- Introduction: An Arctic Summer
- Review: SAS Business Class A330 Los Angeles To Stockholm
- Review: SAS Lounge Stockholm Airport
- Review: Hotel Continental Oslo
- Review: Radisson Blu Longyearbyen Hotel
- SAS Lounge Oslo Airport Review
- Review: SAS Lounge Copenhagen Airport
- Review: W Hotel St. Petersburg
- Review: St. Regis Moscow
- Review: Business Lounge Moscow Domodedovo Airport
- Review: Singapore Airlines First Class 777 Moscow To Houston
We actually visited the SAS Lounge Oslo Airport twice during our trip — once briefly before our flight from Oslo to Longyearbyen, and then for a bit longer after our flight from Longyearbyen to Oslo, and before our flight from Oslo to Copenhagen.
So I’ll cover our second visit, where we had a longer amount of time in the lounge. Our flight from Longyearbyen arrived at 5:25AM, while our connection to Copenhagen was at 7:10AM. While Longyearbyen is technically part of Norway, making this a domestic flight, you still have to go through passport control when taking this flight. I suspect that’s because Svalbard is such a massive and open island, and there’s even a Russian settlement, so it’s treated as a separate territory.
Immigration was pretty quick, and from there we had to clear security once again, which was also efficient.
Oslo Airport terminal
Once through security we turned right and walked through the duty free shops, after which the SAS lounge was on the left. Of the lounges we visited in Stockholm, Oslo, and Copenhagen, I thought the one in Oslo was easiest to find.
The lounge is one level up from the main concourse, and can be accessed either by stairs or elevator.
Elevator to SAS Lounge Oslo Airport
Upon exiting the elevator I turned right towards the SAS lounge signage.
Entrance to SAS Lounge Oslo Airport
Much like in Stockholm, this lounge has an automated entry gate, so you just scan your boarding pass and are admitted to the lounge that way. Unfortunately, there is no credit card with lounge access that could help you enter. The business class lounge was nice, though a bit on the crowded side.
SAS Business Class Lounge Oslo Airport
SAS Business Class Lounge Oslo Airport
While I didn’t realize this in Stockholm, there are also SAS Gold Lounges for Star Alliance Gold members, which are actually a bit nicer. So we accessed that, once again using the automated gates.
SAS Gold Lounge entrance Oslo Airport
The Gold Lounge was beautiful, within the realm of it being decorated like an IKEA showroom.
SAS Gold Lounge Oslo Airport
At the entrance was a selection of magazines and newspapers.
SAS Gold Lounge magazines & newspapers Oslo Airport
Then near the buffet area were several sets of communal tables.
SAS Gold Lounge seating Oslo Airport
There was a circular table, as well as a rectangular one.
SAS Gold Lounge communal table Oslo Airport
Then there was a bench with some circular coffee tables.
SAS Gold Lounge seating Oslo Airport
The rest of the lounge consisted of nicely partitioned off areas, where several sets of seating areas almost felt like (crowded) living rooms.
SAS Gold Lounge seating Oslo Airport
SAS Gold Lounge seating Oslo Airport
SAS Gold Lounge seating Oslo Airport
The back of the lounge had another communal table, in addition to several rows of seats, which didn’t seem to be used much (they weren’t as cozy as the other seating areas).
SAS Gold Lounge seating Oslo Airport
SAS Gold Lounge seating Oslo Airport
SAS Gold Lounge seating Oslo Airport
SAS Gold Lounge seating Oslo Airport
The breakfast spread was back near the entrance.
SAS Gold Lounge buffet Oslo Airport
The spread was very good, and consisted of all kinds of bread (including fresh rolls), cereal, fresh fruit, yogurt, granola, cold cuts, eggs, etc.
SAS Gold Lounge breakfast buffet Oslo Airport
SAS Gold Lounge breakfast buffet Oslo Airport
SAS Gold Lounge breakfast buffet Oslo Airport
SAS Gold Lounge breakfast buffet Oslo Airport
SAS Gold Lounge breakfast buffet Oslo Airport
My favorite thing was what I’d consider to be a “make your own yogurt parfait” station, where I had yogurt, oatmeal, and blackberries. That’s the perfect breakfast, as far as I’m concerned.
SAS Gold Lounge breakfast buffet Oslo Airport
There was also an espresso machine, which was reasonably good (I know I’m in the minority, but I still prefer just having filtered coffee unless the espresso drink is made by a barista or in a really high quality machine).
SAS Gold Lounge espresso machine Oslo Airport
There were also several types of juice, as well as milk.
SAS Gold Lounge juice & milk Oslo Airport
Then there was a fridge with beer and wine, though given that it was 6AM…
SAS Gold Lounge beer & wine Oslo Airport
The bathrooms for the Gold Lounge were located back near the entrance gates for the lounge. While the sinks were in a communal area, the actual stalls were very private.
SAS Gold Lounge bathrooms Oslo Airport
SAS Gold Lounge Oslo bottom line
Of the lounges I visited in Stockholm, Oslo, and Copenhagen, this one was my favorite. It was nicely furnished (in an IKEA sort of way), had a great breakfast selection, and was conveniently located both in relation to security and our departure gate.
Ford’s reaction to this lounge was “why can’t Admirals Clubs be like this.” I’d agree!
