Below the seat-back pocket were two pedal-style footrests, which were a nice touch to take advantage of the additional legroom. Photo: Icelandair Seat 4 A is a standard Business Class seat. Why you should fly Saga Class on Icelandair's new 737 MAX over the Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. Thanks for the long review, this really helps to understand the prices. Your email address will not be published. The beer is made with Pacific Northwest hops and European malts. Photos Seat 13 F is a standard Economy Class seat located in an Exit Row and features additional legroom. Seat 9 F is a standard Economy Class seat. Basically, if you're into window views, you want to be facing north during your flight. Seat 21 B is a standard Economy Class seat. 787 Dreamliner Seat 7 E is a standard Economy Class seat. Seat 24 E is a standard Economy Class seat. Barely noticed the climb! Seat 9 E is a standard Economy Class seat. LAX On this flight, the course options were the beer-braised short ribs or the citrus arctic char. The tray table is located in the armrest making the armrest immovable and slightly reducing seat width. It only took a few minutes for all 16 passengers in the full Icelandair Saga cabin to get seated. I'll admit it was a tad strange and was not what I was expecting, but I didn't hate it, either. We were welcomed on board and had plenty of time to settle in, as, for whatever reason, we departed about 20 minutes late. Connect to the internet when onboard was a pretty straightforward process. Seat 8 C is a standard Economy Class seat. The dedicated gin menu with local options was a noticeable and impressive touch. Seat 24 B is a standard Economy Class seat. Seat 27 B is a standard Economy Class seat. 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. This report was just what I was looking for and I loved the pictures and how you described your entire experience. In fact, it was the main reason why the flight was so enjoyable. Seat 10 A is a standard Economy Class seat. 4x points for purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping. Unfortunately, the W-iFi was not speedy and cut out once for about 15 minutes during the journey, but it was more than enough to stay connected, browse the internet, and use email, Slack, and text message over the course of the flight. Just like many domestic first class flights, there are two-seat sections on either side of the aisle for a grand total of 16 Icelandair business class seats. Special mention as well to these semi-reclined beds. There is additional personal space due to the recline restriction of the seat in front. All Rights Reserved, Dash-Ten Out of Ten: Uniteds 787-10 Inaugural From SFO to Newark. Published Jul 23, 2021. After spending a few hours in the Saga Lounge, I exited, went through border control, and headed to my gate. Awards can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Seat 19 A is a standard Economy Class seat. In addition to the main kitchen, there are also several smaller coffee and drink out-stations scattered throughout the lounge, so those that are far from the main bar can easily refill without venturing too far from their seats or couches. Lets start by saying that the Saga Lounge totally surpassed my expectations and it is one of the best lounge experiences I have had recently. The Icelandair Saga Lounge in Reykjavik (KEF) might just be the best part of the whole Saga Premium experience. Seat 10 F is a standard Economy Class seat. Thanks for sharing your stories. We boarded a 2-year-old Icelandair Boeing 737 MAX 8, departing London Heathrow (LHR), flying for two hours and 36 minutes to Keflavik Airport (KEF). The best seats in the house, however, were these green recliners. The Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex is a stacked card with a rewards rate that will help you earn bonus points on everyday and business-related purchases. Is The White Lotus breaking up with Four Seasons ahead of Season 3? SeatGuru was created to help travelers choose the best seats and in-flight amenities. