I Tried the CHEAPEST Transatlantic Business Class. Was it Worth It
video description
Date: 2025-05-31
Related videos
Comments and reviews: 20
darcyanderson
Thanks for the great video. I'm a big fan of Icelandair. I have mainly flown their Economy Standard and Economy LIght out of Denver although I experienced Saga Class between Keflavik and Paris once. I have taken advantage of their Iceland Stopover to spend a day at one of the lagoons/hot springs before heading on. This is my way of dealing with jetlag. : )
You were surprised that you had to go through passport control to access the lounge. The same situation exists here in the US if you're connecting at a US airport arriving from an international origin and going on to international destination. An example is flying from Mexico City via Denver to the UK. You'd have to clear US Immigration in Denver even though you're only transiting through.
reply
Thanks for the great video. I'm a big fan of Icelandair. I have mainly flown their Economy Standard and Economy LIght out of Denver although I experienced Saga Class between Keflavik and Paris once. I have taken advantage of their Iceland Stopover to spend a day at one of the lagoons/hot springs before heading on. This is my way of dealing with jetlag. : )
You were surprised that you had to go through passport control to access the lounge. The same situation exists here in the US if you're connecting at a US airport arriving from an international origin and going on to international destination. An example is flying from Mexico City via Denver to the UK. You'd have to clear US Immigration in Denver even though you're only transiting through.
reply
solracer66
I really like Icelandair as they are no-nonsense. For flying from say JFK to LHR or CDG they have no advantages over a direct flight as you note but if your final destination is further east and you have a more typical 45 to 50 minute connection it can be quite nice if you are not a EU citizen to clear Schengen Zone customs there and stretch your legs. Plus on some routings they are faster. In the 2010s I flew Seattle to LED several times and managed to make it on Icelandair in 13: 30 with a 45 minute stop in KEF and a 40 minute stop in ARD (the last leg was SAS. Time though AMS was around 3 hours longer as was going though LHR assuming that British Airways didn't make you spend the night in London.
reply
I really like Icelandair as they are no-nonsense. For flying from say JFK to LHR or CDG they have no advantages over a direct flight as you note but if your final destination is further east and you have a more typical 45 to 50 minute connection it can be quite nice if you are not a EU citizen to clear Schengen Zone customs there and stretch your legs. Plus on some routings they are faster. In the 2010s I flew Seattle to LED several times and managed to make it on Icelandair in 13: 30 with a 45 minute stop in KEF and a 40 minute stop in ARD (the last leg was SAS. Time though AMS was around 3 hours longer as was going though LHR assuming that British Airways didn't make you spend the night in London.
reply
StanLeoVart
22: 10 - I suppose there is no problem to have a stop over crossing the Atlantic. In your case you just jumped to UK, but what about more distant places, like Italy or Finland, Greece or Poland In our case - the first short leg to Amsterdam, or Paris, or London, for example, and then the final leg to NY, or any other cities in US - that is reasonable. Cause of prices (especially in economy, cause you are not sitting all the way 8-9 hours, and have a leg stretching stop somewhere. Especially if it is just 2-3 hours.
I had such 1 stop flights to US (and back for sure: ) already 3 times, and no complaints, I can say. It was always cheaper as a main reason.
reply
22: 10 - I suppose there is no problem to have a stop over crossing the Atlantic. In your case you just jumped to UK, but what about more distant places, like Italy or Finland, Greece or Poland In our case - the first short leg to Amsterdam, or Paris, or London, for example, and then the final leg to NY, or any other cities in US - that is reasonable. Cause of prices (especially in economy, cause you are not sitting all the way 8-9 hours, and have a leg stretching stop somewhere. Especially if it is just 2-3 hours.
I had such 1 stop flights to US (and back for sure: ) already 3 times, and no complaints, I can say. It was always cheaper as a main reason.
reply
grahamhand8644
I’ve done Toronto to Glasgow and London a few times with Icelandair in Saga and I’ve always felt it was good value for money. Having said that, the 4 hour layover in KEF is a new thing by the looks of it, certainly the last time I went in 2023 it was a quick 1 hour layover and we were off again. Not sure why they’ve done this or what problem they were looking to solve but I’ve got a feeling it’s going to detract from the overall experience.
reply
I’ve done Toronto to Glasgow and London a few times with Icelandair in Saga and I’ve always felt it was good value for money. Having said that, the 4 hour layover in KEF is a new thing by the looks of it, certainly the last time I went in 2023 it was a quick 1 hour layover and we were off again. Not sure why they’ve done this or what problem they were looking to solve but I’ve got a feeling it’s going to detract from the overall experience.
reply
RWHobbies
I did USA to UK via Iceland once. Never again. Delays on both trips and airport ran out of food really early. I was traveling with an 18 month old at the time. We took off, had engine failure and came back to KEF. Then all they had available to eat for my kid to eat for 6 hours was a snickers bar.
