To proceed my Iceland to The Residence by way of Cambodia journey, I flew Icelandair’s Airbus A321LR Saga Class on the 2hr50min flight from Keflavik (KEF) to London (LHR). I had flown Icelandair’s Boeing 737 MAX 8 Saga Class from New York (JFK) a number of days earlier than, and was excited to see how the provider’s latest aircraft in contrast.
Properly, I need to admit that Icelandair’s A321LR Saga Class is a reasonably candy experience, and nicer than the provider’s 737 MAX enterprise class. From legroom, to seat consolation, to tech, I believe that is Icelandair’s greatest plane, and I’m blissful to see the airline more and more rising its Airbus fleet, after being an all-Boeing operator for therefore lengthy.
Earlier than I get into the evaluation, let me emphasize that Icelandair’s premium cabin known as Saga Class (or Saga Premium), and it’s someplace between premium economic system and enterprise class. As you may see, I referred to the product as “Saga Enterprise Class” within the title, however that’s just because persons are looking out “Icelandair enterprise class” on-line, although Icelandair doesn’t actually have a enterprise class. Moreover, while you go to Google Flights, you’ll see Saga Class listed in enterprise class searches. So body this evaluation in that context, please.
How I booked my Icelandair Saga Class ticket
Sadly there aren’t nice methods to redeem factors for Icelandair Saga Class. Luckily Icelandair is thought for its nice income fares, with two issues standing out:
- One-way fares are usually very engaging, which isn’t in any other case normally the case with main carriers throughout the Atlantic
- Whether or not touring one-way or roundtrip, the airline permits a free stopover in Iceland, so it is a helpful solution to basically go to two locations for the worth of 1, since you may cease in Iceland whereas touring between america and remainder of Europe
In my case, I paid $1,116.24 to e-book the next itinerary in Saga Class:
10/24 FI618 New York to Keflavik departing 11:10PM arriving 8:55AM (+1 day)
10/31 FI450 Keflavik to London departing 7:35AM arriving 10:50AM
To broaden on {that a} bit, I truly redeemed Chase factors, on the price of 1.5 cents every towards that ticket (a redemption possibility that’s being phased out), which means I paid round 74,000 factors. I then credited the flights to Alaska Atmos Rewards, so I earned fairly just a few factors from this ticket.
Let me point out that ideally my technique with reserving Icelandair could be to fly westbound slightly than eastbound, so as to keep away from redeyes. In case you originate in Northern Europe, like Copenhagen (CPH) or Stockholm (ARN), you’ll typically discover probably the most engaging money fares.
Icelandair Saga Class lounge & boarding
Within the earlier installment, I reviewed the Icelandair Saga Lounge Keflavik, which all Saga Class passengers have entry to. It’s a reasonably good lounge, although can get crowded. After visiting the lounge, I needed to clear passport management, since I used to be leaving the Schengen zone.
My flight was departing from gate D33, with boarding scheduled for six:45AM, a full 50 minutes earlier than departure. That’s fairly a very long time upfront to start out boarding, however I believe that’s as a result of the flight was departing from a distant stand.
Boarding ended up beginning at 6:55AM, with Saga Class clients being invited to board first. The boarding course of was slightly chaotic — there’s simply not a lot house or seating on this finish of the terminal, so that you had a complete aircraft load of passengers simply type of huddling across the gate space.
After boarding passes have been scanned and passports have been checked, we have been positioned onto a bus to the aircraft. Suffice it to say that ready on a bus in beneath freezing temperatures for an prolonged time frame isn’t ultimate.
I used to be on the primary bus (there’s no devoted Saga Class bus), and we ended up arriving on the aircraft at round 7:10AM. I’d be flying on TF-IAA, a roughly one-year-old A321LR (additionally the provider’s first Airbus jet).
Icelandair A321LR Saga Class cabin & seats
Boarding happened by each the ahead and rear left doorways, and I boarded by the ahead door, and turned proper into the cabin. Icelandair’s Airbus A321LRs are configured with 187 seats, together with 22 Saga Class seats, plus 165 economic system class seats (there’s not a correct bulkhead between cabins, however as an alternative, only a divider and a curtain).
The Saga Class cabin is unfold throughout six rows, in a 2-2 configuration (row one solely has seats on the left, and never on the proper).
