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They still recommend for your safety and convenience traveling with as little carry-on baggage as possible.
Passengers are reminded that they still have the option to check in approved carry-on baggage at no additional cost. Please speak with a representative at the airport check-in desk or at the gate.]
You probably know that the aptly-named Icelandair can get you to and from the lush Nordic island of Iceland (and several other European countries), but do you know everything there is to know about their baggage policies and allowances in 2022?
If not, and for more information about ways to save, keep reading.
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Carry-On Rules for Icelandair
When it comes to baggage fees for Icelandair flights, what you’ll pay and what you’re allowed to bring is entirely dependent on your flight class. There are five flight classes for this airline:
- Economy Light
- Economy Standard
- Economy Flex
- Saga Premium
- Saga Premium Flex
Every flyer is allowed one free carry-on and one free personal item aboard their flight, and Saga Premium Flex passengers are allowed two free carry-ons and one personal item.
Carry-ons are restricted to a maximum dimension of 21.6” x 15.7” x 7.8” and maximum weight of 22 pounds and these must fit in the overhead compartment of your plane. Personal items are restricted to a maximum dimension of 15.7” x 11.8” x 5.9” and these must fit under the seat in front of you. These size and weight restrictions for carry-ons and personal items apply to all passengers.
Checked Baggage Rules for Icelandair
Size and weight restrictions for checked baggage, on the other hand, are not the same for all fare types on Icelandair flights. If you’re in a premium Saga class, you are permitted to check heavier bags for no additional fee. With that said, the standard weight allowance for checked bags is 50 pounds and the standard dimension 62 linear inches.
See the chart below for bag allowances by class.
| Number of Checked Bags | Weight | |
| Economy Light | 0 | – |
| Economy Standard | 1 | 50 lbs |
| Economy Flex | 1 | 50 lbs |
| Saga Premium | 2 | 70 lbs |
| Saga Premium Flex | 2 | 70 lbs |
But flying Economy Light doesn’t mean flying with no checked baggage. These allowances are simply what’s included in your fare. Any passenger can purchase additional bags or heavier bags than their fare permits. The maximum per person is 10 checked bags.
Certain baggage is allowed free of charge to qualifying passengers, either onboard or as cargo. This includes:
- Folding strollers
- Approved child car seats
- Wheelchairs (read about maximum dimensions here)
Excess Baggage Fees For Icelandair
Icelandair enforces excess baggage rules depending on flight route. Flights from Iceland to Europe, from Iceland to the U.S. or Canada, and from Europe to the U.S. or Canada all incur distinct oversize, overweight, and additional bag fees. See these below.
| 1 Additional Bag (50 lbs) | 1 Additional Bag (50 – 70 lbs) | |
| Iceland to Europe | $59 | $50 |
| Iceland to U.S. or Canada | $69 | $58 |
| Europe to U.S. or Canada | $95 | $80 |
Icelandair’s website does not specify what you’ll pay for items that are oversize in dimension but not weight (A.K.A. too large but not too heavy). Though if your items fall into one of the following oversize baggage categories, here’s exactly what you’ll be charged per item for a one-way flight:
| Skis, Angling, Golf Equipment, Skateboard, Weapons, Diving, Hockey | Bikes, Kites, Surfboards | Kayaks, Vaulting Poles, Windsurfing, Surf Boards | Oversize Musical Instruments | |
| Iceland to Europe | $42 | $83 | $126 | $42 |
| Iceland to U.S. or Canada | $49 | $99 | $148 | $49 |
| Europe to U.S. or Canada | $58 | $116 | $174 | $58 |
Keep in mind that heavy bags can only be paid for at the airport and that excess baggage fees are non-refundable.
Money saving tip: If you pre-purchase extra baggage through Manage Booking or an Icelandair service center before checking in for a flight exclusively through Icelandair, your baggage charges will be discounted 20% (a maximum of three additional bags can be discounted in this way).
How to Get Reimbursed For Baggage Fees
Travel credit cards are the way to go when it comes to getting the money you pay in incidental flight fees back. For more cash in your pockets, consider one of these credit cards:
- The Platinum Card® from American Express: $200 annual reimbursement
- American Express® Gold Card: $100
- Bank of America Premium Rewards: $200
- Chase Sapphire Reserve®: $300
- Citi Prestige: $250
Travel reimbursements will save you some serious money long-term.
Credit Cards That Let You Check Bags For Free
The Icelandair Mastercard and Icelandair Premium Mastercard are the two airline-exclusive credit cards to look into if you’re wanting to earn more points for Icelandair flights and purchases. These cards, issued by First Bankcard, have no foreign transaction fees and can earn you points, called Saga Points, on Icelandair purchases and purchases made anywhere else. These can be spent on baggage fees, flights, and more. To apply for these cards, you must become a member of the Saga Club frequent flyer program (more on this next).
The Icelandair Mastercard comes with no annual fee and awards 5,000 points as a first purchase bonus, one point per dollar spent on Icelandair purchases, and 0.5 points per dollar spent everywhere else. The Icelandair Premium Mastercard costs $39 a year, awards 10,000 points as a first purchase bonus, two points per dollar spent on Icelandair purchases, and one point per dollar spent everywhere else.
Icelandair Fee Waivers & Loopholes
Because it is a European airline, Icelandair does not offer discounts or fee waivers to U.S. active duty military members or their dependents. However, there are a couple of ways to hack your way to discounted prices through Icelandair. The first is to become a member of the Saga Club.
Anyone over the age of 12 can become a member of the Saga Club, but only members with 40,000 or more Saga points are upgraded to Saga Silver status and only members with 80,000 are upgraded to Saga Gold. Silver and Gold flyers earn more rewards and have priority access to exclusive offers (remember those free extra checked bags?) and upgrades that other passengers do not. The Saga Club does not cost anything to join.
Another way to save is to use Alaska Airlines points and miles on Icelandair flights and fees. This works because Alaska Airlines is Icelandair’s largest U.S. partner, so many rewards between these airlines are interchangeable. Of course, always opt for economy class when possible, check your bags ahead of time, and keep your baggage under the size and weight restrictions, as well.
How to Save Money Flying Icelandair
You’ll find that there are many ways to cut costs when flying with Icelandair. By knowing the (above) baggage rules, policies and potential waivers, you’ll be in the best position to fly Icelandair at the lowest possible cost to you and your family.