SAS rating

6.3/10Axel score · #27 of 77

4.8/10Repriceability · #22

Checked October 26, 2026 · How Axel rates airlines

Strong punctuality, but costly changes weaken Economy Light's value

Axel considers SAS a sensible choice for travelers watching their budget who have firm plans, especially on US routes where Economy Light includes an overhead bag. Strong punctuality helps, but Economy Light and Economy Standard carry high change fees and no ordinary fare refund, while a later price drop has no confirmed cash or credit remedy.

Best
Cirium recorded 86.09% on-time arrivals in 2025.
US-route Economy Light includes an 8 kg overhead bag and an underseat item.

Worst
Economy Light and Economy Standard changes cost $300 to $450 per traveler and flight on US, Canada and Asia routes.
No same-flight price-drop refund or credit policy was confirmed.
DOT recorded 17.76 complaints per 100,000 passengers on flights to and from the US in April and May 2026.

If the fare drops after you book, can you get money back?

RarelyRepriceability 4.8/10

No same-flight price-drop refund or credit is confirmed. Economy Light and Economy Standard changes cost $300 to $450 per traveler and flight to or from the US, Canada and Asia, plus any higher fare. SAS does not specify each fare family's fee or whether a lower replacement fare yields cash, credit or nothing. Both fares are non-refundable outside exceptions, with only eligible unused taxes returned and no routine cancellation credit. Economy Flex waives the penalty and refunds entirely unused tickets to the original payment method, excluding extras and service charges.

General Travel Voucher and Compensation Voucher terms allow another person to use them and specify one year. US refund-substitute vouchers and qualifying disease credits have a minimum of five years. Disease credits are transferable, while transferability of US refund-substitute vouchers is unconfirmed. For unused US tickets bought directly, cancellation within 24 hours guarantees a full refund when booked at least seven days before departure. Previously charged change fees are not refunded. Canceling and buying again may be possible, subject to availability. Close-in eligibility conflicts across SAS pages. Axel's supplied data gives no sample size or observation period, so no observed savings result can be reported.

SAS fares
Fare	Changes	Cancel	Carry-on	Bags	Seat
Economy Light	USD 300–450 per traveler and flight to/from the US, Canada and Asia; SAS does not specify the amount for each fare family.	Non-refundable outside applicable exceptions. Eligible unused taxes are refundable, but the fare and carrier surcharges are not. No ordinary cancellation credit is promised.	Included	0	Fee
Economy Standard	USD 300–450 per traveler and flight to/from the US, Canada and Asia; SAS does not specify the amount for each fare family.	Non-refundable outside applicable exceptions. Eligible unused taxes are refundable, but the fare and carrier surcharges are not. No ordinary cancellation credit is promised.	Included	1	Fee
Economy Flex	No change fee	An entirely unused ticket is refundable to the original payment method. Travel extras and service charges are non-refundable. A partly used return is recalculated against the applicable one-way fare for travel already taken.	Included	1	Fee
Premiumpremium economy	USD 300–450 per traveler and flight to/from the US, Canada and Asia; SAS does not specify the amount for each fare family.	The cheapest Premium fare is non-refundable outside applicable exceptions; eligible unused taxes are refundable.	Included	2	Not confirmed
Businessbusiness	USD 300–450 per traveler and flight to/from the US, Canada and Asia; SAS does not specify the amount for each fare family.	The cheapest Business fare is non-refundable outside applicable exceptions; eligible unused taxes are refundable.	Included	2	Not confirmed