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. I flew Icelandair's business class dubbed Saga Premium Class for the first time last month and was delighted during my relatively short flight from Reykjavik to Boston (BOS). Inside the leather kits was a hand lotion, socks, a face mask, earplugs, a toothbrush and toothpaste, some hand sanitizer, and stickers to indicate if you want to be woken up for meals or not. The routes from KEF to the US East Coast and Upper Midwest basically mirror transcontinental routes in duration, so theres not a huge need for the amenities expected on true long-haul flights. Boeing 777-300ER I flew to Lima onboard Aeromexico's Boeing 737 MAX 8 registration XA-MAY. Icelandair has reported a loss of $68 million for the first half of 2021 but is keenly looking to the future as it sees the first signs of a turnaround. Various access plans are available for purchase. One other underrated and important element of the lounge was its Wi-Fi connection, which was lightning fast. Seat back recline is limited due to the Exit Row directly behind. Every row in Icelandair business class had at least one window while row 2, where I sat, had two windows. Seattle The Boeing 737 MAX 8 is splendid for its class and the Boeing 737 MAX 8 seatmap is clear. Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Seat 5 A is a standard Economy Class seat located at the bulkhead. It seems Icelandair has taken a middle-of-the-road approach, and succeeded pretty well. Premium fares on Icelandair also come with complimentary Viasat Wi-Fi: Just put in your name and your confirmation number. Even during the busiest part of the morning, there was no line to get in and plenty of seats to pick from. All rights reserved. In Business Class not yet that dramatic but in Eco and Prem Eco it is clearly visible. Ive got a relatively-accurate decibel-meter app on my phone, and it measured 84db on full-throttle takeoff. For your next Icelandair flight, use this seating chart to get the most comfortable seats, legroom, and recline on . Width 17". It looked forlorn in the huge MAX 8 bins, and actually drifted around a bit during the flight as the bins were nowhere close to being filled. Boeing 737 MAX 8 and Boeing 737 MAX 9 are the latest additions to our fleet. (Screenshot courtesy of Ookla) Connectivity is also available on the 767, but it's far slower, when it works at all. Seat 22 C is a standard Economy Class seat. Seat 18 D is a standard Economy Class seat. Floating on its blue surface are magnificent icebergs from Vatnajkull, the largest glacier in Europe. The interior design focuses on the wellbeing and pleasure of the passenger in flight with the addition of newly designed windows for better viewing. This AvGeek was stoked at the opportunity to fly on Vatnajkull, even though it was parked at a corner gate between two diagonal jetways at SEA, making photos pretty much impossible that day. They offered great views over Greenland as we flew west. Btw, the bread and the butter are often an afterthought, but in this case they were both amazingly tasty! A stink of kerosene in the cabin or any din are not present. The MAX 8 will run flights to Baltimore and is outfitted with room for 160 passengers onboard. When you purchase an economy class ticket on 757-200 V.2, it means you are sitting in the main cabin, and not located in first or business class. There is no floor storage for use during take-off and landing. Seat 22 A is a standard Economy Class seat. Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental You, certainly, wont get bored on your Icelandair flight. Drinks on Icelandair deserve a mention on their own. And, btw, this is toilet of a Boeing 737-9 MAX: This was another highlight of the Saga Premium experience, offering good quality and a well balanced mix of foods in a very nice presentation. Recline 3". Seat 5 C is a standard Economy Class seat located at the bulkhead. Seat 17 C is a standard Economy Class seat. The service was extremely efficient from check-in through boarding, and my meal arrived less than two minutes after I ordered it. Seat 8 B is a standard Economy Class seat. Seat 16 C is a standard Economy Class seat. The number of total seats available in this class varies by aircraft as well. Seat 22 F is a standard Economy Class seat. Espresso Martini, one of the cocktails that Icelandairs crew can prepare. My Review Around the corner behind the buffet area are the restrooms, which were not huge or fancy by any means, but were very clean and nice. ", "Additionally I was had to purchase IFE headphones for an additional 3 ($4). It provides a great and well-rounded experience which includes comfort and cozyness, good service, amazing food and powerful entertainment and connectivity options. I was particularly impressed by the food. As in, I couldnt stand up straight in there. The proximity to the galley and lavatory area might be bothersome. Airline Livery It can be both a very private lounge, or a great place to share a meal or a drink with some travel companions. There is no floor storage for use during take-off and landing. The rest can be placed on the above shelves. Plus, earn an additional Free