I was playing around on Expedia checking flights from Seattle to Frankfurt. One attractive offering (pricewise) is on Icelandair via Keflavik Int'l. However, the transfer time between the SEA-KEF segment and the KEF-FRA segment is only 40 minutes. I checked my travel dates on Icelandair's site as well, and it gave the same option (or an option involving a 9-hour layover). Forty minutes can't possibly be enough time to make our ongoing flight, can it? If it was as simple as walking from one gate to another, I suppose it would be possible. But surely there are all sorts of landing formalities, like a passport check and possibly a security check?
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
I think a short time between connecting flights is standard operating procedure for Icelandair. It's been over six years since I flew Icelandair so I don't remember what the "landing formalities" were. However, I believe the connection time was well under an hour and I remember just wandering around between flights in what is a very small airport. For the record, the service on all flights (Minneapolis-Reykjavik-London and Paris-Reykjavik-Minneapolis) was excellent.
Posted by
OP
Seattle
908 posts
Thanks, Tim. Glad to hear that the service was fine. Still, though, 40 minutes just doesn't seem like enough time. There's not a lot of leeway if the flight is late or if we're sat in the back of the plane and it takes 15 minutes just to make it inside the terminal. I think that even though the price is good (well, decent), it's not worth the worry. :-)
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
1525 posts
I've done it three times without a glitch. Keflavik, Iceland is NOT your typical airport. It's maybe 1/4 the size of a typical airport, but very modern, and IcelandAir is almost the only airline it serves. their procedure is simple; fly from a half-dozen US cities to Keflavik with all flights arriving at almost the same time. Reshuffle the passengers. Another half-dozen flights leave ASAP for cities in Europe. If there was any sort of minor delay, they would be well aware of the connection problems it would cause for dozens of their passengers and they would delay the outgoing flight until they got on board. Simple. On our last flight with them, our departure from Minneapolis was delayed for 45 minutes due to a thunderstorm. They made up 30 minutes in the air and we landed only 15 minutes late - went through a quick passport check and walked down the hall to our connecting flight which was already boarding. We only had time to use the restroom before we were on the plane again. With any other airport/airline, I would have been frantic. Here, I was completely calm. I knew they were not going to leave without us. By the way, when longer layovers are possible, there are a number of fun things to do for anywhere from 6-26 hours.
Posted by
OP
Seattle
908 posts
I love that the two responses (so far) to a question re Iceland have come from Minneapolis men!
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
1525 posts
Minneapolis is a haven for people with great wisdom on obscure topics. :)
Posted by
outside Atlanta
1 posts
We went through KEF in late August and had 1 hour 50 minutes layover time. Unfortunately, they do have a security check and it did take us about 15 minutes to get through the xray machines. We remember having to throw away the water which Icelandair had handed out during the flight. Anyway, the other posters are correct, it is a very, very small airport, and even the restrooms have only 2-3 stalls in them. Not your typical airport. If Icelandair thinks they can get you connected in 40 minutes, you should be okay. I do know we had plenty of time to hang around prior to connecting to our Copenhagen flight. The prices on Icelandair are amazing, aren't they? I'm considering them for my trip to Italy to catch a cruise this fall, but they don't fly to Rome. I would have to fly to Milan, then take a train to Civitavecchia.
Posted by
St Paul, Minnesota, United States
1 posts
Hey Teresa, I know this is well after your posting, but since it's not really an answer, I thought I'd post it anyway. In response to your comment about the first two answers coming from Minneapolis men: maybe Minnesota people are drawn to Iceland for some strange reason. I'm from Minnesota and will be going to Iceland in May/June. :) Laurel
Posted by
Washington DC Region, USA
7049 posts
This isn't a direct answer to your question, but more of something to think about. One of the best things about flying Iceland Air is that they actively promote free stop-overs in Iceland, so I would consider taking advantage of it (of course this will not save you any money since you'll spend more on the ground, but you get 2 countries for the price of 1). When I flew to Germany via Iceland Air, that Iceland stop-over turned out to be my favorite part of the trip. Iceland is a country that has an exceptional tourist infrastructure and small scale, and everything is very easy there, including getting to and from the airport (and dropping by the Blue Lagoon on the way or back -- priceless!!!)