Icelandair Business Class: Everything You Need to Know in 2025

Iceland is one of the most popular travel destinations on the planet, and although the number of airlines serving the country’s international airport is growing, Icelandair remains one of the top choices to get there.

Iceland’s national airline has increased the number of planes, routes, and staff as flying to the Land of Fire and Ice has risen in demand. Meanwhile, Icelandair maintains its popular stopover service—a program in which passengers can spend up to seven days in the country before continuing on to another European destination at no extra cost.

With twelve American and three Canadian airports offering direct flights, Icelandair has made Iceland more accessible than ever for North Americans. But even the shortest routes are over five hours, and the longest are well over twelve, making it well worth upgrading to Icelandair’s Saga Premium (commonly referred to as Saga Business Class) if you can snag cheap flights.

Key takeaways

• Icelandair’s Saga Premium, often referred to as Saga Business Class, offers a more comfortable flying experience. It includes priority airport services, exclusive meals, and a spacious cabin.
• Icelandair operates flights from multiple North American cities to Iceland, with the option to add a free stopover of up to seven days en route to Europe.
• While Sage Premium offers ample seating space, its seats do not lie flat like traditional business class.​
• Passengers flying Saga Premium enjoy expedited check-in, security, and access to lounges, including the exclusive Saga Lounge in Keflavik, which offers stunning views and an Icelandic design​.
• Saga Premium tickets typically range from $1,100 to $2,000 roundtrip. Going members have received deals under $1,000, making this luxurious experience more accessible​.
• Upgrades to Saga Premium are available through cash, Saga Points, or the Class Up program, allowing flexibility for travelers to enjoy the premium perks without paying full price​.
• Maximize savings by traveling during off-peak times, utilizing Saga Points through credit card partnerships, and staying informed about deals through a Going membership.

Going experts’ Icelandair Saga Premium review & score

Saga Premium delivers a balanced blend of comfort and Icelandic charm, making it a standout choice for travelers who value premium amenities without the high price tag of traditional business class. The seats are spacious, the meal service features Icelandic specialties, and you get access to Icelandair Saga Lounge. These highlights elevate the travel experience and make Saga Premium a great alternative for transatlantic flights, especially with the added appeal of the Iceland stopover option.

In our opinion, the absence of lie-flat seats can be a downside for travelers accustomed to full business-class experiences—particularly on overnight flights. While the cabin ambiance and attentive service impress, Saga Premium may feel less competitive compared to other airlines offering lie-flat options in similar fare brackets. Despite this, its affordability and unique perks make it a compelling choice.

Expert score: 8/10

What to know about Icelandair Saga Business Class:

What is Icelandair Saga Business Class?

Icelandair’s business class is called Saga Premium, which can be a little confusing because their loyalty program is called the Saga Club. While it’s certainly worth it to join, especially when flying the airline regularly, note that signing up for Saga Club does not come with upgrades to Saga Premium (that comes with reaching status level Saga Silver). 

Saga Premium can be booked the old-fashioned way (by paying for it) on any aircraft in Icelandair’s international fleet. Each plane on each route offers Saga Premium; the number of available seats will depend on the type of aircraft serving your route.

What flights in Icelandair offer the Saga Business Class?

Icelandair flies from several North American destinations, and Saga Premium is available in all of them. In the United States, flights originate in Anchorage (this is the 12-hour flight), Seattle, Portland, Denver, Minneapolis, Chicago, Orlando, Raleigh-Durham, DC, Baltimore, New York, and Boston. In Canada, Icelandair flies from Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal. 

They offer flights to most of the major cities in Western Europe, but note that every route from North America will include a stopover in Keflavik, Iceland’s main international airport, which is located about 45 minutes from Reykjavik.

Any of the North American flights are worth upgrading to business class, though none quite as much as from Anchorage. As flights from Seattle, Portland, and Vancouver also take between 7–10 hours, those can be well worth the upgrade as well if comfort is a concern. All of Icelandair’s North American flights arrive in the morning, so ideally, you will want to sleep on the plane to get in tune with Iceland’s time zone.

What’s included in Icelandair Saga Business Class?

Saga Premium includes many perks common to business class on other airlines. One of the most known is its dining service. Passengers are greeted with a menu, including alcoholic beverages, Icelandic snacks, and sodas, and then served either a three-course meal on North American flights or a two-course meal for European ones. Beyond this, there are no notable distinctions between European and North American Saga Premium services.

Another important detail about Saga Premium is that the seats are comparable to the premium economy on other airlines: They do not lie flat. But there is greater space in these seats—the legroom is 40” (101.6cm) versus economy’s 32” (81cm)—with wider seats and a power socket. 

Icelandair Saga Business Class: Everything you need to know

The Icelandair Saga Business Class experience at the airport 

Icelandair business class lounge access

The Icelandair Saga Lounge (yes, another thing called Saga) in Keflavik is a relaxing escape before boarding. There are a few places to eat and shop in the Keflavik airport, but seating can be hard to come by when not dining at a restaurant. The Saga Lounge has ample food and places to rest, as well as wifi, eye-catching Icelandic design, and landscape views. 

Note that the lounge is situated in Zone A, which precedes passport control in Zone D for flights to and from North America. This line can take 15–20 minutes to get through before reaching your gate. Saga Premium grants you expedited service through general security but not passport control.

When flying on Icelandair from other destinations, both domestic and international, a Saga Premium ticket can grant lounge access to a partner airline's lounge, which you can search on their website. 

Icelandair business class check-in

Priority check-in is one of the best perks of Saga Premium when traveling from Iceland because the line is frequently long and slow. Premium passengers have their own lane and the ability to fast-track through security. It’s still recommended to arrive 2–3 hours before your flight and download the Icelandair app for check-in. Saga Premium does not necessarily grant fast-track access at airports outside Iceland.