Fare difference on a cheaper change: Not confirmed. SAS requires payment of higher replacement fares but does not establish whether a lower Economy Standard fare produces cash, credit or forfeiture. Its conditions acknowledge that recalculated fares can be lower without explaining residual handling. Online changes have no handling fee; phone/chat changes add USD 30 per traveler.
Same flight, lower price: No current official promise of fee-free cash or credit for a later price drop on the identical flight was found. Cancellation and repurchase is a possible alternative during the applicable risk-free window or with an entirely unused refundable Flex ticket, subject to availability; this is an inference from cancellation rights, not a confirmed repricing policy.
Credits (SAS Travel Voucher / SAS Voucher): SAS's Customer Service Plan, effective October 28, 2024, specifies at least five years for US refund-substitute vouchers and qualifying disease credits, the latter effective April 28, 2025. Separate Travel Voucher and Compensation Voucher terms specify one year and describe both instruments as impersonal, supporting use by another person. Neither voucher-terms page displays a publication/update date; both were checked October 26, 2026. Their general one-year term should not replace the applicable US five-year minimum. Transferable: yes.
24-hour rule: The dedicated US money-back page guarantees a full refund for unused tickets bought directly from SAS and canceled within 24 hours when booked at least seven days before departure. Cancel through My trips or the confirmation-email link. The Customer Service Plan, effective October 28, 2024, describes a 24-hour hold or cancellation option and permits bookings made within 24 hours of departure to be canceled until 12 hours before departure. The dedicated page is undated, so recency does not resolve the close-in eligibility conflict; seven-day advance purchase is the conservative confirmed baseline. Previously charged change fees are not refunded.
Same-day change: US-route Standard tickets follow ordinary rebooking rules: USD 300–450 per traveler and flight, plus any higher fare difference, until one hour before departure. No separate fee-free US same-day program was confirmed. Flex waives the rebooking penalty. Its special earlier/later-flight feature applies within Europe at app check-in, subject to availability and before baggage check-in; purchased extras are neither transferred nor refunded.
Schedule changes: On US international itineraries, cancellation or a significant change entitles travelers to an original-payment refund if they decline the changed journey, alternatives and vouchers. Qualifying changes include departure at least six hours earlier, arrival at least six hours later, different origin/destination airports, extra connections, cabin downgrade and specified disability-related changes. SAS offers free rebooking or a refund after cancellation. Refund deadlines are seven business days for credit-card payments and 20 calendar days for other payment methods. No more generous SAS-specific time threshold was confirmed.

