Trondheim rarely tops the list of European business class trophy routes, which is precisely why frequent flyers who've cracked the code on Cincinnati to Trondheim business class routing tend to guard their itineraries jealously. There is no nonstop option from CVG, so the real decision isn't whether to connect, but where: Amsterdam via KLM, Frankfurt or Munich via Lufthansa, or Copenhagen via SAS all work, with total journey time landing around 8.5 hours of actual flying once you add the transatlantic leg. My preference after years on this route is SAS through Copenhagen — their A350 business class cabin, with direct aisle access and generous personal space, makes the short Copenhagen-Trondheim hop feel like a formality rather than a slog, and CPH's compact layout means you're rarely more than a 20-minute walk from gate to gate even with a tight connection.
Lufthansa's routing through Frankfurt or Munich brings its own appeal, particularly as the airline continues rolling out its Allegris business class suites on select long-haul aircraft — worth requesting specifically when booking, since older configurations still fly certain Cincinnati-adjacent connections. KLM's Amsterdam hub, meanwhile, remains the most schedule-friendly option for late spring and summer travel, with World Business Class service on the 787 or A330 offering solid comfort even if the seat itself lags behind SAS and Lufthansa's newest hard products. My insider tip: fly into Trondheim's Værnes airport on a Friday afternoon rather than midweek — Scandinavian carriers often price weekend connections more favorably on this specific city pair, a quirk few American travelers exploit because they default to weekday business scheduling.
Late May through September is when this route rewards patience, as Norwegian daylight and SAS's seasonal capacity additions into Trondheim align with softer transatlantic pricing out of Cincinnati. Given how thin inventory can be on the connecting legs, setting up fare alerts well before your travel window is the smartest move you can make on this particular itinerary.
