Short layover in Reykjavík

We've been through there six times. On two or three occasions we never even sat down - just went through passport check and strait onto the next plane. Nothing to worry about. The airport is small, modern, easy to navigate, and most importantly, Iceland Air is just about the only airline that operates there. So if a flight arriving from the US was a little late, people on the ground there would know the situation - know that it could cause difficulty with a half-dozen different connections in Europe - and hold those planes until you were on board. However, none of our flights have been more than 5 minutes late. They are a very well-run airline.

Thank you, Randy. This was exactly what I wanted to hear! (Bonus: we get to "see" Iceland.)

I'll second everything Randy said. I've flown through there more than once on Icelandair and was just there three weeks ago. On the outbound flight, I landed at KEF around 6:30 am and had about an hour to kill before boarding my connection. Got off the plane, went through immigration (fast), and headed to my gate. It's a very small and efficient airport, so you'll find there is plenty of time to get out of the gate area and into the main terminal area where there are lots of shops and several café options. Grab a cup of coffee and a snack, take a look at some of the Blue Lagoon stuff for sale, check out 66 Degrees North outwear (excellent gear but expensive), hit the WC, check out another shop or two, and head back to the gate area. It's only a couple hundred paces from gates to this area, so you'll have plenty of time. One problem with the gate area, however, is that there is a serious lack of seating, and it's a little cramped. You'll probably have to stand for a bit. On the way home, my connection was a little bit tighter, so I really only had time to head to my connecting gate. Once there, I stood around for 10 minutes before we started boarding. One of the other incoming flights from Europe was late, so we ended up on the plane for about 20 minutes waiting for passengers. That's actually a good thing – you know if your flight is late, they're not going to leave for the U.S. without you. Icelandair dominates this airfield, and their model is such that all flights from US arrive at about same time...then connections all leave for Europe. Same thing on the turnaround. Oh, and just ignore that other post over on "To the West" that screams out something about not taking Icelandair (a rather uninformed commentary). BTW, I have done a stay-over in Reykjavik before...incredible...don't miss it. Happy travels!

The only reason the other person gives for not taking Icelandair is that they do not provide free meals in economy class. A trivial complaint, in my view. But now you know, so if you are flying economy, either bring your own food, or check out the menus on their website and bring some money to buy what you like. Everyone I know who has flown Icelandair (a popular choice from Seattle) says it was great---reliable, good service, on time.

Andrea; You're welcome. It IS interesting to see a bit of Iceland from the plane and from the airport. But don't expect that small part of the country to be pretty. The ground is almost featureless and barren, plus there is a strong likelihood that the weather will be bleak, misty and wet - or at least it has been every time we were there. However, if you ever get the chance to do an extended layover, Reykjavik is interesting, the Blue Lagoon is unique, and there are numerous day-trips you can sign up for that will take you to some pretty stunning natural scenery. So don't judge Iceland by what you see from the airport. It gets much better.

Andrea, to make you feel better, I'll tell you that my 1 hr turnaround in Reykjavik turned into a 25 min turnaround time due to uncontrollable issues (weather related, in the States) and we still were able to get from our plane to the other one with minutes to spare - I think the planes were 3 gates apart and the airport is small and manageable. I liked Iceland Air a lot, just remember to bring your own food and headphones or be prepared to buy them.

Actually, the view on approach is quite spectacular, because you'll come in low (a few thousand feet) over the ocean as you approach the airfield. The land might remind you of Ireland at that point. But, yes, the land in the vicinity of KEF is flat, rocky, and barren. The airfield itself is in the middle of nowhere. You don't have to get far from the city to experience some breathtaking natural beauty, however. We have local friends there, and they were able to take us to several spots no more than an hour outside of Reykjavik where we experienced snow-capped mountains & glaciers, mossy valleys, sheep grazing near the sea that looked exactly like Ireland, cliffs with shear drops to the sea, lighthouses, a spot where Vikings met and established the world's first republican form of government, a spot where we could straddle two continents, the Blue Lagoon...I could go on and on, and we did all of this in just 1 day. Take a day tour...there are several options by bus, van, etc. that will take you out to several of the most popular sites. BTW, there are whale-watching tours, puffin/seabird-watching tours, and other tours of various types, too, so you're bound to find one you like. As for being wet, misty, and bleak, my experience was opposite of that in June. It was partly cloudy, dry, and the sun didn't set. A few weeks ago, however, it was cold (upper 30s – mid 40s), cloudy, rainy, and windy. Timing is everything!