RufusTFirefly

Looks like you can get a pretty good exchange rate for Iceland's kronur right now.

What a world-wide mess!

NigelWaring

Go ahead and enjoy a holiday there. We reckon our coach trip in August/September was about the best holiday that we have ever had but try not to fly with Icelandic Air.

hetismij

The kronur has been locked into the Euro now.

karameli

Nigel, why avoid Icelandair?

Anyone know if we'll have trouble using the ATM in Iceland this week? Reports say the banks have frozen withdrawals, but I'm guessing/hoping that only applies to those who actually have accounts in the Icelandic banks. Since we'd be withdrawing from a U.S. bank, will we be good to go?

flanneruk

The shortest answer to karameli's question is "no-one knows".

The entire Icelandic financial system has reportedly frozen (sorry) up - or gone into meltdown (sorry again). When this happens, logic disappears too. If I were going to Iceland, I'd buy some Icelandic krona before leaving and keep a substantial amouint of euros, US dollars and British pounds in my wallet - as well as having Amex, Visa AND MC credit cards.

Something (maybe lots) in that mix would prove unnecessary. But you'll only what bit when your plane home has landed. Assuming Icelandair can pay for the fuel and landing charges.

karameli

Just thought I'd post an update. We had absolutely NO problems getting kronur in Iceland. I spoke with a rep from Icelandair before we left, who assured me that the ATMs were still plenty accessible for anyone using an international bank. Everything went off without a hitch, and the exchange rate did turn out to be a lifesaver (or at least a wallet-saver) in terms of saving a bit of money on Iceland's sky-high prices!! Will post a trip report soon on this fabulous island!

NigelWaring

Answering Karameli on why we would we would not fly Icelandic air again. The planes are very old, ancient entertainment system where the screens hang from the ceiling and everyone has to watch whatever they say. The seat upholstery was long past its use by date and most uncomfortable. Most parts of the plane look very worn and give me concern for the important parts that we cannot see. We had ordered vegetarian non-dairy meals but the cabin crew knew nothing of this, the only thing that we could eat was a bite sized bread roll. Other passengers did not get their special meals. In Reykjavic we gave up 2½ hours of our holiday to go and talk to Icelandic Air, the vegetarian meal was very important to us because we had to leave our hotel at 4:00 a.m. and would be relying on having breakfast on the plane. We were assured by the passenger agent in the head office of Icelandic Air that the problem was now fixed and we would receive a vegetarian breakfast. Check in confirmed that the vegetarian non-dairy breakfast had been ordered but when we got on the plane there was nothing for us, again other passengers missed out on their special meals. Did write to the Chief Executive of Icelandic Air but so far we have had no response.

Sarvowinner

What's the Capital of Iceland














4 Kronur

opaldog

We flew with Iceland Air in April 2007 out of Boston. We have nothing but good things to say about them. They upgraded us to Business from rekjavik to CDG (and we didn't even ask for it). They were mostly very efficient. We knew ahead not to expect any frills. We were not disappointed. That said, it was not an unpleasant trip. We arrived safely and on time. The food was not great, but I do not expect airline food to be good. If I were a vegetarian I would be prepared to pack some snacks of my own. Many airlines have been know to not come through with the promised alternate meal.

We would fly Iceland Air again if the price were right. Basically that is how I pick my airline. If the price is right and the route is bearable, I will buy the ticket. The airport in Iceland runs around the Iceland Air schedule. It is a modern, new airport. On the way over we departed in Rekjavik and moved on to our gate for CDG and boarded with no effort. On the return we stayed a night and all arrangements with the airline went off without a hitch.

I sound like an advertisement for Iceland Air; just my take on our experience with them.

NigelWaring

Yes we would also be prepared to take some vegetarian food with us but we had flown from Sydney changing planes at Singapore and Amsterdam, it is illegal in most places to take food off a plane even if it is something that you had taken on, we could have bought something at exorbitant prices in the transfer airports and hoped that it really was vegetarian, we've been caught with that before.

As it happened we did receive a reply from Icelandic Air this morning, they blame our travel agent who had changed our booking but had not transferred the vegetarian request as well but we did check in the Amadeus system before we left and it was there, they ignored the fact that we had been into their Head Office Reservations before the return flight. Incidentally the Reservations Department in their Head Office did confirm that the original request was there and that we should have got our meals. They also told us that they had plans to renovate their planes but that doesn't help us, they should have done it years ago.

Thanks for what you have said but we will still never trust them again, if we can't fly with another airline we will not visit Iceland again.

karameli

Following up -- on one of our flights the plane had an outdated interior, with overhead entertainment instead of seatback screens. But, in summary: whoop-dee-doo. The Icelandair itinerary we flew would have been $400 more per person if we'd gone with the next cheapest airline. For an $800 savings, I can deal with an overhead TV screen.

On the other three flights, the interior was up to date. And in general, the interior is NEVER a reflection of the plane's safety. That's just a misconception.

suerapzen

"on one of our flights the plane had an outdated interior, with overhead entertainment instead of seatback screens"

So it was like flying on an American carrier without the surly flight attendants!!
We liked Icelandair except for the meal -- it was reindeer meat balls -- and I'm NOT kidding.

annhig

hi,

ref the icelandic flights, i can't speak about iceland air, but the iceland express out of stanstead was great.

on time, very efficient, no problems. it was reasonably priced too. the only problems were with stanstead itself but that's not the fault of the airline.

regards, ann

karameli

suerapzen, that's a good assessment...the flight to Iceland isn't any longer than a flight to California, so I don't mind the "domestic" vibe.

And their flight attendants are extremely nice, although I will say I've always had good luck with flight attendants stateside as well! Maybe it's the whole catching-flies-with-honey thing.

flanneruk

How on earth can anyone object to venison meat balls?

If you're vegetarian, fine. But if you're prepared to eat dead cow, what can you possibly find to moan about in eating low-fat, low-cholesterol meat with a taste from an animal that's lived close to wild all its life?

You'll be whingeing about eating hare or pigeon next.

RufusTFirefly

I don't like the flavor of venison. Though reindeer might be different.

PatrickLondon

They say the nose is a delicacy, especially the red ones....

AHaugeto

Alrighty then. At 141.8 kronur to the dollar a quick trip to Reykjavik is starting to look enticing, especially with the current Icelandair fire sale. I found that in 2006 it was more like 71 to the dollar, but I still have questions, namely what is one paying for a pint of beer there these days?

Anybody know? I'll post another thread shortly, thanks!!

NigelWaring

Re "the interior is NEVER a reflection of the plane's safety. That's just a misconception."

I based my comments on my many years of service with an international airline that often serviced planes belonging to other airlines.