DON' T TAKE ICELAND AIR!!
Don't take Iceland Air when travelling to and from Europe unless you want to starve or pay extra for any!! (including tiny snacks) food during a 6-8 hr flight!!! i couldn't believe it! i've travelled internationally quite a bit and on long trans-oceanic flights, i've always been fed and given earphones for the movies. some planes even give toothbrushes, booties, etc. not iceland air! i and fellow travellers on the flight were shocked when told that on our flight from Iceland to Seattle!! we were going to have to shell out extra $$ for any type of snack or earphones. don't take Iceland Air!!
Andrea
Los Angeles 9/28/12
Send Private Message
Page:1 Next ›
lol!
On the other hand, the food and drink thing doesn't bother me, IF the planes run close to being on time, and if the PRICE is good and if staff are fairly ok, ( hey I don't expect them to fall over me with gratitude, just polite) . If flight on them was 100 dollars cheaper then airline that gives you crappy food then I would still take them since I consider all airline food pretty crappy and not worth 10 bucks. I bring my own usually.
What was other criteria like, staff, price, etc. ?
I just flew them last month from Seattle to Iceland to Paris and they made it very clear on their website that they did not provide a meal. We brought our own food as did most of the people sitting around us. Water, pop, coffee, juice were provided free of charge. Don't remember about the headphones as we brought those also, but I know that other airlines charge for them also, plus each seat has their own personal movie screen. It was probably one of the more pleasant flights I have had in a long time and several hundred dollars cheaper than any other airlines. We also got seats in the exit rows for no additional cost which had quite a bit more legroom.
This thread should be on Trip Reports.
Did you read the description of the product you bought when you booked the ticket? It's all right here: http://www.icelandair.us/information/travel-guide/optional-service-and-fees/
If you want a meal on Iceland Air and don't want to pay on board, you can purchase Economy Comfort, which gives more legroom and an in flight meal/snack/headphones. Otherwise, if you are purchasing the super cheap fares and don't bring your own food/heaphones... well, then you pay. It's a whopping $20, if you decide to get it. The one thing I've got to say is that hot water is free and instant noodles from Uwajimaya is surprisingly good on a plane.
Also, good luck finding any carrier that offers toothbrushes and booties to anyone outside of business class. Amenity kits are not handed out in economy.
I wondered if a meal was always served between N. America and Europe. I guess not. United serves a meal about an hour after takeoff, then snacks and a small meal shortly before landing when I fly SFO-LHR.
All domestic flights I've been on in the past 10 years don't serve a meal, even if it's coast to coast (6 hrs). Usually lunch packs are available for about $7-10, but the choice is mostly junk food. I always take snacks with me.
That's great that you can choose a super cheap class and bring your own food, or pay more for economy comfort. We didn't have that option when we took Icelandic three years ago. Really enjoyed visiting Iceland, though.
The crap food that USAirways has served me on our trips to Europe would be better unloaded into the nearest trashcan rather than landing on my plate. Seriously, the best meal I ever had on USAirways was a Ham and Cheese Baguette with lettuce and tomato that we purchased in London Heathrow before takeoff. We were the envy of all the passengers sitting around us.
Free airline food is usually just slop anyway. If you want something decent then buy it BEFORE you get on the plane.
Tim's comment is perfect. I long ago stopped expecting airline food, and when offered now I turn it down. I figure that if they offer food it just increased the fare, and it's still crap. On a recent flight to France my wife and I turned down dinner, and the flight attendant, not being surprised, said: "So you've eaten at this restaurant before."
Another hint for getting edible food on a plane: Order an ethnic meal for flights that offer meals. They can be hit or miss, but you know you'll end up with something more interesting than pasta with red sauce. On a flight out of NYC, my Kosher meal came with tuna rillet and a really good beef dish.
Andrea, I totally feel you. This happened to me with Iceland Air last year. I was SO pissed off.
The problem is, when you buy these tickets off of Orbitz.com there is no description of the food so there was no way for me to notice ahead of time.
I was standing in the queue to board and a woman mentioned how great it was that Iceland Air allowed 2 baggage pieces without extra pay, which is why there was no food. I was so shocked. I had about 3 minutes to run to a vendor and, well, the food in the airport there is very expensive!
Too bad about the IA grits. Used to take China Air to Asia quite often 10 years ago, and I thought I was dining at the Ritz! Don't know if they have cut back drastically like the other lines. But that was then, this is now. Sometimes we must remind ourselves that the airlines are like banks, computer manufacturers
and TV stationsever aware of operating costs, making payroll and pleasing the stockholder.
