Icelandair Saga Premium Review: Seats, Cost, and Is It Worth It?

Icelandair's business class, known as Saga Premium (formerly Saga Class), is best thought of as a premium-economy-plus experience rather than a traditional lie-flat business class.

You get a wide recliner seat with about 40 inches of legroom, Icelandic-inspired meals, priority airport service, lounge access in Keflavik, and the airline's signature free stopover in Iceland. Note: The seat does not lie flat, different from many traditional business class offerings. 

Here's the full breakdown: what Saga Premium includes, how the seats differ by aircraft, what it costs, how to upgrade, and whether it's worth booking.

Key takeaways

• In the grand scheme of airline classes, Saga Premium sits between premium economy and true international business class, closer to US domestic first class in the seat itself.
• Expect around 40 inches of pitch and roughly 20 inches of width on most aircraft, with the newest Airbus A321LR offering 42 to 43 inches of pitch and 16-inch OLED screens.
• You get business-class perks on the ground and in the air with priority check-in and security, two free checked bags, lounge access in Keflavik, Icelandic meals, complimentary drinks, and Wi-fi, along with an optional Iceland stopover up to seven days in Iceland at no extra airfare on your way to or from mainland Europe. It's essentially two trips on one ticket.
• The average normal price runs about $2,500–$4,500 roundtrip, though Going members can get it for $1,000–$2,000, and have previously booked it for less than $1,000. 
• For the price, few products in the recliner category compete. If you need to sleep flat overnight, it's a real limitation.

What is Icelandair Saga Premium (formerly Saga Class)?

What is Saga Premium on Icelandair?

Saga Premium is Icelandair's top cabin and its version of business class. The name causes some confusion because the airline's loyalty program is called the Saga Club, and reaching Saga Silver or Saga Gold status is what unlocks complimentary upgrades (but signing up for the Saga Club on its own does not).

The cabin has a wider recliner seat, upgraded dining, priority airport treatment, and lounge access. The important caveat, and the thing most reviewers flag, is that the seats recline deeply but do not lie flat.

Think of it as a step above US domestic first class in comfort, in addition to an elevated food and service experience.

Does Icelandair have a first class?

No. Icelandair does not offer a traditional first class. Its cabins are Saga Premium and Economy, with economy sold in fare tiers like Economy Light, Economy Standard, and Economy Flex. Saga Premium is as premium as it gets.

Saga Premium vs. Saga Premium Flex

Saga Premium Flex is the more flexible version of the same cabin. You sit in the same seat and get the same onboard experience, but the fare rules are looser: easier changes and cancellations, and an unlimited stopover length in Iceland (subject to your visa) rather than the standard seven days.

Saga Premium Flex fares are also the ones that typically unlock partner-lounge access when you're flying from airports outside Iceland.

Saga Premium vs. Economy Standard

The gap between Saga Premium and Economy Standard is noticeable. Economy Standard gets you a standard seat (around 31 to 32 inches of pitch), a seat assignment, and a carry-on, with meals and extras varying by route.

Saga Premium adds a wider recliner with about 40 inches of pitch, two free checked bags, priority check-in and boarding, lounge access in Keflavik, a full meal service, complimentary drinks, and an amenity kit. On a longer transatlantic segment, the extra nine inches and premium amenities can make a difference.

Which Icelandair flights offer Saga Premium?

Every aircraft in Icelandair's international fleet has a Saga Premium cabin, so it's available on all routes.

In the US, Icelandair flies from cities including Seattle, Portland, Denver, Minneapolis, Chicago, Orlando, Raleigh-Durham, Washington, DC, Baltimore, New York, Boston, and seasonally Anchorage (its longest route).

In Canada, it serves Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal. Every route from North America connects through Keflavik (KEF), about 45 minutes from Reykjavík, enabling the free stopover program. 

Everything you need to know (quick reference table)

The Icelandair Saga Premium airport experience

Icelandair business class lounge access

Saga Premium includes access to the Saga Lounge at Keflavik International Airport, a calm, Icelandic-designed space with food, drinks, Wi-fi, and landscape views, a welcome refuge given that seating in the main terminal can be scarce. One thing to plan around: The lounge sits in Zone A, before passport control (Zone D) for North American flights, and that passport line can take 15 to 20 minutes, so give yourself time. The Saga Lounge is the only lounge Icelandair operates, and it isn't accessible through Priority Pass. When flying from other airports, a Saga Premium Flex ticket or Saga status can get you into a partner lounge, which you can look up on Icelandair's site.

Check-in and fast-track security

Priority check-in is one of the most useful perks, especially when departing Iceland, where the regular line can move slowly. Saga Premium passengers get a dedicated lane and fast-track through general security. Note that this doesn't speed you through passport control, and fast-track isn't guaranteed at airports outside Iceland. Even with priority access, plan to arrive two to three hours ahead and check in through the Icelandair app.

Baggage allowance

Saga Premium comes with a generous allowance: two checked bags up to 32 kg (70.5 lbs) each, plus one carry-on up to 10 kg (22 lbs) and a personal item.

The Icelandair Saga Premium in-flight experience

Icelandair Saga Premium seats

Saga Premium seats are wide recliners in a 2x2 layout on most aircraft, with more legroom and recline than economy but no lie-flat function. The exact seat depends on which plane you're flying, so it's worth checking your aircraft when you book. 

New seats: Airbus A321LR

Icelandair delivered its first Airbus in December 2024, the first in the airline's 87-year history, and it's steadily replacing the older 757s. On the A321LR, Saga Premium is a 22-seat cabin in a 2x2 layout using Geven Comoda recliners with 42 to 43 inches of pitch and around 21 inches of width. 

