REVIEW: Pleasantly Surprised With My SAS Bombardier CRJ900 Business Class Flight (ZRH – CPH)
Even though the SWISS flight was probably the worst business class flight I have taken to date, I do not regret booking this itinerary as it allowed me to have a long layover and explore Zürich. So I was definitely not expecting to have such a wonderful short flight…what a contrast.
FLIGHT INFO
DATE: June 2024
AIRLINE/FLIGHT NO.: SAS (SK) 610
PLANE: Bomardier CRJ900
ROUTE: ZRH (Zürich, Switzerland) 20:25 (21:13) Departure – CPH (Copenhagen, Denmark) 22:10 (22:51) + 41 mins late Arrival
FLIGHT TIME: 1 Hrs 38 Mins
CLASS: Business Class
SEAT: 1A
HOW I BOOKED
AIRLINE LOYALTY PROGRAM: Air Canada Aeroplan
SPEND: 70,000 Aeroplan Miles + $101.30CAD/ (Taxes + $39CAD Air Canada Fees)
SAVINGS: 11.66K Miles/20% bonus with (58,333 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points + 20% Transfer bonus) for both this flight and the LX Biz flight to ZRH & $22 (see check in information)
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CHECK IN/SECURITY
Because I left the airport, I had to go through security again but that was fairly painless. The airport is huge but efficient so navigating it was more of a balancing time logistic than anything else. I had asked the amazing agents at the SWISS Arrivals lounge (which really did even out the business class flight) when I should return so I heeded their advice and actually had enough time to check out the SWISS business lounge.
ZRH LOUNGE ACCESS
I was flying out of B10 so I went to the SWISS Business Lounge A and it was very full – especially compared to the Swiss Arrivals Lounge. I wish that I would have had enough time to visit the SWISS Business Lounge E (even with that lounge being in the non-Schengen zone, you are able to access it airside).
This is a combined lounge space in Terminal A and shares space with the Senator Lounge A with separate entrances for both. The lounges are on three levels with a quiet area up top that offers views of the lounge on one side and out over the terminal on the other side.
BOARDING
I had lucked out with some incredible and sunny weather whilst exploring Zürich as I was told that was the first proper summer day they had experienced all year. And also had come back to the airport in time to avoid being caught in a thunderstorm rolling through the area. It was so big and active that it led to a lightning delay for the airport.
For this flight, everyone is loaded onto a bus that will take you onto the tarmac to board the plane. Even more so than normal, this process makes me want to delay getting on the plane to sit whilst everyone boards..
And that worked out really well for me because in the time it was taking for people to get on the plane, the airport had started allowing flights to take off again and I was able to watch some take off whilst standing on the runway!
CABIN CONFIGURATION/SEAT
I was the last person to get on the plane so was only able to grab photos of my seat.’
The 88 seat plane is set up in a 2-2 configuration with some seats designated as SAS Plus as they offer more leg room.
Standard economy seats that have 17″ width and 30″ pitch and recline 3″ – I was seated 1A which is a bulkhead with a lot more leg space (I know, I know – it’s wasted on someone so short!)
IN FLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT/WIFI
There is none on these planes.
FOOD/DRINK
Birch Smoked Salmon box with birch smoked Norwegian salmon with creamy potato salad, dill mayonnaise, pickled carrot shavings with dill seed and some arugula served with crackers was so incredibly tasty!
That box and these chocolates – probably the best things that I have eaten on a plane in 2024!
FLIGHT EXPERIENCE
The crew was warm and engaging especially considering the short flight time but I really was impressed with the FA in the SAS Plus section. I was seated next to a businesswoman that was worried about the flight delay as she was connecting at CPH. This flight was to China and missing it meant that she would miss an important client meeting – her sole reason for flying out there with her return flight was scheduled for the next day. As we learned that our flight take-off was being delayed further, she was asking the crew if they had an ETA and if she was going to miss that next flight, she would rather not take this flight. There wasn’t a definitive answer but they assured her that they would be in contact with their colleagues at CPH.
She decided to stay on the flight and once we landed, there was a cart waiting to speed her to her next flight – with all staff assuring her that she would be able to board. Whilst I assume that she had really high status with the amount of flying that she does, it was still really nice to see how SAS communicates as a team. And while the FA continued to offer great service to the rest of the SAS Plus section.
OVERALL IMPRESSION
I love my window seats and was afforded such a cool view – we had left ZRH near sunset but with it being the end of June, I was able to experience a midnight sunset from the sky. What a lovely site as we headed into CPH and I would soon be embarking on my Holland America comped cruise. And this is why I love travel hacking so much – it really was being able to travel for cheaper, better and more often!
I love SAS, I was so bummed when they left star alliance