Lufthansa vs SAS
On the best documented aircraft, Lufthansa 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
This page contains affiliate links. If you sign up or book through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. It never changes what we recommend, or the order we recommend it in. Full disclosure.
What matters for your booking
Business fares
Of 75 shared business routes, Lufthansa was cheaper on 28, SAS on 47, and 0 were the same price.
Economy fares
Of 88 shared economy routes, Lufthansa was cheaper on 21, SAS on 67, 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.
Lufthansa
A350-900 (Allegris Business Class 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
- Paid in the recorded product
- Lounge access
- Included in the recorded fare
- Checked bags
- 2
Cabin checked .
Recorded source: Lufthansa Allegris pages, Lufthansa Group rollout notes.
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 Lufthansa
A350-900 (Allegris Business Class Suite): 10/10 for the seat. This door-equipped record describes the Allegris Business Class Suite, not every Allegris seat. Classic seats have direct aisle access but no suite door; seat-selection charges and available configurations vary. Confirm the named seat and operating flight before paying for it. Recorded August 30, 2026.
747-8 / A330-300 (legacy): 5/10 for the seat. This record describes a legacy paired-seat configuration. The aircraft family alone does not establish the cabin or seat on a particular booking; check the flight-specific seat map. 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 75 matched business routes. Round trip per person in USD, for travel November 8–14, 2026.
| Route and observation date | Lufthansa | SAS | Price difference |
|---|---|---|---|
Atlanta (ATL) → Dublin (DUB) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $4,307Connects via FRA | $5,386Connects via CPH | Lufthansa was $1,079 less |
Atlanta (ATL) → Hamburg (HAM) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $6,100Connects via FRA | $4,332Connects via CPH | SAS was $1,768 less |
Boston (BOS) → Copenhagen (CPH) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $4,372Connects via MUC | $5,402Nonstop | Lufthansa was $1,030 less |
Miami (MIA) → Malta (MLA) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $4,436Connects via FRA | $4,903Connects via CPH | Lufthansa was $467 less |
Atlanta (ATL) → Prague (PRG) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $4,587Connects via FRA | $5,979Connects via CPH | Lufthansa was $1,392 less |
Los Angeles (LAX) → Rome Fiumicino (FCO) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $4,808Connects via MUC | $5,489Connects via CPH | Lufthansa was $681 less |
Atlanta (ATL) → Stockholm Arlanda (ARN) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $5,317Connects via FRA | $4,851Connects via CPH | SAS was $466 less |
Miami (MIA) → Prague (PRG) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $5,447Connects via MUC | $4,982Connects via CPH | SAS was $465 less |
Los Angeles (LAX) → Prague (PRG) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $5,478Connects via MUC | $5,000Connects via CPH | SAS was $478 less |
Chicago (ORD) → Malta (MLA) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $7,308Connects via FRA | $5,030Connects via CPH | SAS was $2,278 less |
San Francisco (SFO) → Lisbon (LIS) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $5,038Connects via MUC | $5,979Connects via CPH | Lufthansa was $941 less |
Miami (MIA) → Nice (NCE) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $7,551Connects via MUC | $5,044Connects via CPH | SAS was $2,507 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 Lufthansa or SAS better in business class to Europe?
- On the best documented aircraft, Lufthansa scores 10/10 for the business seat and SAS 8/10. The aircraft on your booking decides whether those seats apply. Of 75 shared business routes, Lufthansa was cheaper on 28, SAS on 47, 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, Lufthansa or SAS?
- Of 75 shared business routes, Lufthansa was cheaper on 28, SAS on 47, and 0 were the same price. Of 88 shared economy routes, Lufthansa was cheaper on 21, SAS on 67, 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?
- Lufthansa 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.
Join the Club, free
One email a week: the Europe fares worth acting on, the new transatlantic routes, and first look at the tools. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.