EDITOR-AT-LARGE / DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY - SEATTLE, WA Francis Zera is a Seattle-based architectural, aerial, aviation, and commercial photographer, a freelance photojournalist, and a confirmed AvGeek. Seat 1 C is a standard Business Class seat located at a bulkhead. There is also lots of information and content about Iceland (apparently Icelanders like to show their beautiful country around and I can totally understand why!). Seat 11 C is a standard Economy Class seat. Seat 25 B is a standard Economy Class seat. Boeing 737 MAX 8 and Boeing 737 MAX 9 are the latest additions to our fleet. Inside the leather kits was a hand lotion, socks, a face mask, earplugs, a toothbrush and toothpaste, some hand sanitizer, and stickers to indicate if you want to be woken up for meals or not. Seat 3 F is a standard Business Class seat. The Boeing 737 MAX 8 is splendid for its class and the Boeing 737 MAX 8 seatmap is clear. Icelandair has reported a loss of $68 million for the first half of 2021 but is keenly looking to the future as it sees the first signs of a turnaround. The drink menu was not extensive but more than sufficient. 2023 Thrifty Traveler. Seat back recline might be limited. At takeoff, the MAX 8 was as quiet as I was told to expect. We boarded a 2-year-old Icelandair Boeing 737 MAX 8, departing London Heathrow (LHR), flying for two hours and 36 minutes to Keflavik Airport (KEF). Seat 22 A is a standard Economy Class seat. Seat 7 B is a standard Economy Class seat. Seat 13 A is a standard Economy Class seat located in an Exit Row and features additional legroom. The air vents and lights were standard, offering three vents and lights for the two seats. After we took off and got to cruising altitude, the flight attendants came by again with food and drink menus and took another drink order. ", "Additionally I was had to purchase IFE headphones for an additional 3 ($4). The entertainment system had a decent list of offerings for the flight. Airline Livery of the Week All rights reserved. Seat 14 F is a standard Economy Class seat. [Subtitle Available in English]This is my Trip Report Video with Singapore Airlines from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore on Business Class with Boeing 737-8 MAX. Your email address will not be published. Vestrahorn, often called The Horned Mountain, is a breathtaking multi-peak mountain in Southeast Iceland. Signage is pretty limited, but there are a few dedicated lanes for Premium check-in. After an awesome couple of days exploring Reykjavik, spending a day at Icelandairs MidAtlantic travel trade show, having lunch with Icelandairs CEO Bogi Nils Bogason and CCO Gunnar Mr Sigurfinnsson, and scoring a helicopter tour from Nordurflug Helicopters (more on those in separate upcoming stories), it was time to say bless bili to Iceland and head home. Both perks probably saved me close to 30 minutes of check-in and security lines, helping me get to the Saga Lounge faster. to save on your next trip. Seat 17 A is a standard Economy Class seat. I love the 757. Seat 3 A is a standard Business Class seat. All of them have Saga Premium in a 2x2 configuration, except the 767 which is 2x1x2. Check here before booking an award fare. The dedicated gin menu with local options was a noticeable and impressive touch. Floating on its blue surface are magnificent icebergs from Vatnajkull, the largest glacier in Europe. The aircraft is configured with 16 Saga Class seats and 144 Economy Class seats. Seat 18 E is a standard Economy Class seat. Seat 13 B is a standard Economy Class seat located in an Exit Row and features additional legroom. After that, follow the signs for security by heading upstairs. Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. It's a fairly basic amenity kit but on par with what you get even on premium business class flights to and from Europe. Boeing 737 MAX 8 and Boeing 737 MAX 9 are the latest additions to our fleet. Seat 25 F is a standard Economy Class seat. I wasnt able to get out on the ramp to get pre-flight photos for this trip, so well have to make do with an existing image. Flight Review The rest of the service sounds great and that is something Lufthansa is lacking these days. There were some downsides: Icelandair flies this aircraft on journeys of five hours and more, and for a longer flight the seat would have become uncomfortable with its poor recline and lack of foot or leg rests in Row 1. The five MAX-8 planes will be kept in Toulouse, France, in order to protect them from wear and tear caused by harsher weather conditions at Keflavk Airport. But everything else about Icelandair Saga Premium was outstanding, from the tasty food to the snappy service and an excellent lounge before the flight. When it comes to the overall experience, the B757 is, of course, a much older aircraft model (Icelandair plans to retire them around 2026) and this shows in the noise volume (this is not just my personal impression, Icelandairs own website quantifies it, the B737 MAX is, apparently, 40% quieter!). Passengers flying Saga Class enjoy good working space and Icelandair lounge access in Iceland and other countries. For more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter. The 737 MAX also leaves a 40% smaller noise footprint than its predecessors, even though the engines are more powerful. They feel even more dated now, especially when compared to contemporary options even on some domestic US carriers, but theyre still very comfortable and offer a generous amount of recline. This plane was delivered to the airline in June 2021 and has the capacity to carry 166 passengers (132 in economy, 18 in AM Plus, and 16 in Clase Premier). Nicky tried out. While equipped with the widely-anticipated Viasat WiFi , Icelandairs systems are still awaiting certification, so the fast satellite service will have to wait until a future review. Lets see why. Business class: Aircraft with seatmap Seat Pitch Seat Width Seat Type Video Type Laptop Power . It was the usual KEF scrum to board there was a quiet boarding call only at the immediate gate area, then we all lined up to board a bus to the hardstand. 