Your SAS flight is delayed. You see the flight status online.
But what should you do now? Should you stick to your original plans and go to the airport, or wait at home or your hotel? After all, flight delays can range from just 30 minutes to a whopping 23 hours. If it’s the latter, you could be stranded at the airport for a full day. Will you really have to wait at the airport for 23 hours until SAS finds a solution?
It depends…. But mostly the answer is very simple.
Should You Wait or Proceed as Planned?
Where are you right now? At your home? Or at the airport?
1. You Are at the Gate, Waiting for Flight
If you’re already at the gate, wait there.
Updates on your flight status soon will follow.
2. You Haven’t Gone Through Airport Security
If you are at the airport waiting to go through security, and your flight has been delayed, remain where you are. Before proceeding, confirm whether there are any updates regarding your flight’s check-in time. If the flight’s check-in is delayed, don’t go through security just yet.
Wait until further notice before passing through security.
Have you already checked in online?
Wait anyway. Don’t proceed until check-in starts.
3. You Are at Home or Hotel
Check if the check-in time has been delayed or not.
You can do this by calling SAS or checking with the airport information desk.
This is crucial because if the check-in is also delayed, there’s no need to rush to the airport right away. However, if the check-in time remains the same, it’s best to proceed with your plans and head to the airport as scheduled, especially if you still need to do airport check-in and have checked baggage. In case the check-in is delayed, it’s better to wait at home or your hotel.
If check-in is delayed — wait at home or hotel.
If check-in is not delayed — go to the airport as planned.
How to Check SAS Flight Status Online?
Here are some options to check your flight status online:
- The website of the airport from where your flight is departing;
- Your airline’s website (flysas.com in this case);
- Flight trackers like Flightradar24.
Checking the flight status before heading to the airport is highly recommended, especially if you have an early morning flight. No one wants to arrive at the airport at 5 am and end up waiting for several hours due to flight delays or flight cancellations. The best time to check the flight status is right after waking up, as it could save you from waking up too early. You should also check the flight status again just before leaving your home or hotel to ensure there have been no last-minute changes.
Usually travellers find out about the delay:
- By SMS or email notifying of the delay
- When checking the flight status online
- Already at the airport, or even at the gate
What If You Are Going to Miss Connecting Flight?
If it’s a SAS connecting flight, you are protected against missing a connection.
If you miss your connecting flight, SAS will provide you with a new flight free of charge. You don’t need to worry about finding a new flight yourself as SAS will take care of it for you. If you miss your connecting flight, simply approach the SAS staff at the airport for assistance.
However, if you have a self-transfer flight, then missing your connection is your responsibility. In this case, you will have to purchase a new flight yourself. However, you may have a right to SAS flight delay compensation or SAS flight cancellation compensation (if the flight gets cancelled at the end).
Right to Care at the Airport
If you have to wait at the airport, you have a right to care.
If there is a flight delay, SAS is required to provide you with certain care benefits.
- If the delay is relatively short during daytime (3 hours or more), SAS is obligated to offer you free food and beverages, two phone calls, emails or faxes, which is usually provided via coupons.
- If the delay lasts until the next day (overnight delay), SAS must provide you with free hotel accommodation, transfer to and from the airport, and a free meal or two.
Get in touch with SAS if you haven’t yet received anything.
Could You Be Entitled to SAS Flight Delay Compensation?
Indeed, you may be entitled to SAS flight delay compensation.
Should your flight experience a delay exceeding three hours, or if it has been cancelled without a notice period of at least 14 days, you might be eligible for compensation up to 600 euros under EU law, barring the delay or cancellation was caused by extraordinary circumstances.
This right is applicable irrespective of the ticket price and nationality.
Remember to retain your boarding pass and other travel documents, as they may be required when claiming compensation. If you need assistance with this process, there are services that can help in claiming your compensation from SAS – our partners offer such services (use the compensation claim form on this website to make a claim).
Can You Receive Flight Delay Compensation in Case of an SAS Strike?
If your SAS flight experiences delay or cancellation due to a strike, there are two potential situations – it’s either a strike by SAS staff or an unrelated strike.
Typically, if the strike is conducted by airport staff, air traffic control, or it’s a labor strike that does not involve SAS directly, you won’t be eligible for compensation. These are deemed extraordinary circumstances, for which airlines are not usually held accountable.
However, if the strike is orchestrated by SAS’s own employees, the airline will likely have to compensate passengers. Always confirm the specific circumstances of your delay or cancellation, and double-check any information provided by the airline.
Read more: SAS Strike Compensation
Can You Obtain Delay Compensation in Case of Technical Issues with the Airplane?
Yes, if your SAS flight is delayed due to technical complications with the airplane, you might be entitled to flight delay compensation.
Generally, these issues are not considered extraordinary circumstances.
However, exceptions may occur in particular cases, such as if the technical problems were the result of hidden manufacturing defects.
What is your experience with SAS flight delays? Have you ever experienced a flight delay with SAS? How did the airline resolve the situation?
Featured photo by Ketut Subiyanto from Pexels