Completely minor, however from a cabin presentation standpoint, am I the one one who notices how typically airways simply don’t have the headrest covers hanging down correctly? It doesn’t give the impression that the cabin was completely tidied. This isn’t particular to Icelandair, as I discover it occurs most of the time throughout airways, maybe outdoors of elements of Asia.
On the floor, this product ought to look similar to what you’d anticipate in home first-class inside america. Nonetheless, that is considerably extra snug, should you ask me, and it’s even considerably nicer than what you’ll discover on Icelandair’s different plane.
These planes have Geven Comoda recliner seats, with a really spectacular 42″ of pitch, 21″ of width, and 5″ of recline. For context, home first-class seats within the United usually have 37″ of pitch, give or take. So this will get you an additional 6″, which works a good distance in serving to with consolation, particularly when the particular person in entrance of you reclines.
I assigned myself seat 6F, the window seat on the proper facet within the final row.
With regards to seat options, the middle armrest has a hard and fast tray, and beneath that may be a deep, uncovered storage space. That’s additionally the place you’ll discover the AC energy outlet — I’ve gotta say, it’s actually hidden there, and also you form of must contort your physique to plug it in.
The tray desk extends from the far armrest, and may be folded over in half. The tray has a private machine holder, do you have to wish to watch leisure on a pill or smartphone.
A few issues that make this higher than most comparable recliner seats is that you’ve got each a legrest that may be raised, plus a footrest that folds down from the seat in entrance. I’m unsure I perceive the purpose of those very brief legrests, however there’s additionally no draw back to them, so…
I additionally like how the seat has slightly privateness widget by the headrest, which is handy should you’re trying to get some sleep, since you’ve gotten one thing to relaxation your head in opposition to. Nonetheless, it’s much less sensible if you wish to look out the window, on condition that it might probably partially block your view.
Every seat additionally has a gorgeous, crisp 16″ leisure monitor, that includes Panasonic’s Astrova inflight leisure system.
Lastly, since it is a new Airbus jet, it options the everyday Airbus Airspace cabins. This contains big overhead bins, plus the trendy consoles. There are even particular person air nozzles, which is at all times appreciated.
Whereas clearly not a flat mattress, all-in-all I believed this was an incredible arduous product, and best-in-class. It’s actually higher than Icelandair’s different Saga Class seats, and I’d say it’s higher than another US home first-class or premium economic system product.
Icelandair A321LR Saga Class leisure & Wi-Fi
Icelandair’s A321LRs have audio and video on demand by way of seat again screens, plus Wi-Fi, so let’s go over that. Every Saga Class seat has a 16″ monitor, which works from boarding till deplaning. Whereas I wouldn’t say the choice was huge, there was a pleasant number of motion pictures, TV exhibits, music, and extra.
The aircraft additionally has bluetooth audio, so you may join your personal headphones to the system, which is at all times appreciated.
I additionally cherished the customizable map function, which makes it simple to maintain observe of the progress of the flight.
Icelandair affords Viasat Wi-Fi on its A321LRs, which is quick. In case you’re caught paying for this, the associated fee is €12 on Europe flights (whereas it’s €24 for North America flights). Luckily Saga Class clients obtain free Wi-Fi.
I may join simply by getting into my reserving reference and final title. Connectivity was accessible for your entire flight, with no knowledge limits, and Saga Class clients can join on two gadgets.
Icelandair Saga Class facilities
Icelandair has barely totally different facilities on North America flights than on Europe flights. Whereas the pillow was very comparable, the blanket was extra primary, which is truthful sufficient, given how brief these flights are.
There weren’t any amenity kits, although passengers have been provided a bottle of water (there have been no pre-departure drinks), plus the identical headphones you’ll discover on all Icelandair Saga Class flights.
Drink lists have been additionally distributed, whereas the meals menu labored a bit in another way, and was simply introduced on the tray with the meals, presumably to reply any questions of what passengers are consuming.
Icelandair A321LR departure from Keflavik
The boarding course of took a little bit of time, as passengers arrived on a complete of 4 totally different buses. Boarding wrapped up at 7:40AM, after which the principle cabin door was instantly closed. All Saga Class seats have been taken, and economic system appeared to be fairly full as effectively.
A couple of minutes later, the captain added his welcome aboard, informing us that it could take as much as 10 extra minutes for luggage to be loaded, after which we’d have a flight time of 2hr50min.
