Saga Class on Icelandair
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Saga Class on Icelandair
We are considering booking flights on Icelandair from Seattle to Paris this fall. I've never flown this airline. I looked on seatguru so understand the configuration, but would like some feedback from those who have flown Icelandair. The planes are 757s.
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Kathie - I flew Icelandair (economy) August 2015 from Dulles to CDG with a 2 day stopover in Iceland. The flight from Dulles left on time. I was impressed at how quickly we boarded and exited the plane. This was true for all legs of the flight.
Flight attendants were friendly and professional. I prefer aisle and several times was in an exit row so more legroom.
As you probably know, you will change planes in Reykjavik. Coming home from Paris, there was a 1.5 hr delay leaving Reykjavik to the US but this can of course happen anywhere. The terminal at Reykjavik is sort of cramped with several flights using the same gate, but you just have to pay attention to when your flight is boarding.
One funny thing. I was late getting to the airport for my flight to Paris due to the shuttle not showing up at my Reykjavik hotel. I had 30 minutes till takeoff and there I was in line to check my suitcase. I asked an Icelandair employee if I would make the flight and she said "oh, the plane will wait for you!" In fact, on the way home, we had boarded the plane in Reykjavik for the flight to Dulles, when the pilot came on and said we were waiting for some folks flying in from Copenhagen. They arrived 10 minutes later.
I am flying Icelandair again in March (economy Dulles to CDG). Great price at $725 RT.
Flight attendants were friendly and professional. I prefer aisle and several times was in an exit row so more legroom.
As you probably know, you will change planes in Reykjavik. Coming home from Paris, there was a 1.5 hr delay leaving Reykjavik to the US but this can of course happen anywhere. The terminal at Reykjavik is sort of cramped with several flights using the same gate, but you just have to pay attention to when your flight is boarding.
One funny thing. I was late getting to the airport for my flight to Paris due to the shuttle not showing up at my Reykjavik hotel. I had 30 minutes till takeoff and there I was in line to check my suitcase. I asked an Icelandair employee if I would make the flight and she said "oh, the plane will wait for you!" In fact, on the way home, we had boarded the plane in Reykjavik for the flight to Dulles, when the pilot came on and said we were waiting for some folks flying in from Copenhagen. They arrived 10 minutes later.
I am flying Icelandair again in March (economy Dulles to CDG). Great price at $725 RT.
#4
Here are some reviews. Once again they're partners with Alaska Airlines, so you can earn some miles including elite-qualifying miles. https://www.alaskaair.com/content/mi...celandair.aspx
http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.c...-class-review/
http://landlopers.com/2015/02/26/icelandair-saga-class
http://www.frequentbusinesstraveler....dulles-review/
Shop carefully, including looking at Vancouver departures to Paris. At the moment there are some good business class deals (on actual international business class, not the Saga-style type) out of Vancouver.
http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.c...-class-review/
http://landlopers.com/2015/02/26/icelandair-saga-class
http://www.frequentbusinesstraveler....dulles-review/
Shop carefully, including looking at Vancouver departures to Paris. At the moment there are some good business class deals (on actual international business class, not the Saga-style type) out of Vancouver.
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Thanks, powhathangal for your personal experiences with Icelandic Air. The fact that they are in an alliance with Alaska is a benefit.
Gardyloo, and thanks for the heads up on business class fares from Vancouver.. We are still just thinking abut this trip so haven't gotten serious about the planning yet. What airlines are currently having sales out of Vancouver?
Gardyloo, and thanks for the heads up on business class fares from Vancouver.. We are still just thinking abut this trip so haven't gotten serious about the planning yet. What airlines are currently having sales out of Vancouver?
#6
Kathie, look here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/premi...s-1730-ai.html
Also somebody has discovered that if you use American Airlines' fly+hotel packages the net cost of the airfare in business class is deeply discounted. Really worth looking into - http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/premi...vacations.html
Also somebody has discovered that if you use American Airlines' fly+hotel packages the net cost of the airfare in business class is deeply discounted. Really worth looking into - http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/premi...vacations.html
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I understand it isn't "real" business class. But it's two short flights and might well be acceptable to us. I've flown "real" business class that was probably less comfortable than Saga Class! ( Our SEA-ICN flight on Asiana when they switched planes to one configured for intra-Asia travel)
In any case, we are still playing with our travel plans for this year and haven't yet decided on all of our destinations.
In any case, we are still playing with our travel plans for this year and haven't yet decided on all of our destinations.
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I suspect that Kathie may already have settled her plans, but I noticed a recent review on FlyerTalk. The link will not post for me, but if you'd like to find it, go to the Trip Reports section of FT and look for a report called "Iceland Air Saga Class - Affordable way to fly transatlantic in business class". The report was posted on 17 March.
It may help others to decide whether they feel this is good value.
It may help others to decide whether they feel this is good value.
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Kathie--I did not see this thread earlier. We flew Iceland Air from Seattle to Iceland then on to Copenhagen this past October. I was not expecting much, and was pleasantly surprised. Everything I had read made it sound like they were bare bones, but that was not the case. We had very nice flights, all 4 legs. Our kids also flew them in August, December and January and had no issues. I am very pleased that they are partners with Alaska again as that is our go to airline for within the states, so it is nice to have the miles work between the two.
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I'm a little late with this, but we flew Saga from New York to Reykjavik and then to Denver this past October. I was very impressed. I usually fly Business Class with British Airways but thought Saga might be even better. They don't have flatbed seats, but their seats are extremely comfortable, and I didn't miss the flatbed at all. The service was very good. Absolutely no complaints.
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