I think that ethnic meal idea might be workable. Recently, while flying Delta
(CDG to MSP), I looked longingly at the elderly Indian couple next to me as they addressed the very attractive trays of "ethnicity" handed them; the husband urged me to be patient, because "they will soon bring you something nice, too." It was something resembling a very tightly wrapped, simulated enchilada device that had a thick, dry crust. Could not detect from tasting or looking just what was inside. That smuggled-aboard cup of noodles with Delta's hot water might be a better idea next time.
I would be happy to take my couple hundred dollar savings and purchase my own food instead of the 'delightful' meals offered by most airlines. Also, I agree with others, if you do have a choice of food , often times ordering the vegetarian meal it is much better, plus you typically get served first.
I'm not a big fan of airlines, but I am somewhat sympathetic. If you go to great lengths to get the absolutely cheapest fare you can find, what do you expect? Of course they are going to be looking for ways to cut costs. That's what we are telling them we want.
This is fair warning to bring your own food. I appreciate that. Other airlines may follow suit. So, I will be aware. Thanks.
The statement, "Don't take Iceland Air", is over the top.
"That smuggled-aboard cup of noodles with Delta's hot water might be a better idea next time."
No need to "smuggle" anything. It is perfectly OK to bring your own food (as long as you aren't breaking any liquids rule).
"The problem is, when you buy these tickets off of Orbitz.com there is no description of the food so there was no way for me to notice ahead of time. "
You won't find this on Orbitz or Cheapolocitedia etc.
But you should be able to go to the web site of the airline you will be flying and find there a description of what is provided on that flight meal-wise.
If you do bring your own food, please be considerate with the wrappings and leftovers. The only unpleasant flight we've had to Europe was a BA flight where there was no food because the food service was on strike. They gave us vouchers to purchase food at Heathrow. Not fun, when you have thousands of people all trying to do the same thing. But Starbucks Was up for the job, they just kept stocking the cold case with baguette sandwiches, good ones like chicken pesto. But some people brought the strangest stuff aboard, like hot food in takeout containers, and the plane got really messy with all the trash. Plus it was constantly noisy with all the wrapping and unwrapping and rustling of paper bags going on all the time, since there was no set meal time. We didn't get any sleep at all on that flight.
Why is this thread in the "To the West" section?
Possibly the Transportation section, but really in "Trip Reports".
We've flown Icelandair twice, from Seattle to Paris and from Seattle to London, both via Reykjavik. It's about 7 hours from Seattle to Reykavik, overnight of course. I don't remember whether we bought their dinner food or brought our own, but their website specified what they offered for what price. Both times we got exit row seating for no additional cost (buying our tickets way early), smooth and pleasant flights, and the chance to clear Schengen passport control during a one-hour stopover in Iceland. For no additional fare we could have stayed longer in Iceland if we'd wanted to. And each time we saved about $1000 on roundtrip airfare vs. other carriers. Not a bad tradeoff for a stopover and, of course, no free food.
Also, when volcanoes in Iceland prevented (two years in a row) our returning the same way, Icelandair speedily got us home on other airlines. We didn't fly Icelandair this year because we were 2 for 2 on volcanic correlation to our travels and wanted to see what would happen if we skipped Reykjavik. Sure enough, no eruption. And yes, this year Lufthansa fed us free while charging us a lot more. But I'd fly Icelandair again in a heartbeat if I weren't so suspicious about those volcanoes tracking our trips! ;)
Also, food for consumption on the plane often does not count toward your carry on limit (the one bag and one personal item). Check with your carrier, but that is the case with United and American. :)
Dick, tell me when you're travelling so I can plan on matching the time and getting "stuck" in France again due to a volcano. It happened to us 2 years ago and we got to spend 4 extra days in France. I'd be happy to do that again. And like you, my limited experience with Icelandair has been fine, and I'd be glad to fly it again if it works out. I don't even take food into consideration when choosing an airline. It's been many years since I've eaten anything on an airplane. Air France used to be quite good, with free Champagne. Even their food is pretty miserable now.
Bringing food on the plane....yes, you get to eat what you feel is way better than what they serve (I get a vegetarian meal and am always pleased)......but then you get stuck next to a smelly man with a smelly sandwich, only because for some reason you already have very bad motion sickness. It was the only time I actually lost my stomach on a plane. But really, he brought on what I think is a double onion sandwich. So there should be regulation as to what can be brought on a plane so that aroma toxicity does not take place. We are really in small spaces.