I learned to just pay extra and fly direct. Not worth the hassle unless you are breaking up trip and wanting to spend a couple of days visiting Iceland.
reply
I did USA to UK via Iceland once. Never again. Delays on both trips and airport ran out of food really early. I was traveling with an 18 month old at the time. We took off, had engine failure and came back to KEF. Then all they had available to eat for my kid to eat for 6 hours was a snickers bar.
I learned to just pay extra and fly direct. Not worth the hassle unless you are breaking up trip and wanting to spend a couple of days visiting Iceland.
reply
scotts2222
Noel, this is your worst video to date I believe sadly. You're negative the entire time with regards to the airline, your constant plug for the jet lag miracle cure was ridiculous and overall, I'm just disappointed in you. Go back to basics please. I'm still unsure why you've got it in for that airline, despite you avoiding them and trashing them for their menu, which was also clearly in English too. Ugh.
reply
Noel, this is your worst video to date I believe sadly. You're negative the entire time with regards to the airline, your constant plug for the jet lag miracle cure was ridiculous and overall, I'm just disappointed in you. Go back to basics please. I'm still unsure why you've got it in for that airline, despite you avoiding them and trashing them for their menu, which was also clearly in English too. Ugh.
reply
austinbuley5937
we went to Iceland for our honeymoon and flew Icelandair from Boston. 737 MAX 8 on the way there and one of the old 767’s coming back. They were both configured in the older business class style but were super comfortable, staff were amazing. Iceland is also amazing, as others have mentioned, doing a several-day stopover is well worth it. Or go for a full trip and see as much of the island as you can!
reply
we went to Iceland for our honeymoon and flew Icelandair from Boston. 737 MAX 8 on the way there and one of the old 767’s coming back. They were both configured in the older business class style but were super comfortable, staff were amazing. Iceland is also amazing, as others have mentioned, doing a several-day stopover is well worth it. Or go for a full trip and see as much of the island as you can!
reply
jjmulder
If you want to travel transatlantic on a very solid business class product you can also consider Condor. They're german and other a lot of flights from main land Europe to Canada/USA. I had a 1. 100 EUR Business Class trip (LAX->SEA->FRA) last September. The only downside is that the feeder flights themselves are economy class but the main leg is BC. In my case a 9 hour one from Seattle to Frankfurt.
reply
If you want to travel transatlantic on a very solid business class product you can also consider Condor. They're german and other a lot of flights from main land Europe to Canada/USA. I had a 1. 100 EUR Business Class trip (LAX->SEA->FRA) last September. The only downside is that the feeder flights themselves are economy class but the main leg is BC. In my case a 9 hour one from Seattle to Frankfurt.
reply
adamd858
I think Icelandic are under performing, they have the potential to be the Emirates of transatlantic travel, they can connect to every city in the northeast US with narrow body planes, connect through Iceland and connect to any city in Europe. They are the only airline that can say that and it’s purely because of location yet for some reason they aren’t hitting the Mark.
reply
I think Icelandic are under performing, they have the potential to be the Emirates of transatlantic travel, they can connect to every city in the northeast US with narrow body planes, connect through Iceland and connect to any city in Europe. They are the only airline that can say that and it’s purely because of location yet for some reason they aren’t hitting the Mark.
reply
vicdiesel544
Don't like cold chicken. salmonella - how to tell you have absolutely no clue without stating it explicitly. facepalm
At least you did NOT try to speak with your mouth full. :D
This one was not really on par with your usually high level of quality and entertainment in your reviews. Will watch the next video to see if there is improvement again.
reply
Don't like cold chicken. salmonella - how to tell you have absolutely no clue without stating it explicitly. facepalm
At least you did NOT try to speak with your mouth full. :D
This one was not really on par with your usually high level of quality and entertainment in your reviews. Will watch the next video to see if there is improvement again.
reply
dmp0x
My girlfriend and I flew Icleand Air to Reykjavik from Boston in business class, and yeah it would have been nice to have lay flat, but it was just a 5 hour flight and was decent. Yeah it wasn't Delta (a few months before we flew Delta business class to Rome) but the service was good, got to Reykjavik early and kicked off a wonderful 6 days in Iceland.
reply
My girlfriend and I flew Icleand Air to Reykjavik from Boston in business class, and yeah it would have been nice to have lay flat, but it was just a 5 hour flight and was decent. Yeah it wasn't Delta (a few months before we flew Delta business class to Rome) but the service was good, got to Reykjavik early and kicked off a wonderful 6 days in Iceland.
