Any feedback on flying Norwegian Airlines

We have flown Norwegian on 5 flight legs, including Budapest to Boston in April for $238 each. The prices are great, and their 787 Dreamliners are magnificent airplanes. Their entertainment systems on the back of every seat is also first class.
Flying Premium will get you a typical airline meal and a snack before landing--and checking a bag and a little more legroom.
We always carry on our bags, so the regular coach seat is fine for us.
We are so thankful that Norwegian Air Shuttle has successfully fought the big U.S. legend airlines in order to provide service from the U.S. to Europe at very inexpensive prices. For the price of one flight on Delta, we can fly Norwegian twice. Competition is a very positive thing for the tourism system, and we'd be traveling overseas much less often without Norwegian Air Shuttle keeping the big American airlines honest.

Not sure what the bad reviews are complaining about but most I have read have complained about things that are standard for Norwegian air flights like the baggage rules and the no free food. If I didn't read about the restrictions ahead of time I would be upset, but who's fault would that be. I have flown 4 years in a row with them to Oslo, Stockholm, Rome and to Palermo for the Rick steves Sicily tour. Am booked in April for direct flights from Oakland to Rome. I understand the baggage requirements and usually on the flight from Oakland I bring my own food and buy water at the airport. Coming back I have pre booked their meal (a requirement) and it was no better or worse than United or Lufthansa. You can order drinks or snacks from your seat and have it delivered. I think Norwegian stacks up well against the other carriers to Europe in economy class. Read the restrictions and you will fly as an educated traveler. Their rates from Oakland have driven down rates from the major hub of San francisco across the bay.

Their economy on the Intl' flights is as good as anyone's in my opinion yet their cost is much lower.
And I am 6' 4"
A fantastic value HOWEVER...
1.) At least from the East Coast their layovers are terrible. Hopefully they add more direct routes and this won't be an issue but currently at least from Boston all flights to Italy or most elsewhere route with a stop in Oslo. Since the flights leave at night, they get to Oslo in the early morning but then no flights depart oslo until late day.
They do this to save money so all of the inbound flights can come in before any outgoing.
So for West Coast folks you may arrive in the afternoon and not have much of a layover but East Coast flyers wind up with an 6-8 hour or so layover to every destination outside of Norway.
I know they are adding some direct flights from the US to certain destinations.

2.) They do charge extra for a checked bag and food, I believe that will add about $90 per person each way.
Most everyone else includes this on a flight from US to Europe.

3.) their sales are a little deceiving (lowest rate usually only available a couple of days if you check right away, goes up after but worse the return leg is always higher) They will advertise say $99 Boston to Oslo, but then when you actually look only a couple of days are actually $99 most maybe $199 and then all return legs are $199+ so what you thought was a $200 R/T is $400 ; still a great price for that flight just make sure to not fall for their sales ad.
Cannot fault them for only having a few days at the lowest rate but their ads should list the lowest possible R/T cost not a one way price for getting there while neglecting the fact the return flights home cost more.
Add in checked bag and meal and you are now closer to $600 R/T which while still a good value you may be able to find sales from other carriers for this rate.

Thank you all for your feedback. We will give Norwegian Airlines a try. We hope to be able to book the non stop from Los Angles LAX to Rome for our trip April 2018.

Mr. Reynolds, when you say East Coast delays, do you mean from NYC?

Flew Norwegian back from Barcelona in 2016 and it was maybe the nicest airplane I've ever flown on. Extremely comfortable. Good experience.

I can't get Norwegian's website to let me choose a date to book. Is it me?