SAS Lounge

Pre-passport SAS lounge in T3 that now feels second-tier

The SAS Lounge in Terminal 3 sits on the Schengen side before passport control, so it competes directly with heading through to non-Schengen and paying for Eventyr instead. You enter from the main T3 departures hall after security, near the SAS check-in area, and then go up to the lounge complex that also houses the separate SAS Business and SAS Gold sections.

This space runs standard early-morning to late-evening hours tied to SAS departures out of CPH, typically opening around 05:00 and closing after the last evening bank. It is strictly a departures lounge; CPH does not offer lounge access on arrival, even if you land in Delta One or another long-haul business cabin and walk past T3 security.

Access has become messy since SAS left Star Alliance in 2024, and several United MileagePlus posters now call it “very complicated.” Star Alliance Gold in economy may or may not be let in depending on whether you’re on TAP, Lufthansa, or another partner, so frequent flyers now check each carrier’s lounge-access page instead of assuming blanket *G rights.

Inside the main SAS Lounge you’ll find standard cold breakfast items in the morning, then simple salads, soup, bread, and a few hot bites during the day, all self-serve. Coffee machines, soda fountains, and basic beer and wine are free, but spirits are limited and nothing here competes with the broader food spread people report upstairs at Eventyr in the non-Schengen zone.

Showers are not on the main lounge floor; they sit in the SAS Business Lounge one level up, in the same complex, and that’s where staff direct passengers who want to clean up before a connection. A YouTube reviewer notes that both business-class passengers and SAS EuroBonus Golds can typically access those showers, so if you need one, ask specifically to be pointed to the Business area.

Regulars on FlyerTalk often start here when staying Schengen-side in T3, grabbing coffee and Wi‑Fi before deciding whether to cross passport control for Eventyr. One CPH lounge Q&A ranks lounges as “Eventyr, The Apartment (AF/KL), then SAS,” which sums up current opinion: this is now the third pick, used more for proximity than for food or design.

Watch out for: United flyers in particular report that this lounge is “less good for United *G/business class” post-SAS exit, with occasional door confusion about who qualifies. If you’re connecting from a Schengen flight and have time, compare the SAS front-desk queue and your walking time to Eventyr before committing.

One practical tip: if your flight leaves from a non-Schengen gate and you have more than 90 minutes, hit SAS Lounge first for a quick coffee and email check, then clear passport control and move to Eventyr for better lighting and stronger food before boarding.