Iceland, a land of fire and ice, where nature’s raw beauty dances with Nordic mystique. The magic island defies expectations at every turn, and it is rife with breathtaking landscapes that stretch as far as the eye can see. Volcanic peaks rise dramatically from the earth, cascading waterfalls plunge into glacial rivers, and black sand beaches beckon with a siren’s call. It truly is an adventurer’s utopia. The best part – in leveraging Icelandair stopovers – you may be able to see this utopia for free!
Yup! Whether you would like to try Iceland on for one day, to see if it fits or spend an entire week – it is very simple (and free) to add the island to your itinerary.
Icelandair Stopovers: What the Heck Are They?
This program is a unique offering by Icelandair, that allows passengers to make a layover to the country for up to seven nights at no additional airfare cost when traveling between North America and Europe. The program was designed to encourage travelers to explore Iceland as a destination rather than just a transit point. It allows for travelers who might otherwise be unsure, the opportunity to “dip their toes” in the country (and in its natural lagoons).
Traditionally, when flying between North America and Europe, passengers would have a layover at a major hub airport, but the stopover concept was created to give passengers the opportunity to break up their journey and spend some time explore the land of Fire and Ice. By taking advantage of the stopovers program, passengers can discover the country’s natural beauty, unique landscapes, geothermal hot springs, stunning waterfalls, and vibrant culture.
The program allows passengers to enjoy an extended visit without any additional airfare charges. Passengers can book their stopover through the airline’s official website or by contacting the airline’s customer service. During the stopover, travelers have the flexibility to choose from various activities and tours, such as visiting the Blue Lagoon, exploring the Golden Circle, hiking glaciers, or experiencing the vibrant city life of Reykjavik.
Sounds Great! How Do I Book a Stopover?
Booking is relatively easy – you will just find the cheapest flights, using an aggregator like Google Flights – then either book through Icelandair or your preferred reward platform. The option to stayover x amount of days will be offered. Pick the amount of days, you’d like your stopover to be, and you’re off to the races.
Some guidelines:
- The maximum stopover length is 7 days (or 3 days with Economy Lite fare) and the maximum total trip length is 14 days.
- You must purchase roundtrip tickets – this offer is not available on a one-way ticket (though you can play with modified open jaw routes to maximize)
- The stopover is available on any roundtrip flight between the U.S. and Europe that Icelandair flies!
- The stopover is available on either leg – the departing trip or the returning trip.
- This offering is available when booking the airline’s Premium Saga tickets, as well.
- While Icelandair is not a partner of any major point earning credit card, you can buy through the travel portal to pay with points such as Alaska Airline Miles or Chase Ultimate Rewards.
A Few Sidenotes
Keep in mind, if using a rewards travel platform, you will get a set bonus for your points (ie using Chase Sapphire Preferred will allow for a 25% bump in point value – no more, no less). This is not the best transfer value for your points at face value, but in conjunction with the stopover, may suit your needs better.
As a point of reference, I recently booked 2 roundtrip tickets from Denver to London, with an stopover in Reykjavik for 40,000 Chase Ultimate rewards each – no cash. In other words, I was able to travel to Iceland and London, with my partner, for free – and only spent points equivalent to one CSP sign up bonus (or less).
Some Other Things To Keep In Mind About The Program
In addition to the low point redemption value noted directly above, there are some other caveats to keep in mind. For starters, I find the airline to be hit-or-miss. When traveling alone, not so bad. Traveling with a partner/family, you may run into some issues. Particularly, the seemingly random seat assignment. I have flown a few times with them, and despite checking in as soon as available – and together – we have always been seated apart from one another. This might not be a concern for you, but in case it is, you may want to pay for seat choice.
Another concern is that I find the airline can sometimes be “carry-on” unfriendly. The space beneath the seats for personal items seems to vary quite a bit. I have sometimes had trouble fitting my regular sized backpack in there. Additionally, on multiple occasions, they have attempted to force us to check our carry-on bags, for lack of space. This is despite our bags clearly being of their regulated size. If you are #TeamCarryOn – this can pose an issue, as it can defeat the purpose of checking in the first place. It should be noted that every time, I have been able to talk them into allowing us to keep our carry-ons, but it can be stressful and apparently there are no guarantees.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the stopovers program provides a convenient and cost-effective way for travelers to experience the beauty and charm of this beautiful island country while en-route to their final destination. As noted, this is a beautiful country, and deserves a visit, if you can.
