Icelandair is Iceland’s flag carrier, headquartered at Reykjavík Airport but operating mainly from its hub at Keflavík International Airport. As part of the Icelandair Group, it connects travelers across North America and Europe.
Thanks to Iceland’s location, the airline offers convenient one-stop transatlantic flights via its “Atlantic Bridge” network. Since the 1960s, Icelandair has also promoted its stopover program, allowing passengers traveling between North America and Europe to spend up to seven days in Iceland at no extra airfare. This program remains available in 2025 and continues to be a signature feature of the airline.
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Key Points to Know About Icelandair
- Frequent-Flyer Program: Icelandair’s loyalty scheme is Saga Club. It lets members earn Saga Points when flying with Icelandair or partner airlines, and redeem them toward flights or Saga Shop purchases onboard. As of August 2025, members can earn Saga Points when flying with Alaska Airlines or JetBlue. However, only Alaska allows points to be redeemed directly for travel. JetBlue partnerships still permit earning points. Beginning in 2025, TrueBlue members can now redeem for Icelandair award flights—a recent expansion to the partnership.
- Fleet and Orders: Icelandair currently operates a diverse fleet of 42 aircraft, including Boeing 737 MAX 8s and MAX 9s. This year, the airline has begun introducing Airbus A321LRs into its lineup (with initial deliveries starting in late 2024). The airline has a firm order for 13 Airbus A321XLRs, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2029.
- Ratings and Service Perception: On the Skytrax scale, Icelandair remains a 3‑Star Airline. This indicates average but dependable quality across seats, onboard amenities, service, and cleanliness (on a scale where 5 is the top mark).
General Impression: Icelandair continues to be recognized for reliable transatlantic service, especially its signature stopover program, which allows free short stays in Iceland en route between North America and Europe. Though not ultra-luxurious, it remains a practical and convenient carrier.
What Does Icelandair Business Class Offer?
Is Icelandair business class worth it? Let’s find out!
Fare Classes and Meals
Icelandair offers three fare categories: Economy Light, Economy Standard, and Saga Class (its business-class equivalent). Only Saga Class includes complimentary meals. In Economy classes, passengers must pre-purchase meals or use onboard buy‑on‑board service. Basic refreshments like coffee, tea, and water are included, especially on North American routes.
Saga Class Variants
- Saga Premium provides priority check-in, boarding, a generous baggage allowance, lounge access (at Keflavík), premium seating with extra legroom, complimentary meals and drinks, and inflight entertainment.
- Saga Premium Flex includes all Saga Premium perks—plus greater flexibility, including easier ticket changes and full refunds.
Business-Class Comparison
Icelandair’s Saga Class is often likened to domestic first class in the US. While the seats are comfortable leather recliners, they do not convert to fully flat beds. However, they still offer a more spacious and relaxing experience than economy, particularly for transatlantic flights.
Icelandair Airport Experience
With Saga Class, you’ll enjoy exceptional care and comfort even before flying Icelandair business class. Your pre-flight experience may include using the Icelandair mobile app. This sleek and user-friendly tool helps you manage your journey from start to finish. You can:
- Search and book flights directly from your phone.
- Access and modify bookings, including seat selection, meal purchases, and baggage upgrades.
- Check in and download your mobile boarding pass, with options to save it to Apple or Google Wallet.
- Track flight updates in real-time and receive timely notifications.
- View flight schedules for planning future trips.
- Manage your Saga Club account, including viewing points balance, registering missing points, and redeeming points. You can even add your club card to your digital wallet.
- Get support through quick links to customer service, booking management, and more.
Saga Class Airport Benefits
Saga Class travelers enjoy airport advantages such as priority check-in, priority boarding, and fast-track security (available at certain airports). Lounge access at the Keflavík Saga Lounge remains standard for Saga Class passengers. But as of April 2025, access to lounges at other airports is exclusively limited to Saga Premium Flex tickets, not standard Saga Premium fares.
Icelandair Business Class Baggage Allowance
International Flights
- Saga Premium passengers may check in two bags, each weighing up to 32 kg (70 lb). They are also allowed one carry-on bag (up to 10 kg) plus one personal item.
- Saga Premium Flex passengers receive the same checked-bag allowance (2 × 32 kg) but benefit from two carry-on bags (each up to 10 kg) plus one personal item.
Flights to the Faroe Islands
Baggage allowances for Saga Premium and Saga Premium Flex remain the same as on international routes. However, carry-on personal items are not permitted on flights to the Faroe Islands under either class.
These routes are operated by smaller DASH aircraft, and Saga Premium services are not offered onboard. Still, if you book a Saga Premium fare from Europe or North America to the Faroe Islands, the Saga Premium baggage allowance still applies.
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Lounges
The Saga Lounge at Keflavík Airport is Icelandair’s only business-class lounge, and it remains exclusively operated by the airline. Designed to reflect Iceland’s natural beauty and cultural warmth, its décor includes rustic touches like lava stone, wooden fixtures, and a welcoming fireplace. The lounge offers panoramic views of the Reykjanes Peninsula, Faxaflói Bay, and — on clear days — even Snæfellsjökull Glacier.
Inside, you’ll find a range of amenities:
- Around 15,000 sq ft of open, thoughtfully divided space
- A variety of refreshments and light meals, complemented by an impressive self-serve drinks bar with alcoholic options
- Showers stocked with soap and towels
- Free Wi‑Fi, including abundant power outlets for device charging
- Family-friendly features, including a kids’ play area and accessible facilities
Access Policy
Access is limited to passengers holding a valid boarding pass for departing Icelandair or Icelandair-operated charter flights. The lounge is not accessible via Priority Pass or other generic membership programs and cannot be purchased separately. Certain Saga Club members (Silver or Gold) or qualifying credit cardholders may invite guests for a fee.
