I Spent $550 for A Round Trip Flight to Iceland - My Experience Flying with Play Airlines
I recently returned from an amazing trip to Iceland, and it was the most beautiful place I have ever visited. The scenery was breathtaking, and the people were incredibly friendly and welcoming. Iceland has always been my dream destination, and I would love to visit again. I would love to visit in the winter.
I felt like I was on Ahch-To. If you know, you know. This was taken in Vík.
When planning a hypothetical trip to Iceland, one of my concerns was the flight cost. Many people say it is an expensive place to visit, and the flights also fall into that category. Not many airlines offer affordable fares for extra legroom seats on flights from the East Coast to Iceland.
My airline of choice, Delta, wanted more than $1K.
How I Found The Deal
On February 29, 2024, Play Airlines had a promotion for Leap Day. They were offering flights to Iceland for as low as $99. I had heard of Play Airlines, read many flight reviews, and watched videos about the airline, but not many people mentioned the extra legroom seats. So, I decided to book this deal and make my own review.
Thanks, Secret NYC. Y’all came in clutch.
from flyplay.com
With the Play Value fare, I booked extra legroom seats from SWF to KEF and extra legroom and extra space seats from KEF to SWF. The total for this roundtrip flight was $550. This fare included a personal item, priority boarding, a carry-on, one checked bag with a 20KG (approx 44LB) weight limit, and seat selection from the middle to the back of the plane, and this did not include the selection of XL- or extra legroom seats. That was an additional charge.
A Small Airport North of NYC
Stewart Airport: Plane Getting Loaded - Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
New York Stewart International Airport is located in Orange County, New York, approximately 60 miles north of Manhattan. It is within the towns of Newburgh and New Windsor. Stewart was a US Air Force base until the 1970s, as evidenced by the feel of the area near the airport.
As of May 2024, there are only four airlines that fly out of Stewart:
Allegiant - Flights to Myrtle Beach, Orlando, Punta Gorda, St. Pete-Clearwater/Tampa
Atlantic Airways - Flights to Faroe Islands, Denmark (September – October)
Breeze - Flights to Charleston, Ft. Myers, Orlando
Play - Flights to Reykjavik, Iceland, with connections to Europe
shuttle service from NYC to Stewart International Airport
Stewart Airport: Public Transportation Area - Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Coach USA provides the Stewart Airport Express shuttle service as a convenient, fast, and cost-effective option for traveling between New York Stewart International Airport and New York City. The buses are scheduled to align with your flight and come with Wi-Fi and at-seat power.
Schedule as of May 2024
The fare is around $30 ish per person one way, and the ride is about an hour and a half.
Baggage Drop-Off and Security Wait Times
The airport is quite small, with only a few counters to accommodate the four airlines that operate from it. The line for baggage drop-off was long and took around 30 minutes, but the TSA line was indicated as a 40-minute wait. However, I managed to get through security in just 20 minutes.
Food and Drink Options at SWF
After security, there is only one place to eat, and I do not recommend eating there as it is not an actual restaurant. All of the food was heavily processed and reheated. They were serving burgers, fries, and mozzarella sticks, and I didn’t see a grill, fryer, or oven. I bought Panera with me onto the flight because I knew that options would be limited in the airport, but I didn’t think it would be to this extent. Stewart needs more places to eat pre- and post-security because, right now, it is worse than LAX.
I only purchased water.
Baggage Size & Weight Restrictions
from flyplay.com
Checked Baggage
I don't consider myself an overpacker, but I am not a light packer. I didn't think I would struggle with the 20kg (44 pounds) weight restriction, but I did. Six pounds is a lot of weight, and I immediately wished I had paid for the fare that included one 23kg checked bag.
Going to Iceland was not much of an issue, but returning, I had to wear my heavy hiking shoes so that my bag would barely meet the weight limit of 19.6kg.
Carry-On
Your carry-on must be tagged by Play employees before boarding to ensure compliance with carry-on restrictions and avoid extra charges.
Priority Boarding
Priority boarding was… interesting. At SWF, priority boarding was enforced like airlines like Delta would enforce it, but it was different at KEF.
They called for people with priority boarding, but we had to wait for the shuttle from the main terminal to the plane out on the tarmac. There were many people on the bus, so I am not sure if everyone had priority boarding because most passengers boarded simultaneously.
Extra Legroom Seats — SWF to KEF
Extra Legroom Seats on Play Airlines - Airbus A320neo
These seats were in the front of the plane and for reference, I am a short individual and had PLENTY of legroom.
