By now if you’ve been traveling, booking travel, or thinking about going on a trip at some point, there is little doubt that you’ve heard of Wow Air, the Icelandic airline based out of the Keflavik airport right outside of Reykjavik. Here’s what most people know: the airline offers ridiculously cheap fares between the US, Iceland, and lots of other European countries that are virtually unparalleled by other companies, and the airline is PINK, PINK, PINK. Walking onto the airplane, you’re overwhelmed first by the bright pink exterior, the bright pink carpets on the interior, and then the bright pink flight attendants who greet you with a chipper smile and hello. Pink is a good color, I’ve always enjoyed it as a cute blouse or stunning sunset, but I think it is probably better in moderation.
I’ve seen other reviews of this airline floating about the internet, but I thought I might have additional insight to offer anyone who is considering booking with Wow after using them for my flight from DC to Reykjavik last December.
What I liked
The website makes it easy to find cheapest fares
I like a website that forces you to be flexible. How can you possibly stick with your original dates if, right there in front of you, you see that a flight leaving a day later will save you $200? You can enter whatever dates you want, but remember to scroll through the surrounding dates to find the best steal.
Additionally, if you’re flexible on location, the website is always updating with a list of its lowest prices, including some mind-blowing $99 flights to Reykjavik on certain days. I’m not a spontaneous spender, but this is a website feature that I actually won’t even let myself look at for too long with a credit card within reach.
…And to add extras
There are certain things in Iceland that require guided tours or pre-booking (I am looking at you, freaking Blue Lagoon and your tendency to not cooperate with my schedule). As you make your way through the booking process for your flight with Wow Air, the website gives you the option to add on any of these little extras for your trip (I opted to do the Golden Circle Tour with Reykjavik Excursions, but would not recommend it, as it is easy to do on your own if you rent a car).
The cutesiness of it all
I have to admit, though I am not proud of it, I appreciate cutesy. I always have. Budget airlines are all about cutesy, because there needs to be some other shtick besides cheap prices to draw in the customers. From the greetings on the seats, to the bag tags that read “you too shall pass,” to the barf bags with a vomit-meter printed on the outside, the quirks are never-ending with these guys, and you’ll definitely stay entertained (if reluctantly) throughout the experience.
The staff
Despite their excessively pink and old-fashioned ensembles, the staff working on my flights was incredibly friendly and helpful. As someone who really values affability and is instantly put into a more exuberant mood by a friendly flight attendant, this is a huge plus.
What I disliked
Being nickeled and dimed for liiiterally everything
Wow! A $100 overseas flight sounds dope as hell at first glance, but you have to realize you’re going to be paying at least twice that when all is said and done. Your bags, even a small carry-on (personal items like purses are FREE!!! YEEAH!), are all an extra cost, you have to pay to pick your seat, and if you want extra leg room, you have to pay extra for that, too. Standard seats are around $10 each way, extra legroom seats are $41 each way, and extra extra legroom seats are $51 each way (yikes). Luckily, I am a small speck of a person with tiny stumpy legs and can generally stretch out anywhere I sit.
Carry-on bags and checked bags are priced at $41 and $51 respectively to Reykjavik, but priced at $51 and $71 respectively to other cities in Europe.
No in-flight service
This is common with budget airlines, I have noticed. Nary a complimentary cup of water nor a single peanut will find its way onto your tray table. Personally, my favorite part of overseas flights is getting two free meals, complete with a hot towel, tasty dessert, and mini bottle of wine. European airlines know how to treat their customers. You won’t be sitting in the lap of luxury on Wow Air unless you’re willing to fork over a good chunk of money (the in-flight menu offers ham and cheese baguettes for $9, turkey sandwiches for $10, and a small margarita pizza for $9), but as long as you throw a water bottle and a few snacks into your carry-on before lift-off, you will at least be hydrated and well-nourished upon arrival.
The lack of a free Icelandic stopover option
Basically, Wow used to offer this, just as Icelandic Air offers it (because a free stopover in Iceland on the way to London or Paris or Amsterdam is a hard offer to turn down), but now it does not. I think this was previously a big draw of the airline, so I am not sure why they would have gotten rid of it unless it truly just wasn’t in the cards for them in terms of budgetary restrictions. You can do your own Icelandic stopover of course, but you’ll have to purchase a flight in and out of Reykjavik yourself. Not the exciting perk it once was.
The lack of in-flight entertainment
International flights can be LONG, but one of their redeeming qualities are their in-flight movie selections. On my flight home from Poland last summer I watched The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and two entire fluffy chick flicks to pass the hours. Alas, Wow does not have this modern option. You will have to resort to books, listening to music, and maybe even chatting with your seatmate in order to keep yourself entertained.
The seats are uncomfortable
First of all, I will start by mentioning that these seats are actually not particularly cramped. I wasn’t brushing shoulders with my seatmate ever and didn’t feel like I couldn’t shift an inch to the left or right the entire time, which was really nice. And I was able to get at least an hour of sleep on a five hour flight, which for me is phenomenal. However, the seats also leave a lot to be desired in terms of comfort. They don’t recline and are not particularly cushioned, so the entire flight you are riding on a stiff, hard wooden chair. If you have the appropriate drugs and a pillow, this may not be an issue at all.
The luggage size constraints
The maximum weight for checked luggage is almost universally 50 pounds, or about 23 kilograms. Wow Air, though? 44 pounds. This could mean the difference between bringing just the right amount to stay bundled and warm in Iceland and not quite enough. While waiting in line at the ticketing counter before my flight back to Baltimore, a mother was on her hands and knees emptying out her suitcase of her children’s dozens of toys and transferring them to her carry-on. Even after transferring several items, the ticket agent weighed it, deemed it still to be overweight, and there she was again, back at it on the floor, packing and repacking. It was an ORDEAL. And I know this because it held up the line a bit and so there was nothing to do but watch.
This is something to keep in mind before flying with Wow, especially if you are prone to over-packing. Don’t be that poor woman, frantic about missing her flight while her twins thrashed in their stroller. Just save yourself the headache.
Not always the most reliable
Personally, I did not have a complaint in this particular realm. My flight on the way from Iceland to Baltimore was delayed, but it was due to the Keflavik Airport not having enough shuttles to bring us from the gate to the plane. I’ve heard that some people have had bad experiences with delays and not getting off the ground on time (as if this doesn’t happen with literally every airline on planet Earth, but budget airlines are a little more notorious for it), but this is the exception to the rule. Wow is specifically dedicated to punctuality.
The bottom line
Would I travel with Wow Air again? Yes. Let’s be honest, of course I would. Every time I have an issue with Spirit, the Florida-based US budget airline, I vow to never fly it again, but those low, low prices keep drawing me back in. It is like a toxic relationship. You know it isn’t always reliable, you know it is uncomfortable some of the time, but the niceties and the ease of it make you stay put. I GET THAT. I’ve seen people who have had horrific experiences, including lost luggage and 48-hour delays, but this is not the norm. Wow is absolutely a worthwhile option.
I would recommend Wow to people like me: frugal and flexible. Honestly, if I was told I could get to Iceland for $1 but it would be in a plane that was crammed like a DC metro car in the middle of rush hour while the line is single tracking, I would probably be all over that. I am going to New Orleans next week and am taking a 25 hour train ride in an upright seat in order to avoid the $500 flight price tag. And that is okay. (And obviously, this airline is far more comfortable than either of those options.) Wow is incredibly transparent about what they offer, so if you go into your experience with realistic expectations, a smile, and a teeny, tiny budget, this is the perfect airline for you.
