39s plebs instead.
As for the booze, if you care about that in an airport lounge, it'll be avaliable in the combined lounges as well.
THANK GOD I won't have to read the typical "uH i FlEw SaS pLuS fRoM aLiCaNtE aNd I dIdN't HaVe LoUnGe AcCeSs, WhY nOt????" posts on SAS Facebook groups anymore.
Disappointed DUB isn’t there (even if the lounge they would use is closed for renovations for a few months).
Small correction: While SAS only offered its own and alliance lounges back in *A days, when they switched to SkyTeam, they added a few contract lounges at airports where they previously offered *A lounge but there's no ST lounge. One example is WAW.
These 35 new contract lounges are on top of that.
Note that the list on the website doesn't mention 35 airports, it's 24 if I counted correctly. Presumably the lounges listed are just the ones they're prioritising for October- it wouldn't make a lot of sense to offer a lounge at NCE but not LYS or MAN but not BHX.
All those destinations are where AF and KL operate. The main problem with third party lounges is they get crowded and have no branding , unlike an actual airline lounge . I was in one recently and it was like a hospital canteen, although the staff were very pleasant and one even apologised to me. Not her fault. I believe some of them have a zone for AFKL ultimate members of they are large enough....
All those destinations are where AF and KL operate. The main problem with third party lounges is they get crowded and have no branding , unlike an actual airline lounge . I was in one recently and it was like a hospital canteen, although the staff were very pleasant and one even apologised to me. Not her fault. I believe some of them have a zone for AFKL ultimate members of they are large enough. Third party lounge staff also get rules and regulations confused as they are dealing with so many airlines and policies. A friend was turned away from a lounge once even though he has status. He didn’t have energy to argue with the lounge dragon.
The irony is that in low season a lot of those airports are very quiet and you can turn up 50 minutes before departure and still have time to buy a coffee in a takeaway cup, no need for visiting the lounge. In high season, the airport is crowded, so you go early and then visit the lounge in order to avoid the mayhem in the terminal only to find that you're denied access because it's full or struggle to find anywhere to sit!