Coat Hook
Tiny tray table
Seat back pocket for storage
I'll be honest: the seat wasn't very comfortable. It was okay for the 5-and-a-half-hour flight, but towards the end, my back started feeling the effects of the uncomfortable seat.
I found the lack of separation between the galley and the rest of the plane to be inconvenient. Although I've never sat in the front of a plane on a transatlantic flight, there was only a thin curtain dividing the galley and the cabin. Even when the cabin lights were dimmed, light would spill through the curtain, making sleeping difficult. Additionally, accessing the bathroom meant navigating the flight attendants, who always seemed to be in front of the curtain, leading to awkward encounters.
Overall, the seats and bathrooms were clean, and the staff was helpful and friendly.
Food & Drink Options onboard
I didn't purchase food or drink, but I took photos of the in-flight menu. My video provides a more detailed look at the menu. A passenger near me ordered something from the menu that smelled really good.
Extra Legroom & Extra Space - KEF to SWF
Boarding the Plane in Iceland
When I was choosing seats, I noticed the option for seats with extra legroom and space, which the airline calls "Space seats." These seats are either aisle or window seats located at the front of the plane. The middle seat is replaced with a side table, providing extra space to place your phone, drinks, or snacks, and giving you two armrests. Initially, I thought it might be a marketing gimmick and not very practical, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that I actually really liked it.
from flyplay.com
The row across from me was empty so here is a better look at the Space seats
I noticed even more legroom in these seats, possibly because this plane was a newer Airbus A321neo. I used the side table often during the flight to store my belongings. Having my water bottle next to me was very convenient while I used the tray table to watch movies on my laptop. The tray table was too small to hold my laptop and water bottle, so the side table was more handy than I expected.
The captain informed us that we were flying over Greenland.
I had trouble sleeping on the flight to Iceland because I found the seat uncomfortable. However, the seats on this flight were better, although still a bit uncomfortable. Surprisingly, I fell asleep for 2 and a half hours during the 6-hour journey. The lack of a person in the middle seat and the extra legroom relaxed me enough to sleep during the flight. The only other time I have slept on a flight was on another Airbus A321neo operated by JetBlue. I guess my body likes these planes.
Some things to know
While this flight experience was similar, I noticed four distinct differences I would like to share with others.
The check-in desk opens three hours before departure and closes an hour before departure.
I arrived at the airport at noon for my 4 p.m. flight via the FlyBus. When I got there, I had to wait for the check-in desk to open so I could drop off my bags. It was confusing because it wasn't communicated that the check-in desk closes between flights, and many people were unsure how to drop off their checked baggage for the 4 p.m. flight, which wasn't the day's first flight.
Make sure to keep track of your luggage receipt.
When you arrive at KEF, you use a self-serve kiosk to tag your bag. You weigh your baggage at the kiosk and print out your boarding pass and luggage tags. After tagging your luggage, keep the receipt with you, as you will need to show it to one of the attendants before dropping off your bag at the check-in desk. I almost held up the line because I couldn't find the receipt, which I had carelessly thrown into a random pocket in my backpack.
These next two are not specific to Play Airlines; it’s specific to Keflavík Airport.
Keep your boarding pass handy.
Keep the paper copy handy if you don’t have it on your phone. You must show your boarding pass with every transaction of food, duty-free items, etc. I must research why this is, as I only remember doing it once at Amsterdam Airport last year. I wasn’t asked for my boarding pass while purchasing items at FCO (Italy) and London Heathrow Airport last year.
Take your liquids out of your bag.
I didn't notice the signage, so my carry-on was pulled aside for extra inspection. However, the security employee was really nice and informed me that I needed to take my liquids out of my bag next time. This policy is similar to the one at London Heathrow Airport.
Final Thoughts
Would I fly Play Airlines again? Absolutely.
Although the flight is basic and has many additional fees, you are not obligated to pay them. Ultimately, I was looking for a safe and affordable way to travel across the North Atlantic Ocean to Iceland, and Play Airlines provided exactly that.
The flight was clean, the staff was friendly, and it efficiently took me to my destination. If you typically avoid budget airlines, I may not recommend Play Airlines for you, even though their priciest seats were more affordable than Economy Plus seats on another airline and also offered significantly more legroom.
If I have the opportunity to fly with them again, I will definitely explore the food options. The snacks I had didn't smell as appetizing as the food available for purchase on board.
I'm Andrea, a travel content creator from NYC. If you are considering visiting the world's most sought-after travel destinations, need tips and recommendations, or are looking for the latest film reviews, you are in the right place. Join me as I share my passion for cinema and exploration.