How It All Began
When Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) announced a status match for British Airways Executive Club Gold members (that’s us!) during their big switch from Star Alliance to SkyTeam, my husband was as always ready. The catch: fly five SAS flights before March of the following and you’d keep your glittering perks for two whole years. Obviously, we made it into a weekend challenge—and a mini Scandinavian adventure.
Manchester: Chaos and (Eventual) Calm
We kicked things off in the infamous Terminal One of Manchester Airport. If you know, you know: it’s all about the winding security lines and a kind of frenzy that makes you question your life choices. We zigzagged through a maze of security points (fast track for the win!), only to be funneled back in with the masses. By some miracle, we made it through with just a quick but predictable body search.
Next, we tried to crash the Escape and Aspire lounges with our Amex Platinum Priority Pass, but everything was booked up. Luckily, the travel gods smiled: twenty minutes after joining a digital waitlist, we got in! A quick strawberry juice, some questionable eggs, and a salty pork sausage later, we were off to the gate.
Taking Off: Our SAS Go Experience
Boarding was refreshingly civilised—no elbows out, no rush. Having EuroBonus Gold status meant we could reserve an aisle and a window, and as hoped, the middle seat stayed blissfully empty. The flight was calm, with that peaceful Scandinavian air and a free cup of tea or coffee.
Copenhagen: Lounge Life & Onward to Oslo
Our first flight was to Oslo but via Copenhagen, helping with attaining the required number of flights.
Touchdown in Copenhagen brought us to the SAS Gold Lounge—honestly, a travel oasis. Light, airy, and stocked with salad and stew. The pork stew was surprisingly good, with a nice flavoured gravy.
Our flight to Oslo was a little late, but the beauty of the aisle-window trick worked its magic once more.
We zipped into central Oslo on the Flytoget train (it’s £15 a pop, but squeaky clean and quick—Scandinavian efficiency at its finest) and rolled straight into a quirky hotel, Radisson Blu Scandinavia.
The hotel was in a good central location. Think 90s vibes, a noisy air con, we were allocated a family suite with a terrace after benefiting from a status upgrade. Not glamorous, but it had its own charm and we had a good night’s sleep.
Oslo: Buns, Beer, and a Dash of Royal History
After settling in, we quickly headed out to Mathallen. This is Oslo’s version of a food hall, modelled on those found across Europe. Here you will find specialty shops, cafes and eateries. Closing time was 8pm, if not earlier for some of the traders so we needed to be prompt.
Once there, we toasted our first leg of the journey with some beers from Hopyard. Mine was a tart enjoyable raspberry one.
After circling the place several times post our beers, we finally settled on some smashed burgers—expensive, but delicious from Doug’s Hamburgers.
Once the burgers were demolished, on exit from Mathallen, we couldn’t resist dessert. Two scoops of creamy gelato (because who can resist gelato in any country?) from Paradis Gelateria, perfection!
The next morning, we squeezed in some Oslo sightseeing before our flight to Stockholm, starting at the Scandic Hotel—where my Grandad once danced with the Queen of Norway! A little family legend to kick off the day.
On route to Apent Bakeri in Tjuvholmenn, we got to see this sophisticated marina area.
We popped into Apent Bakeri for cinnamon-sugar buns, raspberry cake, and some stellar apple juice.
A quick photo opportunity at the sloping Oslo Opera House and a stop at Oslo Cathedral rounded out our whirlwind morning.
Airport Lounges & Norwegian Soup
The Oslo lounge was smaller and cosier than Copenhagen’s, with a cold snack buffet and a tomato soup that tasted suspiciously like Heinz—with a spicy Scandinavian twist. A nifty cheese slicer machine made my inner foodie happy. Our next flight to Bergen was more crowded, and, plot twist, no empty middle seat this time.
Bergen to Stockholm was uneventful (except for my bag, which barely fit under the seat), but we arrived on time—ready for our final Scandinavian city. Flight number four in the bag!
Stockholm: Fast Trains and Meatball Dreams
The Arlanda Express train zipped us from the airport to the city in just 18 minutes. Pricey? Yes. Convenient? Absolutely. Google Maps had a field day trying to locate the Radisson Waterfront, but we made it after some “scenic” detours. Check-in was slow, but the superior lake-view room was worth the wait. We celebrated with lagers and a tube of Pringles from the minibar.
The wonderful view from our room…
That evening, we braved the cold and headed for “Meatballs For The People”—a spot made famous to us by Travel Man.
Queueing is a way of life here, but after no more than a fifteen minute wait, we scored bar seats with a view of the kitchen.
We were tempted to go all-in with the chef’s selection meatballs but we were (I was) nervous that we would end up eating a bear.
Instead we selected our preferred meatballs, which arrived with creamy mash, sweet-tart lingonberries, and a carafe of house red. Heaven on a plate, honestly.
Sunday Morning Fika & some sightseeing
No trip to Stockholm is complete without Fika, so we queued up at Café Pascal (even before 10 am, it’s busy!).
There was so much deliciousness on offer, we couldn’t help ourselves. Our final selection included Pistachio danish, an apple pastry and ham and egg croissant. The apple one nailed it but the others were superb!
To walk off our morning feed, we took in some tranquil views across Stockholm from the Observatorielunden.
Some other sights as we meandered our way back to the hotel….
some Airport Surprises
At the airport, we had a brief visit to the SAS lounge to sample yet more meatballs.
And then we found the American Express Platinum Lounge—an unexpected treat. Swedish pilsner, garlic crisps, a hearty Mortadella sandwich, and a steak burger later, we were ready for one last flight home.
The Final Flight: Travel Isn’t Always Glamorous
Our last SAS flight was a lesson in patience: a thirty-minute delay, less-than-friendly crew, and a seat neighbour who blasted a movie without headphones. Sometimes, travel is glam; sometimes, it’s real. Still, four out of five flights had fantastic staff, and the journey was packed with memories.
Wrapping Up: Worth Every Mile
Challenge accepted—and completed! We earned two years of EuroBonus Gold status and squeezed a duo of Scandinavian cities into one wild, whirlwind weekend. From Manchester’s madness to Stockholm’s stylish calm, it was a journey brimming with flavour and history. Wanderlust satisfied… for now.