Ready to book your flight on Icelandair and in search of the best seat? As Iceland’s airline and Reykjavik’s largest carrier, Icelandair operates an extensive route network across the U.S. and Europe using a unique fleet of jets with optional seat selection. Keep reading for everything you need to know about choosing the right Icelandair seat selection during booking or once tickets are issued.
Introducing Icelandair’s Online Seat Selection
Icelandair allows all passengers to secure a specific seat assignment either during the booking process or afterwards by accessing their booking online or via the Saga app.
General preferred seats like bulkheads and exit rows don’t cost extra - but you may be assigned one automatically at check-in based on status and availability. Upgraded Economy Comfort, Premium and Saga Business fares let you confirm a seat in those cabins for an added fee upfront.
When Can I Select Seats on Icelandair?
Selecting Icelandair seats is available at two main times:
- During booking: After searching flights, you’ll input passenger details and see a prompt to reserve seats from an interactive seat map next. Request window/aisle preferences here.
- After ticketing: Retrieve your booking on Icelandair’s website using your confirmation code or account login credentials. Access the "Manage my booking" link to bring up seating charts and change selections even after tickets are issued.
You can swap seats for free as often as you want when logged into your reservation before departure. The key is completing online check-in as early as possible to get newly opened preferred economy seats or priority standby upgrades to premium cabins.
Icelandair Seating Tips and Tricks
Ready to pick seats on your Icelandair flight? Here are some of the best seats to aim for depending on the aircraft operating your route:
Boeing 757-300:
- Rows 15-20 in Economy offer a few extra inches of legroom over standard coach seats near the wings and aft.
- Exit rows are marked in green on seat maps – they have ample leg space but doors lack windows. Emergency exit rules apply.
- Saga Premium is an affordable 2x2 cabin good for groups. It's just behind business with more recline, leg rests and drinks.
- For Saga Business, front suites allow quickest meal and restroom access while avoiding noise from Economy behind the curtains.
- Solo business travelers may want single window seats without a neighbor for ultimate privacy.
Boeing 767-300:
- Green zones on seat maps indicate Economy Comfort with added pitch located between cabins. Good for tall travelers on longer U.S. routes.
- Downstairs, opt for odd numbered window seats in Economy near exits for easier bathroom access without climbing over neighbors.
- For Economy Comfort, bulkhead row 16C is a honeymoon style pair of seats. But avoid rear row 35 near lavs.
Carefully reviewing seating charts for reclines, width and features helps ensure you lock in the best possible spot on Icelandair!
How Does Seat Selection Work on Connecting Flights?
One cool perk of flying Icelandair is the ability to extend stopovers in Iceland at no extra airfare cost. But how does seat selection work when connecting through Reykjavik?
The good news is Icelandair links all segments of your journey into one PNR booking code. So when you choose seats initially or by accessing your reservation afterwards, your selections carry over across each individual flight number/leg.
As long as all flights are on Icelandair tickets, your outbound, stopover and return trip seats stay assigned as originally picked during check-in. Just be sure your positions are ideal for each unique aircraft and segment length.
What About Standby Upgrades To Premium Cabins?
While Icelandair doesn’t offer guaranteed upgrades to premium cabins during booking, you can opt-in to be waitlisted for unsold Economy Comfort, Premium or Saga Business seats after ticketing up to 48 hours pre-departure.
Bid upgrades start at $50 for Economy Comfort and $150+ for Saga Premium depending on route. Taxes differ as well. Business class upgrades cost upwards from $600 typically and require a full fare ticket.
If upgraded, you’ll be auto assigned a premium cabin seat fitting your group size 24-48 hours before departure, after check-in opens. This confirms your boarding pass in the new class. No seat selection preference comes with operational upgrades however.
So while Icelandair doesn’t sell premium seats outright for the highest bidder, the standby process gives economy ticket holders a fair shot at scoring a deal on upgraded seating day-of when seats open up
