67 reviews Rajan Parrikar (Iceland) 20th December 2022. Icelandair offers a free, multi-tiered frequent flyer program called Icelandair Saga Club (sign up here). Iceland Air Business Class Seats. He was offered a 50,000 ISK (about $390) upgrade at the airport, but decided to pass. This was a near-flawless flight. Other snacks like chips, hummus, protein bars, and chocolate were 3 euro. I chose one of these tan seats, as they were the most private and offered some views of the tarmac. Icelandair's Saga Class, in business class or first . Icelandair has offered various flight sales throughout the pandemic many times, Saga Class has been available for around $1,000 round-trip. Reykjavk-based Icelandair (FI) is the country of Iceland's largest airline. Be prepared to pay more for extra space. Having built strong relationships with United Airlines, TAP Air Portugal, Icelandair, and more, Sumit excels in both aviation history and market analysis. The breakfast spread was made up of typical European fare like yogurts, oatmeals, meats and cheeses, pancakes, and much more. Level Contributor 1,008 posts 175 reviews 351 helpful votes 7. $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline. With a departure from the Washington DC area the nonstop and direct (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Southwest Airlines. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. Finally, you can book a coach fare and submit a bid for a Saga Class upgrade, as my friend did on this trip. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. . Although the airfare was extremely affordable, Id rather spend the extra money & fly British Airways Premium Economy. An Icelandair Saga Premium ticket will grant you access to the Icelandair Saga Lounge, and that's the easiest way to get inside. I went with the short ribs, having exhausted my seafood appetite in Iceland over the previous few days. The comprehensive Airline and Airport customer review site for airlines and airports across the world. Not sure how that would work in managing jet lag! Check in, clear security, then walk through the duty free area and into the main terminal hall. personally I try not to have a big bag under my seat so I have room to stretch my legs. The blanket looks comfy, but is huge and takes up a considerable amount of space in your seat area. A stink of kerosene in the cabin or any din are not present. Before there were budget airlines, there was Icelandair. DC to Iceland is really not that long a flight, probably 5-6 hours. Icelandair offers the option to upgrade your regular economy seat, but with a novel twist: You can bid for an upgrade to Icelandair's business class, called Saga Class. Chase Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. Icelandair uses two configurations across its fleet, but economy seats generally have 32 inches of legroom and Saga Premium seats have 40 inches. The flight tracker tool was fairly standard on the Icelandair 737 MAX8. Despite the long list of people who can get into the lounge, the lounge was not too crowded during my visit last month even during the morning rush. Ahh, the soothing overhead lights! 3. (FI names all its aircraft after Icelandic volcanoes.) Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Originally there was a 2+ hour layover at PDX for the connection. The Boeing 757 is a mid-size narrow-body twinjet aircraft, ideal for short to medium-haul routes. That's exactly the case with the Amex Platinum card. Icelandair's great business class fares. The fare was $180 including a train ticket to Milan Italy. Required fields are marked *. Soft drinks and access to the new in-flight Entertainment System are complimentary. Delta Air Lines. So is it worth the premium to fly Icelandair Saga over a standard economy ticket? Now that was budget travel, that included a deluxe meal and checked bag. Icelandair no longer blocks the middle seat (or one seat in a two seat pair) for premium economy. I was lucky enough to grab a seat on one of its recently renovated 767-300ERs. I opted for a cappuccino, but there were options for espressos, americanos, coffees, macchiatos, and cortados, too. It's the first to feature United's newly unveiled "signature interior," with seat-back screens, larger overhead bins, power outlets and other passenger-friendly amenities from nose to tail. Will it fit normal size underseat luggages? The middle seat is kept unoccupied in Economy Comfort. Icelandair flies to these 15 North American cities, connecting travelers to 29 cities across Europe. For reference, I am 5 feet 9 inches tall. If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. You'll find the lounge in the middle of the airport concourse. As with nearly every airline, the best way to start your search for Icelandair Saga Premium flights is with Google Flights. WBA Hall of Fame honoree. That's a decent price but we've found much better prices for our Thrifty Traveler Premium members over the years including many roundtrip fares for less than $1,000. Pros bottled water at entry. No matter which airline you're flying on, don't ever pay to select a seat. Code share airlines for Icelandair are: Air Iceland Connect, Aeroflot, Alaska Airlines, Finnair, JetBlue Airways, SAS Scandinavian Airlines . Fly round-trip from Newark from $1,784, from New York from $1,790, from Boston from $1,842, from Washington, D.C. from $1,882. With standard recliners instead of the