Score breakdown

Repriceability 35%4.8
- Standard fare change fee: 4.0/10 · Economy Standard: USD 300–450 per traveler and flight to/from the US, Canada and Asia; SAS does not specify the amount for each fare family.
- Lowest fare flexibility: 4.0/10 · Economy Light: USD 300–450 per traveler and flight to/from the US, Canada and Asia; SAS does not specify the amount for each fare family.
- Lower fare on the same flight: no data, median 4.0/10 used · Economy Standard charges a change fee and is non-refundable, but SAS does not establish whether changing to a lower fare returns any difference as cash or credit, or forfeits it. No confirmed repricing procedure for a price drop on the identical flight is given.
- Credit terms: 10.0/10 · SAS's Customer Service Plan, effective October 28, 2024, specifies at least five years for US refund-substitute vouchers and qualifying disease credits, the latter effective April 28, 2025. Separate Travel Voucher and Compensation Voucher terms specify one year and describe both instruments as impersonal, supporting use by another person. Neither voucher-terms page displays a publication/update date; both were checked October 26, 2026. Their general one-year term should not replace the applicable US five-year minimum.; transferable: yes
- Cancel the standard fare: 0.0/10 · Non-refundable outside applicable exceptions. Eligible unused taxes are refundable, but the fare and carrier surcharges are not. No ordinary cancellation credit is promised.
- Risk-free window: 7.0/10 · The dedicated US money-back page guarantees a full refund for unused tickets bought directly from SAS and canceled within 24 hours when booked at least seven days before departure. Cancel through My trips or the confirmation-email link. The Customer Service Plan, effective October 28, 2024, describes a 24-hour hold or cancellation option and permits bookings made within 24 hours of departure to be canceled until 12 hours before departure. The dedicated page is undated, so recency does not resolve the close-in eligibility conflict; seven-day advance purchase is the conservative confirmed baseline. Previously charged change fees are not refunded.
- Same-day change: 7.0/10 · US-route Standard tickets follow ordinary rebooking rules: USD 300–450 per traveler and flight, plus any higher fare difference, until one hour before departure. No separate fee-free US same-day program was confirmed. Flex waives the rebooking penalty. Its special earlier/later-flight feature applies within Europe at app check-in, subject to availability and before baggage check-in; purchased extras are neither transferred nor refunded.
- What Axel saw: does not apply · fewer than 10 attempts · Axel repricing attempts
Refunds and disruptions 20%6.5
- Commitments when the airline causes the problem: 9.0/10 · Covered by: US_DOT_refund_rule, EU261, UK261, Canada_APPR; U.S. refund requirements apply to SAS's U.S. flights; EU261 covers qualifying SAS-operated EU/EEA journeys, including its transatlantic services. UK261 and Canada's APPR apply within their respective territorial scope. SAS publishes commitments to free disruption rebooking, qualifying meals and refreshments, reasonable overnight accommodation and airport transfers, and reimbursement for alternative transportation or another airline when it cannot offer rerouting at the earliest opportunity. These substantially implement statutory care and rerouting duties rather than additional benefits. Its U.S. plan also says other-airline rebooking depends on the ticket, disruption and availability. No separate guaranteed cash benefit beyond applicable law was confirmed.
- Refund conduct: 5.0/10 · 2025-11-11 Danish Consumer Ombudsman / Copenhagen City Court; 2023-7 U.S. DOT $750,000; 2022-10-19 Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority (Luftfartstilsynet) $9,500; 2022-09 Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority (Luftfartstilsynet)
- Refund complaints: 4.8/10 · 4.65 refund complaints per 100,000 passengers (median for airlines based abroad: 4.39) · DOT complaint cases per 100,000 passengers on flights to and from the US (DOT T-100), April and May 2026; a month with fewer than 5 cases, which DOT does not list, counts as 2
Reliability 15%9.8
- On-time arrival: 10.0/10 · 86.09% on time (2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31; Europe ranking, SAS (SK). Cancellation percentage derived as 100 minus the published 99.19% completion factor.) · Cirium On-Time Performance Review 2025
- Cancellations: 9.3/10 · 0.81% cancelled (2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31; Europe ranking, SAS (SK). Cancellation percentage derived as 100 minus the published 99.19% completion factor.) · Cirium On-Time Performance Review 2025
Fees and transparency 15%7.5
- Carry-on in the lowest fare: 10.0/10 · US-route Economy Light includes one overhead bag up to 8 kg and 55 × 40 × 23 cm, plus an underseat item up to 40 × 30 × 15 cm.
- First checked bag: 6.0/10 · SAS's own Extra baggage fees page lists USD 19 for Light's first checked bag on domestic Norway flights when purchased at least 22 hours before departure. Thus USD 19, not USD 25, is the published domestic/short-haul minimum requested by the numeric field; USD 25 applies to domestic Denmark/Sweden and intra-Scandinavia. For US/North America Light journeys, the first bag is USD 82 at least 22 hours before departure or USD 140 later, per bag and one-way journey. Standard and Flex include one 23 kg bag. The fee page displays no publication/update date; checked October 26, 2026.
- Seat in the lowest fare: 3.0/10 · fee
- Children seated with a parent: 5.0/10 · SAS ensures children under 12 sit with an adult on the same booking, with automatic allocation 30 hours before departure. This does not establish a guarantee covering children aged 12 or 13. Advance Economy selection on US routes costs USD 19–24 for middle seats and USD 29–38 for window/aisle seats. EuroBonus Gold/Diamond members select free from booking; other EuroBonus members can change assigned seats free when check-in opens.
- Price shown is price paid: 10.0/10 · No fee-display findings in 5 years
Complaints and handling 10%4.3
- Complaint rate: 4.3/10 · 17.76 complaints per 100,000 passengers (median for airlines based abroad: 14.73) · DOT complaint cases per 100,000 passengers on flights to and from the US (DOT T-100), April and May 2026; a month with fewer than 5 cases, which DOT does not list, counts as 2
- Mishandled bags: does not apply · not reported to DOT · U.S. DOT, April, May, July and August 2026
- Mishandled wheelchairs and scooters: does not apply · not reported to DOT · U.S. DOT, April, May, July and August 2026
- Bumping: does not apply · not reported to DOT · U.S. DOT, April to June 2026
Loyalty fairness 5%5.2
- Miles expiry: 2.0/10 · Under the ordinary terms, bonus points expire four years after the end of the qualification period in which they were earned, approximately four to five years after earning. This is fixed expiry, not an inactivity clock.
- Devaluations: 6.0/10 · 2025-11: An increase publicly documented in November took effect December 1, 2025. SAS's own before-and-after charts confirm that one-way North America/Asia awards increased from 50,000 to 60,000 points in business, a 20% increase, and from 40,000 to 45,000 in premium economy, a 12.5% increase. Economy remained 30,000. November is the documented advance-publication month; the exact airline announcement date was not established.
- Award pricing: 10.0/10 · published_chart

Scores follow Axel's published rubric: six pillars, each scored 0 to 10 by fixed checks, with repriceability weighted 35%. Facts were checked October 26, 2026. No data for 1 check (Lower fare on the same flight), each scored at the median of all rated airlines.

