Delta vs SAS
On the best documented aircraft, Delta scores 10/10 for the business seat and SAS 8/10. The aircraft on your booking decides whether those seats apply.
By Jon Miksis · comparison updated
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What matters for your booking
Business fares
Of 21 shared business routes, Delta was cheaper on 1, SAS on 20, and 0 were the same price.
Economy fares
Of 32 shared economy routes, Delta was cheaper on 2, SAS on 30, and 0 were the same price.
Start with your route and cabin. A fare advantage in economy does not establish a business-class bargain, and a better seat does not establish that a connection or a higher fare is worth it for your trip.
The business seats being compared
These are each airline’s best-scoring documented business aircraft. The fare grid does not identify aircraft, so the seat below is not promised with any fare in the table. Service and food require a separate firsthand review.
Delta
A350 / A330-900 (Delta One Suite)
- Seat layout
- 1-2-1
- Fully flat bed
- Yes
- Direct aisle access at every seat
- Yes
- Privacy door
- Yes
- Seat score
- 10/10
- Wi-Fi
- Free in the recorded product
- Lounge access
- Included in the recorded fare
- Checked bags
- 2
Cabin checked .
Recorded source: Delta One product pages, fleet reporting.
SAS
A330-300 / A350-900
- Seat layout
- 1-2-1
- Fully flat bed
- Yes
- Direct aisle access at every seat
- Yes
- Privacy door
- No
- Seat score
- 8/10
- Wi-Fi
- Paid in the recorded product
- Lounge access
- Included in the recorded fare
- Checked bags
- 2
Cabin checked .
Recorded source: SAS long-haul business pages, A330 and A350 seat maps.
Seat scores describe bed, aisle access and privacy door only. Read the scoring method. A tie does not compare comfort, food, service or reliability.
Check the aircraft on Delta
A350 / A330-900 (Delta One Suite): 10/10 for the seat. The 767-300ER runs the same 1-2-1 lie-flat without a privacy door. Every Delta One aircraft keeps direct aisle access, so the variation is the door rather than the seat. Recorded August 30, 2026.
767-300ER: 8/10 for the seat. Same 1-2-1 lie-flat, no privacy door. Recorded August 30, 2026.
Check the aircraft on SAS
A330-300 / A350-900: 8/10 for the seat. This record covers the two named widebodies. SAS also documents an A321LR business cabin; this row does not establish its layout or the seat on a European connection. Check both directions of your booking. Recorded August 30, 2026.
Compare the fares and the routing
Each row compares the same airports, cabin, travel dates and observation date. It can still compare a nonstop against a connection. Journey times, aircraft, baggage allowances and change rules were not recorded with these fares; check those before treating the price difference as a saving.
Showing 12 of 21 matched business routes. Round trip per person in USD, for travel November 8–14, 2026.
| Route and observation date | Delta | SAS | Price difference |
|---|---|---|---|
Miami (MIA) → Dublin (DUB) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $9,425Connects via ATL | $5,125Connects via CPH | SAS was $4,300 less |
New York (JFK) → Athens (ATH) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $10,448Nonstop | $5,175Connects via CPH | SAS was $5,273 less |
Atlanta (ATL) → Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $12,711Nonstop | $5,289Connects via CPH | SAS was $7,422 less |
Atlanta (ATL) → Dublin (DUB) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $12,530Nonstop | $5,386Connects via CPH | SAS was $7,144 less |
Atlanta (ATL) → Athens (ATH) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $11,852Connects via JFK | $5,393Connects via CPH | SAS was $6,459 less |
Atlanta (ATL) → Barcelona (BCN) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $12,657Nonstop | $5,394Connects via CPH | SAS was $7,263 less |
Atlanta (ATL) → Madrid (MAD) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $12,635Nonstop | $5,395Connects via CPH | SAS was $7,240 less |
Atlanta (ATL) → Amsterdam (AMS) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $12,601Nonstop | $5,415Connects via CPH | SAS was $7,186 less |
Atlanta (ATL) → Munich (MUC) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $12,895Nonstop | $5,457Connects via CPH | SAS was $7,438 less |
Miami (MIA) → Edinburgh (EDI) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $7,239Connects via JFK | $5,458Connects via CPH | SAS was $1,781 less |
Atlanta (ATL) → Frankfurt (FRA) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $12,440Nonstop | $5,467Connects via CPH | SAS was $6,973 less |
Los Angeles (LAX) → Rome Fiumicino (FCO) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $7,238Connects via JFK | $5,489Connects via CPH | SAS was $1,749 less |
Your airport missing? Check the full route tool for the airlines we observed there. Confirm current fares, journey time, baggage and ticket rules before booking.
Before paying for the ticket
- Check the exact operating airline and seat map on every long flight, including the return. An airline name or business-class label alone does not guarantee a flat bed or aisle access.
- Compare total journey time and connection length. A lower fare may buy a much longer trip.
- Reprice with your bags, preferred seats and change rules included. These observations do not establish that the tickets have identical restrictions.
- Check other airlines on the route. Being cheaper than the other airline on this page does not establish the cheapest fare in the market.
Common questions
- Is Delta or SAS better in business class to Europe?
- On the best documented aircraft, Delta scores 10/10 for the business seat and SAS 8/10. The aircraft on your booking decides whether those seats apply. Of 21 shared business routes, Delta was cheaper on 1, SAS on 20, and 0 were the same price. Service and food are not scored in this comparison. These are observations for travel November 8–14, 2026, not current quotes.
- Which is cheaper, Delta or SAS?
- Of 21 shared business routes, Delta was cheaper on 1, SAS on 20, and 0 were the same price. Of 32 shared economy routes, Delta was cheaper on 2, SAS on 30, and 0 were the same price. Both counts refer to travel November 8–14, 2026. A cheaper fare may involve a connection; compare the itinerary as well as the price.
- Will I get the business seat shown here?
- These cards describe the named aircraft in our cabin records, not a seat guaranteed on every flight. At least one of these airlines has a recorded aircraft or cabin variation. Check the operating airline, seat map and aircraft for every segment before paying; equipment can change. The fare observations do not record the aircraft.
- Has Jon flown these business cabins?
- Delta business class is on Jon’s confirmed flown roster. SAS business class is not on Jon’s confirmed flown roster. That records the airline and cabin, not every aircraft or itinerary. This page compares documented specifications and dated fares.
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