Our trip to Iceland (as with many of our travel plans) was a last minute decision made over a few too many glasses of wine. I received a flight notification about a price drop to Reykjavik, and we had 24 hours to make a final decision.
The caveat? It was a flight out of Boston (where my husband works) on Iceland’s newest budget airline, WowAir.
As many of you know, I am QUITE picky when it comes to flying, especially what airline I am flying. However, for a $400 RT ticket to a destination on the very top of bucket list, I was willing to give it a shot.
Where does WowAir Fly?
After booking, WowAir announced that they will start nonstop service from Chicago O’Hare this summer. Currently, the airlines services 32 destinations in North America and Europe — including Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, New York, Boston, San Francisco and Washington D.C in the states.
What is included?
Your passage across the Atlantic Ocean – and that’s it.
Additional Fees:
As I mentioned, WowAir is a BUDGET airline. I would say similar to a Spirit or Frontier, but honestly, it’s another tier (or five) above those airlines. With that, just about everything costs money.
Seats
If you want to pick your seat, need XL legroom or want an overall bigger seat, you’ll have to pay. We paid an extra $40 each way for XL legroom and it was worth every penny and our tickets were still cheaper than all major airlines.
Baggage
I’ve heard mixed reviews in this department. All passengers are allowed one small carry-on (backpack or smaller) for free, anything additional, you’ll find yourself with another fee. We paid $40 each to bring normal size carry-ons (26 lbs), where as a full-size checked bag (44lbs) will run you $50 (as always, it is cheaper to pay for the bags at checkout, then it is when you arrive at the airport).
Do take note, they have weight limits on their bags. We did not encounter any problems, in fact they never weighed our bags, but I’ve read they tend to be strict in the U.S. on the carry-ons. Just be aware, if your bag is overweight, you may need to rearrange.
In-Flight
All the inflight perks you receive on international flights will cost you on WowAir, water included. How did I prepare? I brought a large water bottle, snacks, and a fully charged iPad for entertainment. I did splurge on a glass of wine (their wine list is really good!). Don’t worry, if you do forget something, they have it for purchase.
My Flight Experience:
Whoever did WowAir’s marketing/design should win an award. I loved the iconic WowAir purple detailing (carpet included), as well as the taglines you’ll find throughout the plane.
Another plus? You’ll most likely find yourself on a brand new plane when flying North America to Iceland, and vice versa.
WowAir provided something that is found on very few airlines these days: Everyone we interacted with was genuinely NICE. From check in, gate side, and in-flight, I could not believe the consistency of their service.
Worth Noting:
WowAir does not belong to the TSA/Global Service Entry Program, meaning you’ll find yourself in the basic security line. However, if you travel with your Global Entry Card, you should be able to hop into the Pre-Check line.
Would I fly WowAir again?
To my surprise, I would. I do not know if I could fly a flight much longer than 5 hours, as the seats were small and the lack of entertainment did start to wear on me, but I would, in a heartbeat, take the same flight back to Iceland. If you are looking for a cheap, efficient route to Europe, this is the airline for you.
To share this post, use this photo!
Leave a Reply