787 Dreamliner Icelandair added the Boeing 737 MAX 8 to their fleet in 2017. Seat 4 D is a standard Business Class seat. Btw, the bread and the butter are often an afterthought, but in this case they were both amazingly tasty! Please choose the correct version from the list: Recliner Saga (Rows 1-4), Standard Economy (Rows 5-28). Unverified | We normally book with IcelandAir for flights to Europe from Boston, primarily because there is an extra inch of legroom in economy than what you get on most carriers. This was impressive given how extensive the menu was with a number of different food and drink options. Its fleet of 26 aircraft consists entirely of Boeing planes configured with three classes: Economy Class, Economy Comfort Class and Saga Class, which is Icelandair's branded name for Business Class. If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. Its one of the few mountains made from gabbro rock, which gives it unique dark colors. The interior design focuses on the wellbeing and pleasure of the passenger in flight with the addition of newly designed windows for better viewing. There are also different areas and options to sit down, lay down and relax. The proximity to the galley and lavatory area might be bothersome. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. Seat 16 B is a standard Economy Class seat. Seat 19 A is a standard Economy Class seat. Just like many domestic first class flights, there are two-seat sections on either side of the aisle for a grand total of 16 Icelandair business class seats. Flight Review: Icelandairs 737 MAX 8 Saga Premium. on Moreover, if you are flying out of Keflavik, the Saga Lounge is an absolute delight. In the previous flight review I forgot to mention that Icelandair has its own signature chocolate too! Watch the full video of our experience here: The cabin was very smart and the seat was large and perfectly comfortable for a short flight like this. This time they gave as blankets as well, perhaps because it was an evening flight. There is no floor storage for use during take-off and landing. Remaining observations: the forward lavatory is tiny. The lounge is spacious, bright, and comfortable in a very Scandinavian-style way. Seat 24 E is a standard Economy Class seat. Boeing 737 MAX 8 (7M8) . The proximity to the galley and lavatory area might be bothersome. The aircraft is configured with 16 Saga Class seats and 144 Economy Class seats. 2x points on all other eligible purchases. You will see a big neon sign and the stairs and escalator going up. Icelandair becomes the latest to welcome a brand new 737 MAX Credit: Paul Jokull. Photos Seat 9 C is a standard Economy Class seat. This picturesque 120-m-high promontory on the south coast of Iceland sports a hole large enough for ships to sail through on a calm day. and features additional legroom. Icelandair flies to these 15 North American cities, connecting travelers to 29 cities across Europe. Icelandair Planes and Seat Maps. A children's area (sans children that morning) was tucked away in the back of the club. Seat 16 A is a standard Economy Class seat. SAGA Class - Icelandair - B737 MAX9 - Berlin-BER to Keflavik + Tempelhof Lounge BER - Business Class 7,556 views Oct 2, 2021 80 Dislike Share Save UpInTheAir 139 subscribers Watch our SAGA. It seems Icelandair has taken a middle-of-the-road approach, and succeeded pretty well. S. The proximity to the galley and lavatory area might be bothersome. The proximity to the galley and lavatory area might be bothersome. Seat 27 A is a standard Economy Class seat. The buffet-style food selection was pretty strong and the buffet was constantly attended to. The refrigerators and this countertop replaced a traditional bar. In addition to the main kitchen, there are also several smaller coffee and drink out-stations scattered throughout the lounge, so those that are far from the main bar can easily refill without venturing too far from their seats or couches. Ive recorded 100db up front on older 737s during takeoff, and keep in mind that the db scale is logarithmic, so each incremental change represents quite large sound-pressure differences. And, underneath that, it smelled vaguely of tuna-noodle casserole, although that wasnt on the menu. The 737 MAX sports ViaSat connectivity the same internet available across JetBlue's fleet. Seat 18 A is a standard Economy Class seat. The dining and social area is at the back of the lounge, but the space is so large that none of the noise really filtered into more private areas of the lounge. The proximity to the galley and lavatory area might be bothersome. You, certainly, wont get bored on your Icelandair flight. During training, pilots gained enhanced understanding of the 737 flight control system, including MCAS and related software changes. The proximity to the galley and lavatory area might be bothersome. This seemed expensive given their quality and the fact that lots of other carriers provide them for free these days. Seat 8 E is a standard Economy Class seat. At security, stay to the left in the Fast Lane, which was also significantly shorter than the standard security checkpoint lane. Receive a 7% discount off standard rates for reservations of standard guest rooms at hotels that participate in the Marriott Bonvoy program when you book directly. Finally, we were given the food menu, which came with a designated starter and dessert, but gave each traveler the choice between two main courses. While some might find it a bit austere, I quite like the clean lines and the fact that there are plenty of tables available. The 'Viking lamb' broth tasted like dishwater with bits and wasn't cheap at 7 (over $9) per serving. It only took a few minutes for all 16 passengers in the full Icelandair Saga cabin to get seated. Seat 20 D is a standard Economy Class seat. The best seats in the house, however, were these green recliners. Get alerts like this one sent to your inbox with Thrifty Traveler Premium! Passengers looking to try this beer can find it on the 737 MAX 8 andand in the Icelandair Saga Lounge at Keflavik International airport for a limited time. Economy Class is the lowest fare class. The staggered, individual seats around the hearth fireplace were some of the best in the house. Seat 16 C is a standard Economy Class seat. There is additional personal space due to the recline restriction of the seat in front. Along with other Boeing 737 - 8 Max aircrafts, it featured individual in flight seat nozzles for persona ventilation.