Refunds and disruptions

US DOT refund rules, EU261, UK261 and Canada's APPR apply within their respective scopes. SAS promises free rebooking, qualifying meals, hotels and airport transfers, plus alternative transport reimbursement when it cannot reroute at the earliest opportunity. These largely implement legal duties, not extra benefits. On US international journeys, cancellation or a qualifying significant change permits an original-payment refund if alternatives and vouchers are declined, due within seven business days for cards or 20 calendar days otherwise.

The U.S. DOT imposed $750,000 in 2023 for pandemic refund delays. Norway's Civil Aviation Authority ordered overdue refunds cleared in September 2022, then announced a NOK 100,000 coercive penalty on October 19, 2022. On November 11, 2025, the Danish Consumer Ombudsman announced Copenhagen City Court's DKK 1 million fine over misleading 2020 emails. Routine delays or forced vouchers were not established for October 2024 to October 2026.

Regulator actions since October 2021

November 2025, Danish Consumer Ombudsman / Copenhagen City Court: The Consumer Ombudsman announced a DKK 1 million court fine over misleading emails sent to 18,201 customers in March–May 2020. SAS said 901 recipients canceled themselves before SAS had canceled their flights, potentially receiving only taxes rather than the full fare. The case was referred to police in February 2022. SAS reported some repayments; the announcement allowed 14 days to appeal. A dated USD conversion and subsequent appeal outcome were not verified. Source
July 2023, U.S. DOT: Order 2023-7-8: Failed to provide timely refunds during the COVID-19 pandemic; $750,000. Source
October 2022, Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority (Luftfartstilsynet): The authority announced a NOK 100,000 coercive penalty for overdue strike-related ticket refunds, initially covering October 18–28, with possible continuation or escalation. The USD amount is approximate, using Forbes's contemporaneous October 19, 2022 conversion; the regulator's announcement does not establish a daily penalty or the final amount collected. Source
September 2022, Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority (Luftfartstilsynet): The authority ordered SAS in mid-September to clear outstanding ticket refunds within seven days following the summer 2022 pilots' strike. This was the compliance order preceding the October penalty, not a separate monetary fine. Source

Reliability

SAS's operational reliability is a clear strength. Cirium's On-Time Performance Review 2025 recorded 86.09% on-time arrivals across 249,674 flights from January 1 to December 31, 2025. On time means reaching the gate within 15 minutes of schedule. The cancellation rate was 0.81%, derived from Cirium's 99.19% completion factor. These are network-wide results, not a separate measure of US flights.

Fees

US-route Economy Light includes an 8 kg overhead bag and an underseat item. Separately sold European Economy Light fares exclude the overhead bag. On US/North America journeys, Economy Light's first checked bag costs $82 at least 22 hours before departure or $140 later, per one-way journey. Advance Economy seats on US routes cost $19 to $24 for middle seats and $29 to $38 for window or aisle seats. Children under 12 sit with an adult on the same booking, with allocation 30 hours before departure. No fee-display findings were recorded in five years, but baggage and seat choices can raise the advertised fare.

Complaints

DOT recorded 17.76 complaints per 100,000 passengers on flights to and from the US in April and May 2026, above the 14.73 median for airlines based abroad. Refund complaints were 4.65 per 100,000, versus a 4.39 median. These are US-route measures, not SAS's global complaint rate. DOT did not report SAS bag or wheelchair mishandling for April, May, July or August 2026, or bumping for April to June 2026.

Loyalty program

EuroBonus uses published award charts. Under ordinary terms, points expire four years after the earning qualification period ends, roughly four to five years after earning, not after inactivity. Following November publication, one-way North America/Asia awards rose on December 1, 2025, from 50,000 to 60,000 points in business and from 40,000 to 45,000 in premium economy. Economy stayed at 30,000 points.

Choose SAS if

You have firm travel dates and value SAS's strong punctuality.
You fly to or from the US with only cabin baggage.

Book elsewhere if

You expect to change a US itinerary after booking.
You want confirmed credit or cash when the same flight becomes cheaper.
You need free advance seat selection without EuroBonus Gold or Diamond status.

