Getting to Iceland
From most major international airports in the United States (East Coast), you can get to Iceland for under $300-$400 one way. The quality of your trip depends on how much you’re willing to spend, but in my experience, you can get a pretty cushy airplane ride for not that much money.
Popular airlines that fly in and out of the area typically include WOWAir, Delta, Icelandair, and more. Here’s my experience with each airline.
WOWAir
WOWAir is a budget airline with direct flights out of Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Detroit, New York, and Boston. The airline is known for their fun, quirky marketing and signature purple branding. I’ve used WOWAir to fly in and out of Iceland from multiple cities. I’ve always had an enjoyable experience.
For instance, in May, you can book a one-way flight from JFK right to Reykjavik for $160, or $180 from Boston. Even Detroit is a steal at just $160 non-stop. The prices to and from the U.S. fluctuate in June – August, the tourist season in Iceland.
However, there are also a lot of cheap flights from Barcelona, Paris, and Berlin. Using Google Flights, it’s easy to piece together a route that won’t break the bank, and get you to Iceland quickly and safely.
Delta
Delta is another affordable option for travelers. We’ve all got Delta horror stories, but it’s arguably one of the cheapest airlines to fly internationally. With Delta, you can fly from major cities again, with prices that rival Icelandair. They range anywhere from $250-$350 one way, depending on the airport.
Delta is also more enticing because of the upgrades. Passengers can opt for leather seats on Delta One (their dinner and a movie deal), or upgrade to Delta Comfort, which includes more leg-room, free snacks, etc. I’m still not a fan of Delta, given a lot of delays and cancellations I’ve had while traveling.
Icelandair
Icelandair is hands down, one of my favorite airlines to fly to Reykjavik. I don’t know if it’s because it’s an Icelandic airline, but it just feels like you’re already in Iceland, as soon as you step on the plane. You get comfy pillows, the seats are exceptional, and it’s super easy to fall asleep. I don’t know – it’s always been my favorite.
I’d even fork over an additional $100 to fly Icelandair. That’s saying something. You can get a roundtrip flight via Icelandair from JFK or Boston Logan International from $250-$350. The airline also offers a lot of flights into Europe.