The essential guide to flying to Iceland

How long does it take to fly to Iceland? How do you find cheap flights? When is the best time to book your flights? This is the comprehensive guide for information about flying to Iceland in 2018.

Sitting near the arctic circle between North America and Europe, Iceland is ideal for a stopover when you travel between the two continents. For travelers from the Asia Pacific and the rest of the world, Iceland is merely a connecting flight away. The distance has been shrinking thanks to the international modern fleet.

Meantime, Iceland started to attract the global attention because of several major events: the daunting scale of the Eyjafjallajökull eruption in 2010; the fast rebound after the financial crisis; and the impressive debut in 2018 world cup tournament. These facts mysterized and celebritized Iceland. It attracted millions of global visitors to visit the island of 350 thousand souls. In 2017, 2.2 million tourists have stepped on Icelandic soil.

This speedy growth facilitated the airlines and the airports to gear up in the expansion. They must optimize the service in order to compete in the booming Icelandic travel market. For international travelers, a shift like this has created many options to plan your trip.

Now, Iceland is a yearning destination on many traveling enthusiasts’ bucket lists. Let’s first begin covering how you fly to Iceland.

The main international airport in Iceland is Keflavik International Airport (KEF). It’s located on the north tip of the Reykjanes Peninsula in a municipality named Sandgerdi. It was built by the U.S. military during World War II.

Since 1987, the major hub of the Icelandic airways has been going through some changes including a new terminal building and several renovations. Now, there are many nice eateries and healthy beverage bars implemented, with trendy stores selling Icelandic signature garments and Nordic designs. The Keflavik airport has transformed into a stylish fusion for international travelers to find a comfy spot or locate a hearty gift.

Source: Keflavik Facts And Figures 2017

The only terminal in Keflavik International Airport, Flugstöð Leifs Eiríkssonar, has been expanding to meet the needs from the rapid passenger growth. It’s named after Leif Erikson, a Norse explorer known for discovering continental North America before Christopher Columbus. That’s why the terminal literally means Air terminal Leif Erikson.

Key Tips To Get Around in Keflavik:

• Unlimited free WIFI by connecting Kefairport-FreeWiFi.
• Special assistance provided by trained staff, free of charge at the time of the request.
• Play area for children below Gates 24-29 in the south building accessible for travelers heading to UK, Ireland and North America.
• VAT refund claim and currency exchange at Arion Bank in the Arrival hall.
• Stroller for the child, free of charge.
• A smoking area is next to the restrooms in the departure hall.
• Spacious changing table in the female bathroom.

According to Isavia, the Iceland National Airport And Air Navigation website, there are 29 airlines flying to Keflavik Airport. There are 98 destinations in North America, Europe and one domestic.

These lists are subjected to change by the airport authority. Please check on their website if any updates or changes occur.

The list below can hopefully help you quickly locate what cities and airlines are operating direct flights to Iceland in 2018.

These lists are subjected to change by the airport authority. Please check on their website if any updates or changes occur.

Icelandair is the only Icelandic airline company operating nonstop or connecting flights from multiple cities in North America and Europe.

Icelandair has been operating since 1937. It nicknamed “Hippie Airline” in the ’60s and ’70s. Now, Icelandair is a major airline to funnel global passengers into the land of stunning landscapes. You can check out all the airports where Icelandair runs offices and desks in the terminal. They provide multiple classes of services to ensure flexibility for passengers with different traveling needs.

Millions of passengers from all over the world are flying in to see the stunning sceneries and unbelievable sights. At the same time, Iceland has been building up its accommodating muscles. This increase facilitated the airlines to come with new routes and new launching points. Travelers now have more options for reasonable flight duration.

We have compiled a comprehensive updated list for you to see how long it takes to fly to Iceland from major cities in the world. The list is sorted alphabetically by the name of the departure cities.

These lists are subjected to change by the airport authority. Please check on their website if any updates or changes occurred.

The flight scanning platforms and comparison websites are crowding the market like never before. Finding the proper tool to help you snatch the best deal possible is essential. Depends on the duration and where you are flying from, we have carefully researched several platforms to suit the different needs.

For those who fly with short-haul flights, Skyscanner.net excels in smooth and fast searches. This website provides a quick comparison for those airlines that fly to the same destination. But you must be mindful of that the price is not always updated. Once you see a favorable price listed on Skyscanner, please go directly to the airline company website. Other than that, it’s always nice to have a smart application to find the price range for your next trip.

Google Flights is another agile tool that offers a straight comparison for your trip. It is responsive and efficient. It’s good for both desktop and mobile users. The presentation of the results is also well-organized with highlights on the best options and notes on the cheaper flights in nearby dates. You can even set up a price tracking alert, Google will scrape what you need and deliver it right to your email. An attractive map view of the destinations with annotated prices is also helpful. This effortless approach will free up some time for you to plan your itinerary and tours in Iceland.

Momondo is an essential flight booking site if you are planning to book a long-haul flight. The user feedback was that it’s an absolute penny-saver. Some even said they have saved hundreds in booking the long-haul flights. Despite these praises, Momondo stands out with the flow chart of the best available prices. You can scan the cheaper alternatives on another date on the chart. The colorful and friendly approach can help you filter out the desirable itinerary. It especially outperforms in multi-city booking.

When you search for the best deal on a long-haul flight, Kayak has the reputation of being capable and trustworthy. It has a map feature allowing you to browse prices geographically. Comparing to other adequate sites, Kayak is most likely to offer the cheapest price if you are fine with making up your long-haul with multiple small trips.