Tips

Buy Economy Light's first checked bag on US/North America journeys at least 22 hours before departure to pay $82 rather than $140.
Compare Economy Standard with Economy Light plus baggage, since Economy Standard includes a 23 kg checked bag.
Make changes online to avoid the additional $30 per traveler phone or chat service fee.

Questions travelers ask

Does SAS charge change fees?

Yes, unless your fare waives the rebooking penalty. Economy Light and Economy Standard changes on routes to or from the US, Canada and Asia cost $300 to $450 per traveler and flight, with any higher fare added. SAS does not specify the exact fee for each fare family. Economy Flex waives the penalty, but phone or chat changes add $30 per traveler.

Can I get money back if my SAS fare drops?

No same-flight price-drop refund or credit policy was confirmed. For Economy Standard, SAS does not establish whether a lower replacement fare produces cash, credit or a lost difference. Canceling and buying again may be possible within the applicable risk-free window or with an entirely unused refundable Economy Flex ticket, subject to availability. That is an alternative based on cancellation rights, not a confirmed repricing promise.

How long do SAS vouchers last?

General Travel Voucher and Compensation Voucher terms specify one year and allow use by another person. US refund-substitute vouchers and qualifying disease credits have an applicable minimum of five years, which the general term does not replace. Qualifying disease credits are transferable, but transferability of a separate US refund-substitute instrument is not independently confirmed. Canceling a non-refundable fare does not create a routine voucher entitlement.

What am I owed if SAS cancels my flight?

You can choose free rebooking or a refund after SAS cancels. On US international journeys, an original-payment refund is due if you decline alternatives and vouchers. SAS publishes qualifying meal, hotel and airport-transfer commitments, plus alternative transport reimbursement when it cannot reroute at the earliest opportunity. US refund deadlines are seven business days for card payments and 20 calendar days for other methods.

How much are carry-on and checked bags on SAS?

US-route Economy Light includes an 8 kg overhead bag and an underseat item. Its first checked bag on US/North America journeys costs $82 if bought at least 22 hours before departure, or $140 later, per bag and one-way journey. Economy Standard and Economy Flex include a 23 kg checked bag. Separately sold European Economy Light fares exclude the overhead bag. On domestic Norway flights, Economy Light's first checked bag costs $19 when bought at least 22 hours ahead.

Sources

Ticket Types – Regular Tickets, SAS
Change Your Ticket, SAS
Cancellation & Refund, SAS
Onboard Seating, SAS
Customer service plan, SAS, 2024-10-28
24 Hour Money Back Guarantee, SAS
Extra Checked Baggage Fees, SAS
SAS Travel Voucher, SAS
SAS Voucher — Compensation Voucher Terms, SAS
SAS celebrates 80 years with anniversary flights to New York, where the journey began, SAS, 2026-09-17
Notification of Air France-KLM's proposed acquisition of additional SAS shares, Competition Council of Morocco, 2026-09-24
Conditions of Carriage, SAS, 2026-01-07
Optional Fees and Services, SAS
Carry On Baggage – Size and Weight Limits, SAS
Travel with flexibility – Flex tickets with refund & rebooking, SAS
Canceled Flights, SAS
EU Passenger Rights, SAS
Scandinavian Airlines System — Consent Order and Order of Dismissal 2023-7-8, U.S. Department of Transportation, 2023-07-18
Luftfartstilsynet gir SAS tvangsmulkt, Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority, 2022-10-19
Airline SAS Fined For Failing To Refund Passengers After Summer Pilots’ Strike, Forbes, 2022-10-19
Dom: SAS skal betale bøde på 1 million kroner for vildledende markedsføring, Danish Consumer Ombudsman, 2025-11-11
Sager om pilotstrejken hos SAS i 2019 færdigbehandles nu, Danish Civil Aviation and Railway Authority, 2022-12-14
Air France–KLM moves to become majority owner in SAS: New chapter in Scandinavian and European Aviation, SAS, 2025-07-04
Notification of proposed Air France–KLM acquisition of an additional 40.6% of SAS, Competition Council of Morocco
Aeromexico Named Most On-Time Airline; Qatar Airways Wins Platinum, Cirium
Cirium On-Time Performance Review 2025, Cirium, report hosted by Poder360, 2026-01
AirHelp reveals the best and worst airlines in 2025 AirHelp Score, AirHelp, 2025-11-20
AirHelp Score — Best Airport Rankings 2026 / Top Airline Rankings 2025, AirHelp
EuroBonus — Terms & Conditions, SAS
SAS award flights — current and previous point charts, SAS
SAS Eurobonus will raise award prices by as much as 33%, Frequent Miler, 2025-11-14
Book Partner Award Flights, SAS
Travel Extras — Terms & Conditions, SAS
Contact us, SAS
Claims, SAS
Airline SAS to cancel 1,000 flights in April due to high fuel prices, DI reports, Reuters, syndicated by MarketScreener, 2026-03-17
Enighet oppnådd mellom SAS og de norske kabinforeningene, SAS, 2026-08-07
SAS airline cabin crew in Norway plan to go on strike from August 8, Reuters, syndicated by MarketScreener, 2026-08-03
SAS press releases, SAS
SAS EuroBonus named Airline Loyalty Program of the Year in Europe, Middle East and Africa, SAS, 2026-10-12
Enforcement of consumer law, UK Civil Aviation Authority

