KEF airport question

I've been through KEF numerous times. I've never had to wait more than 15 minutes on arrival for immigration.

The last couple of times there was line for exit immigration but not more than 20 minutes wait as it moved quickly.

The airport is fairly efficient at getting people through quickly.

I only have carry on but the check in area can get crowded. I know they have machines to print boarding passes but if they also have bag drop machines I'd suggest using them. If you drop the bags, why would you go to ticketing? Print your boarding pass before heading to the airport or get one from a machine. Then you can go straight to security without standing on any line.

Thanks for the information. I usually print boarding passes, and try not to check bags. However, doesn't Delta have to verify my passport on check in? I have found that to be the case in other European countries.

They will verify it even if you don't check a bag. I find that in European countries including Iceland my passport is checked several times before I board, whether or not I check a bag. Sometimes the crew comes around to everyone in the boarding area, sometimes they go down the line of passengers waiting to board.

At domestic airports, if I am flying internationally and I didn't check a bag, I get paged to the podium, where they check my passport there. Sometimes I will use the kiosk to check in (even though I already checked in online) which verifies my passport so I don't get paged to the podium.

We just returned last month from our 5th trip to Iceland. We have always gotten out of the airport in less than an hour, including collecting our luggage and shopping at duty free.

Flying home from KEF though has its own weird set of things and yes I would allow 3 hours. They do have the self tagging machines, but then you do not go to a ticket counter. You go just to the left of the main ticket counter area (there is a green light above it) and there is a spot where you can scan your tagged luggage and send it off on the conveyor belt. So again, no agent to deal with. Make sure your carryon fits in the sizer though, otherwise you will be stopped before you board. After you send your bags on the conveyor, you go upstairs to a turnstile and scan your boarding pass there to get through and that takes you to security. After security you go through duty free and then to a large area with restaurants and shops. Many people hang out here and wait for the gate announcement. Don't do that! Get a bite if you want, but then continue on past the shops etc to passport control. Do that when the lines are minimal. After that you go through yet another turnstile and scan your boarding pass, then down the escalator, past more shops/restaurants and on to the gate area. We fly out of the D gates, which I think are where all US flights from from, but I am not 100% sure so double check now and see where your flight number for today says it flies out of. Anyway, find a seat whether just in the middle of the gates or at a restaurant etc to hang out at. They only announce the gates about 15 minutes before boarding. This is why we do passport control early. Then when the gate is announced, head there. Most of the time at the gate, it is a bit of a free for all. An agent will come check everyones boarding pass and passport, and then you get on a shuttle bus to take you to the plane. Everyone crowds, etc and it is chaotic. Sometimes you may get lucky and fly out of D15/16 in which case you stop the shuttle bus. I hope this helps to understand the weird bits about leaving from KEF;)

I only do carry on so I never stop at the check in desk. My passport gets checked at the gate. It doesn't have to be done at check in.

The last 3 times we have bene to Iceland there are no agents at the check in desks to even check your passport. Just at the gate.

We were in Iceland the last two weeks in June. I thought for sure 2.5 hours would be enough time flying home since the airport is so small.

We flew Delta and the line to check in/check baggage was so long that we literally walked right on to the plane----we didn't have any down time at all. We barely had time to use the rest room before boarding. In our case, it was the Delta issue and security/immigration wasn't too bad.

But I'd definitely allow more time next time I'm in Iceland.

mikliz97, thanks for taking the time to write your extensive response.

Jean— you are welcome. KEF throws so many people so I thought this would help. If I would have realized this on our 2nd trip it would have made life so much easier. Our first trip was before Iceland was a big tourist destination so it was easy.

mikliz97. Just curious, what airline were you using?

On our July, 2023 return from KEF via Icelandic Air, the security line extended down the (turned off) escalator, to the first floor. It had required research to find out the "Area A" is the Icelandic check-in, because unlike bigger airports, there is no signboard identifying where to go for your check-in. I think our passports were not inspected until the gate, as another posted.

You said you're going to DTW, but I should mention that homebound Canada-citizen passengers for Icelandic had a special security procedure that required a sticker on their passport (I think ... ) before the actual check-in process. Something to do before getting in line, I think.

We are going through KEF on Icelandair tomorrow on our way to Norway. Should I plan on our flight using shuttle buses both arriving and departing?

Jeen--We always use Icelandair.

mnannie--I think so, but am trying to recall since you are just passing through. I would plan on a shuttle bus and then be happy if it is not;) The shuttles can throw you if you have cumbersome carryons.

The shuttles can throw you if you have cumbersome carryons.

Fortunately, the carry-on sizes are too small for even our RS suitcases, so I am checking a larger bag which will also hold my tripod and hiking poles. My bags I'm bringing on the plan are relatively small.

Thanks for the response!

Mnannie--Yes, Icelandair has smaller carryon requirements. My RS bag does actually fit in their sizer though! But with hiking poles, you have to check those anyway. I just prefer something with wheels if having to do a shuttle as a duffel bag or similar is just a bit awkward for me.

My RS bag does actually fit in their sizer though!

Do you use the Ravenna rolling case? That's what we both usually use, but I didn't want to leave the poles at home only to find that they were going to make us check our bags. We will have a car for our entire trip, so in this instance, we are okay, checking a bigger bag. Our transfer time in Iceland is pretty short, so I'm hoping the suitcases end up in Oslo when we do.

Mnannie--no, my bag is just the regular carryon. I did not take it with me on this trip as we needed duffel bags for in the camper van. I put it in the sizer though when I was at SEA for another flight, just out of curiosity. I have checked it on Icelandair a number of times, but never thought about carrying it on and I was curious, so put it in the sizer. Yes, with poles you will need to check the bag anyway. The good thing with KEF is that it is small and I do remember that our transfer was super easy, but that was several years ago. Since then all of our flights on Icelandair have been to Iceland, nowhere else.

I’ve only been through once, but I marveled at how quick, efficient and helpful the staff at KEF was. It was really slammed and we made our tight connection with no special treatment or queue- jumping

mikliz97, thank you for the detailed information, this will help me strategize when I'm leaving through KEF airport.