Finnair vs SAS
The best documented business seats both score 8/10. That measures bed, aisle access and privacy door; it does not make the entire cabins identical.
By Jon Miksis · comparison updated
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What matters for your booking
Business fares
Of 12 shared business routes, Finnair was cheaper on 3, SAS on 9, and 0 were the same price.
Economy fares
Of 21 shared economy routes, Finnair was cheaper on 5, SAS on 16, 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.
Finnair
A350-900 (AirLounge)
- 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: Finnair Business Class pages, A350 seat maps.
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 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 12 matched business routes. Round trip per person in USD, for travel November 8–14, 2026.
| Route and observation date | Finnair | SAS | Price difference |
|---|---|---|---|
New York (JFK) → Helsinki (HEL) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $9,009Nonstop | $4,719Connects via CPH | SAS was $4,290 less |
New York (JFK) → Stockholm Arlanda (ARN) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $7,052Connects via HEL | $4,793Connects via CPH | SAS was $2,259 less |
New York (JFK) → Oslo (OSL) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $6,531Connects via HEL | $4,865Connects via CPH | SAS was $1,666 less |
Los Angeles (LAX) → Prague (PRG) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $6,003Connects via HEL | $5,000Connects via CPH | SAS was $1,003 less |
Los Angeles (LAX) → Vienna (VIE) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $6,056Connects via HEL | $5,018Connects via CPH | SAS was $1,038 less |
Los Angeles (LAX) → Stockholm Arlanda (ARN) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $5,307Connects via HEL | $5,389Connects via CPH | Finnair was $82 less |
Los Angeles (LAX) → Oslo (OSL) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $5,347Connects via HEL | $5,400Connects via CPH | Finnair was $53 less |
Los Angeles (LAX) → Berlin (BER) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $6,392Connects via HEL | $5,436Connects via CPH | SAS was $956 less |
Los Angeles (LAX) → Milan Malpensa (MXP) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $8,114Connects via HEL | $5,479Connects via CPH | SAS was $2,635 less |
Los Angeles (LAX) → Manchester (MAN) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $5,802Connects via HEL | $5,721Connects via CPH | SAS was $81 less |
Los Angeles (LAX) → Helsinki (HEL) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $10,368Nonstop | $5,809Connects via CPH | SAS was $4,559 less |
Los Angeles (LAX) → Budapest (BUD) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $6,012Connects via HEL | $8,854Connects via CPH | Finnair was $2,842 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 Finnair or SAS better in business class to Europe?
- The best documented business seats both score 8/10. That measures bed, aisle access and privacy door; it does not make the entire cabins identical. Of 12 shared business routes, Finnair was cheaper on 3, SAS on 9, 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, Finnair or SAS?
- Of 12 shared business routes, Finnair was cheaper on 3, SAS on 9, and 0 were the same price. Of 21 shared economy routes, Finnair was cheaper on 5, SAS on 16, 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?
- Finnair business class is not 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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