This is my second living room, and despite trying to reduce time in/at the airport to a minimum prior to my international departures, I find the lounge facilities in Oslo to be quite good. However, Thursdays and Fridays in the peak-hours (14-19) the lounges are way to crowded. Either it is to easy to obtain *A status, or Scandinavian companies are again making proper profits, and send their folks in SAS Plus (eqv. Business class),...
This is my second living room, and despite trying to reduce time in/at the airport to a minimum prior to my international departures, I find the lounge facilities in Oslo to be quite good. However, Thursdays and Fridays in the peak-hours (14-19) the lounges are way to crowded. Either it is to easy to obtain *A status, or Scandinavian companies are again making proper profits, and send their folks in SAS Plus (eqv. Business class), but Thursday afternoons between 16-19 this lounge is like a Tivoli.
With the automatic gates, how does it work if you have a star alliance gold membership card but it's not linked to your ticket (because you attributing miles elsewhere)? Is there also a lounge attendant you can go to?
There are no shower facilities in this lounge. Although the interior might be nice, this is a big disadvantage compared to the lounge in e.g. CPH.
Especially when connecting in OSL from a transatlantic flight.
Just to cearify; Lucky is right, Norwegians like myself do not have to bring a pasport when going to Svalbard (I would just show my drivers licence or the like at the passport control) due to it being a fully domestic flight (the best thing about that being the great and cheap access to redeem miles obviously). Svalbard is not a Norwegian dependent terretory (as i.e. Queen Mauds land in Antarctica), but a perfectly "normal"...
Just to cearify; Lucky is right, Norwegians like myself do not have to bring a pasport when going to Svalbard (I would just show my drivers licence or the like at the passport control) due to it being a fully domestic flight (the best thing about that being the great and cheap access to redeem miles obviously). Svalbard is not a Norwegian dependent terretory (as i.e. Queen Mauds land in Antarctica), but a perfectly "normal" part of Norway, though with a few special arrangements.
@ Lucky @ Josh it's not materially different, but explaining that you would need a multiple entry Schengen visa would probably be more valuable for some of your readers since you're leaving, then re-entering the Schengen Area. Not all countries allow visa-free travel to the Schengen Area.
In addition to being outside the Schengen area, Svalbard is by international treaty (the Svalbard Treaty) an open territory with no visa or immigration restrictions for citizens of the signatory countries. The practical effect of this is limited because all flights to Svalbard go through mainland Norway and must clear Norwegian immigration.
I never really get why airlines would build a whole lounge for Star Alliance Gold members at great expense when Star Alliance Gold members can just use the normal SAS lounge. At the very least they could just increase the size of the normal SAS lounge to accommodate the extra passengers. It just seems like an extra expense for the airline.
Great report, Lucky!
Odd question, and I know it really doesn't have to do with this particular lounge (sorry). When you're in a lounge, and want to leave your seat for food/lav/etc, are you allowed to just leave luggage at your seat and go? And no worries about anyone rummaging through? I'm so used to economy gate protocol (don't you dare walk away for one second!) and hope one day to emigrate from the back of the bus. If you get to this, thanks, and have a nice day.
"While Longyearbyen is technically part of Norway, making this a domestic flight, you still have to go through passport control when taking this flight. I suspect that’s because Svalbard is such a massive and open island, and there’s even a Russian settlement, so it’s treated as a separate territory."
Do you do you do any research to the places you visit, or just make assumptions?
http://www.visitsvalbard.com/en/Tourist-information/?News=53
Although the Norwegian mainland is part of the...
"While Longyearbyen is technically part of Norway, making this a domestic flight, you still have to go through passport control when taking this flight. I suspect that’s because Svalbard is such a massive and open island, and there’s even a Russian settlement, so it’s treated as a separate territory."
Do you do you do any research to the places you visit, or just make assumptions?
http://www.visitsvalbard.com/en/Tourist-information/?News=53
Although the Norwegian mainland is part of the Schengen area, Svalbard is not, and due to this fact, a passport control is required of all foreign visitors visiting Svalbard.
@ Josh -- Right, I'm not sure how that's different than what I said?
I use this lounge (the *G side) quite often and agree with the overall comments. I find the decor so much better than that in many lounges - much brighter and more modern and uplifting, rather than the fake dark wood which particularly US lounges seem to go for.
The other real plus point of this lounge is that they have GF breads and a good choice of GF food available.
I spent several very pleasant hours in this lounge a few years back before an SK flight to KEF. Lovely food and drinks (the baked Atlantic salmon was delicious), comfortable furniture, pleasant, friendly staff, a calm and relaxing atmosphere and every pax was well dressed, polite and respectful. This is everything a J lounge should be. I felt more like I was in a nice hotel than an airport.
I also thought it was...
I spent several very pleasant hours in this lounge a few years back before an SK flight to KEF. Lovely food and drinks (the baked Atlantic salmon was delicious), comfortable furniture, pleasant, friendly staff, a calm and relaxing atmosphere and every pax was well dressed, polite and respectful. This is everything a J lounge should be. I felt more like I was in a nice hotel than an airport.
I also thought it was odd they consider their *AG flyers to be better than their J pax. Qantas are exactly the opposite - their (domestic) J/OWE lounges are significantly better than their QClub/OWS lounges. I would always think class of service would trump status. Lucky do you agree?
I find it interesting that some airlines (SK and AY) have better lounges for elite pax than ticketed pax whereas it's the opposite for others (mostly OW airlines with lounges only ticketed F pax get access to.