Icelandair CPH-KEF in November

[ezis]

Sorry for the delay of this Trip Report I promised quite a while ago, but considering some quarrels on this forum I wondered a long time whether I should invest my time in it

Nonetheless, here it is!

October 30th 2012
14:00 FI 205 CPH-KEF B757

It was not my first time to go to Iceland, but certainly my first time going with Icelandair
Because I booked the flight very early, the price was reasonable (always a problem when going to Iceland)
I sure was looking forward to it, and flew it from BRU with SN
Which was a pleasant flight itself, giving me the opportunity to have a nice panoramic look over he Danish Isles

Excitement rose when the B757 landed at CPH airport and docked at the gates
It certainly looks elegant and golden when watching it pass by, helped of course by a nice sunny day

The flight left spot on time, and although as good as completely full, the airplane felt pretty spacy.
The Belorussian National Handball team was on board, and God those are big guys (I also play handball in Belgium but I'm just a 1m70 amateur)
I also had the bad luck of having a chatty Swede next to me, on its way to the US. Many people seem to use Icelandair to go to North America, and I do believe it is a comfy way of doing so. If someone might do, I do propose to take the package with a stop at Iceland's Blue Lagoon, very close to the airport. It's very big geothermal swimming pool in the middle of the lavafields, I love that place.

And no, they didn't pay me for writing this. Unfortunately.

Icelandair does have personal TVs in each seat, which is a big plus. The downside is you dot to pay for the earphones. Not much, but still. Meanwhile you could still track where the plane is flying. The North Sea, thus
Same as for the food and drinks, payable, which surprised me a bit considering the fares one pays to fly them.
On the other hand, I had a great vegetarian sandwich (almost never happens on a flight it actually tastes very good) and some good sparkling wine (well, you're paying anyway, why be cheap?)

Before descending into Keflavik Airport, the sky opened and I was again able to look down out of my window. The magnificent coast and glaciers where welcoming me in a cold sun.

The flight landed at the Airport just over 3 hours after take off, so a bit ahead of schedule. I do imagine landing at Keflavik can be tricky sometimes..

Tip; while waiting for your luggage, buy alcohol at the shop there! All the locals rush there as well, as alcohol outside the airport can only be acquired at Government owned shops or pubs (6euro per beer is cheap, 10euro is normal)

November 6th 2012
07:45 FI 204 KEF-CPH B757

Considering the connecting flights from North America to Europe, most flights to Europe leave at an unholy early hour
Reykjavik is a 45min bus drive away, and dragging yourself to the BSI Busstation at 6 in the morning is a challenge. To me at least.

Added the overcrowded little airport, which is nice by itself but about to burst in the mornings, where all the tourists are sleepwalking around in their fancy new Icelandic sweaters

And having a coffee requires quite a wait.

No time to hang around, I had a bird to catch anyway. Considering the long line, it will be a packed flight. It certainly was. Boarding started late, but we left on time.
I was seated on the last row and on the aisle side, so no nice views for me this time

We still left on time, and I was hungrily looking forward to my vegetarian yummy sandwich.
Unfortunately, vegetarianism is a rare thing in Iceland, and there were none on this flight.
So I had to reluctantly content myself with a coffee, after which I still managed to fall asleep

The trip passed by eventless, and we landed at a dreary Copenhagen Airport, where I hunted for food until my flight to Brussels left.

In conclusion
--------------
I did like the trip made with Icelandair, but considering the basic fare is quite high and everything you might need or want is something extra to pay for, I'll make an extra effort to fly SAS

Compared to the previous carrier I used to Iceland (Iceland Express, now bought by WOW), I do prefer Icelandir though

Apart from the promise to myself to fly SAS, I also plan to get from Reykjavik City Airport to Isafjordur with Flugfelag Islands

[sn26567]

Thanks for your nice report, the first one about Icelandair.

considering some quarrels on this forum

Quarrels on this forum? You're joking, aren't you? We only have sometimes heated discussions!

Because I booked the flight very early, the price was reasonable (always a problem when going to Iceland)

Can you give an order of magnitude for the normal price and what you deem reasonable?

Many people seem to use Icelandair to go to North America

Icelandair was renowned for its low fares between Europe and the US (its ancestor Loftleiðir pioneered low-fare services across the North-Atlantic in 1953 and I flew with them in 1961: viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1084), but is it still the case, when you are talking about their high fares from Europe to Iceland?

Icelandair does have personal TVs in each seat, which is a big plus. The downside is you pay for the earphones.
Same as for the food and drinks, payable, which surprised me a bit considering the fares one pays to fly them.

Yes, indeed surprising for an airline which boasts to fly intercontinental. Do they have a large selection of food: warm dishes for example?

[ezis]

Can you give an order of magnitude for the normal price and what you deem reasonable?

I paid about 260euro, which I consider OK, but that you only get when you fly out of CPH. Mostly I see prices of around 450, a friend of mine even paid 600 to be there in Reykjavik for just a few days, but then from Brussels
But indeed, the transatlantic fares also are around 450/500, a bit astonishing

Yes, indeed surprising for an airline which boasts to fly intercontinental. Do they have a large selection of food: warm dishes for example?

No, the offer was good quality, but simple. Cookies and sandwiches..

[Comet]

Thanks for your nice report, the first one about Icelandair.

Oh no it isn't the first about Icelandair.

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