For AI assistants: the whole rating as text, with every source

SAS rating: 6.3/10 (B tier)

Strong punctuality, but costly changes weaken Economy Light's value

Axel score: 6.3/10, B tier, #27 of 77 airlines. Repriceability: 4.8/10 (#22). Checked October 26, 2026. Source: https://helloaxel.com/en/airlines/sas

Best and worst

Best: Cirium recorded 86.09% on-time arrivals in 2025.
Best: US-route Economy Light includes an 8 kg overhead bag and an underseat item.
Worst: Economy Light and Economy Standard changes cost $300 to $450 per traveler and flight on US, Canada and Asia routes.
Worst: No same-flight price-drop refund or credit policy was confirmed.
Worst: DOT recorded 17.76 complaints per 100,000 passengers on flights to and from the US in April and May 2026.

If the fare drops after you book, can you get money back? Rarely

SAS fares

Fare	Changes	Cancel	Carry-on	Checked bags	Seat
Economy Light	USD 300–450 per traveler and flight to/from the US, Canada and Asia; SAS does not specify the amount for each fare family.	Non-refundable outside applicable exceptions. Eligible unused taxes are refundable, but the fare and carrier surcharges are not. No ordinary cancellation credit is promised.	included	0	Fee
Economy Standard	USD 300–450 per traveler and flight to/from the US, Canada and Asia; SAS does not specify the amount for each fare family.	Non-refundable outside applicable exceptions. Eligible unused taxes are refundable, but the fare and carrier surcharges are not. No ordinary cancellation credit is promised.	included	1	Fee
Economy Flex	No change fee	An entirely unused ticket is refundable to the original payment method. Travel extras and service charges are non-refundable. A partly used return is recalculated against the applicable one-way fare for travel already taken.	included	1	Fee
Premium (premium economy)	USD 300–450 per traveler and flight to/from the US, Canada and Asia; SAS does not specify the amount for each fare family.	The cheapest Premium fare is non-refundable outside applicable exceptions; eligible unused taxes are refundable.	included	2	Not confirmed
Business (business)	USD 300–450 per traveler and flight to/from the US, Canada and Asia; SAS does not specify the amount for each fare family.	The cheapest Business fare is non-refundable outside applicable exceptions; eligible unused taxes are refundable.	included	2	Not confirmed