Night Award after you spend $60K in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Seat 2 D is a standard Business Class seat. The MAX 8 seats are similar to the 757 variety, but felt more comfortable and a bit more roomy. Seat 5 F is a standard Economy Class seat located at the bulkhead. Near its highest peaks there is a man-made ice tunnel which is a must-see for any visitor passing by. Icelandair advertises a seat pitch of 40" in business class, with 20.5" wide seats. Seat 13 C is a standard Economy Class seat located in an Exit Row and features additional legroom. Icelandair has no lie flat beds, which kind of makes sense when you consider most of its flights are less than 5h long (most of the European ones are even shorter). Also, are Premium saga guests aloud access to the Saga lounge? Seat 1 C is a standard Business Class seat located at a bulkhead. and features additional legroom. Alaska Airlines Seat 27 F is a standard Economy Class seat. But everything else about Icelandair Saga Premium was outstanding, from the tasty food to the snappy service and an excellent lounge before the flight. The passenger experience on the B757 did not differ much from that on the B737-9 MAX, so I decided not to do a separate review. Since there are not that many B757s out there, I almost forgot that when you board it, you go left for business class! I didnt use the IFE system for much other than tracking our progress, but I did note a reasonably wide selection of stuff to watch. Seat 16 B is a standard Economy Class seat. The headrest on my seat was also extremely flimsy and definitely wouldn't have held in place if I'd attempted to sleep on it, and this would definitely be a bad thing if I'd been booked on a longer flight. I flew in economy, in seat 25A. Seat back recline is limited due to the other Exit Row behind, however, there is additional personal space due to the recline restriction of the seat in front. The 737 MAX also leaves a 40% smaller noise footprint than its predecessors, even though the engines are more powerful. These are not one-use and the crew takes them back after the flight. Southwest Airlines Deep in the highlands, the moss-green Fgrufjll mountain ridge hugs the eastern shore of the 20km-long (12-mile) lake Langisjr. KPAE Wi-Fi service is available on all Icelandair aircraft. There is also lots of information and content about Iceland (apparently Icelanders like to show their beautiful country around and I can totally understand why!). EDITOR-AT-LARGE / DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY - SEATTLE, WA Francis Zera is a Seattle-based architectural, aerial, aviation, and commercial photographer, a freelance photojournalist, and a confirmed AvGeek. and features additional legroom. Next, the main meal, which was really good: generous portions and healthy and tasty ingredients. Icelandair Boeing 757 Seat Map - Updated 2023. Find the best seat To find Saga Premium fares instead of Icelandair's economy product, select Business in your fare type drop-down menu. Check in, clear security, then walk through the duty free area and into the main terminal hall. All Nippon Airways With a maximum speed of 521mph (839kmph) and a range of up to 4,045miles (6,510km), these modern aircraft also use 37% less fuel per trip than the Boeing 757-200, allowing Icelandair to better compete with low-cost carrier PLAY. Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Personal space might also be limited if the seat in front is reclined. Review: Icelandair Saga Class B737-8 Max, Paris Charles de Gaulle The air vents and lights were standard, offering three vents and lights for the two seats. Next to the restrooms were three dedicated shower rooms. If flying back to the states, pick a seat on the right side for views of the mountains of Greenland. Seat 16 D is a standard Economy Class seat. Additional information regarding meals may be accessed by clickinghere. By Joanna Bailey. Just what I was looking for before booking our flight to Helsinki, From what you are telling us, the extra money is well worth it! Seat 19 B is a standard Economy Class seat. However I thought it was worth highlighting it here, since there is some potential for people getting confused or even missing flights as a result of this (which I assume was the product of a temporary technical glitch). In economy, Icelandair's MAX 8s have 31-32" of pitch, and seats are 17.2" wide. Boeing 737 On international routes, the airline flies a combination of Boeing 737, 757 and 767 aircraft, but following a TPG report outlining why you should fly the Boeing 737 MAX over the larger 767, we were