far more common lie-flat pods, Icelandair's Saga Class is arguably the least comfortable business-class option for flights across the Atlantic. She is wildly enthusiastic about all things travel, but especially quirky and affordable lodging. Always great to be able to go straight from the airport to a hotel where you room is waiting, Catch a few hours sleep , do some exploring of Reykjavik and get an early sleep. These fares are valid for travel between November 1 and December 13 . I understand all seats have in flight entertainment, but not food in economy ( cheapest fares) either? First, with Icelandair's frequent fare sales, you can score a round-trip ticket for around $1,000 comparable to premium-economy fares on other airlines, and far less than you'd pay for a lie-flat pod. TPG values it at $1,600. Within 48 hours of the start of your journey, you can change your departure time to 24 hours earlier or later than your original departure time. The IFE in the seat-back in front of you is pretty good but varies on the age of the aircraft you are seated in. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. The major benefits of Saga Premium class include upgraded seats and meal service, priority check-in and lounge Author: Ali Wunderman . 6 hours in the middle with no leg room and unable to recline. Amenities Every row in Icelandair business class had at least one window while row 2, where I sat, had two windows. 1x carry-on bag (22 pounds) and a small personal item, Gate-to-Gate Wi-Fi Access Included for 2 Devices. USD$300 (to/from Iceland) / USD$350 (to/from Europe or Israel) Included. If you're flying over to Iceland, I'd recommend choosing a seat on the left side of the plane for potential Northern Lights viewing. They were extremely tasty, so I asked for more, which they happily obliged. To recline the seat, you press the silver button on the inside of the right armrest, just as with a traditional economy plane seat. My dad & I had been preparing for months for our trip to Iceland to visit our only family. Finally, we were given the food menu, which came with a designated starter and dessert, but gave each traveler the choice between two main courses. Click any seat for more information. Signage is pretty limited, but there are a few dedicated lanes for Premium check-in. If you choose row 5 you are more likely to be transfered backwards into the aircraft than by choosing row 6 because the airline want's to make use of all seat rows - and not offer it until it's confirmed that they get to sell those seats as Saga Class seats. I have 4 tickets booked through Icelandair.com for SAN->KEF via PDX. The drink menu was not extensive but more than sufficient. With roots way back to the 1930s, the Icelandic airline began flying to the U.S in 1947. Icelandair offers seat-back entertainment, but the selection can be a bit lacking. Find the best seat wiht our Icelandair Boeing 757-300 seating chart. Read more. USB chargers, good variety of free movies and TV, nice music selection, standard earphone jacks so you can use your own. For me, I wont be traveling on Icelandair again. Icelandair Seat Maps Boeing 737 MAX 8 Boeing 737 MAX 9 Boeing 757-200 (v2) Boeing 757-300 Boeing 767-300ER Flyer Reviews of Icelandair anonymous Please note that the content regarding Icelandair's "premium economy', or Comfort Plus, is outdated. Now that is a colossal fail and important to note, because we were in different seats for each leg. The potatoes, mushrooms, and green beans were all fresh and delicious as well. Click here to search for a specific flight, set aircraft change alerts, schedule change alerts, and more. I found Icelandair economy seats to be wider than usual anyway. Related: How to fly Icelandair using points and miles. Even during the busiest part of the morning, there was no line to get in and plenty of seats to pick from. Air Canada has historically flown an Airbus fleet domestically within Canada, with the occasional entry into the Embraer market. All rights reserved. The service was exceptional on this Icelandair flight. Icelandair flies to these 15 North American cities, connecting travelers to 29 cities across Europe. (Photo by Zach Griff/The Points Guy) This isn't just any domestic jet, though. Head down a narrow hallway that also serves as the boarding area for some Schengen zone flights departing from Iceland. It was nice to have a seatback screen and Wi-Fi, though this isn't solely enough to sway me to choose an airline with so many portable personal entertainment options I can take on board with me. You may find the airline's older 757 operating select flights as well, but it's likely to be phased out over time. While the seats may not be ideal for snoozing on a Europe-bound redeye, the airline's Saga fares are often competitive enough to justify a less-appealing product, and tickets include a number of other business amenities, like multi-course onboard meals, extra baggage and airport lounge access. Icelandair's 757-200s have seating for 183/171 passengers, with seats arranged 3-3 in Economy and 2-2 in Saga Premium. Gunnar is a reporter and flight deal analyst at Thrifty Traveler who joined the team in July 2021. Read traveller reviews and opinions for Airlines and Airports worldwide, airline lounges and airline Seats. The short ribs were cooked perfectly, too. Just for clarification, in 2022 Does anyone know if there are any reclining seats in