Just read a posting below (cheapest flights to London) and looking for inexpensive flight to Europe for next year. I have heard good things about Virgin Atlantic, and I have heard a little about Iceland Air but I don't know what quality air service they offer. <BR> <BR>Has anyone flown them are heard any good "buzz"? What is your opinion on Iceland Air?

I've flown them and I thought the service was fine (better than Aer Lingus for example), the drag is that you have to change planes in Reykjavik, which involves almost doubling your flight time anywhere you go. I can't think of any problem with the airline itself. They also gave me a bulkhead seat without my even asking for one because they saw I was long-legged, which obviously made a good impression on me.

There is nothing wrong with flying Icelandair and they often offer the lowest fares to many European destinations. Also consider the "stopover" option, in which you can add a night or two in Reykjavik at no additional charge (on the airfare). It's an interesting place to visit; the people are super friendly.

I flew with Icelandair last year and will gladly fly them again. I don't know what the first reply meant that stopping in Keflavik "doubles" flight time--it does not unless you plan it that way. Icelandair arrange arrivals and departures so that you have enough time to take a stretch, have a coffee, rest break, and do some shopping without having to exchange money (shoppes in the airport take US dollars). Icelandair, unlike other airlines, have 2 full meal services--one between US and Iceland, and another between Iceland and Europe (other airlines second meal is a cold meal usually, or a sandwich). Seat pitch is above average at about 33 inches (compared to only 31 inches for other airlines). Stopovers can be arranged in Iceland for up to 3 days at no additional airfare.

We enjoyed the brief stop-over on our way to Amsterdam. Broke up the trip nicely. <BR> <BR>And we stayed in Iceland for two nights on the way back. Nice!

Not to ruin your flight plans or anything, but i've flown icelandair to Europe twice. Both times I did the stopover in Reykjavik and the airlines went on a "weekend strike", which lasted a week. Luckily I was only delayed for days instead of seven because SAS (Scandinavian Airline System) also occasionally operates out of Reykjavik. But I ended up in Helsinki rather than Paris. So my advice is not to do the stopover in Reykjavik unless your planning to be stranded on Iceland for a week.

We took Icelandair in 1998, and vowed to "never again". I thought the seats had very limited space, and I'm not a large person. Also the food was mediocre. <BR>Now that's just our opinion. But we liked the stopover in Reykjavik - it broke up the long flight and we had a chance to stretch our legs (we needed that!). It was much cheaper than other options.

I flew with Iceland Air this past Summer.The services were average.But the seats in business class were the narrowest I have ever taken.They just moved the handles of economy seats closer to the middle,that's it.

Thank you for your information! You have given me good food for thought. I wanted to leave from the east coast in the evening and arrive in London early in the morning. But if the price is right, I may fly Iceland. <BR> <BR>Please continue to post opinions.

Flew Icelandair last March...it is fine. Flew to Iceland, not to Europe, and it is standard stuff...smaller seats, not great food. <BR> <BR>Sounds like you're looking for cheap tickets - should 'quality air service' matter? It's not like you're flying to Australia or Asia when it REALLY matters b/c one leg of the trip can be 14-15 hours long.

I flew to Iceland this past July and I only had one little complaint. After an overnight flight there was no breakfast service. No coffee, no anything. I realize we got to Iceland early in the morning but I have never been on a transatlantic flight not offering something.

I flew Iceland Air in 1997/1998, so perhaps my information is a bit dated. <BR> <BR>From JFK, the flight was mobbed, and the seats were tiny and crowded. It was very claustrophobic. I changed planes (as you have to with them) in Iceland, and the flight to Stockholm (stopping in Oslo) was quite nice. The plane was twice the size, and service was good. <BR> <BR>I hated the original flight, but the connection was much better. <BR> <BR>Hope that helps a bit! I would fly them again, FWIW.