Baggage allowance

Icelandair’s Saga Premium offers generous baggage allowances to ensure a hassle-free journey. Passengers can check two bags weighing up to 70.5 lbs (32 kg) each, with additional carry-on luggage that includes one bag up to 22 lbs (10 kg) and a personal item.

The Icelandair business class experience in the air

Icelandair Saga business class seats

Icelandair operates several types of Boeing aircraft: 757, 767, and 737 MAX 8 and 9. They all have Saga Premium in a 2x2 configuration, except the 767, which is 2x1x2. The number of total seats available in this class varies by aircraft as well. Each seat offers 40” (101.6cm) of legroom and 20.5” (50cm) of seat width. 

As previously mentioned, Saga Premium seats recline more than economy seats, are wider, and have more legroom, but they do not lie flat.

Benefits of flying Icelandair business class

The major benefits of Saga Premium class include upgraded seats and meal service, priority check-in and lounge access, and the ability to check two bags. The class also comes with delightful amenity kits, including Icelandic skincare products, a dental kit, socks, an eye mask, and ear plugs. All of it is packaged in a clean, Nordic aesthetic that invokes a sense of Iceland.

Saga Premium passengers also get a blanket and pillow, high-quality headsets for in-flight entertainment, pre-flight drinks, and wifi. 

Icelandair Saga Class meals

A three-course meal service is prepared during flights to and from North America. This includes an appetizer, a cooked main dish, and a dessert. Various snacks are available at all times, and Icelandic chocolate is also handed out at various times. (Try Icelandic candy bars like Rís—it’s a crunchy, chocolatey local favorite.) 

Alcohol in Saga Business Class

Saga class includes champagne and pre-flight drinks, plus other alcoholic beverages to accompany meals or whenever you please. Brands hailing from Iceland are available, including Gull beer, Reykjavik Distillery gin, and Reyka vodka. On one flight, there was even a gin and tonic menu with different gins paired with different tonics.

How to book Icelandair business class

How much does it cost for a business class ticket on Icelandair? 

Saga Premium tickets typically range from $1,100 to $2,000 for a roundtrip journey, with prices depending on the route, travel season, and demand. At Going, we've found our members deals under $1,000 roundtrip.

 How to upgrade to business class on Icelandair for free

Being a Saga Silver or Saga Gold status member is the only official way to snag a free upgrade to Saga Premium. These frequent flyer tiers are achieved through earning Saga Points based on flights taken. Occasionally, travelers might receive upgrades due to overbooking in economy, but this is far from common.

How much does it cost to upgrade to business class on Icelandair? 

Saga Premium often costs about $600–$1,000 more than an economy ticket, depending on the route and time of year. The overall price is higher during the high summer season and lower during winter and shoulder seasons, though these times are growing in popularity.  

You can lower your costs using Saga Points through credit card partnerships and staying informed about deals through Going’s travel membership trial.

How many miles to upgrade to Icelandair business class? 

To reach Saga Silver, passengers must earn 40,000 tier credits within a 12-month period, and to reach Saga Gold, they must earn 80,000 tier credits. These two classes enable passengers to earn upgrades. 

How to bid for a seat upgrade on Icelandair? 

Icelandair offers a Class Up program in which economy passengers can bid on upgrades for eligible flights. Before the flight, an email is sent to the passenger with the option to bid for an upgrade, and the price range option for their flight will show at that time. There is no average cost since it’s based on availability and demand, but generally, you can expect to pay $300–$500 per leg. This is in addition to the fare already paid. To bid, you'll select a price, input your credit card info, and will be automatically charged if your bid is accepted.

How to save while traveling in Icelandair’s Saga Business class

Use Saga Points with partnering credit cards

Icelandair’s loyalty program can help you score a deal on your next Saga Premium flight. Many credit cards let you transfer your Saga Points or earn them directly on purchases. For extra savings, look for Icelandair’s Saga Club promotions that offer bonus points or reduced redemption rates for Saga Premium flights.

Take advantage of Icelandair’s stopover package

Icelandair famously offers a stopover program where passengers can stay in Iceland for up to seven days before moving on to their final destination on mainland Europe. For Saga Premium Flex passengers, which is an upgraded version of Saga Premium with more flexibility to change the ticket, the stopover length is unlimited (per visa allowance).

So, instead of paying for separate flights to Iceland and Europe or North America, combine both destinations and save on one leg of your trip. 

Fly during off-peak times

Knowing the best time to book a flight is key to saving on your flight.  If you plan a trip to Iceland, we suggest booking 2–8 months in advance. Similarly, if you decide to travel during Icelandair’s off-peak seasons (typically winter and early spring), you might get significantly better deals. Saga Premium fares are often reduced during these periods due to lower demand. Plus, you’ll enjoy a quieter and more serene flight, which is great if you choose the Saga Premium experience.

Join Going and get notified about great deals

Going’s Elite membership is the best tool to get notified about exceptional deals, mistake fares, and premium upgrades, even for Icelandair Saga Premium. Here are some of the best deals we have recently sent our members.

• Boston to Bergen for $996 roundtrip
• Orlando to Dublin for $994 roundtrip
• Chicago to Iceland nonstop for $991 roundtrip

Elevate your Icelandair Saga Premium journey with Going

For travelers seeking comfort without breaking the bank, Saga Premium is an excellent option to consider. Saga Premium flights offer comfortable seats, gourmet meals, and wifi access, among other amenities. The best part is that this experience begins at the airport with priority check-in, security, and lounge access. Join Going to be the first to know when Icelandair’s Saga Premium deals are available. Elite members receive notifications for high-fare classes, which often include perks and travel amenities similar to those of Icelandair Saga Premium.