economy? Right away, the space felt huge, but intimate. We were offered a coffee after the meal before we settled into a few hours of food-free flying. The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards. But it seems to be suffering from growth with the loss of Wow and offers for layover. Get alerts like this one sent to your inbox with Thrifty Traveler Premium! If you look at the seat map for your particular flight . I didnt have a problem fitting my personal item under the seat in front of me, but you can find the dimensions on Icelandairs website as well . According to a recent study by Expedia, the cheapest day to book flights is Sunday. A choice of a seat selection is offered when booking a ticket. But no matter which kind of plane you're on, the Saga seats are much the same. We find cheap flights with average savings of $250 $500 off of typical fares. Try to stay up through the day and go to bed after dinner. The seats are plushier and more comfortable than the average budget airline seat, but if the passenger in front of you is fully reclined, space might be tight. About 90 minutes before arrival, however, they came around with these tasty, spicy Lava chocolates with a little bit of chili pepper zest to them. I recently flew Icelandair from Seattle to LHR. What is best for you? Icelandair business class might be a misnomer, as these seats are far from the lie-flat business class you find on many other airlines flying between the U.S. and Europe. I paid around $1,150 for a round-trip between New York and Iceland in Saga Class. Icelandair flies to Reykjavik (KEF) from 11 cities nationwide, from San Francisco (SFO) all the way down to Tampa (TPA). Fantastic Wi-Fi. Plus Ups are excluded. Icelandair began flights in 1937 and is based in Keflavik. The refrigerators and this countertop replaced a traditional bar. Each seat in economy is 19 inches wide, compared to the 17 inches you'll get on most of Icelandair's other planes. On the right were a list of snacks. Its just too stressful and physically challenging. The dining and social area is at the back of the lounge, but the space is so large that none of the noise really filtered into more private areas of the lounge. The lounge access and comfortable seat were tempting! Depending on what aircraft you fly, the seats are more spacious than what you'll find on most top-dollar airlines in economy. My husband is 5'9" and it was very uncomfortable on a 6 hour flight. 5:30 PM - 6:00 PMJune 10, 2021Booked: Boeing 737 Max 8Flown: Boeing 737 Max 8. Thrifty Tip: Need help getting a cheap fare to Iceland? Therefore, if you can fly in an A330 or A340, you might want to look at two seats to yourself. This flight was on a Boeing 757-200, which has some of the most spacious seats in Icelandair's fleet. We were all comfortable, even my . Best airline, best airplane best seat! How does the underseat storage compare to spirit airline? Not only was I cramped with my knees almost hitting the seat in front of me, but the seat itself was not very wide and not comfortable. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. Search for Amsterdam flights on KAYAK now to find the best deal. The second leg was on a 757 and the seats were a bit more comfortable With added traffic, Keflavik is grossly undersized for the number of people in there at any one time. The scallops with a barley and shrimp salad was doused in a tremendous sauce. Since all Iceland Air's flights leaving the states are nighttime flights, seats that might be more conducive to sleeping might be the biggest Saga class perk for many. Also consider splurging on a hotel for the night before you arrive. You shouldn't do it. One other underrated and important element of the lounge was its Wi-Fi connection, which was lightning fast. 4. Passengers flying Saga Class enjoy good working space and Icelandair lounge access in Iceland and other countries. From its hub at Keflavik International Airport (KEF) and Akureyri Airport (AEY), Icelandair operates non-stop flights to more than 25 destinations across Europe and about a dozen destinations in Canada and the United States. The flight is Non stop and they include the food in your ticket. https://www.icelandair.com/support/on-board/classes-of-service/ It's not just seat selection that you have to pay for but meals, checked luggage, headphones - so be prepared other than being transported to your destination and tea and coffee everything is extra. The nonstop route between Minneapolis/St. Info. The standard European plugs were accompanied by USB ports at every single seat in the house except for the dining tables near the food. Use seatguru.com to try to pick seats that don't have restricted leg room. Icelandair's plus seats on its new 737 MAX were comfortable in terms of padding but legroom was a tight fit and reminded me this was very much economy. Alaska Airlines. My suggestion would be to cough up the money for extra leg room. Saga Class Aviointeriors Andromeda reclining seats are in a 2 - 1 - 2 configuration, 5 X 5 or 25 seats, 40" seat pitch with foot bars. With the Economy Light and Economy Standard fares, food is not included free. International Domestic Greenland Seat selection on North American and European flights Economy fares And you're going to arrive very early am. The carrier's fleet is configured with Saga . . The Flybus will take about 45 minutes from the airport to the city centre and perhaps another 15 minutes to your hotel from the BSI bus terminal. