Review: SAS Lounge, Copenhagen Airport (including the SAS Gold Lounge)

This is our review of the Scandinavian Airlines lounge in Copenhagen.

The visit was part of a trip to review the SAS long-haul business class service which was organised by the airline.

Whilst most of SAS’ connecting itineraries feature short connections that make the most of Copenhagen’s efficient airport, I had booked myself on a longer four hour layover so that I could take a look at the SAS Lounge.

Unlike other airlines, SAS has just one lounge which is located on the Schengen side of the airport, before passport control. There are no other SAS lounges in the airport.

That’s great for European-to-European flights, but less convenient if you are arriving from a non-Schengen destination such as London or the US. Fortunately, Copenhagen’s passport control is super quick and I breezed through within five minutes. Admittedly I was using an EU passport but the queue for all lanes was short.

The lounge knew I was coming, because they had photoshopped my face onto their gigantic screens ….!

Access requirements for the SAS Lounge

Although it’s technically one lounge, it is split over two floors depending on what status you have.

The lower floor is accessible to anyone flying in SAS Plus or SAS Business, as well as any SkyTeam business class passengers.

The SAS Gold Lounge is on the upper floor. It is accessible to EuroBonus Diamond and Gold members, as well as SkyTeam Elite Plus passengers flying on SAS or another SkyTeam airline.

It’s impressive that SAS allows its premium economy (SAS Plus) passengers to use the lounge, as most airlines do not include this.

The lounge is open from one hour prior to the first SAS departure of the day to 30 minutes after the last departure.

Inside the SAS Lounge

Arriving at the SAS Lounge, you’ll encounter a lounge attendant who will usher you downstairs or upstairs, depending on your status.

Let’s start with the SAS Lounge on the ground floor. It is quite a low space, in part due to the SAS Gold Lounge above:

The lounge is split into broadly two sides. The main side, which includes a range of seating and a small buffet:

The other side, which flanks the windows, is a quieter lounge area with floor to ceiling windows, albeit with a view of the pick-up and drop-off part of the terminal and not the runway.

There are some board rooms here which you can use or reserve:

Back towards the entrance, and far away from most of the seating, you also have a kids’ room with door:

That’s the standard lounge. If you instead turn right at the entrance, you enter the ….

SAS Gold Lounge

Although it’s technically a more exclusive space, and requires a higher level of status, the SAS Gold Lounge is actually the larger of the two. There’s a very hygge, cosy space on the ground floor with windows to the main terminal:

The rest of the lounge is up the stairs:

This is a much airier space than downstairs, thanks to the high ceilings and skylights. You are immediately greeted by a staffed coffee bar where you can have an SAS coffee:

and

There are a range of spaces, from a dining area to a lounging area:

and

Like the lounge downstairs, there is a quieter space overlooking the airport car park which also features some semi-private loungers.

Want to freshen up? Showers are available, although the lounge also features two private cabanas with beds! These are not advertised and available on a first-come-first-served basis. Each comes with a bed, toilet and shower but no proper workspace.

Skandinavisk toiletries are provided.

If you’re looking to work, there’s a large room with plenty of sharing desks perfect for doing so:

Also inside here you’ll find some private phone booths and a ‘Daylight Booster’ room that blasts you with 4000lux – 10x what you’d get in a normal office environment. Bring your sunnies – it’s bright!

Food in the SAS Lounges

Although there are two lounges, the food offering was broadly similar when I went. It’s not going to blow you away – no Schengen lounge will, given the volume of short haul passengers with access.

The offering consisted of meatballs in a curry sauce, rice, mashed potatoes and plain meatballs:

A selection of salads and greens:

Some cheese, ham, soup, that sort of thing, as well as some sweet treats including pasties at the coffee bar:

In terms of drinks, you have a selection of wines and beers. In the Gold Lounge, you also have a handful of spirits:

Champagne is not served but a Spanish cava is – Heretat El Padruell.

Conclusion

Your impression of the SAS Lounge(s) will rest largely on your expectations. This is a Schengen Lounge, accessible by all short haul customers, but there are also long haul passengers who typically expect something better. Yet somehow, it is greater than the sum of its parts.

The food and drink offering is, admittedly, not huge. But I was impressed by the space, particularly the SAS Gold Lounge which feels light and airy, with different zones depending on what you want (A desk to work at? Somewhere close to the buffet? An armchair to relax?)

I’m told SAS will open a much larger lounge when the extension to Terminal 3 opens. Perhaps that lounge will include a differentiated non-Schengen area for long haul customers. For now, however, the SAS Lounge is a cosy place to wait for your flight, as I did.

Coming up will be a detailed look at the SAS business class (review here) and SAS Plus premium economy products (review here).

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How to get FREE airport lounge access via UK credit cards (April 2025)

Here are the five options to get FREE airport lounge access via a UK credit card.

The Platinum Card from American Express comes with two free Priority Pass cards, one for you and one for a supplementary cardholder. Each card admits two so a family of four gets in free. You get access to all 1,500 lounges in the Priority Pass network – search it here.

You also get access to Eurostar, Lufthansa and Delta Air Lines lounges.  Our American Express Platinum review is here.

You can apply here.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to a huge 80,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (80,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold is FREE for the first year. It comes with a Priority Pass card loaded with four free visits to any Priority Pass lounge – see the list here.

Additional lounge visits are charged at £24.  You get four more free visits for every year you keep the card.  

There is no annual fee for Amex Gold in Year 1 and you get a 20,000 points sign-up bonus.  Full details are in our American Express Preferred Rewards Gold review here.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on the ‘free for a year’ American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 30,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (30,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard gets you get a free Priority Pass card, allowing you access to the Priority Pass network.  Guests are charged at £24 although it may be cheaper to pay £60 for a supplementary credit card for your partner.

The card has a fee of £290 and there are strict financial requirements to become a HSBC Premier customer.  Full details are in my HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard review.

Got a small business?

If you have a small business, consider American Express Business Platinum which has the same lounge benefits as the personal Platinum card:

You should also consider the Capital on Tap Pro Visa credit card which has a lower fee and, as well as a Priority Pass for airport lounge access, also comes with Radison Rewards VIP hotel status:

PS. You can find all of HfP’s UK airport lounge reviews – and we’ve been to most of them – indexed here.