At 7:50AM we started our pushback, at which level the protection video was screened. Then at 8AM we started our taxi, and at 8:05AM we have been cleared for takeoff on runway 1. We had a really clean climb out, and the seatbelt signal was turned off round 10 minutes after takeoff.
Whereas it was darkish throughout takeoff, the solar started to rise as we approached our cruising altitude, which made for some beautiful views.
Icelandair Saga Class meal service
After takeoff, the crew started the inflight service, with two flight attendants working in Saga Class. The crew first got here round to take drink orders. That service occurred again to entrance, with the primary spherical of drinks being served simply 20 minutes after takeoff.
Yow will discover the drink record beneath, which is equivalent to what you’ll discover on North America flights. Sadly it was a bit too early for me to partake within the gin choice. 😉
To drink, I ordered a cup of espresso with slightly milk. This was served on a tray with a small, packaged chocolate.
After the primary spherical of drinks, the crew got here by the cabin to take meal orders, with the choices being described as scrambled eggs or a mushroom crepe. Nonetheless, by the point they arrived at my seat, they didn’t have eggs anymore, so the one possibility was the crepe (it slipped my thoughts that Icelandair enables you to pre-order meals).
The menu is definitely introduced on the tray as such (with the meal), and you’ll find that beneath.
I used to be served my meal round 45 minutes after takeoff, and it was… primary. The meal consisted of a bread roll with a facet plate of sliced turkey, tomato, and guacamole. On high of that, there was a mushroom crepe with tomatoes, asparagus, and mushroom sauce.
Okay, I discover it a bit odd how the bread roll is introduced because the “fundamental course” (I suppose to permit for a DIY sandwich), whereas the marketed mushroom crepe is absolutely only a facet.
Whereas the breakfast was small, I did fairly benefit from the mushroom crepe… I simply want it had been a bit larger.
Icelandair A321LR Saga Class toilet
After the meal, I made a decision to take a look at the Saga Class toilet, positioned on the entrance of the A321LR cabin. Whereas undoubtedly on the tight facet, a minimum of the ahead A320-family toilets are nonetheless extra nice than the 737 MAX toilets. There was nothing in the way in which of particular facilities, although.
Icelandair Saga Class service
Icelandic individuals are usually fairly no-nonsense, and aren’t recognized for being overly heat, which I don’t thoughts. I discover that service on Icelandair displays that. The crew was cordial and pleasant sufficient, although I can’t say there was something optimistic or damaging that stood out concerning the service.
They went by the motions, and so they have been blissful to accommodate any requests, in order that’s ok for me.
Icelandair A321LR arrival in London
I spent a little bit of time engaged on my laptop computer, and earlier than I knew it, we have been nearly on strategy to London. At round 10:10AM native time, the captain introduced that we’d be commencing our descent inside round 10 minutes, and could be touchdown in round 40 minutes.
The seatbelt signal was turned on round midway into our descent, and I loved maintaining one eye on the map, and one eye out the window.
It wasn’t a very fairly day in London, however a minimum of it wasn’t so dangerous that it was inflicting circulation management points into Heathrow.
Flights have been touchdown into the west, so we needed to fly out previous the airport, after which circled round to land on runway 27L.
We touched down at 10:55AM.
From there, we had a brief taxi to Terminal 2, the place we pulled in at 11AM, round 10 minutes delayed.
It’s handy that Icelandair operates out of Terminal 2 (primarily a Star Alliance terminal), since I used to be connecting a few hours later in Air India’s A350 enterprise class to Delhi (DEL). So I simply cleared safety, and inside 10 minutes discovered myself again within the departures space.
Backside line
Icelandair’s Saga Class expertise on the Airbus A321LR might be the very best you’ll discover within the fleet, because of the trendy cabin and extra snug seats. Whereas this nonetheless isn’t to the extent of lengthy haul enterprise class, that’s in the end not what you’re paying for with Icelandair Saga Class.
Highlights of the flight included the snug seats, the good leisure system and free Wi-Fi, and the first rate facilities. That is all considerably higher than the everyday intra-Europe enterprise class you’d discover with different airways on flights between Iceland and different factors in Europe.
In the meantime I’d say the service was okay, whereas the meal service had some room for enchancment. Nonetheless, probably the most treasured “asset” on a aircraft is house, and Icelandair’s A321LR Saga Class is beneficiant in that regard.
What’s your tackle Icelandair’s A321LR Saga Class product?
Supply hyperlink