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. I originally booked this about 3 months ago. The air vents and lights were standard, offering three vents and lights for the two seats. Score: 80.00. The really annoying thing though is that the armrest did not rise between the seats in 3 of my 4 flights. As the Airbus series aircraft get older and closer to retirement, Air Canada elected to enter into the Boeing 737 Max aircraft product. The chocolate mousse was also a treat and a delectable way to polish off the meal with the brownie crumble mixed in. Icelandair offers dedicated vents on the 737, but not on the 767 reason enough to choose the newer plane, in my book. Seat comfort, size, leg room? The decor inside the Saga Lounge was very nordic and especially Icelandic. Heavy, seemingly random rock formations might not be what most people consider interior design, but it fits the Iceland vibe! It unfolded into a half-tray first, which was nice for my pre-departure drink. maybe not the BEST seat but still. With the first ordered drink, they brought around these cheese crisps, too. Especially abroad, a good Wi-Fi connection can really help make a journey, and the Saga Lounge connection was snappy. My 2nd leg from Reykjavik to London was on a 767-200 and wasnt much better in the extra leg room seat, although the seat did recline much further then the previous flight. The challenge we experienced this time though is with seating. American Express has expanded The Centurion Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. On the 737 and 757 planes, the economy cabin. The Icelandair Boeing 737 MAX 8 features seats in a 1 cabin configuration. Norwegian Airlines provides 15 minutes of free in-flight WiFI on select flights, and Philippine Airlines offers . Economy Class is the lowest fare class. Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Sadly, the fireplace was not running when I arrived. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. There are two classes on this Icelandair 757-200: Saga Class is Icelandair's Business Class cabin. Ive never seen life vests stored above the seats before. Your email address will not be published. (Enrollment required for select benefits.). And for those who frequently fly, as I do, youll want to be comfortable. Based in London . Helps with jet lag. That makes this one of the best seats on the plane. The cruising speed is 851 km/h (530 mph), and their flight range of up to 7,890 km (4,900 mi) makes them the first choice for long-haul routes. . Great review. Below the seat-back pocket were two pedal-style footrests, which were a nice touch to take advantage of the additional legroom. My dad cant see his mom or brothers, and were stuck going back home with less than what we started with. There was a glut of seating options, both social and private. The staggered, individual seats around the hearth fireplace were some of the best in the house. But it's not like long haul international flights in business, it's more like first class domestic. Saga Class has 22 seats and extends from rows 1-6. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-109673559', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');airlines you might consider, check the equipment type, and then have a look on Seatguru. You can also redeem for Icelandair, including awards booked via Alaska Mileage Plan, which prices Saga Class awards starting at 50,000 miles each way, plus taxes and surcharges that may exceed $300. The seats featured soft, winged headrests that you could position how you wish as well. Find the best seat on your next flight. Required fields are marked *. It's the only lounge at Keflavik, but it packs a punch. J. Search and find deals on business class flights to Iceland. They offered great views over Greenland as we flew west. plus you can rest your head on the window. Full booking flexibility, including changes and cancellations. You'll have one tired day but then a good nights sleep and you'll adjust to the new time zone a lot faster. On my return back to Seattle, I changed seats to exit row, and this was the best choice I couldve made. The rest of the service sounds great and that is something Lufthansa is lacking these days. Best card for premium perks while traveling, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, The Business Platinum Card from American Express, Credit card showdown: Alaska Airlines Visa vs. Alaska Airlines Business Visa, Disney Cruise Lines Castaway Club loyalty program: Everything you need to know, 21 new Hyatt hotels where you can get 500 extra points per night. It is not the bank advertisers responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered. The automatic ticket scanner system was down when we boarded, so the boarding experience quickly became backed up and crowded. You can get some work done on its blazing internet in solitude, shower and recharge after a long flight, or nap in the loungers overlooking the tarmac. The entertainment system had a decent list of offerings for the flight. You'll find nearly identical Saga Class recliners across Icelandair's fleet, with both the narrow-body Boeing 737 MAX and wide-body 767 operating flights between KEF and the U.S., depending on the route and date. Use airplane seat map to find which ones are more comfortable and which should be avoided. 