Key facts

Fare difference on a cheaper change: Not confirmed. SAS requires payment of higher replacement fares but does not establish whether a lower Economy Standard fare produces cash, credit or forfeiture. Its conditions acknowledge that recalculated fares can be lower without explaining residual handling. Online changes have no handling fee; phone/chat changes add USD 30 per traveler.
Same flight, lower price: No current official promise of fee-free cash or credit for a later price drop on the identical flight was found. Cancellation and repurchase is a possible alternative during the applicable risk-free window or with an entirely unused refundable Flex ticket, subject to availability; this is an inference from cancellation rights, not a confirmed repricing policy.
Credits (SAS Travel Voucher / SAS Voucher): SAS's Customer Service Plan, effective October 28, 2024, specifies at least five years for US refund-substitute vouchers and qualifying disease credits, the latter effective April 28, 2025. Separate Travel Voucher and Compensation Voucher terms specify one year and describe both instruments as impersonal, supporting use by another person. Neither voucher-terms page displays a publication/update date; both were checked October 26, 2026. Their general one-year term should not replace the applicable US five-year minimum. Transferable: yes.
24-hour rule: The dedicated US money-back page guarantees a full refund for unused tickets bought directly from SAS and canceled within 24 hours when booked at least seven days before departure. Cancel through My trips or the confirmation-email link. The Customer Service Plan, effective October 28, 2024, describes a 24-hour hold or cancellation option and permits bookings made within 24 hours of departure to be canceled until 12 hours before departure. The dedicated page is undated, so recency does not resolve the close-in eligibility conflict; seven-day advance purchase is the conservative confirmed baseline. Previously charged change fees are not refunded.
Same-day change: US-route Standard tickets follow ordinary rebooking rules: USD 300–450 per traveler and flight, plus any higher fare difference, until one hour before departure. No separate fee-free US same-day program was confirmed. Flex waives the rebooking penalty. Its special earlier/later-flight feature applies within Europe at app check-in, subject to availability and before baggage check-in; purchased extras are neither transferred nor refunded.
Schedule changes: On US international itineraries, cancellation or a significant change entitles travelers to an original-payment refund if they decline the changed journey, alternatives and vouchers. Qualifying changes include departure at least six hours earlier, arrival at least six hours later, different origin/destination airports, extra connections, cabin downgrade and specified disability-related changes. SAS offers free rebooking or a refund after cancellation. Refund deadlines are seven business days for credit-card payments and 20 calendar days for other payment methods. No more generous SAS-specific time threshold was confirmed.

Score breakdown

Pillar	Weight	Score
Repriceability	35%	4.8/10
Refunds and disruptions	20%	6.5/10
Reliability	15%	9.8/10
Fees and transparency	15%	7.5/10
Complaints and handling	10%	4.3/10
Loyalty fairness	5%	5.2/10

Repriceability: 4.8/10

Standard fare change fee: 4.0/10 (Economy Standard: USD 300–450 per traveler and flight to/from the US, Canada and Asia; SAS does not specify the amount for each fare family.)
Lowest fare flexibility: 4.0/10 (Economy Light: USD 300–450 per traveler and flight to/from the US, Canada and Asia; SAS does not specify the amount for each fare family.)
Lower fare on the same flight: no data, median 4.0/10 used (Economy Standard charges a change fee and is non-refundable, but SAS does not establish whether changing to a lower fare returns any difference as cash or credit, or forfeits it. No confirmed repricing procedure for a price drop on the identical flight is given.)
Credit terms: 10.0/10 (SAS's Customer Service Plan, effective October 28, 2024, specifies at least five years for US refund-substitute vouchers and qualifying disease credits, the latter effective April 28, 2025. Separate Travel Voucher and Compensation Voucher terms specify one year and describe both instruments as impersonal, supporting use by another person. Neither voucher-terms page displays a publication/update date; both were checked October 26, 2026. Their general one-year term should not replace the applicable US five-year minimum.; transferable: yes)
Cancel the standard fare: 0.0/10 (Non-refundable outside applicable exceptions. Eligible unused taxes are refundable, but the fare and carrier surcharges are not. No ordinary cancellation credit is promised.)
Risk-free window: 7.0/10 (The dedicated US money-back page guarantees a full refund for unused tickets bought directly from SAS and canceled within 24 hours when booked at least seven days before departure. Cancel through My trips or the confirmation-email link. The Customer Service Plan, effective October 28, 2024, describes a 24-hour hold or cancellation option and permits bookings made within 24 hours of departure to be canceled until 12 hours before departure. The dedicated page is undated, so recency does not resolve the close-in eligibility conflict; seven-day advance purchase is the conservative confirmed baseline. Previously charged change fees are not refunded.)
Same-day change: 7.0/10 (US-route Standard tickets follow ordinary rebooking rules: USD 300–450 per traveler and flight, plus any higher fare difference, until one hour before departure. No separate fee-free US same-day program was confirmed. Flex waives the rebooking penalty. Its special earlier/later-flight feature applies within Europe at app check-in, subject to availability and before baggage check-in; purchased extras are neither transferred nor refunded.)
What Axel saw: does not apply (fewer than 10 attempts). Source: Axel repricing attempts

