Scandinavian Airways Relaunches Seattle to Copenhagen Route

On Might 21, Scandinavian Airways (SAS) relaunched a long-haul flight connecting Seattle–Tacoma Worldwide Airport (SEA) with Copenhagen Airport (CPH) after a 16-year-long pause. The flight will function 5 days per week throughout the SAS summer season schedule—however I used to be fortunate sufficient to snag a business-class seat on the primary flight.

“The Seattle-Copenhagen route has been a extremely requested vacation spot,” Paul Verhagen, govt vice chairman and chief business officer at Scandinavian Airways, tells Journey + Leisure. “Washington State has deep Scandinavian roots, with many residents tracing their heritage to Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. This creates pure demand for each leisure and household journey.”

As any enterprise class journey ought to, my tour started with a go to to the lounge. Whereas there isn’t an SAS lounge in Seattle, the airline is part of the SkyTeam airline alliance, so I bought entry to Seattle–Tacoma Worldwide Airport’s Delta Sky Membership. The lounge has views of Mount Rainier and the runway, and you’ll airplane spot whereas having fun with small bites like clam chowder, hen sliders, and caprese salad from the buffet or a drink from the bar.

Though the Delta Sky Membership was positioned in Concourse A and the flight was scheduled to depart from Concourse S, it was straightforward to maneuver between terminals, due to the SEA Underground—trains depart each three minutes and there was no must undergo safety once more.

The inaugural festivities kicked off with a celebration close to the gate, that includes historic photos of the unique inaugural SAS flight from Seattle to Copenhagen.

Boarding was fast and straightforward (admittedly, being in zone one didn’t harm), and we quickly discovered ourselves on an Airbus 350-900, thought of top-of-the-line trendy wide-body planes. It’s a lot quieter than most different planes in its peer group, and the air strain is decrease. It solely ever feels such as you’re, at most, an altitude of round 5,500 ft. That each one means a extra comfy expertise with much less jet lag. 

After a send-off from the native fireplace division and the airport workers, our flight was quickly within the air, making its means throughout the Rocky Mountains, via Canada, and eventually throughout the Atlantic.

I’ve at all times flown financial system so let’s simply say that in SAS enterprise class, some socks have been knocked off. 

The enterprise class part was in a 1-2-1 formation, and I discovered myself within the center aisle. The items have been generously sized, and the seat was massive and soft, with buttons that might alter the peak, angle, and stage of cushion within the chair. There was loads of overhead storage, in addition to a nifty space to retailer different objects close to my ft. I additionally appreciated having a shelf (with a drink holder, no much less) to retailer odds and ends that I had with me throughout my flight. 

There have been over-the-ear headphones for watching films on the very deluxe, outsized leisure console. Leisure choice was broad, with new films like “Nosferatu,” “A Full Unknown,” and “The Brutalist” obtainable to observe in addition to traditional flicks like “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf,” “Cool Hand Luke,” and “Dumb and Dumber.”

However maybe one of many coolest perks of flying in an A350-900 is the tail-view digital camera, the place you possibly can watch mountains, rivers, and oceans move you by throughout your flight from the consolation of your seat. The web service, nonetheless, was fairly spotty throughout this specific flight, and it was exhausting to load a browser web page, a lot much less get work achieved.

Along with the standard enterprise class swag bag—full of a watch masks, face cream, a toothbrush, and socks—passengers on this inaugural flight additionally obtained a small bag stuffed with issues like Scandinavisk-branded hand cream, white chocolate truffles, and a commemorative baggage tag. Passengers additionally bought a “boreal forest” soy wax candle by Skog, which did certainly odor like a brisk stroll via the pines.

So far as airplane meals goes, it could be exhausting to search out fault in Scandinavian Airways’ enterprise class fare, which actually goes all out with contemporary, Scandi-inspired fare. For every meal, flight attendants started service by “setting” the desk by laying down a serviette on the tray desk.

Dinner was a four-course occasion consisting of a starter, a primary, a cheese plate, and a dessert. I opted for the burrata salad for a starter, a spring-y association of tomatoes, basil, and burrata with a candy balsamic discount on the aspect. I then had the grilled miso hen, which was served with piping scorching jasmine rice and completely cooked radishes and bok choy. There was contemporary fruit and a cheese plate for dessert, that includes a beneficiant slice of very good blue cheese.

Breakfast was a easy affair with in a single day oats, a smoothie, and a poached egg with shashuka. Bedding down in a comforter from the luxe Swedish linen model Dux made it straightforward to catch some shut-eye, too.

With the a number of feasts and loads of films to observe, I quickly discovered myself in Copenhagen. Since I felt so well-rested from my flight, it was straightforward to hit the bottom working—and that is precisely what SAS intends.

Copenhagen Airport is a serious hub to different Scandinavian locations and a gateway to all that northern Europe has to supply. After this flight, I hopped on a few quick airplane rides to Bergen, Norway (a direct route from Copenhagen to Bergen is on the market), and spent a couple of days exploring the nation’s breathtaking fjords by automotive—the transition from one of many area’s most bustling cities to some of the distant and idyllic areas was clean and straightforward.

“The route is among the many quickest and most seamless transatlantic connections, providing vacationers an environment friendly and clean journey between North America and Europe,” Verhagen says. “Schedules have been designed to maximise connectivity with the remainder of the SAS community, providing one-stop entry to and from 39 European cities by way of Copenhagen.”

For West Coast and Pacific Northwest residents, meaning Northern Europe is as soon as once more, only one quick (and really luxurious) flight away.