I guess there is power to reading the fine print writing in all kinds of flight situations. I guess I would have assumed they would have fed us on an international trip, because it is what we are used to. But really, if a flight is super cheap, you know there must have been some corners cut to make that fare cheap. Sorry you had a bad experience.
"but then you get stuck next to a smelly man with a smelly sandwich"
Yes, but I'll take my chances with a double onion sandwich over most airline food. The smell of the "cooked" airline meals in the rows in front and behind mine is often as bad as sitting near the lavatory. If only more people would special order a vegetarian meal like Kelly does it wouldn't be a problem.
I flew Icelandair for the first time in August this year while traveling between Seattle and Paris and thought they were wonderful. Even though I didn't purchase my tickets through the Icelandair website, I was fully aware of their policy regarding meals, headphones, etc. All it took was a quick a visit to their website, the information is readily available. I was really impressed with Icelandair when I arrived at SeaTac to leave for my trip without having chosen my seat assignment yet and figured I'd be stuck with a middle seat on both legs of my trip to Paris. Instead, they were able to give me window seats in exit rows for both flights to Paris, it was wonderful (I'm tall and extra leg room is a treat) and came with no extra charge to my economy fare. I would also like to add that while you may not get "free" food on board, the blankets on Icelandair are far more substantial and nice than blankets I've had on other economy flights with other airlines and they do give you complimentary bottled water and complimentary drinks (of the non-alcoholic variety) in the regular economy class. The drink cart came by at least twice on all the flight legs I had on Icelandair. And lastly...yes, they were on time and my checked luggage also arrived safe and sound.
Angela: "yes, they were on time and my checked luggage also arrived safe and sound." Frankly,that's all I care about anymore. I expect the seats to range from moderately uncomfortable to unbearable, the food to be nonexistent, friendly flight attendants (which still seems to be the rule despite the fact that they're all now underpaid and overworked), and hopefully some water. I just want them to get me there, and reasonably on time.
i did buy my ticket through orbitz and there was no indication that there was no meal provided. i did not check through the website b/c i have been on numerous intl. flights and they always provided food on trans oceanic flight... i.e. air new zealand and air berlin...economy class. i did not go w/ air iceland b/c it was cheaper, but because the route was more direct.
I don't get it. You saved money, flew a very safe and trusted airline with great service, and benefited from a more direct flight with an easy connection in Reykjavik, yet you want to dissuade others from flying Icelandair because of €5 baguettes and €2 headsets? I just flew with Icelandair 3 weeks ago, have flown with them before, will fly with them in the future, and will recommend them to anyone who asks. And I'll take that $200 in savings compared to everyone else and will spend €5 on a flippin' ham and cheese baguette (okay, it was pretty terrible actually, but the €3 oatmeal was fine). There are lots of things to complain about when it comes to flying, but this just isn't one of them as it relates to Icelandair. And just because you've flown on a few international flights doesn't really mean you have some unique perspective on the way things ought to be as far as service is concerned. I've flown on lots of airlines, and I'll rank Icelandair among the top on my own personal list of favorites. No, they're not Singapore or Emirates, but they're pretty darn good for transatlantic. BTW, Icelandair used to provide free food, but after the collapse of Iceland's economy and near collapse of the airline itself, a few changes were in order (just like in the U.S. and elsewhere). I just can't imagine paying $200 more so you can fly a worse airline just to get a free pile of crap to eat. Whatever. Whose fault is it for not spending one minute on Icelandair's website to quickly learn about connections, carry-on allowances, checked baggage allowances, food, etc. before clicking the buy button on orbitz? It's all right there. Weren't you mildly curious about some of these things? I say, "TAKE ICELANDAIR!!"
michael, read more carefully and you will see that i DID NOT save money by flying Iceland Air, but i chose it because the hours were more convenient. they were not the cheapest flight.
I have not yet flown Iceland Air, but would not hesitate to do so. I take my own noise-cancelling headphones (the plug is the same size), and I always carry whatever I need in the way of in-flight toiletries. I don't need an eye mask or a toothbrush or booties. And I always have something in the way of food with me, too. That's just part of what I, as an experienced traveler, do to make my flight more comfortable. Not having food without warning (although the warning was there if you looked at the airline website - something else I always do) is an inconveniece. But it is not in the same league with unexpectedly canceled or delayed flights, lost luggage, bad safety record, or terrible customer service/personnel. You said their schedule suited you better than your other options, in fact. I don't see your experience as a reason not to use the airline.
Page:1 Next ›