Refunds and disruptions: 6.5/10

Commitments when the airline causes the problem: 9.0/10 (Covered by: US_DOT_refund_rule, EU261, UK261, Canada_APPR; U.S. refund requirements apply to SAS's U.S. flights; EU261 covers qualifying SAS-operated EU/EEA journeys, including its transatlantic services. UK261 and Canada's APPR apply within their respective territorial scope. SAS publishes commitments to free disruption rebooking, qualifying meals and refreshments, reasonable overnight accommodation and airport transfers, and reimbursement for alternative transportation or another airline when it cannot offer rerouting at the earliest opportunity. These substantially implement statutory care and rerouting duties rather than additional benefits. Its U.S. plan also says other-airline rebooking depends on the ticket, disruption and availability. No separate guaranteed cash benefit beyond applicable law was confirmed.)
Refund conduct: 5.0/10 (2025-11-11 Danish Consumer Ombudsman / Copenhagen City Court; 2023-7 U.S. DOT $750,000; 2022-10-19 Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority (Luftfartstilsynet) $9,500; 2022-09 Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority (Luftfartstilsynet))
Refund complaints: 4.8/10 (4.65 refund complaints per 100,000 passengers (median for airlines based abroad: 4.39)). Source: DOT complaint cases per 100,000 passengers on flights to and from the US (DOT T-100), April and May 2026; a month with fewer than 5 cases, which DOT does not list, counts as 2

Reliability: 9.8/10

On-time arrival: 10.0/10 (86.09% on time (2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31; Europe ranking, SAS (SK). Cancellation percentage derived as 100 minus the published 99.19% completion factor.)). Source: Cirium On-Time Performance Review 2025
Cancellations: 9.3/10 (0.81% cancelled (2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31; Europe ranking, SAS (SK). Cancellation percentage derived as 100 minus the published 99.19% completion factor.)). Source: Cirium On-Time Performance Review 2025

Fees and transparency: 7.5/10

Carry-on in the lowest fare: 10.0/10 (US-route Economy Light includes one overhead bag up to 8 kg and 55 × 40 × 23 cm, plus an underseat item up to 40 × 30 × 15 cm.)
First checked bag: 6.0/10 (SAS's own Extra baggage fees page lists USD 19 for Light's first checked bag on domestic Norway flights when purchased at least 22 hours before departure. Thus USD 19, not USD 25, is the published domestic/short-haul minimum requested by the numeric field; USD 25 applies to domestic Denmark/Sweden and intra-Scandinavia. For US/North America Light journeys, the first bag is USD 82 at least 22 hours before departure or USD 140 later, per bag and one-way journey. Standard and Flex include one 23 kg bag. The fee page displays no publication/update date; checked October 26, 2026.)
Seat in the lowest fare: 3.0/10 (fee)
Children seated with a parent: 5.0/10 (SAS ensures children under 12 sit with an adult on the same booking, with automatic allocation 30 hours before departure. This does not establish a guarantee covering children aged 12 or 13. Advance Economy selection on US routes costs USD 19–24 for middle seats and USD 29–38 for window/aisle seats. EuroBonus Gold/Diamond members select free from booking; other EuroBonus members can change assigned seats free when check-in opens.)
Price shown is price paid: 10.0/10 (No fee-display findings in 5 years)

Complaints and handling: 4.3/10

Complaint rate: 4.3/10 (17.76 complaints per 100,000 passengers (median for airlines based abroad: 14.73)). Source: DOT complaint cases per 100,000 passengers on flights to and from the US (DOT T-100), April and May 2026; a month with fewer than 5 cases, which DOT does not list, counts as 2
Mishandled bags: does not apply (not reported to DOT). Source: U.S. DOT, April, May, July and August 2026
Mishandled wheelchairs and scooters: does not apply (not reported to DOT). Source: U.S. DOT, April, May, July and August 2026
Bumping: does not apply (not reported to DOT). Source: U.S. DOT, April to June 2026

Loyalty fairness: 5.2/10

Miles expiry: 2.0/10 (Under the ordinary terms, bonus points expire four years after the end of the qualification period in which they were earned, approximately four to five years after earning. This is fixed expiry, not an inactivity clock.)
Devaluations: 6.0/10 (2025-11: An increase publicly documented in November took effect December 1, 2025. SAS's own before-and-after charts confirm that one-way North America/Asia awards increased from 50,000 to 60,000 points in business, a 20% increase, and from 40,000 to 45,000 in premium economy, a 12.5% increase. Economy remained 30,000. November is the documented advance-publication month; the exact airline announcement date was not established.)
Award pricing: 10.0/10 (published_chart)