SAS vs United
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 33 shared business routes, SAS was cheaper on 27, United on 6, and 0 were the same price.
Economy fares
Of 43 shared economy routes, SAS was cheaper on 35, United on 8, 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.
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.
United
777 / 787 (Polaris)
- 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: United Polaris pages, fleet 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.
Check the aircraft on United
777 / 787 (Polaris): 8/10 for the seat. The 767-300ER and 767-400ER run an unusual 1-1-1 layout with no paired seats at all, which is more private again. Select 787-9s add Polaris Studio suites with doors in the front rows. Recorded August 30, 2026.
767-300ER / 767-400ER: 8/10 for the seat. 1-1-1: no adjacent pairs anywhere in the cabin, the most private Polaris layout. 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 33 matched business routes. Round trip per person in USD, for travel November 8–14, 2026.
| Route and observation date | SAS | United | Price difference |
|---|---|---|---|
Atlanta (ATL) → Dublin (DUB) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $5,386Connects via CPH | $4,271Connects via ORD | United was $1,115 less |
Miami (MIA) → Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $5,006Connects via CPH | $6,111Connects via IAD | SAS was $1,105 less |
San Francisco (SFO) → Lisbon (LIS) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $5,979Connects via CPH | $5,019Connects via IAD | United was $960 less |
Chicago (ORD) → Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $5,181Connects via CPH | $5,416Nonstop | SAS was $235 less |
Atlanta (ATL) → Barcelona (BCN) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $5,394Connects via CPH | $5,290Connects via ORD | United was $104 less |
Atlanta (ATL) → Madrid (MAD) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $5,395Connects via CPH | $5,291Connects via IAD | United was $104 less |
Atlanta (ATL) → Athens (ATH) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $5,393Connects via CPH | $5,995Connects via EWR | SAS was $602 less |
Atlanta (ATL) → Milan Malpensa (MXP) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $5,393Connects via CPH | $7,559Connects via EWR | SAS was $2,166 less |
Chicago (ORD) → Barcelona (BCN) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $5,394Connects via CPH | $6,692Nonstop | SAS was $1,298 less |
Los Angeles (LAX) → Rome Fiumicino (FCO) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $5,489Connects via CPH | $5,417Connects via DEN | United was $72 less |
Miami (MIA) → Edinburgh (EDI) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $5,458Connects via CPH | $12,090Connects via EWR | SAS was $6,632 less |
Chicago (ORD) → Frankfurt (FRA) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $5,467Connects via CPH | $6,832Nonstop | SAS was $1,365 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 SAS or United 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 33 shared business routes, SAS was cheaper on 27, United on 6, 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, SAS or United?
- Of 33 shared business routes, SAS was cheaper on 27, United on 6, and 0 were the same price. Of 43 shared economy routes, SAS was cheaper on 35, United on 8, 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?
- SAS business class is not on Jon’s confirmed flown roster. United business class is 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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