Luggage Restrictions on Iceland Air

Great question! I am flying Alaska Air to Iceland Air to Amsterdam and would love not to be surprised! WE are going to pay the Kings Ransom and check the oversize carry on (according to Iceland Air) that my wife uses. I hope RS travel bag and Cevita backpack work for Iceland Air! RS you're gonna get a nasty gram if I pay multiple King's ransoms!! Haha

If ya gotta pay, ya gotta pay...Enjoy the trip and have a one less splurge meal!!

We watched a passenger trying to force his carry on into the Iceland Air measuring box, just a regular small carry on but with wheels projecting a little too far. He had to check it. There was no forgiveness.
We checked our 22" roll-aboards, while our small backpacks were carry-ons and purse and book bag were personal items. Our tickets, bought a year ago before the low, low fares were introduced, included one checked bag. Even then, they weren't expensive.

Did you buy basic economy? If not you can just check your larger bag if there’s a problem, for free. Otherwise you may want to buy a new bag, although I have not seen extensive checking of carryons.

We flew Icelandair from Minneapolis in early June. At the check-in desk, every passenger had to place his/her carry on in their sizer. If the bags didn't fit, they were checked at no charge. The same process was followed at the boarding gate, and again the agents checked bags that didn't fit but not assess any charges. There was no leeway for bags that "almost fit".

It was interesting to note that when we returned from Amsterdam, we weren't required to prove that our carry on bags fit into the sizer.

As with so many things in life, there are few guarantees.

Personally, I would not count on any airline being "forgiving" or loose in their enforcement of luggage policies. Often these policies are not strictly enforced (sometimes not enforced at all). Whether or not they do (and if they do, the degree to which they do) comes down to luck.

Anyone flying nowadays needs to know what the rules are for bags on the airlines they're flying. They need to also know the (honest, real-world) dimensions of their bags. And what the consequences would be if you try to exceed the limits and you get caught by someone who is not going to let it slide.

Then it comes down to the words of Clint Eastwood (do you feel lucky?).

If you don't want to rely on luck (or reports from others of what their experience was sometime in the past), then you need to live within the rules. Doing so eliminates worry (it might also require you to eliminate some of the stuff you had wanted to bring, which may or may not be a good thing).

Maybe you get lucky, maybe you don't. Personally, I prefer to stay within the rules and not rely on luck (which sometimes prompts me to check a bag when I may not have really had to). YMMV.

Terrific feedback. Obviously I was in the RS mental mode of not checking luggage that I didn't even think to consider whether our tickets give us each a free checked bag. So, to confirm what status of ticket I have, because I used Alaska Air mileage, I called them. It took a full 5 minutes for the reservationist to find out that Mileage Program tickets equal "Economy Standard" and so we DO qualify for a free bag each in their airlines' contract. Suddenly stress is lifted off my shoulders! I would rather wait at luggage (tho' I hate to) rather than not take an extra pair of shoes. Thank you, Tom, for suggesting I search that.
Also, thanks to TC for describing the experience in MN. My back-up plan was to go to Seatac tomorrow to watch and test my bag sizes. Now, maybe not!

With so many flights at Reykjavik using buses to/from the terminal, you really don't want to hassle with a large carry on with Icelandair. Note that Ireland is non-Schengen so at least you stay on the ground floor for both your transits, no escalator.

I've flown Icelandair my last two round trips to Europe (June 2018 and Sept 2017). They do check your bag size - at least visually. I checked in online and brought my printed boarding pass to the airport. They called me up to the desk solely to see my bag. They didn't measure it, just took one look and gave me a tag that showed it had been inspected. I think they develop an eye for what fits and what doesn't.

Icelandair gives you several choices. Basic includes a small carry on that is best considered a personal item (not that plus a personal item, though I've seen them let it go before), for me a small shoulder bag that fits under the seat. This works well for me. I keep packing lighter and was looking for something smaller than the full size carry on. I specifically bought a shoulder bag to fit their requirements (as well as Ryan Air, Frontier Airlines and other low cost carriers). Now I pack in the 10-12 lbs. range, total. In theory, you are supposed to put it under your seat but I've never had a flight attendant give me a hard time for putting it up in the overhead bin (after taking out my zip lock bag of flight items).

The second choice is a full size carry on. This is where Rick's convertible bag fits. I've never noticed Icelandair actually measuring bags (as I've seen on Lufthansa and SAS flights). The requirements have to do with fitting in their overhead bins. If you put one in and the door can't close because it's too big, you may have to check it (and pay extra). I did notice one flight a bag was put in sideways because it was too big. The flight attendant let it go.

After that you can pay for luggage. I think the biggest thing there is weight but I'm sure there's also maximum sizes. I've never tested those limits.

Very interesting, Brad. It sounds as if you fly pretty light and don't worry about under-seat needs. You are probably right that the attendants have "trained" eyes.

For others reading this feed however, I thought I would share information from a friend about her experience with Iceland Air's under-seat storage. The "box" she refers to is, we think, for electronics which is installed under many (or all?) middle seats. So, to be forewarned, she writes:
"I could get my purse under the seat for just a few inches up to the box. The box does not start until a few inches under the seat. I think you could only fit something very thin, maybe three inches high under it. I also could not fit it on the side. I would estimate only two inches or so. All 8 middle seats I have had had the box."

Regrettably, I am booked with a middle seat. I am taking the Civita bag and will, after take-off, hopefully be able to stuff it under the box and my feet as best I can (assuming it has to go overhead for take-off).

I don't know what this "box intrusion" means for long-legged people.

It means that you have less room for your feet. I have not found the electronic box under every middle seat but more random. And recent I found it under an aisle seat to my surprise.

I do not understand why these black boxes seems to be unique to Iceland Air. Or are they not?

Nevertheless, they are a pain in the buns.

As a short-legged person, I like to put my feet on top of my personal item as I also have poor circulation. Hopefully the threats by some Congress members to set minimum standards for airline seating will raise comfort levels and mitigate the health risks. Maybe RS travelers could initiate a petition..... It is getting ridiculous.
Thanks again for all the feedback.

There was no forgiveness.

Apparently that's usually true, if you are unlucky enough to be required to put your bag in the measuring space. I almost made it onto the plane when an agent told me I had to have my bag sized. It almost fit, and the agent there wanted to let it go, but she was overruled. Meanwhile, my wife got on the plane and said people were carrying far larger bags on while the agents were otherwise occupied.