- Introduction: Oslo In Winter
- Review: United “Polaris” Business Class 787 Houston To Frankfurt
- Review: Lufthansa Senator Lounge Frankfurt Airport Terminal A
- Review: Lufthansa A321 Business Class Frankfurt To Oslo
- Review: Park Inn By Radisson Oslo Airport
- Review: SAS Museum Oslo Airport
- Review: Clarion Collection Hotel Folketeateret Oslo
- How To Sled Oslo’s Korketrekkeren Like A Boss
- Review: Clarion Collection Hotel Bastion Oslo
- 10 Things To Do With Kids In Oslo
- Review: Radisson Blu Oslo Airport
- Review: SAS Lounge Oslo Airport
- Review: SAS Plus Oslo To London Heathrow On A 737
- Review: United Club London Heathrow
- Review: United Polaris Lounge Chicago
We had decided to spend our final night in Norway at the airport so we wouldn’t have to get up quite so early for our 7:50 AM flight to London Heathrow. The terminal is only a short distance from the Radisson Blu Oslo Airport, most of which is covered to protect you from the weather. The walk probably took no more than five minutes and was made easier by the luggage cart we had cached the night before.
On the way, we passed through a set of double revolving doors which gave me flashbacks to Super Mario Brothers. In fact, I stood there for a minute trying to time up my steps so I wouldn’t get squished in the middle.
Having made it to the next level, I mean, into the terminal, we quickly found the Star Gold counter for SAS.
There was a bit of a line, but the agent was very efficient and we waited no more than a couple of minutes. Even as SAS Plus passengers, we weren’t directed to Fast Track Security or advised about the location of the SAS lounge, despite that being one of the few perks of SAS Plus. That was no big deal, just a little surprising. Unfortunately, if you’re not flying in a premium cabin or have status, there aren’t any options available in Oslo for those with a credit card with lounge access.
Fast Track Security is basically right next to the the SAS Star Gold / business counter, which is very convenient. The lanes are even wide enough to push a stroller through. We quickly made it through immigration and security with no hassles.
The Oslo airport has an interesting stroller policy. Whereas in the US and much of the world, it’s standard practice to check your stroller at the gate immediately prior to boarding the plane, SAS seems to prefer that you check it at the counter out front. At first glance, that seems problematic because now you have to move your kids and stuff all the way to the gate without a stroller.
Ah, but the Norwegians have thought of this, and the Oslo airport has a huge fleet of strollers you can borrow immediately after security. So you can check your stroller with your bags, maneuver the short distance through security, and then borrow a stroller on the other side.
We actually brought our stroller through security — it’s not mandatory to check it — but decided to borrow one of the doubles anyway for a test drive. You can see the flotilla of strollers in the background of this picture.
We had a bit of time so we headed up to the SAS Lounge which is shortly past security on an upper level.
SAS uses automated gates to gain entry to the lounge. You just scan your boarding pass and the gates swing open to allow you to pass into the business class part of the lounge. There is then a second set of automated gates that lead to inner sanctum, also know as the Star Gold Lounge.
Although we could have used the Gold part of the lounge, we decided to stay in the business class area, partially because it was much less crowded, but more importantly because that’s where the kids room is located.
The business class side looks sort of small until you realize that it wraps around the side and connects to a large room towards the back.
The back section of the business lounge was basically empty.
The service desk is also in the business area if you need help with something.
The kids room was a nice space and we were the only ones there. It would be nice if it had a door to keep the noise — and inmates — contained, but our kids were still groggy and tired so it was fine. Plus, the whole place was pretty empty.
Despite having eaten at the hotel, I decided to have a bite since I didn’t know what I’d get on the flight. The buffet contained a variety of mostly cold breakfast items. It wasn’t the most impressive breakfast spread you’ll see, but it was still miles above what you get in the US.
I eventually wandered over the Gold side just to take a peek. It was a lot more crowded, but the food offerings, at least for breakfast, seemed almost identical. I’m not sure there’s a lot of reason to go on in there, other than because you can.
And obviously, that’s enough of a reason for a lot of people, including me most of the time.
The Gold side seemed to have more office spaces. But I may have just missed them over on the business side.
The views from both areas of the lounge were mostly of the interior space.
At that point it was time to head down to our gate for our flight to London Heathrow.
SAS Lounge Oslo Bottom Line
The SAS Lounge at the Oslo Airport is a perfectly functional space.
The breakfast offerings won’t blow your mind or anything, but they are sufficient such that you could skip breakfast at the hotel if you are running late. And if you’re about to board an SAS flight with buy-on-board food service, this is a good opportunity to grab a bite to eat.
We also appreciated the dedicated space for the kids and are becoming quite convinced that SAS is a very family friendly airline.
Nice! You lucked out and visited the nicer lounge. There is a much smaller satellite lounge in the domestic terminal that I visited on a connection last month. I'd say there were 25 seats max, had to exit the lounge for the bathroom, and the extent of the food available mid-afternoon was pretzel sticks. Reminded me much more of a domestic US lounge than typical SAS. Still, a nice escape from the regular terminal, but glad to see there is a better option.
Hey,Travis, thank you for such amazing posts, I've made a video about the SAS gold lounge, if you would like to check it out, it's here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EC7LlGbDAzA&t=4s
Owen -- No, it's just a hardwood flooring on the walkway.
Donald -- You are so right. I love the Scandinavian design with lots of exposed wood and glass and clean lines. I didn't even think about how unusual it is to see hardwood floors at an airport though.
The wooden floors remind me of Stockholm's Arlanda Airport. They're so beautiful. It's easy to overlook the subtle differences in airports world wide. Not just the design or the way of doing things, but the physical structure and materials used too. Even in some of the crummiest airports in India, you'll find marble floors. They use what they've got the most of--and Scandinavian nations certainly have a lot of trees!
In the third photograph, is that a wood paneled moving sidewalk? How did they do that?
Lol Mario Bros. Good stuff Travis.