On our recent trip to Scandinavia we got a chance to try out both SAS and Norwegian on their short haul service within the region. SAS and Norwegian are the dominant players in the short haul market in this part of Europe. SAS and Norwegian have hubs in CPH, ARN, and OSL and that makes them both a good choice for flying around Scandinavia.
SAS does lots of long haul flying along side their short haul operation. Today I’ll be focusing on SAS’s short haul product. Norwegian previously had a decent size long haul operation, however that was ended before Covid due to financial problems. Norwegian has kept their short haul system running well and that’s what I’ll be comparing to SAS.
Bottom Line: I wouldn’t avoid either SAS or Norwegian for a short haul flight, they are both perfectly acceptable options. Pick the one with a better schedule or price.
I have a full review of a Norwegian 737-800 flight from OSL-ARN here.
I have a full review of an SAS A320neo flight from CPH-ARN here.
SAS vs Norwegian Short Haul Fleets
SAS primarily uses Airbus A320 series aircraft for their short haul routes. This is primarily the A320Neo but also includes the A320ceo, A321, and A319. SAS does have some other larger planes in their fleet, but those aren’t used on their short haul routes.
Norwegian exclusively uses Boeing 737 aircraft. This is mostly the 737-800 but they also have a few 737max8 aircraft in rotation with many more on order.
When it comes to the aircraft, I prefer riding on the Airbus, but they are not very different from each other.
SAS vs Norwegian Plane Comfort
SAS and Norwegian both just use narrow body planes in an all economy configuration. I wouldn’t say either of these are uncomfortable, but I do prefer to ride on the SAS A320.
It’s just a little bid wider than the Norwegian 737s and it means just a little more shoulder width. The SAS planes also have just a touch more leg room and pitch than Norwegian. Both are on the tight side, but the SAS Airbus has more space.
The SAS Airbus overhead vents are also much better than what you’d find on the Norwegian Boeing. This is very pedantic, but if we’re going to compare SAS vs Norwegian, I figured we’ll go all the way.
So overall, I would say that SAS is a little more comfortable than Norwegian on their short haul product.
SAS vs Norwegian In Flight Entertainment
Both Norwegian and SAS offer paid Wifi, though on my recent Norwegian flight, the Wifi didn’t work. The two airlines also offer a stream to your device entertainment option.
The one area where SAS has an edge on Norwegian is power in each seat. The SAS A320neo(most common plane) has USB power in every seat where the Norwegian 737-800(most common plane) doesn’t offer power.
SAS vs Norwegian In Flight Service
Norwegian has a buy on board program for it’s in-flight snack and drink service. SAS offers free water, coffee, or tea. SAS also offers other drinks and snacks for purchase.
SAS vs Norwegian Route Network
Within Scandinavia, SAS and Norwegian both have very good route networks serving the region. Both airlines have major hubs at CPH, OSL, and ARN. Beyond regional European flights, SAS certainly has the upper hand as they have long haul operations to North America and Asia. Norwegian ended it’s long haul services in 2019.
SAS vs Norwegian Ticket Costs
SAS and Norwegian have both adopted a low cost carrier model for intra-European flights. This means that the tickets are very cheap, but you’ll pay for pretty much everything else. In comparison, there’s very little cost difference between the two airlines.
SAS vs Norwegian Baggage Policy
Being low cost carriers, both SAS and Norwegian have relatively restrictive baggage policies. With the most basic fares, no baggage, apart from a small personal item, is included.
Norwegian allows you to add an over head bin carry on bag. This is included with their Lowfare+ and Flex ticket options. The total weight of your over head bag and personal under seat bag must be less than 10kg. Though when we traveled with Norwegian, no one checked bags for weight. The Lowfare+ also includes a 23kg checked bag. The Flex ticket adds a second bag, so a total of 2 23kg bags can be checked for free.
SAS has very similar baggage rules. No overhead carry on bag is included on their cheapest SAS Go Light fare. Only a small under seat personal bag is allowed. The other fares on SAS include a overhead bag. The total weight of the two bags is limited to 8kg. For checked luggage, SAS includes a 23kg checked bag on all fares except for the Go Light. The SAS Plus Pro and SAS Plus Bonus fares get a second 23kg bag.
So on the whole the baggage polices for both SAS and Norwegian are broadly equivalent. Norwegian might have the slight edge as they allow 10kg vs 8kg for carry on weight. Though neither airline checked our bags.
SAS vs Norwegian Final Thoughts
Both SAS and Norwegian are good airlines that serve their local market well. Both provide good service on the relatively short routes for a reasonable price.
I think I like the SAS A320neo more than the Norwegian 737s. They are just a little bit more comfortable and they have better overhead vents along with USB power in each seat. SAS also provides a free coffee, tea, and water service on their short haul flights, Norwegian does not.
The Norwegian luggage policies are slightly more lenient than SAS. It’s only a very small amount, but a 10kg carry on is better than an 8kg carry on so Norwegian would win there. Then again neither airline checked so it really wouldn’t make much of a practical difference.
I think I liked SAS a little more, but would gladly fly with Norwegian again. It all comes down to price and schedule. Pick the cheapest flight that fits your schedule well. We’re talking about flights that are less than 2 hours, either airline will be just fine.