Layover in Iceland

Well, I can tell you that the airport is small. It only has one terminal and 3 gate areas, so you should probably be okay. This website should help you a bit as it has a map and directions on where to go. https://www.icelandair.com/support/pre-flight/connecting-at-keflavik/

Since it's their terminal for their airline, all planes don't leave without their passengers.

jkgaliger - so what your saying is that if we are delayed in Reykjavik going through passport control for example, the plane won't leave without us? Thanks for the clarification.

Icelandair does this all the time, and has quick turnovers down to a science. We had a short layover once, and after deplaning from our flight into the Keflavik airport in Iceland, got thru the small airport to our gate, with so much extra time until they would start to board that we and everybody else stood there in a pack, waiting for something to happen. Some people wandered over to the food area to pick up an expensive bite to eat, there was so much spare time.

so what your saying is that if we are delayed in Reykjavik going through passport control for example, the plane won't leave without us?

Not necessarily. The airline will do their very best to make sure their passengers make their connection because if you don’t get on that flight, they need to get you on their very next available flight. They are not going to wait for a few passengers and risk causing the flight to be delayed. EU airlines face penalties if they are more than 3 hours late. Also, if you miss your connection, all airlines are required to get you on the next available flight. If it isn’t until the following day, they owe you for a hotel, meals, and transportation to and from the airport.

In short, you will likely be okay as your airline wouldn’t have given you that flight option if they didn’t expect to make it. It is a small airport and things move quickly. Worse case scenario is you miss your flight and get ‘stuck’ in Iceland for a day. That wouldn’t be too bad at all.

We were once delayed at Passport control. It was a mess. We waited shoulder to shoulder with everyone as we all watched our departures times come and go. Finally, we got through and sprinted the short distance to our gate hoping against hope. Sure enough, our plane was still there. We boarded and waited another 20-30 minutes for the people who were behind us in that mess. Most of their flights tend to have short layovers and they do have it down to a science. I'm not sure what went wrong that day (they never said), but all the other times we transited through Iceland, it has gone very smoothly. (and on that day, they waited for everyone since whatever had happened affected us all)

I've made those connections on Icelandair several times at Reykjavik, most recently last month, with never a problem. The airport has become more crowded and confusing since I first used it decades ago -- but so have all airports I expect. You should be fine, and the bonus is that you can skip passport control when you land in Paris.

Bit of a side issue, but FYI, EU airlines face penalties if they are more than TWO hours late or cancel a flight, & you apply on airline website directly for compensation.

Realized I didn't actually put that it is an Icelandair flight connecting through Reykjavik to Paris, but either way having to stay an extra night in Iceland would be bad for our itinerary. We don't have anything planned for the day we land other then getting to our first hotel, but we do for the following day that would have to be scrapped. The flight we are looking at is scheduled to land in Iceland 7:30/8 am ish and land in Paris about 1 in the afternoon. Next day is when our itinerary really starts.

As mentioned, almost always this is no big deal. On our first trip back in 2015, there was a strike with the passport control agents, so that was a bit of chaos, but the staff was so good and made sure everyone was taken care of. I remember they even handed out water bottles and chocolates to everyone;)

This past February, we had a very short connection in Iceland on Icelandair and we still had plenty of extra time.

I believed that Icelandair was the only airline that flew from the USA to Europe with a connection in Iceland. i see now that United flies to Reykjavik (from Chicago and New York), and so does Delta (from Boston and New York), but do either really offer a short connection, and do they continue to destinations on the Continent, or just shuttle back to the USA?

Anyway, jlkelman, enjoy your quick connection and your France trip!

fyi, I had a similar experience with PLAY airlines, which also operates out of Iceland, a year ago. When my first leg flights arrived a little late for the announced boarding time, they assured everyone not to worry and held the 2nd leg plane until everyone was aboard.

see now that United flies to Reykjavik (from Chicago and New York), and so does Delta (from Boston and New York), but do either really offer a short connection, and do they continue to destinations on the Continent, or just shuttle back to the USA

They only fly to Reykjavik and back to the USA. They don't have the right to fly on to other destinations in Europe.

Go to one of the flight tracking sites such as FlightAware and look at the ontime arrival performance of the flight from Chicago. That may give you an additional level of comfort - or not.

We are thinking of connecting through there on our way to Paris from Chicago, but the airline is giving me 55 minutes or 50 minutes as a layover time which makes me very nervous.

This is Icelandic Air's bread & butter. Traveler's have been transiting through Reykjavik for a long time. All you will do is go through security. There is no passport control since you will be airside.

I would not be concerned that the flight from Reykjavik to Paris will be canceled. Remember they have passengers going from Paris to the USA.

All you will do is go through security. There is no passport control since you will be airside

Actually, just the opposite. You will go through passport control in Reykjavik as you are entering Schengen. There won't be any security.

(I think someone may be confusing Ryekjavik with London.)

It also means when you arrive in Paris, you won't have to deal with immigration.

Frank II, you are correct. I was confused with London. I would still expect Iceland Air to move people through to board their next flight.

I would still expect Iceland Air to move people through to board their next flight.

They are very good at it. I've never had to wait more then 10 minutes.

It just seems that whenever I'm on a flight out of Keflavik to another airport in Europe my plane is parked miles away and they overload the buses to take you to the plane. Then up the stairs.