Introduction

The last time I visited Trondheim, I flew KLM via Amsterdam. The leg from Amsterdam to Trondheim was operated by an Embraer E 190 and took two hours, at the end of which I was more than ready to get off the plane. So, this time I’m taking SAS for my trip to Norway. At least like this, the first, longer leg up north to Stockholm will be operated by a spacious Airbus A 320 NEO.

Getting to the Airport

On Sunday evening I open the SAS app to check in for my trip, and that’s when I notice that my departure from Zürich to Stockholm is already at 10h10. I’d been under the impression that the flight wouldn’t leave until after 11h. In any case, that means that I might as well catch my usual train to Zürich, which departs Basel at 06h06 in the morning. Changing at Zürich Main Station, that gets me to the airport at 07h20.

Check-In

During the check-in process, the app informs me that I could purchase lounge access for EUR26. However, it’s not clear whether this refers to the lounge in Zürich, in Stockholm, or both. I don’t make a purchase. At Zürich Airport, SAS checks in on row 2 of Check-In 2.

ZRH Club

According to the SAS website, passengers travelling in Business Class or holders of a Eurobonus Gold card are entitled to continue to use the SWISS Business Class and Senator lounges for the time being. However, if, like me, you’re in Economy and only a Flying Blue Platinum member, you do not have access to any of the lounges in Zürich.

I know you wouldn’t believe it to look at the pictures of the grey sky at Zürich Airport, but it’s actually summer and the height of the school holidays, so the airport is very busy. This means, first of all, that there is literally no place to sit airside. Even the pricey Sprüngli Café is doing a roaring trade. Of course, my initial idea is to head for the outdoor terrace, which is completely deserted. I’m contemplating the likelihood of it raining while I’m outside, when I feel the first big fat drop of the wet stuff, quickly followed by a second, a third… I just manage to get back inside before the beginning of what can only be described as a deluge! Okay, so perhaps not.

Eventually, I give up. I’m not fully awake yet, and I’m hungry. I want coffee! I quickly go online and buy myself an access code for the ZRH Club Lounge facing the apron between the A and B piers, which is noticeably empty.

Since my last visit, they’ve amended the catering concept in the lounge and lowered the price. Where there used to be an à la carte service, they now have a buffet which changes according to the time of day. I have two Gipfeli (croissants), fruit salad, sparkling water, and coffee. Initially, I ask for a cappuccino, but the waitress informs me that she can bring me an espresso or a coffee that I can add milk to myself from the buffet. It sounds a bit brusque, clipped and not overly polite. However, I think that may be largely due to her limited German or English, because she seems friendly as long as she’s not talking.

Boarding

At 09h18 the inbound from Arlanda turns the corner and then immediately makes another sharp left turn to pull onto its stand at gate A 81. I take a few photos of my aircraft before I pack up my things and make my way to the gate, where boarding should start at 09h40.

The whole boarding process is a bit chaotic. Even before boarding starts, several persons walk up to the automatic boarding pass scanner and then contact the gate agent when it doesn’t work. They look kind of baffled when she tells them that’s because boarding hasn’t started yet…

The Cabin & Seat

Currently, there are no cabin dividers on the SAS short-haul fleet. There is just a small sign velcroed to the back of the aisle seats on row 2 indicating where SAS Plus begins, which really only passes for Business Class by a considerable stretch of the imagination – even by European standards. Apparently, SAS will be introducing a new dedicated and proper Business Class product in the fall of 2025. I’m curious to see how that will work out for them.

Other than that, the cabin is untidy. The head rest covers are all wrinkled and have not been replaced from the inbound flight and the seatbelts are in disarray. I’m on 11F, which is the window on the first emergency exit row. This is my favourite seat. Being the emergency row means that the passenger in front of me cannot infringe on my space because they cannot recline their seat. And there is enough leg room for the person behing me to not have to dig their knobby knees into my lower back and coccyx.

Each seat has a USB and USB C socket. In addition, wifi is available throughout the flight. And here, I really think I need to give extra brownie points to SAS, because for people without any relevant status there is a flat fee of EUR4.90 for wifi access. And the speed is very good! It really irritates me with some airlines where you can choose differently priced data packages, some of which are extortionately expensive and then don’t even always work properly.

The Service & Crew

The crew on this flight are all quite senior, but they seem friendly enough, even though they are a bit overly direct for what people are used to in Switzerland. The lady next to me is holding a jumper in her lap. The cabin crew tells her that, being an exit row, “you either put it on or put it away. I don’t care, but those are the only choices. Got it?”. Yes, Ma’am. Loud and clear. Eventually, we take off 25 minutes behind schedule. The flight time is two hours and five minutes, though, which means we should be touching down with a delay of only about five minutes.

Food & Beverages

Food on SAS is buy on board in Economy Class. Only coffee, tea, and water are complimentary. Only credit card payments are permitted for everything else. The prices are very good, though. A can of Coke is roughly CHF2.80.

I’m sitting there minding my own business when the purser arrives. “Are you William”, she asks. I tell her I am and she hands me a boxed meal. Ehm…? The box has my name on it and is marked as a VTML, which is, apparently, some lacto-ovo meal. And that’s fine too. Only, I didn’t order it. The next time the crew pass through the cabin with the drinks trolley, I wave one of them down. “I don’t want to sound ungrateful”, I say, “but why did I get this?”. The lady next to me and her boyfriend start tittering. The crew asks me again if I’m William, and again I confirm that I am. “Well, if you don’t know, I don’t either. Just enjoy it”. She hands me a coffee with milk, smiles, and moves on. And I am completely baffled.

I’m also rather entertained, I must admit, by what must be the most politically correct slice of bread I’ve ever seen. It’s suitable for vegans, celiac disease, and lactose intolerance. The meal isn’t bad. It’s basically a bit of salad, a few slices of what I think is tofu, pickled radish, and a lentil thing with celery and leeks.

Arrival in Stockholm

The flight passes quickly. The view outside is partly restricted by the clouds, and partly by the fact that the outer window pane has turned slightly opaque. We land and make short work of the taxi to our stand on the E pier. My onward connection will be from the F pier.

Conclusion

The transition from Star Alliance to SkyTeam is still a work in progress. The lounge situation in Zürich is a bit awkward right now, but I survived. Over time I’m sure things will fall into place. The mystery of the meal I didn’t order was quite entertaining, really, and I still don’t quite get what happened. I even checked my credit card bills if perhaps I’d accidentally ordered a special meal – but no. The flight attendant did admit in the end that she wasn’t really sure about the meal either. But is definitely had my name on it.