eager to try out this newer, fresher 737. Icelandair Is Happy With Its Boeing 737 MAX Aircraft - Simple Flying And about an hour later, the lounge was practically empty as many flights departed. Seat 28 D is a standard Economy Class seat located in the last row of the aircraft. But the service in Icelandair's Saga Premium cabin is what set it apart. Seat 5 D is a standard Economy Class seat located at the bulkhead. And if you dont drink alcohol there is also, of course, an ample supply of prime Icelandic mineral water! Even though the MAX 8 is a smaller aircraft, interior space utilization is worlds better than on the aging 757, with a corresponding moderate increase in legroom. The proximity to the galley and lavatory area might be bothersome. From a user experience point of view, it worked great: smooth, quick and aesthetically pleasing. Considering the cost, I struggled to find the value for such a short flight. My flight in late April cost $797 one-way from Reykjavik (KEF) to Boston (BOS). 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. Economy class seats on domestic routes usually have a seat pitch . Virgin America, Copyright 2023 AirlineReporter Seat 17 A is a standard Economy Class seat. At the same time, Saga Premium it provides a far superior experience that the business class currently being offered by many European airlines on their single aisle aircraft. Seat back recline might be limited. In the first row in Saga, your IFE screen is on the bulkhead, and the USB charger port and headphone port are both on the bottom edge of the frame. The pre-flight experience in this case had basically two elements: 1) The Icelandair mobile app, that I used to complete my check in. 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. Seat 22 B is a standard Economy Class seat. Seat 9 B is a standard Economy Class seat. Its an oasis of tuff boulders, meadows and blue ponds below the Dyrfjll mountains. Every row in Icelandair business class had at least one window - while row 2, where I sat, had two windows. Seat 12 C is a standard Economy Class seat located in an Exit Row. While these seats may be closer to Premium Economy than a true business class product, they're still wide, plush, and comfortable. The service was particularly excellent. and features additional legroom. Seat 13 A is a standard Economy Class seat located in an Exit Row and features additional legroom. Seat 12 E is a standard Economy Class seat located in an Exit Row. I liked how they throw in some Icelandic elements into the UI, creating anticipation ahead of the trip. Seat 28 C is a standard Economy Class seat located in the last row of the aircraft. Seat 5 E is a standard Economy Class seat located at the bulkhead. There is no floor storage for use during take-off and landing. The crew was warm, friendly, efficient and up for a laugh. Seat 25 E is a standard Economy Class seat. Testing All aircraft systems were tested. Icelandair Planes and Seat Maps. I quite enjoyed the licorice-infused smoked salmon appetizer. Boeing 737 MAX 8 and Boeing 737 MAX 9 are the latest additions to our fleet. Travel experts put Icelandair's 737 MAX business class head-to-head Business Class Love travel? In spring 2016, Icelandair added two wide-body Boeing 767-300s to its fleet. Economy Class is the lowest fare class. Dreamliner Passengers flying Saga Class enjoy good working space and Icelandair lounge access in Iceland and other countries. Even More MAX: Icelandair Signs For 4 More Boeing 737 - Simple Flying The food and drink service on Icelandair Saga Premium was fantastic. All seats are fitted with a seat-back screen with access to a digital entertainment platform and there is also (rather fast) internet connectivity, which is free for Saga Premium passengers (more on IFE further down this piece). Access is free for Saga Class passengers. At Thrifty Traveler, we dont accept freebies. I t's been widely billed as the short-haul plane of the . Seat 25 B is a standard Economy Class seat. Yes, you still have a fellow passenger next to you, but, as you can see in the picture above, there is plenty of separation between the two, including a sort of double arm rest that acts as a platform, so you dont really notice it much. Seat back recline might be limited. Limited Time Offer: Earn 125,000 Bonus Marriott Bonvoy Points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Seat back recline is limited due to the Exit Row directly behind. Since I flew both legs of my trip to Iceland on Icelandair Saga Premium business class, I had the chance to experience also the Saga Lounge at Keflavik, Icelandairs hub airport.