SAS Launches New Business Class Service from Chicago to Copenhagen with $2,074 Introductory Fares

SAS Launches New Business Class Service from Chicago to Copenhagen with $2,074 Introductory Fares - New Business Class Route Connects Chicago Farmers Market District with Copenhagen Meat Packing District

SAS has unveiled a new business class route linking Chicago and Copenhagen, with a clear marketing push around the food culture connection. The airline is specifically highlighting the route's supposed link between Chicago's Farmers Market District and Copenhagen's Meat Packing District. Whether this focus on specific neighborhoods resonates with business class travelers remains to be seen, but it's certainly a different angle. Introductory fares are advertised from $2,074, which is arguably in line with typical transatlantic business class pricing these days. This new service is part of SAS’s wider effort to bolster its business class offering and, perhaps, brand itself with a distinctly ‘Scandinavian’ travel style.

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1. SAS Launches New Business Class Service from Chicago to Copenhagen with $2,074 Introductory Fares - New Business Class Route Connects Chicago Farmers Market District with Copenhagen Meat Packing District
2. SAS Launches New Business Class Service from Chicago to Copenhagen with $2,074 Introductory Fares - Inside SAS New Business Class Pods with 180 Degree Flat Beds
3. SAS Launches New Business Class Service from Chicago to Copenhagen with $2,074 Introductory Fares - Air France KLM Partnership Adds 25 New European Connection Options from Copenhagen
4. SAS Launches New Business Class Service from Chicago to Copenhagen with $2,074 Introductory Fares - SAS Plans Daily Departures from Chicago O'Hare Terminal 5 Starting June 2025
5. SAS Launches New Business Class Service from Chicago to Copenhagen with $2,074 Introductory Fares - Free Business Class Lounge Access at Both ORD and CPH Airports
6. SAS Launches New Business Class Service from Chicago to Copenhagen with $2,074 Introductory Fares - Using Star Alliance Miles for this Route Starting at 88,000 Miles Round Trip

SAS Launches New Business Class Service from Chicago to Copenhagen with $2,074 Introductory Fares - Inside SAS New Business Class Pods with 180 Degree Flat Beds

SAS's latest business class cabin for the Chicago to Copenhagen route incorporates what they are calling 'pods' with 180-degree flat beds. The fully horizontal sleeping surface is of course a welcome feature, though by now fairly standard for this class of travel on long-haul routes. The seats themselves are from Thompson Aero, the Vantage XL model. Configuration is a 1-2-1 layout on their A330s and A350s which means every passenger gets direct aisle access, a marked improvement over older configurations where you might need to awkwardly step over a neighbor. Each passenger is also granted two checked bags at 50 lbs each, plus carry-on, which is reasonable. They also mention complimentary WiFi for top-tier members and business class, a baseline expectation for many travelers today. Noise-canceling headphones are provided at each seat, coupled with an 18.5-inch HD screen for their in-flight entertainment system. SAS emphasizes a ‘Scandinavian’ approach, mentioning local elements and sustainability in their service, though concrete details on what this means operationally remain somewhat vague. While the introductory fare at $2,074 might seem reasonable in the current market, the true value will depend on the actual on-board experience and how well these pods perform on transatlantic routes.

SAS Launches New Business Class Service from Chicago to Copenhagen with $2,074 Introductory Fares - Air France KLM Partnership Adds 25 New European Connection Options from Copenhagen

Air France and KLM are now offering a considerably expanded range of onward flights from Copenhagen. They are touting 25 new options into Europe, which on paper at least gives travelers a lot more choice. This is being enabled through a deeper link-up with SAS, suggesting a move to grab a bigger slice of the Northern European market. The claim is that passengers will have access to a wider network, specifically 33 destinations across Northern Europe via SAS's hubs. Whether the connections actually work smoothly in practice remains to be seen, as these airline partnerships can sometimes be less seamless than advertised. The usual loyalty program benefits are part of the deal – points earning and burning across the expanded network – but this is pretty standard fare these days rather than a revolutionary development. It does seem this move is very much about reinforcing their reach into Scandinavia and the surrounding regions, so if your travel plans frequently involve that part of the world, it might offer some added convenience. For those flying into Copenhagen on SAS's new Chicago business class service, the enhanced onward connections could be a welcome, if somewhat regionally focused, extension.
Adding to the recent buzz around SAS's new Chicago to Copenhagen business class route, it appears Air France KLM are making moves of their own in Scandinavia. They've reportedly activated 25 additional European connecting routes originating from Copenhagen. This network expansion leverages existing partnerships, seemingly with SAS, to broaden the reach for passengers starting their journey in the Danish capital. While the initial SAS announcement focused on transatlantic premium travel, this Air France KLM development suggests a broader strategy at play, aiming to solidify Copenhagen’s role as a significant European transit point. Whether these new 'connection options' translate into genuinely improved routing and pricing for consumers, or simply represent a shuffling of existing capacity under a different label, remains to be properly evaluated. For frequent flyers in the region, the expanded network at least presents more theoretical possibilities for utilizing points across the partner airlines, though the actual value will always depend on the fine print of redemption availability.

