Premium flights, passenger rights: Your SAS experience
Even established, full-service airlines like SAS (founded in 1946, headquartered in Estocolmo, Suecia) experience operational issues. When you book a flight with a premium carrier, you expect reliability.
If your SAS flight has been disrupted, you are covered by the European EC 261 Regulation. You could be owed up to €600 per passenger. We help you enforce your rights against major airlines without the stress of dealing with their complex legal departments.
If your SAS flight has been disrupted, you are covered by the European EC 261 Regulation. You could be owed up to €600 per passenger. We help you enforce your rights against major airlines without the stress of dealing with their complex legal departments.
SAS Operational Performance
Based on our latest data, out of 3500 recent departures:
- 81% of SAS flights departed on time.
- 4.2% were cancelled.
- 14.8% suffered significant delays.
Your passenger rights with SAS
Under EU and UK law (EC 261), SAS's passengers are entitled to financial compensation in specific scenarios:
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Delayed Flights
If you arrived at your final destination over 3 hours late, you could claim from SAS.
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Cancelled Flights
SAS must compensate you if they cancelled your flight less than 14 days before departure.
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Denied Boarding
If SAS overbooked the flight and denied you boarding against your will, you have full rights to compensation.
How much SAS compensation can you get?
As a legacy carrier, SAS operates many long-haul flights where the maximum €600 compensation applies. The payment tiers are:
- euro_symbol€250: For short flights up to 1,500km.
- euro_symbol€400: For EU flights over 1,500km, and non-EU flights between 1,500km and 3,500km.
- euro_symbol€600: For long-haul SAS flights over 3,500km.
Lost baggage with SAS
If SAS loses or damages your luggage, you must fill out a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) before leaving the airport. You could be entitled to compensation under the Montreal Convention.
How to handle a SAS disruption
Follow these steps if your SAS flight is interrupted:
- 1 Keep your documents: Save your SAS booking reference and boarding pass.
- 2 Ask for the reason: Ask SAS staff at the gate exactly why the flight is delayed or cancelled.
- 3 Request care: Ask SAS for food and drink vouchers during long waits.
- 4 Don't sign waivers: Be careful not to sign away your rights in exchange for SAS air miles or vouchers.
- 5 Keep expense receipts: Keep receipts for any extra expenses incurred.
When SAS cancels your flight
If SAS cancels your flight abruptly, you have the right to either a full refund or an alternative flight to your destination. In addition, if you were informed less than 14 days prior, you can claim up to €600 in cash compensation.
Severe delays with SAS
For flights delayed by more than 3 hours at arrival, SAS is required by European law to pay compensation. The amount depends strictly on the flight distance, not the ticket price.
Bumpped from a SAS flight?
Overbooking is a known practice. If SAS denies you boarding due to overcapacity, you are entitled to the same high levels of compensation as if the flight had been cancelled.
When SAS doesn't have to pay
Compensation is not applicable in 'extraordinary circumstances' – events outside of SAS's control. Examples include severe adverse weather conditions, air traffic control restrictions, or medical emergencies. SAS must prove these circumstances to deny your claim.
Can you claim for SAS staff strikes?
Yes. If the strike involves SAS's own employees, such as their pilots or cabin crew, it is considered within their control, and you are eligible for compensation.
Time limits for claiming against SAS
Depending on the jurisdiction, you usually have between 3 to 6 years to submit your claim against SAS for a past flight disruption.
Let us deal with SAS
Don't get bogged down in SAS's customer service queues. We operate on a 'No Win, No Fee' basis, meaning we take all the financial risk.