Icelandair: Fare Classes, the Free Iceland Stopover and Saga Club Points Explained

Icelandair is Iceland's flag carrier, flying between North America and Europe through its hub at Keflavik near Reykjavik. It also sells vacation packages that bundle flights with hotels, tours and car rental in Iceland.

A good Icelandair booking depends on three things: choosing the right fare class, deciding whether to use the Iceland stopover, and knowing where codes apply, since many promotions target packages rather than flight-only fares.

Picking the right Icelandair fare

Icelandair sells Economy in tiers, typically Economy Light, Economy Standard and Economy Flex, plus Saga Premium at the front of the cabin. The cheapest tier strips out extras such as a checked bag.

Compare the total with a bag added before choosing Economy Light. On a trip with luggage, Economy Standard can end up close in price.

Saga Premium adds more space, lounge access at Keflavik and larger baggage allowances. Check the current fare rules for change and refund terms on each tier.

The Icelandair stopover

Icelandair's best-known feature is the stopover. On transatlantic trips via Keflavik, you can break the journey in Iceland for several days, historically up to seven, without an extra airfare.

Add the stopover when booking by choosing multi-city or the stopover option on the Icelandair site. Check the current maximum length for your route.

The stopover turns a Europe trip into two destinations. Hotels and tours in Iceland are costly, so budget for them even though the flight adds nothing.

Saga Club points

Saga Club is Icelandair's loyalty programme. Members earn Saga Points on flights and partners and can spend them on flights and upgrades.

Join Saga Club before booking so the points post automatically. Points can often be combined with cash, which helps when you have a partial balance.

Saga Club tiers add perks such as extra baggage and lounge access for frequent flyers. Check the current earn rates for your fare class, since cheaper tiers earn less.

Icelandair holiday packages

Icelandair Holidays bundles flights with hotels, Northern Lights tours, Blue Lagoon visits or self-drive itineraries. Packages can cost less than booking each piece separately.

Several of the codes below are for packages rather than flight-only fares. Build a package quote and a separate flight-plus-hotel quote to compare.

Check what a package includes. Airport transfers and some tours are extras on certain itineraries.

When Icelandair fares are lowest

Winter outside the holidays and the shoulder months tend to have lower Icelandair fares. Summer is peak season for Iceland and for transatlantic travel.

Northern Lights season runs roughly from late autumn through early spring. It is also when Iceland packages are most heavily promoted.

Icelandair runs periodic sales, and the codes below are often tied to them, so check the dates before assuming a code still works.

Planning your days in Iceland

Most Icelandair stopover travellers stay near Reykjavik and take day trips. The Golden Circle, the south coast waterfalls and the geothermal lagoons are within reach without a long drive.

Keflavik airport is about 45 minutes from Reykjavik, so plan transport before you land. Airport buses, rental cars and package transfers are the usual options.

Weather in Iceland changes fast, especially in winter. Leave slack in any self-drive plan and check road conditions each morning.

Booking tips on the Icelandair site

Search with flexible dates on icelandair.com, as fares can differ a lot between neighbouring days. Midweek departures are often the cheapest.

Add seats and bags at booking if you need them. Buying extras later can cost more than choosing a higher Icelandair fare upfront.

Keep your booking reference handy for changes through Manage Booking, and check the rules of your fare before making any change.

Choosing a fare family on Icelandair

Icelandair sells Economy in tiers usually named Economy Light, Economy Standard and Economy Flex, with Saga Premium above them. The cheapest Economy Light fare generally leaves out a checked bag, so price the bag before comparing it with the next tier.

Economy Flex costs more but loosens change rules, which matters if a stopover date might move. Saga Premium adds lounge access, more checked baggage and a wider seat on the Keflavik-bound leg.

Check the fare rules screen on Icelandair before paying, since bag allowances and change fees differ by route and can be updated.

Where the Icelandair savings are

The $100 code is a flat amount, so it suits a booking of any size. Check whether it applies to flights, packages or both.

The 85 euro code applies per person on packages to Iceland, so a couple or family saves more with it. For a group of two or more, it likely beats the $100 code on a package.

The 10% code looks aimed at car rental. Iceland self-drive trips make that worthwhile, but check the terms at checkout.

Icelandair codes may have travel windows and blackout dates. Enter the code before paying and confirm the discount is shown.

Common questions

Does the Iceland stopover cost extra?

The airfare does not normally rise for an Icelandair stopover. You pay for your stay in Iceland.

Is a bag included in Economy Light?

Economy Light usually excludes a checked bag. Check your fare rules before booking.

Can I use Saga Points and a code together?

Check at checkout. Many promotions apply only to cash bookings.

Are Icelandair codes for flights or packages?

Several are for Icelandair Holidays packages. The code's terms state which.