I'm not the information police, but my goodness, there is some misinformation about Icelandair here. My last reply to this thread got deleted, so I'll try again. (If this one gets deleted, I'll assume that the Fodor's editor that deleted my last reply really does not know anything about this airline). <BR> <BR> Icelandair fly an all Boeing 757 fleet on transatlantic flights. The 757-200 has a smaller passenger capacity than the 757-400, about 40 passengers less. 757s are configured with 6 seats across, 3-aisle-3, so you have a 2 out of 3 chance of getting either an aisle or window to avoid the dreaded middle seat. Icelandair's seat pitch is better than it's competitors (except for American) at 33 inches. Seat pitch is the distance between seats measured from corresponding points on each seat. An airline offering 33" seat pitch offers more passenger room than say only 31" seat pitch--in this example, 2 more inches of knee room. Seat width is the same as competitors' 757s. <BR> <BR>All Icelandair flights connect in Iceland. When booking, passengers may plan a stopover in Iceland for up to 3 days at no additional airfare. Other airlines charge $100 or more for this "privelege." Icelandair flights are timed so that transfer time is fairly quick if you don't want to stay--most onward connections within 1.5 hours or less. <BR> <BR>Every airline that I have flown transatlantic (6 and counting) only offer a full dinner inflight, as well as a warmed sandwich for breakfast the next morning. Icelandair are different in that they offer full meal services between US and Iceland, and between Iceland and Europe. Between US and Europe, there's no need to have 2 meal services on a 5 hour flight--especially when most passengers are sleeping. <BR> <BR>For $190 roundtrip to Europe (Icelandair's last Winter's best offer), I think I can go without me second cup of tea considering so many other things about the flight are better in comparison to the competition. <BR> <BR>Novice, fly this airline without any hesitation and you will be pleasantly surprised. Have a good trip!

Uh, that should read "Between US and Iceland, there is no need to have 2 meal services on a 5 hour flight..." (not between US and Europe).

Wow - it's always amazing how widely divergent the range of opinions can be on a given subject. We're on the "Never again!" side of the Icelandic Air question. However...given that you are flying from the east coast it might make some difference. <BR> <BR>We flew out of Minneapolis this spring, to Amsterdam. The flight over was excruciating....I don't think we've ever felt so cramped or uncomfortable (spouse and I are in the 5'10-5'11 range). We were delayed on the lst leg of the flite, so were simply herded off one plane and onto another at Reykavik. The flite home, with a long stop in Reykavik, seemed horrid and interminable...took us like ten hours. I'd much prefer to fly direct - and spend less time in-flite. Even given the cheap fares....I wouldn't do it again.

Don, I couldn't agree with you more. Compared to all the other airlines I have flown to Europe, and it numbers many, I really liked Icelandair. I thought the seats offered ample room, the meals were among the best I have been served.<BR><BR>I have flown IA four times to Europe. I love 'em and would encourage you to try them and make up your own mind.<BR><BR>Have a great trip, Novice!!!

I agree with Arjay, the different opinions on Icelandair are fascinating. I've flown them once, in 1998 from BWI to Stockholm with the obligatory stop. The first leg of the flight was pretty unpleasant. I left at 8pm on a plane that was packed mostly with teenagers (someone said that Icelandair had offered a special deal to high school students - - don't know if this is accurate), the back of my seat wouldn't stay up, and we got to Reyjavik around 1am and had to disembark in a sleep-deprived daze. The second leg of this trip was uneventful. I remember having a beer at the Iceland airport on the return flight but nothing else about the trip so it must have been okay. I would fly them again if they were offering a great deal (like the $190 rt to London that someone mentioned), but they wouldn't be a first choice.

I've flown Iceland Air about 4 times with experience ranging from great to pretty bad. However, with the recent threat of terrorism, IcelandAir is probbaly one of the least likely to have anything bad happen to them. I'm not suggesting that air travel is dangerous, but it may give some people added peace of mind. Also, they are the first aiprport to have visual scanning ID (or whatever the proper term is).