5. Photos. Just about every airline flying between the U.S. and Europe offers seats that recline a full 180 degrees, creating a completely flat bed in the sky. And about an hour later, the lounge was practically empty as many flights departed. Ill continue to consider Icelandair for its advantages compared to other carriers that are nickel and diming for seats, baggage (carried and stowed), and even water (EasyJet). French Bee's premium economy. And while its reputation remains as a budget airline, few parts of the Icelandair experience feel cheap. I found out firsthand recently on the nonstop flight from Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) to Reykjavik (KEF). For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit. For US travel to Europe, there's been a lifesaver with daytime flights to the UK, but for Iceland, I've found only overnight flights which means trying to sleep sitting up (since out budget doesn't include first class)! Having a vent you can control yourself can significantly improve the experience, especially on warmer flights. The opportunity to bid on an upgrade opens ten days before your flight departure. Credit ranges are a variation of FICO Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application. The cons to exit row are, Icelandair doesnt allow you to have ANYTHING on the floor beneath the seat in front of you. But there was food available for purchase from a lengthy menu. And while it might not measure up to other international business class offerings, you can book these seats for much cheaper. Just last year, we found this fantastic deal on roundtrip Saga Premium fares from a number of U.S. gateways to all over Europe! The planes are cool looking with their bright mango-yellow engines. Make sure your carry-on bag is under 22 pounds, and bring your own food (or get ready to buy some onboard). Benefits of flying Icelandair business class. On our trip, the last thing I wanted to do was get to Iceland with jet-lagged kids who took half our vacation to be awake enough to enjoy the trip. Full booking flexibility, including changes and cancellations. Seat size depends on the class of travel: Economy: 32in; Economy Comfort: 33in; Saga Class: 40in; Frequent Flyers. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-109675965', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');flights may be limited to Icelandair which historically has operated overnight tATL services to arrive at KEF very early in the morning. Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPGs editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. As we boarded, my first impression was that the seats looked fairly spacious and had a touch of Iceland. The current welcome offer on this card is quite lucrative. Trip Verified | Zurich to Keflavk in Saga Class. Get up to $300 back per calendar year on the Equinox+ digital fitness app, or eligible Equinox club memberships when you pay with your Platinum Card. I was wondering why Iceland air prices were half the price I would pay for a Lufthansa Business Class seat but seeing the seats this is what Lufthansa has now as Premium Eco and needs of course a lot less space in the plane so this is the main reason for these cheaper prices. But the service in Icelandair's Saga Premium cabin is what set it apart. This report was just what I was looking for and I loved the pictures and how you described your entire experience. With 33 inches of pitch in economy, I found the legroom to be reasonably comfortable. Even without those bells and whistles, the seats themselves are plenty comfortable and much more spacious than what you get back in economy with Icelandair. Find the best airplanes seats, information on legroom, recline and in-flight entertainment using our detailed online seating charts. Icelandair 767-300 Business Class Seats Icelandair's Premium Saga Business class features 25 seats, spread over five rows in a 2-1-2 configuration. . One of the most remarkable airplanes in its arsenal is Boeing. Airlines Icelandair Boeing 757-200 (752) Seat Map Icelandair Boeing 757-200 (752) Airplane Boeing 757-200 (752) Icelandair with 2 classes and 183 seats on board. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. Airlines Icelandair Seat Maps Icelandair Boeing 757 300 Seat Map Icelandair Reviews Seating Charts Not sure what plane you're on? The seats in Economy class have a decent coating, but are the new-style thin padding version which forces you to get up every few hours unless you want a back-ache. Each seat has a separate monitor in the back that can be used to watch video. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Use airplane seat map to find which ones are more comfortable and which should be avoided. The gin list was the most extensive menu on the flight, including five Icelandic gins as well as Tanqueray. Compare Seat Review scores based on aggregate ratings from Customer Reviews. There were just two reds, two whites, and two sparkling wines, each selection was very detailed with recommended food pairings. Boeing 737 MAX 9 Icelandair Boeing 737 MAX 9 Seat Maps Icelandair Icelandair includes many planes with an easy to comprehend and simple Boeing 737 MAX 9 seatmap. There were no fellow travelers waiting in line when I arrived and I was helped right away. If you're flying business class across the Atlantic, you'll most likely be traveling in a lie-flat seat. And trust me, those extra 2 inches are huge.