Icelandair

Just finished a roundtrip Helsinki to Toronto via Reykjavik on Icelandair. The fare was booked in February and very competitive at 500EUR. Reykjavik airport is very convenient for transfer and for someone who does not enjoy long flights it was wonderful to only have a 5-hour transatlantic sector. Cabin crew very senior and just polite not friendly at all. The worst part is the buy-on-board menu which really should include more choice in warm meals. A tasteless vegetarian wrap just is not sufficient. Best to bring own snacks. For the fare paid Icelandair got me there safely and almost on schedule. Still wish they'd make passengers feel more welcome with a few smiles thrown in.

The term "economy plus" is a misnomer. Economy minus would be a better description. First the seats were the same as economy except the middle seat in a three-seat was left vacant. We had to share our tv screen as only one was provided on the seats assigned. My wife and I took turns being uncomfortable in the seat that had our knees up against the protruding exit door. As poor and uncomfortable was the seating it was not as bad as the poor guy in front of us whose seat did not recline at all. In addition he and the other passenger had no middle seat between them. As much as we would like to visit Iceland for a longer period next year I'm afraid Icelandair is out of the question. The cabin crew needs to spend less time catching up on the latest news they have to share and pay more attention to those that maintain their employment. The is the first negative review I have written over the past few years in my travels. I generally write very positive things or choose not to write anything. This experience compelled me to make this exception.

I found Icelandair service absolutely inadequate. I have never had to pay for food on an intercontinental flight. Icelandair does not have a contract with other airlines therefor they will not transfer luggage from other airlines. So you have to go to baggage claim and pick up your luggage and recheck in with Icelandair. I could live with all of the above if the pricing was so much cheaper than other airlines. But that too is a major disappointment.

SEA-KEF-LHR. Check-in & boarding at SEA was good. Very impressed with onboard service and found it interesting that very few pax actually opted to take advantage of the on-board meal purchase which enforces my belief that most pax only eat airline meals because they feel they have paid for it so they should eat whatever is offered. Found the customs / immigration at KEF to be friendly and welcoming which was not the case with the security people at KEF who were anything but friendly and welcoming and quite aggressive with pax. Departure of flight from KEF was on-time as was arrival at LHR with luggage waiting on the carousel. LHR-KEF-SEA check-in and boarding and well organized with friendly staff who went out of their way to solve problems with my seating assignment. Overall impression of Icelandair was very good - they will get more of my business if they continue to offer great fares. Highly recommend Icelandair for anyone looking for good value and those who like me who find the nonstop flights from the west coast of Canada/USA too long and like the thought of having a break after seven hours of flying.