Originally Posted by Knobbgb

I just wanted to share my recent experience of an overnight connection at ARN for any others who may think of doing this. I posted a question about this some time ago but I can't find it now.

I arrived at around 23:00 from LHR and was on an onward flight at 06:30 the next morning. Now I didn't fancy paying a lot of money for maybe 5hrs sleep in a hotel so I was hoping to stay airside, perhaps grab some sleep and then head directly to the SAS lounge as soon as it opened but it seems this isn't possible - not when arriving from outside Schengen at least.

Twice before I've connected at CPH in this way and simply stayed airside as the immigration point opens directly onto the gate area. At ARN, after passing through immigration, there is no way to get airside again it seems - not late at night anyway. Annoyingly there were signs for the gates, complete with a fully manned security checkpoint but the guys there looked at me as if I were a little crazy (maybe I am!) and told me it was "closed" and I couldn't go airside until 4am. Fair enough I suppose, but it does beg the question as to why the checkpoint was open and staffed if it couldn't be used.

Anyway I managed to get 5hrs sleep on some rather comfy seating in the landside shopping area. My second 'gripe' is that, at 4.45am, there was no Fast-Track security available and the queues were quite long (around 15 minutes). I can only imagine that with the first departures after 6am they assume that most premium pax. will arrive later - which isn't so great for maximising ones time in the lounge and getting a much needed coffee fix! The Fast Track was still closed when I left the area at 05:05. although I'd say there were at least 30 people already in the lounge who must also have had to queue.

Anyway, just passing on my experience for any others why may consider this. As I say, it works perfectly at CPH but not at ARN it seems.