SAS Launches New Business Class Service from Chicago to Copenhagen with $2,074 Introductory Fares - SAS Plans Daily Departures from Chicago O'Hare Terminal 5 Starting June 2025

Expanding on the recent announcement of SAS's business class service to Copenhagen, the airline will centralize its Chicago operations for this route at O'Hare's Terminal 5, starting in June of next year. This move to Terminal 5 will apply to the daily departures now scheduled for Copenhagen. While the initial focus has been on the introductory $2,074 business class fares, the selection of Terminal 5 as the consistent departure point is a practical consideration for passengers. Terminal 5 at O'Hare offers a range of food options for travelers before their transatlantic flight. Whether this terminal choice translates to a smoother overall experience for passengers remains to be observed, but the daily schedule from Terminal 5 clearly indicates SAS's commitment to establishing a regular and reliable Chicago-Copenhagen service. As always with O'Hare, passengers will need to double-check terminal assignments closer to their travel date to avoid any last-minute confusion.
Starting in June 2025, Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) plans to operate daily flights from Chicago O'Hare, specifically Terminal 5. This is a notable shift as SAS currently uses multiple terminals at ORD. Concentrating departures in Terminal 5, known for its airy, glass-dominated architecture which optimises natural light and reduces artificial illumination, could streamline operations and improve passenger flow for this Copenhagen connection. Chicago O'Hare itself remains a strategically important hub, the second busiest in the US, making it a critical location for transatlantic routes.

To mark the launch, SAS is advertising an 'introductory' business class fare of $2,074 for the Chicago-Copenhagen leg. Given the apparent increase in demand for transatlantic travel, with passenger numbers reportedly growing around 5% annually, this pricing may reflect both market conditions and SAS's ambition to capture a segment of travelers interested in Scandinavian destinations. It remains to be seen how 'introductory' this price actually is compared to ongoing fares in this competitive market.

This service expansion is presented as part of SAS's ongoing network development and efforts to facilitate travel between the US and Scandinavia

SAS Launches New Business Class Service from Chicago to Copenhagen with $2,074 Introductory Fares - Free Business Class Lounge Access at Both ORD and CPH Airports

Beyond the headline fares and the touted lie-flat seats, another element being emphasized in SAS’s Chicago-Copenhagen business class service is the inclusion of complimentary lounge access at both ends of the route – O'Hare and Copenhagen airports. This is hardly a novel concept for premium cabin passengers,

SAS Launches New Business Class Service from Chicago to Copenhagen with $2,074 Introductory Fares - Using Star Alliance Miles for this Route Starting at 88,000 Miles Round Trip

Turning to the mileage angle, the pitch of 88,000 Star Alliance miles for a round-trip business class ticket on this new Chicago to Copenhagen service sounds like something worth investigating. It's certainly positioned as a more efficient redemption compared to some programs where transatlantic business class can easily climb to 150,000 miles or more – mentioning no names, but some programs come to mind. Rumors of even better redemption rates through partners like ANA also circulate. However, as seasoned mileage users know, the true game is always finding the actual seats at those advertised rates, as 'award space' in the Star Alliance ecosystem can often be more theoretical than practical.
For those considering using points for this new SAS Chicago-Copenhagen connection, the Star Alliance network offers some interesting options. While the cash fares start at a notable $2,074, the mileage redemption angle is worth a closer look. At first glance, the 88,000-mile round trip in business class appears potentially reasonable – at least when compared to the straight-up cost.

The Star Alliance umbrella encompasses a wide range of airlines, which in theory provides flexibility. You're not limited to just SAS flights, potentially opening up more route combinations if Copenhagen isn't your final destination. This interconnectedness is a key selling point of alliances, though the actual benefit depends heavily on the availability of award seats on partner airlines. The advertised 88,000 miles figure is the entry point, and as anyone who has actually tried to book award travel knows, real-world availability, especially in premium cabins, can be a different story.

Compared to some other programs, like United's MileagePlus, which often demands considerably more miles for similar transatlantic business class awards to Europe, the Star Alliance route via programs such as ANA Mileage Club *can* present a better theoretical value. Delta, for instance, frequently asks for even higher mileage figures – often 160,000 miles or more for a round trip to Europe. Of course, the "value" of a mile is entirely subjective and varies based on how you personally value the convenience and class of travel.

It’s important to acknowledge that securing award seats at these lower mileage levels requires planning, often well in advance. Award space, particularly in business class, is a finite resource and airlines are generally adept at managing its release. Flexibility with travel dates and even destinations can significantly increase your chances of actually finding and booking these sought-after seats.

Furthermore, the idea of earning miles through Star Alliance partners is often touted as a benefit. While you might accrue miles flying on SAS and credit them to, say, a Lufthansa Miles & More account, the practical value of these accumulated miles is again tied to award availability and redemption rates within *that specific* program. The devil is always in the details of each loyalty program's terms and conditions.

The system also suggests potential upgrade possibilities using miles, which is interesting in theory. If a cheaper economy ticket can be upgraded to business class for a relatively small mileage outlay, that might represent an efficient use of points. However, upgrade availability is usually even more restricted than standard award seats.

SAS, in its marketing, mentions a dual currency system, EuroBonus points and Star Alliance miles. This might appear to offer more options but could also simply add complexity to navigating different loyalty currencies and their respective values and redemption rules.

Finally, the idea of stopovers using Star Alliance awards is frequently brought up. Theoretically, you could build in a stopover in another European city en route to or from Copenhagen. This sounds appealing for maximizing travel exploration, but such itineraries can become complex to book, and any perceived “free” stopover is effectively embedded in the overall mileage cost of the ticket. Careful consideration is needed to determine if this genuinely adds value or just increases travel time and potential logistical hurdles.