Both Play and Norse Atlantic offer low-cost flights between the United States and Europe. All passengers are routed through Play’s hub in Reykjavik, Iceland. Although Norse flies to fewer places, all of its flights are nonstop. It might seem like an odd time for new airlines to start up, but the number of travelers has been rising this year, so we live in a strange world. Over the past few months, travel to Europe, in particular, has become increasingly popular, driving up the cost of tickets. However, there are still discounts for budget-conscious travelers willing to be flexible.
Lowlights:
Play’s low fares make it a good choice for travelers who want to explore Europe this summer. But, if you’re already on the continent and you’d instead save your time and money by flying between U.S. cities, there are better options out there. Many of the routes that Play does not fly between U.S. cities — even the ones you’d think would be a good fit — are cheaper on the likes of Norwegian or Southwest.
Norse, on the other hand, might be more appealing to those who are already in Europe and want to maximize their time there. While it doesn’t offer every European destination, it does serve several of them, including Paris, Berlin, London and Copenhagen. Because of this, it’s an airline that’s especially well-suited for tourists moving around Europe.
Similar carriers
The two carriers are so similar that you’d think it’d be hard to pick between them. And, in some ways, I think the decision comes down to personal preference. In my opinion, one of the most significant advantages of being an Iceland-based airline is that they’ll likely offer the best possible deals in Europe – and even in Norway and Sweden – because they already have so many customers.
Based on our information, the combination of service and price make Play a better option for those already in Europe. If you’re flying to Europe this summer, you might want to consider booking with them instead. Neither airline is an official summer travel co-sponsor with Jetsetter, but they’ll help you get there.
Airlines
Play and Norse Atlantic are two Icelandic airlines courting much attention this year. Both carriers offer cheap flights across the Atlantic, a region that has become increasingly busy for low-cost airlines in recent years. We’ve looked at these new carriers to see how they compare.
Play and Norse’s ventures into trans-Atlantic travel are interesting because they use Iceland – a relative newcomer to the aviation scene – as their base of operations.
TIME FOR A CHECKUP FOR PLAY, NORSE, AND ICELANDIC REGIONAL AIRLINES
When you think of Iceland as an aviation destination, you probably think of the tiny nation’s groundbreaking short-haul carrier Icelandair. But there’s much more to the region than that. If we included all the airline carriers that use Iceland as their home base, we’d have nearly twice as many choices.
And, while the nation has seen a fair share of turbulence in its skies – the likes of which we wrote about in our piece on Wow Air earlier this year – there are still significant opportunities for forward-thinking travelers to explore the Iceland region.
With Play and Norse launching their trans-Atlantic ventures, now seems like a good time to look at Icelandic airlines and how they can impact how we travel around the Atlantic in 2017.
PLAY: THE COOL
Founded in 2012, Play is Iceland’s only low-cost carrier. Despite the lack of other carriers in the nation, Play is rapidly growing and currently serves more than 40 routes from its Reykjavik hub. Play is still growing remarkably as a relatively new player in the market. Dropping prices yearly, it’s clear that Play is consciously focusing on offering passenger-friendly services – or, at the very least, a better-than-average deal.
As part of this philosophy, Play has recently raised prices on some routes and removed focus city limits on others. But, even with a more competitive price point, it’s not all about price.
IDEAL FOR INNOVATORS:
There’s no doubt that Iceland is a great place to fly, but the country lacks a lot of what you’d need for travelers who want to go off the beaten path. Because of this, passengers that are looking for some unique experiences can get precisely what they’re looking for from Play. Play is the only airline with nonstop service to Iceland, meaning no other carrier can help you connect to Iceland without at least one stop. So, Play is the airline for you if you want to go the non-traditional route.
Not only that, but Play is also a smart option for those who want a unique Icelandic experience.
NORSE: THE NORMAL
With Play serving as a low-cost alternative, Norway is home to one of the most prominent airline groups in the world, SAS. Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) subsidiary was founded in 1946 and is one of the mainstays of trans-Atlantic aviation. The company has a fleet of more than 150 aircraft and over 100 routes across 19 countries, making it a behemoth that’s hard to ignore.
Although there are plenty of other carriers you can fly with, SAS is still the primary carrier for many Norwegian travelers. What’s more, when it comes to those who are focused on a particular area of Scandinavia, they almost always prefer SAS over any other carrier.
IDEAL FOR COMMUTERS:
Like Play, Scandinavian Airlines is undoubtedly an excellent choice for travelers who want to connect from one region to another. However, those looking for some more non-traditional options might want to give the airline a look. Despite having no nonstop flights at the moment, it’s still possible to fly with them – you have to connect through Copenhagen. So, if you want to hop from one part of Scandinavia to another, SAS is a great option.
If you’re looking for the best deal possible. Don’t mind waiting a few extra hours in the airport between stops. This might be a good deal for you.
CONCLUSION:-
Even though the two airlines are so similar that you’d think it’d be hard to pick between them. The final decision comes down to personal preference and your priorities. Play is an excellent choice for those who want to connect from one Scandinavian country to another. Because there’s no better option for connecting with other areas of Scandinavia. However, Scandinavian Airlines might be a better choice if you’re looking for something a little more unique and off-the-beaten path.
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