reply
howardsykes2754
After hearing of what BA would charge I think I'd take your flight just for the experience at least. As for layovers, I have a 13 hour layover in Singapore on my return to Oz in a couple of months time. I'm tossing up between a recliner or booking into a transit hotel for some sleep & a shower at great expense.
reply
After hearing of what BA would charge I think I'd take your flight just for the experience at least. As for layovers, I have a 13 hour layover in Singapore on my return to Oz in a couple of months time. I'm tossing up between a recliner or booking into a transit hotel for some sleep & a shower at great expense.
reply
Flyctory
Unfortunately, Icelandair reduced their perks about flying their normal Saga Class fare recently. I overall like them. Their service is good, I can sleep well in their seats and I love reading in their gin library. You had a comparably long transfer. Typically it is about 90 mins and very efficiently organized.
reply
Unfortunately, Icelandair reduced their perks about flying their normal Saga Class fare recently. I overall like them. Their service is good, I can sleep well in their seats and I love reading in their gin library. You had a comparably long transfer. Typically it is about 90 mins and very efficiently organized.
reply
adamd858
Here is a funny fact about the A321 neo, there is a button in Nagalli that turns on all of the reading lights with no way to turn them off while taxiing, a flight attendant trust me by mistake and told us that she can’t do anything until we take off or we can turn them off manually if we want to
reply
Here is a funny fact about the A321 neo, there is a button in Nagalli that turns on all of the reading lights with no way to turn them off while taxiing, a flight attendant trust me by mistake and told us that she can’t do anything until we take off or we can turn them off manually if we want to
reply
kevinbennett2477
Passport control in Iceland is always so much faster & easier coming from the US to Europe. Makes the arrival in mainland Europe a breeze. Having waited hours in mainland Europe after long flights, I can say I’d much rather take the super easy & quick Iceland passport control.
reply
Passport control in Iceland is always so much faster & easier coming from the US to Europe. Makes the arrival in mainland Europe a breeze. Having waited hours in mainland Europe after long flights, I can say I’d much rather take the super easy & quick Iceland passport control.
reply
geoffreymarsan8721
$1, 300 one way is a rip off, sorry! You can’t really compare to business onBA or AF, but more to Premium Economy. For $500 or $600 you can fly return on Icelandair economy, I don’t see anything in your review that suggests that there is a premium treatment!
reply
$1, 300 one way is a rip off, sorry! You can’t really compare to business onBA or AF, but more to Premium Economy. For $500 or $600 you can fly return on Icelandair economy, I don’t see anything in your review that suggests that there is a premium treatment!
reply
wonderingtime
Great to know you can break up a transatlantic flight. As bedbound for many years, gives a glimmer of hope to travel to US again. Does an airport layover count as visiting Iceland I guess it depends if collecting countries means to you. Appreciate your videos.
reply
Great to know you can break up a transatlantic flight. As bedbound for many years, gives a glimmer of hope to travel to US again. Does an airport layover count as visiting Iceland I guess it depends if collecting countries means to you. Appreciate your videos.
reply
xkristianx4747
Thanks for another video Noel. I was thinking it was weird seeing the global before this. Icelandair seemed interesting I know there was a layover but it was significantly cheaper. But I learnt Noel was a fishmonger never would of thought that
reply
Thanks for another video Noel. I was thinking it was weird seeing the global before this. Icelandair seemed interesting I know there was a layover but it was significantly cheaper. But I learnt Noel was a fishmonger never would of thought that
reply
MarcBallantyne-m6d
I noti we you kept calling Reykjavik, keflavik I don't know if you noticed that. You need to do flight reviews on Canadian airlines like WestJet or Air Canada. WestJet flies to Tokyo so does Air Canada, I'd love to see you do that.
reply
I noti we you kept calling Reykjavik, keflavik I don't know if you noticed that. You need to do flight reviews on Canadian airlines like WestJet or Air Canada. WestJet flies to Tokyo so does Air Canada, I'd love to see you do that.
reply
l3v1ckUK
I did a one stop transatlantic flight (Manchester to Vancouver on a 757) with Canada 3000 back in 94. It wasn't that bad from what I remember. We just had to get off at Keflavik for an hour while they refuelled and restocked.
reply
I did a one stop transatlantic flight (Manchester to Vancouver on a 757) with Canada 3000 back in 94. It wasn't that bad from what I remember. We just had to get off at Keflavik for an hour while they refuelled and restocked.
reply
Add a review, comment
Other channel videos