Partner Lounges
While Saga Lounge is the only lounge Icelandair directly operates, passengers traveling through other international hubs can access partner lounges. Access is typically granted to Saga Premium Flex ticket holders as well as eligible Saga Gold and Saga Silver members.
Icelandair Business Class Cabins & Seats
If you’re comparing transatlantic business class options, most airlines offer lie‑flat seats that recline fully to create an in‑air bed. This is a standard expectation for long-haul travel. But Icelandair’s Saga Class is a notable exception.
Saga Class features recliner-style seats, available on the Boeing 737 MAX, 757, and 767 aircraft. These provide enhanced comfort compared to economy—wider seats with more legroom—but do not flatten to a full bed.
These recliners are functional and pleasant, but not ideal for deep overnight rest. Still, Saga fares often include valuable perks—multi-course meals, extra baggage, and lounge access—while typically costing nearly half the price of other transatlantic business class options, making them a strong value choice.
Service
Saga Premium delivers a refined flying experience without breaking the bank. Passengers enjoy generous baggage allowances, priority check-in and boarding, and lounge access.
The onboard experience is thoughtfully curated. Highlighted by cuisine inspired by Icelandic traditions, the meals feature fresh, locally sourced ingredients. The dining is elevated further with a rotating wine menu—updated every quarter—and a selection of local gins that add a distinctive Icelandic touch to your flight.
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Amenities
All Saga Premium passengers enjoy a suite of elevated amenities:
- Inclusive seat selection on Icelandair-operated flights
- More comfortable reclining seating than economy
- Blankets and pillows for added comfort
- Complimentary meals onboard
- The Saga Lounge access at Keflavík Airport
- Wi‑Fi in both the lounge and on the flight for up to two devices
- Inflight entertainment
Since December 2023, Icelandair has also provided a refreshed, sustainable Flora amenity kit to Saga Premium and Saga Premium Flex flyers on routes between Iceland and North America. The kits feature artwork by Icelandic artist Sara Riel, inspired by her mural Flóran (The Flora), and are designed with environmental responsibility in mind. The recyclable kraft‑paper bags (available in two artwork variations) are durable, biodegradable, and even hand‑washable.
Each kit includes care essentials and Nordic touches such as:
- Verso Skincare’s lip balm and hand cream
- Illustrated postcards featuring Sara Riel’s plant-inspired artwork
- Skin care items, earplugs, a dental kit, an eye shade, and socks
All contents reflect a commitment to sustainability and cultural storytelling.
Entertainment
All Icelandair aircraft are now equipped with complimentary VOD in-flight entertainment (IFE), featuring seatback touch-screen monitors for every passenger. The newer Airbus A321LRs also introduce the Panasonic Astrova system. It offers immersive 4K OLED HDR10+ displays, Bluetooth-enabled spatial audio, and USB-C power sockets (67 W) at each seat for device charging.
Passengers can enjoy a diverse entertainment lineup, including recent and classic movies and TV shows, Icelandic music selections, children’s programming, and Icelandair’s “Unique Iceland” video series.
In-flight Wi-Fi is available fleetwide—excluding domestic, Greenland, and Faroe Islands flights. Saga Premium and Saga Premium Flex travelers receive free Wi-Fi for two devices, while economy passengers may purchase access.
Food
Saga Premium passengers enjoy a refined in-flight dining experience:
- A thoughtfully curated menu of complimentary multi-course meals, with course offerings adapted by route length. European flights may feature a 2- or 3-course meal, while North American flights consistently serve a 3-course menu, along with snacks.
- Special dietary accommodations—such as vegetarian, vegan, or allergy-sensitive meals—are available on request. You can arrange these through the booking process, the “Manage Booking” tool, or via Icelandair’s service center.
Beverages
Saga Premium passengers enjoy a curated selection of complimentary beverages before departure and throughout the flight, including champagne, soft drinks, coffee, and tea.
The onboard bar features a distinctly Icelandic flair, with notable brands such as Gull Light (alcohol-free beer made from Icelandic barley), Gull beer, Reykjavik Distillery gin, and Reyka vodka. Frequent travelers have even spotted a gin-and-tonic menu, pairing a variety of Icelandic gins with complementary tonic waters for a tailored cocktail experience.
Icelandair Upgrade to Business Class
You have three main paths to upgrade your travel class on Icelandair:
- Purchase an Upgrade: You can pay in cash or with Saga Points to move from Economy to Economy Comfort or Saga Premium—or upgrade within Saga classes for added perks. Some upgrades may be available at the airport, depending on availability.
- Bid via Class Up: If your flight is eligible, you’ll receive an invitation about 10 days before departure to place a bid through the Class Up program. Bids must be submitted online (not available at the airport), and you may use either Saga Points or a credit card—but not both. You’ll get notified of the outcome at least 26 hours before departure (or 3 hours if departing from Keflavík).
- Companion Complimentary Upgrade: Saga Silver members receive one complimentary upgrade per year from Economy to Saga Premium. Saga Gold members may request free upgrades at any time, subject to availability.
Overall impression
Flying Saga Premium with Icelandair delivers a distinctive mix of Icelandic hospitality, comfort, and value. While the seats are recliners rather than lie-flat beds, the journey is enhanced by smooth airport services, attentive onboard care, and well-curated amenities. With quality meals and consistently competitive fares, Saga Premium remains an appealing choice for transatlantic travelers seeking a balance between comfort and affordability.
