We visited the SAS Domestic Lounge in Oslo on a morning layover recently, which has recently been combined with the former SAS Gold Lounge. SAS has recently updated its lounge offerings, and the domestic lounge in Oslo is one of the more significant changes.
In this article:
Location and access
The lounge sits in the domestic departures area of Oslo Airport, on the mezzanine floor, by the lifts close to gate A2. Since Norway is not part of the European Union, flights within Norway are considered domestic, while all other flights, including those within the Schengen area, are handled separately as international departures.
Aside from the standard access rules, SAS also sells lounge access when you are flying on SAS-operated flights. Travellers arriving from Asia or North America in Business Class, or those holding EuroBonus Gold, may also enter on arrival. EuroBonus Diamond members can access the lounge on arrival regardless of where they are flying in from.
Layout
SAS recently merged the former SAS Gold Lounge with the regular SAS Lounge, creating a single, larger space. The combined layout gives the lounge a wider mix of seating and work areas than before. Traffic was steady during my visit, but the lounge still felt spacious, and even in the morning it was easy to find an empty seat.
The lounge is divided into several zones. There are co-working tables, private office rooms, softer seating clusters, high-top counters and a few quieter corners set away from the main walkway. The range of workspaces makes the lounge genuinely useful for travellers who need to get things done during a layover.
There are actually far more seating areas than what appears in the photos, as I did not manage to capture every section during the visit.
Food and drinks
One of the highlights of the domestic lounge is the barista counter, which you will not find in the international SAS Lounge at Oslo Airport. The queue was pretty long at first (with about ~10 folks in front of me), but it moved quickly, and the barista worked through orders at a good pace. The counter stays open until 8.50pm, which is surprisingly late.
Breakfast follows the typical Scandinavian style. Yoghurt, cereals, bread, cheese, fruit, jam, eggs and a basic salad spread. The spread is basic, which is normal for a domestic lounge in this region. Hot dishes were not available during my visit except for eggs, so most of the options lean toward cold items and lighter fare.
It is not meant to be a full meal, but for a short hop within Norway, it definitely works fine, especially since many domestic flights (or even intra-Europe flights) do not offer in-flight meals.
Beer and wine are also available, both being served through a tap. Bottled bears can be found in the fridges throughout the lounge.
Amenities
The lounge has a good range of spaces designed for productivity. There are private office rooms for calls or focused work, and a row of co-working desks if you prefer a shared workspace. These areas are tucked away from the busier seating zones, so it is easy to find a quieter spot.
Showers are available as well, although I did not use them on this visit. Still, it is helpful for travellers connecting from a long overnight flight before heading onward within Norway.
Concluding thoughts
The SAS Domestic Lounge is a pleasant place to wait before a flight. The combined lounge space gives it more room than most domestic lounges, and even during the morning rush, there was plenty of seating. The barista counter is the main highlight and a clear step up from the standard machine-made coffee found in most lounges.
The food is basic but fits the short routes this lounge serves. The work areas are set up sensibly, and it is easy to find a quieter corner if you need to get something done. Showers are available as well, which helps if you are connecting from a long flight.
It is not a flagship lounge, but for SAS domestic travel, it is a solid, reliable option.
