Norwegian Air?

Old Aug 20th, 2017, 08:50 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Norwegian Air?

I am currently looking at flights from Helsinki to Ivalo early January 2018. The price difference between Norwegian Air and Finnair is a few hundred dollars. Just looking to hear other people's experiences with Norwegian Air and which one they would choose? I have researched a bit and some say Norwegian Air tend to have more delays... and being winter in Finland during this time, I am worried we might miss a night in our glass igloo due to delays! Please help as I have no clue...
luciabell is offline  
Old Aug 20th, 2017, 09:35 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 5,234
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Have you considered doing your first night in Finland elsewhere...somewhere cheaper? Glass igloo sounds epic (and expensive) and realistically winter travel can always involve weather related delays.

I have not used Finnair, but I like Norwegian. I had no problems with them and I'd use them again. Which fare are your looking at? The low fare or the low fare plus? If the lowfare plus is the one that is that much cheaper, I'd go with Norwegian, but I'm betting it's Lowfare. If it is, do a just for fun booking with the bells and whistles you'd get with finnair, and see what the price difference is them. Lowfare is very low for a reason- it pretty much is stripped bare.

Another thing to look at is how frequent Norwegian service is between your destinations. Because if it's once a day, that would worry me far less than once a week. Norwegian frequency varies a lot by destination.

Could you post a link to that glass igloo please? I'm dying to see it!
marvelousmouse is offline  
Old Aug 20th, 2017, 09:46 PM
  #3  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks heaps for your help! So we are flying into Helsinki and staying a night before flying to ivalo the next day to stay in this ice igloo....

http://www.kakslauttanen.fi/en/accommodation/#top

We are flying back to Helsinki with Norwegian air because the price difference was something crazy like $700. It is the low fare plus ticket I am looking at. It's something like $140 for 2 adults compared to $650 with Finnair.

I hadn't even thought about that part either- they only fly to ivalo 3 times per week. Do you think that's enough to just fork out the extra and book with Finnair??

I really appreciate your help!!
luciabell is offline  
Old Aug 20th, 2017, 10:36 PM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 5,234
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
That looks amazing!! I hope everything goes smoothly and you have a blast.

I take it you're in Ivalo for at least 2-3 nights given Norwegian's irregularity? It looks like Finnair does the trip 3 times a day.

Hm. To be totally honest, something like that igloo would be the high point of my trip. I would try to have my cake and eat it too- in other words, I'd mess with my dates until I found a Finnair price I could live with. I always go for the airline with higher frequency unless I have a few days cushion room. I'm more worried about things the airline can control. They can't control weather. Bad weather is going to ground either plane.

Assuming that your dates aren't flexible (as I am guessing that is the case) I'd weigh the price of the igloo vs. the price difference of those flights. Let's say, worst case scenario, you got bumped for nonweather reasons. You'd have a much better chance of salvaging some of your reservation with Finnair. If you're only staying a few nights at the igloo, you're probably going to be forfeiting the whole stay with Norwegian. So probably I would consider Finnair worth the extra few hundred. I am assuming that would hurt my bank account a lot less than a few nights in the igloo. If it's one night at stake or they have an exceptionally nice cancellation policy, I'd take a chance on Norwegian.


But it's your money and I don't know your dates or how you weigh the igloo part in relation to the rest of your itinerary. I can't figure out dates that match up to the prices you're quoting- I.e. I can tell Finnair is more expensive but not $700 more expensive!
marvelousmouse is offline  
Old Aug 20th, 2017, 10:55 PM
  #5  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Oh no for this flight it is $500 more expensive. The other flight, which we have already booked through Norwegian was $700. But we have no ice igloo to risk with the other flight we booked lol. I think you are right! I hadn't even thought about how frequent the flights run with different companies.. thanks so much for your help! I think I'll go with Finnair
luciabell is offline  
Old Aug 20th, 2017, 11:00 PM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 5,234
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I think you must be looking earlier in the month than I had assumed- around New Years maybe? Much pricier than towards mid January, which is what I priced out.

I think Finnair is the better choice. Please post trip report! I would love to read about your adventure!
marvelousmouse is offline  
Old Aug 20th, 2017, 11:12 PM
  #7  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Yep flying 9th of January. I will definitely!

Thanks heaps for your help!!!
luciabell is offline  
Old Aug 21st, 2017, 03:29 AM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,863
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I think you figured it out already, but we have flown three times on Norwegian (long haul) and had no problems. But you are right to be worried about weather and frequency of flights. You might be able to check the history of timeliness of Norwegian flights ( I know you can for recent flights on flight tracker) for that period of time, but stuff can always happen.
rs899 is offline  
Old Aug 21st, 2017, 06:08 AM
  #9  
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 49,521
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I've flown Norwegian air a couple of times. It is fine, no complaints. You can pick your "upgrades" which adds on to the base price. So certain seats, food, movie, luggage check etc are extra
nanabee is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
randypape
Air Travel
1
Nov 1st, 2018 05:27 AM
stormbird
Australia & the Pacific
5
Jul 22nd, 2013 01:29 AM
dkw
Air Travel
4
Jun 18th, 2012 09:06 PM
jacandy2011
Europe
4
Feb 27th, 2011 02:11 PM
LoveItaly
Air Travel
9
Mar 29th, 2010 01:50 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -