Iceland Express Newark to London?

Iceland Express is a discount airline that competes with Icelandair and has been in business for nearly seven years.

It's parent company also owns Air Astraeus, an aircraft leasing company that supplies planes, and sometimes pilots, to many airlines around the world. (Air Astraeus actually operates all Iceland Express' aircraft.)

They may also be the only airline to employ a "celebrity" as a pilot. Bruce Dickinson, lead singer of the rock group Iron Maiden, is also a qualified pilot and sometimes flies as a Captain with Air Astraeus.

And I wouldn't be too concerned about what Icelandair thinks of Iceland Express. It would sort of be like asking United what it thinks of American.

Icelandair already has some of the better fares available from the gateways they serve here in the U.S., but I’m wondering if Iceland Express from Newark will help keep Icelandair fares lower from JFK? A little competition through Reykjavik is probably a good thing for travelers.

No kidding…Iron Maiden? That reminded me…we have Icelandic friends living in Reykjavik that are huge Iron Maiden fans…we were there a few years back and just missed their concert by one day. It would have been a blast! Apparently, the group is still a big deal in Iceland and around Europe.

The competition will probably keep Icelandair's fares low especially on the routes they both fly.

One other note...Icelandair's carry-on policy is restricted to 6kg (13 lbs). Iceland Express is 10kg (22 lbs).

The OP is traveling in the summer.

Tracy,

I would book the flight. That is an amazing price. I would also purchase trip insurance...for just in case.

I agree with Steve, most people do not review after uneventful flights. I'm one of those who has traveled for years and never once posted a review. I take that back, I posted a review of an RV rental company that scammed us...see only after a negative experience. However, I plan to change that with my upcoming trip. I have seen how valuable reviews are in my planning and I want to pay it forward.

Anybody used Iceland Express from Newark to any European destination? How was your experience with the airline? Any major delays?

Have a trip with them next month.

Thanks!

I saw this post and must reply. It is not often that I've had a flight as comfortable, quick and CHEAP as I have had with Iceland Express, and I have flown with them on numerous occasions because of my job. I would recommend Iceland Express to anyone that wants to fly, in the cheapest way - and get value, good service etc, for what little you do pay! At least that's my experience. All the best, and have a good time in Europe!

Did you wind up using Iceland Express, Tracy? I'd love to hear about your experience as well as Gene's. I'm really reluctant to book them given all of the poor reviews but the $460.00 EWR-LGW rt fare is tempting. I'm glad to read that at least someone has good things to say. I can't seem to find any source that gives any insight to their cancellation stats. That would be helpful to know.

no, we did not use iceland express. we ended up on aer lingus. i wouldn't use aer lingus again, but only because of how annoying (and unpleasant) it was to transfer in dublin-the actual fights themselves were fine, and even with a missed transfer, they got us to london only two hours late. i booked the flight with only cost in mind[INVALID]next time i will pay more for comfort and convenience. but if what you want is what i originally wanted[INVALID]a cheaper flight[INVALID]aer lingus out of jfk is a good option.

I am amazed with the positive reports this airline has received. In June my companion and I flew from Newark to London on Iceland Express. Two things drew me to them; the low fare ($399 pp RT on a special promotion) and the fact that I had them confused with Icelandic Airlines.

The flight from Newark to Iceland was on a 737, which would have been OK if they had not stuffed in several extra rows of seats! My traveling companion is only 5'4" and she was pretty cramped and uncomfortable due to the extreme lack of legroom. At 6'2" I was in agony and had to half-stand in order to change my seating position. It was absolutely the most uncomfortable flight I have EVER been on.

On arrival in Iceland we went through a VERY confusing plane change that was made worse by gate attendants that seemed to never have been through the process before. Unnecessary confusion reigned.
Regardless of the fare, I'll never fly Icelandic Express again.

I have not used Iceland Express, but I did just fly to/from Amsterdam with Icelandair, and I would recommend them. Yes, the baggage allowance is low, but they also allow a personal item, so you can bring another smaller bag and put your heavier items in there. On the way back, I checked my backpack, and it made it back to Seattle just fine (and you can check up to 2 bags for free). The seats were comfortable and the flight attendants were nice enough. You have to pay for food or alcohol, but both were very good for airplane food, so I'd have no issue with paying for them again.

I flew Iceland Express from Winnipeg to Reykjavik last summer and it was horrible. My dates of travel were cancelled one month prior to my trip. No explanation was given to me at all. The next flight that I could pick was a week earlier and I am very lucky that my work was able to change my holiday time around to accommodate this. The flight was a couple of hours late, which was no problem for me, but I am not too sure how it affected most of the plane that was flying onward to London. On the return they were also a few hours late. This being said, beside the late arrivals which I can handle, I was under the impression that flights were cancelled due to lack of interest and sales for flights overseas. It might be different in NYC where there would be less of a chance that a plane would be less than half full and therefore cancelled. I think that Winnipeg still will run into these problems (why, I have no idea and am very disappointed about!) and I will never fly with them again due to my experience. They are much cheaper, but I would rather pay more money for a guaranteed departure. On a further note, the staff I felt were friendly, the seats are cramped (but it is a budget plane) and I was prepared with my own food and entertainment. The flight itself was not bad and if I knew EVERY departure was guaranteed (not including volcano eruptions for example), I would fly with them again in a heartbeat. Plus if you can manage a stopover in Iceland I would highly recommend that!

Hi Tracy, just seen your posting and hope that your trip went well. If it did, you were one of the lucky ones! I work for a tour operator and we have until recently booked clients with Iceland Express, but no more - after countless cancellations, changes and delays - despite assurances to the contrary, we have had to cease working with them for the sake of our customers and reputation. It is simply is not fair to put well planned trips at risk and for clients to have their holidays altered or disrupted in such a fashion. It reflects poorly on us as a holiday company (raising the question why we sell flights on such an unreliable airline) and causes considerable upset all round.

My parents flew with this airline, and they actually didn't mind the lack of "luxuries". Actually, my dad claims to have been able to lie across 3 seats and sleep the entire flight! No one bothered him to ask which meal he needed, since none were provided. This was Copenhagen-Boston, round trip. Besides some minor delays, there was nothing at all wrong with flying with them. Remember, if you cut costs, you can't expect things to run 100% perfectly. Hopefully there is no hit upon safety, I think federal regulations prevent that. You can read my whole review here : http://ahealthconcept.com/iceland-express-review/