Icelandair expects to operate about 35 mainline aircraft by summer 2026, including seven A321LRs, and it's retiring its Boeing 767 widebodies by the end of 2026, with the 757s following over the next couple of years.

The longer-range Airbus A321XLR is ordered for delivery from 2029. None of this changes the core product. Even on the newest jets, Saga Premium is a recliner, not a lie-flat bed.

Benefits and amenity kit

Beyond the seat, Saga Premium includes a Nordic-style amenity kit with Icelandic skincare, a dental kit, socks, an eye mask, and earplugs, as well as a blanket, pillow, quality headphones, and pre-flight drinks. 

Icelandair Saga Premium meals

Dining is a high point in Icelandair Saga Premium. North American routes get a three-course meal (appetizer, hot main, dessert), and European routes get a two- or three-course service depending on length.

Icelandair leans into local ingredients, so expect dishes built around Icelandic lamb, Arctic char, or cod, alongside familiar options. Snacks are available throughout, and Icelandic chocolate makes the rounds.

Drinks and the Gin Library

Drinks are complimentary: Gull beer, Reykjavík Distillery gin, and Reyka vodka, plus champagne and a solid wine list. Icelandair has leaned into its gin offering with a gin-and-tonic pairing menu, matching different gins with different tonics, a fun touch you won't find in many cabins at this price.

Wi-fi and in-flight entertainment

Wi-fi is complimentary in Saga Premium. Entertainment is on seatback screens with movies, TV, and music: 13-inch screens on most of the fleet, stepping up to 16-inch OLED screens with Bluetooth on the A321LR.

How to book Icelandair Saga Premium

How much does Icelandair business class cost?

The average Saga Premium roundtrip costs from $2,500–$4,500, depending on route, season, and demand. It's higher in peak summer and lower in winter and shoulder seasons.

Going has found members cheap flight deals around $1,000–$2,000 roundtrip, and even below $1,000 on some routes.

How to upgrade to Saga Premium for free

The only official free upgrade path is holding Saga Silver or Saga Gold status, earned through flying. Occasionally, economy overbooking leads to an upgrade, but that's rare and not something to count on.

How much does it cost to upgrade to Saga Premium?

Upgrading from economy usually adds about $600 to $1,000, depending on the route and season. Winter and shoulder-season fares tend to sit at the lower end.

How many Saga Points or tier credits to upgrade?

Status is based on tier credits earned from flying: 40,000 tier credits within 12 months reaches Saga Silver, and 80,000 reaches Saga Gold. Both tiers can earn complimentary Saga Premium upgrades.

How to bid for an upgrade (Class Up)

Icelandair's Class Up program lets economy passengers bid for an upgrade on eligible flights. Before departure, you'll get an email with a price range, and you set your own bid.

There's no fixed rate since it depends on availability and demand, but expect roughly $300 to $500 per leg on top of your existing fare. Of course, you're only charged if your bid is accepted.

How to save on Icelandair Saga Premium

Use Saga Points with partner credit cards

Icelandair isn't part of a global alliance and isn't a US credit card transfer partner, so most points and partner miles can't book it. 

The most realistic options are Saga Points or cash. Some credit cards let you earn or transfer Saga Points, and Saga Club promotions occasionally offer bonus points or discounted redemptions on Saga Premium.

Note: While Icelandair isn’t part of a global alliance, it is an official partner of Southwest, allowing travelers to book connecting flights with both carriers on a single itinerary. However, the partnership does not allow for points transfers between Icelandair and Southwest. 

Take advantage of the Iceland stopover

This is Icelandair's signature perk. On trips between North America and Europe, you can stop in Iceland for up to seven days at no extra airfare cost (unlimited stop length for Saga Premium Flex, within your visa allowance).

Instead of paying for separate flights, you get two destinations in one ticket.

Fly during off-peak times

Timing matters. For a trip to Iceland, aim to book 2 to 8 months ahead, and lean toward off-peak seasons (winter and early spring), when Saga Premium fares drop with demand.

Bonus: During the off-season, the cabin is quieter, too.

Join Going for deal alerts

Going's Elite membership tracks fares in premium classes, mistake fares, and points-and-miles redemptions, including on Saga Premium. Recent examples our members have caught include Boston to Bergen for $996 roundtrip and Chicago to Iceland nonstop for $991 roundtrip on Icelandair.

Is Icelandair Saga Premium worth it?

For many travelers, yes. But it’s important to keep clear expectations. Saga Premium has the biggest seats in the recliner category.

The seat is comfortable and roomy, the Icelandic meals are top-notch, the service is attentive, and the free stopover effectively turns one fare into two trips. All these characteristics are why reviewers consistently rate it a strong value, especially when booked with a Going deal or during one of Icelandair’s regular fare sales.

One of the biggest downsides, though, is the lack of a lie-flat seat. On an overnight flight, if sleeping horizontally is your priority, Saga Premium won’t match a traditional international business class.

Overall, for the price and given the stopover and the onboard experience, it’s an easy recommendation for comfort-minded travelers who don't need a bed.

Going experts’ score: 8/10.

Elevate your journey with Going

Saga Premium is a smart way to fly more comfortably without paying full business-class prices, and the smartest way to book it is to let the deals come to you.

Join Going to be first to know when Saga Premium fares drop. Going Elite members get alerts for premium cabins, mistake fares, and points-and-miles award seats, including on Saga Premium.