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flying with WOW airlines

I keep getting these super deals from WOW air and wonder what peoples experiences have been.
I heard from one person its ok if you are only going to go to Iceland but the connections to Europe were unreliable.

Any experience?

Posted by
7731 posts

i took my first Wow trip last July. Paris connection in Reykjavik to Chicago. It was everything I expected. I took my 2nd trip last December/January round trip Chicago Paris. On the way back the incoming aircraft that was to take us from Paris to Reykjavik was severely delayed so they told us not to board as we would not make the connection to Chicago. They put us in a hotel for 2 nights as the flight the next day was booked fully. But we did get back to Chicago as re-scheduled. And I have delayed flight compensation with the airline pending.

The prices are lower than legacy carriers like United British etc.because the airline is only 5 years old not a lot of senior employees to pay high salaries not much advertising either (I may be over simplifying). You pay to carry on or check a bag. They do not have in flight entertainment system and they do not include meals in the ticket.
I'd fly them again at those prices; and I think the airline is only for a certain kind of traveler: low maintenance, lean and free.

Posted by
9404 posts

We flew WOW last year and liked it. Nice flight attendants, nice, new planes, comfortable seats, clean, super low cost.

The negatives for me are:
1. Changing planes. I prefer non-stop, it’s less time in the air by many hours
2. Changing in Reykjavik which is weather dependent. Either plane can be delayed or cancelled
3. No back of seat entertainment
4. No individual air vents at each seat. Sounds trivial but I need fresh air at some point

Norwegian Air is another budget airline that’s very good, has non-stop flights to Europe, back of seat entertainment, air vents and nice, clean planes.

I like paying for things “à la carte” which is how WOW and Norwegian Air does it. I don’t like paying for what I don’t need as most other airlines do it.

Posted by
4 posts

thanks for the responses, that helps a lot and it sounds like a possible choice for me since I am pretty low maintenance and don't mind bringing my own food etc.. Of course, when I can i will grab a nonstop bargain flight if I see one.
Maybe it's time to go to Iceland.

Posted by
9404 posts

My son spent a week in Iceland after we were there to change planes and saw the incredible photos of Iceland in the airport. He absolutely loved it. The beauty of Iceland is mind blowing. The people are extremely friendly. It is very expensive though, so save up.

Icelandic food (which you can buy on the plane) is extremely high quality, clean, fresh and delicious. Expensive but worth it imo. They have Skyr which is their yogurt, it’s thick like Greek yogurt and sooo good.

Posted by
561 posts

From San Francisco to Europe the biggest drawback to my mind with WOW is some of the layovers in Iceland are about 12 hours, so it really extends the overall flight times. I've been intrigued by Norwegian Air's non-stop flight Oakland to Copenhagen as an alternative.

Posted by
4 posts

thanks, I think I will look at the Oakland to Paris flights since that airport is fairly close to me.
A few years ago I took XL France non stop on that route and it was pretty stripped down but a super deal.

Posted by
12172 posts

I've been on WOW for two round trips and Icelandair for one (a second coming in June). Both are good airlines, both have fairly tight connections but plenty of time to make it. I prefer the tight connections because it keeps the overall travel duration reasonable.

I've been going to Paris each time. The passport check in Iceland is a real bonus because I can walk straight from the plane to ground transportation when I arrive in Paris (I only carry on). Passport check in Iceland has never been more than about five or ten minutes and is usually something less than a minute.

One of my WOW flights missed it's connection. The runway was closed at Keflavik and we couldn't take off from Paris for about two hours. We finally arrived about 1 1/2 hours late but half the flight missed their connections. WOW was great IMO about putting us up and buying us meals without any haggling. The complaint from some passengers is that there wasn't more service explaining exactly what to expect. Instead they said go get on the shuttle that will take you to your hotel. At the hotel they said, be back at 7 for dinner. Later they told us the arrangement for breakfast, lunch and shuttles back to the airport. They posted our flights at the hotel lobby. I didn't have any problem with it and preferred that to arguing with a customer service person so I wouldn't have to sleep in the airport or pay for it myself.

Posted by
16028 posts

If you do Book WOW, , make sure to put your first, middle and last names all on the booking form. They recently denied boarding at Toronto to a number of people ( maybe 11) who did not have their middle name on the boarding card, even though these people were passed by security.

http://toronto.citynews.ca/2018/04/09/no-middle-name-ticket-keeps-mississauga-woman-off-flight/

Lots of comments on TripAdvisor.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g1-i10702-k11443305-Second_given_name_missing_boarding_denied-Air_Travel.html