DOHOP is another useful flight comparison and booking site, and the first version was launched in 2005. This Iceland-based search engine was designed to fix the issue of finding the right connecting flight. More fantastically, it offers Dohop Protection if you miss a connecting flight. If a foreseeable or unwanted travel disruption happens, you can reach out to their customer service. They will answer your call with solutions. It’s perfect for the long-haul flight with a layover in between. This site may seem tiny, but with multiple language inputs, it’s very convenient to navigate for travelers from Europe and Asia.

To answer this question, first, we are going to look into the fact that when is the best time to visit Iceland.

Iceland’s location defines the uncommon climate and weather. The mild long winter and tepid short summer are separated by the chilly spring and the colorful autumn. Visiting Iceland in the holiday season in the summer and winter can be costly. But the views are amazing.

Therefore, the airfare to Iceland will be more expensive close to those periods. If you plan to travel in Iceland during this time of a year, an early booking should be considered. It’s more likely to get a better deal. Although, just like booking too late, too early can also result in a higher price. International tickets best deals are usually in between 5 months to 2 months before the departure date.

But the cheapest deal isn’t always working for everyone. Some airlines charge extra on first check-in luggage and other additional services. During your booking process, the scale of your travel belongings should be taken into consideration too.

Another tip is that Tuesday is the best day in a week to shop for your tickets, according to the industry experts. For international travelers, travel on weekdays is usually cheaper than on the weekends.

And always compare the fare between nonstop and connecting flights. If a layover is acceptable for you, it’s worth to try if it can save up to 50% of your cost.

The Icelandic nature has its charm all year around. So visiting Iceland in non-peak seasons is fabulous too. You will have a better deal when you avoid the peak season. Consulting a travel agent near you is also a good choice. They could offer special deals and insider’s information.

The distance between Reykjavik and Keflavik is 49 km (30.5 miles) via Route 41. This road is pretty straightforward and it has impressive sceneries on both sides. There are multiple ways to transfer to Reykjavik from Keflavik airport.

Keflavik to Reykjavik in a rental car

The ideal way to reach Reykjavik is to rent a car. Especially, if you have plans to self-drive in Iceland, renting a car at the airport will optimize your travel and make your transport less stressful. It allows more control over your route planning. In addition to many service providers at the airport, you can also rent your car via the car rental platform to have your car delivered to the airport for you. If you are traveling in as a bigger group, you can also find a campervan or motorhome at a favorable price via the most reliable car rental service in Iceland.

Keflavik to Reykjavik by bus

Many bus companies operating airport transportation all year around. If you plan to take the bus, here is what you need to do:

The bus ticket booth is close to the Arrivals Gate at Keflavik airport. After you come through the Customs, you exit the gate, then you can see the sales office. Online ticket purchasing is also available for both operators. You can check the bus schedule.

The bus status is constantly updated on the information screen in the terminal. It helps the passengers to see when is the next bus leaving.

Flybus is located outside the arrivals hall at the airport. On the way to Reykjavik, the bus makes two stops. One at Hotel Viking in Hafnarfjordur, one at Aktu Taktu in Gardabaer. It’s very convenient for those who choose to stay in these areas. Upon reaching Reykjavik, the bus first stops at BSI Bus Terminal. Transfers to all major hotels, Laugardalur camping area, and the domestic airport are available on smaller buses.   

Airport Express has their Passenger Pick-Up Staff waiting in the Arrivals Hall. The bus commutes between the airport and the Bus Terminal at Lækjartorg. They also offer complimentary pick-up/drop-off services from all major hotels in the capital area.

They both have free WIFI on all buses. The ride takes approximately 45 minutes from Keflavik to Reykjavik via Route 41. Besides those free stops, the bus can stop at many other designated stops with an additional fee. You can check the list of stops on their websites.

Airport Direct operates the route between Keflavik and Reykjavik. They have a variety of options including economy, premium, private and luxury. There is one stop in between at Hamraborg in Kopavogur. You can also add your hotel location in the ride. Their service is a straight line between two locations saving you time in the trip.

Other

Airport to Blue Lagoon transfer is an excellent alternative to take you to the Reykjavik area. The bus departs from Keflavik Airport and stops at Blue Lagoon. After you had an enjoyable time in the milky blue warmness, you can hop on the bus again to your hotel in the Reykjavik area. This is an efficient way to manage your traveling in Iceland. You can start your exploration instantly. This also applies to those who are going to Keflavik for your outbound flight. Due to the high demand for entering Blue Lagoon, it’s better to book your visit in advance.

Private taxi service is also available at the airport. You can arrange your pick-up drive through the airport website. Icelandair also offers the personal taxi transfer from the airport to your hotel starting from €134.

Reykjavik Airport (RKV)

With alternative names such as Reykjavik City Airport or Reykjavik Domestic Airport or Reykjavíkurflugvöllur in Icelandic, Reykjavik Airport began her service since 1919. Now, it serves as a hub for the domestic flights and flights to Greenland and the Faroe Islands. There are only a few international airlines that can fly to Reykjavik.

It is the main operating site for Air Iceland Connect and Eagle Air. Both are Icelandic airline companies operating domestic flights to all major towns around Iceland.

Domestic Flights in Iceland

From the graph below you can see Iceland is very well connected via all kinds of transportations. If you want to take the domestic flight in Iceland, the system is working splendidly for this purpose.

Here is a list of the major domestic airports in Iceland.

Isavia is the national airport and air navigation service provider in Iceland. You can find the most comprehensive flight status updates on their website for arrivals and departures from both international and domestic flights.

On arrivals page, the numbers of arrivals to Keflavik Airport titled with a searchable table below where you can find the time, flight number, airline, and status.

The same design applies to departures page. If you need to track a specific flight, you can pin it in your browser or sign up for alerts.

To check domestic flight status, simply find the airport tab on the menu bar, then you will see all the domestic airports listed for further exploration.