- Introduction: From Iceland To The Residence Via Cambodia!
- Review: Icelandair Saga Business Class Boeing 737 MAX (JFK-KEF)
- Review: Torfhus Retreat Iceland (Pricey, Mostly Charming, Unique Location)
- Review: The Reykjavik EDITION, Iceland (Well-Rounded Marriott Property)
- Review: The Retreat Hotel At Blue Lagoon, Iceland (Shockingly Stellar!)
- Review: Courtyard By Marriott Reykjavik Keflavik Airport (Clean & Convenient!)
- Review: Icelandair Saga Premium Lounge Keflavik Airport (KEF)
- Review: Icelandair Saga Business Class Airbus A321LR (KEF-LHR)
- Review: Air India Business Class Airbus A350 (LHR-DEL)
- Review: Holiday Inn Express Delhi Airport Terminal 3 (Airside Convenience)
- Review: Air India Business Class Airbus A320neo (DEL-KUL)
After an incredible six nights in Iceland, it was time to continue my Iceland to The Residence via Cambodia trip. This involved flying Icelandair’s Airbus A321LR Saga Class from Keflavik (KEF) to London (LHR). Prior to my flight, I had the chance to check out the Icelandair Saga Lounge, which is the carrier’s only airport lounge in the world.
Ultimately Icelandair is a hybrid carrier, and its Saga Class is somewhere between business class and premium economy. So the Icelandair Saga Lounge isn’t going to rank among the world’s best business class lounges. However, it’s still a pleasant facility with all the essentials — comfortable seating, decent food and drinks, and bathrooms and showers.
In this post:
Icelandair Saga Lounge Keflavik location
After clearing security at Keflavik Airport, the Saga Lounge is a roughly five-minute walk away. Once you’re in the airport’s central airside area, just follow the signage in the direction of all gates.
You’ll want to walk down the main corridor…
…and then eventually you’ll find yourself near gate A15, and also near passport control.
Just past gate A15, you’ll see the entrance to the Icelandair Saga Lounge, which is located one level above the concourse. It can either be accessed by elevators, escalators, or stairs.
Let me emphasize that since this lounge is located before passport control, you’ll want to leave some extra time before your flight’s departure if you’re on a flight that requires clearing passport control (Iceland is part of the Schengen zone).
Icelandair Saga Lounge Keflavik hours & crowding
The Icelandair Saga Lounge Keflavik is generally open daily from 5AM until 5PM, which covers all Icelandair departures from the airport. You can expect there may be some seasonal variation if schedules differ, but the idea is that the lounge is supposed to be open for all departures.
One thing worth emphasizing is that Icelandair has a heavily banked network — the airline has a morning bank of flights (when flights arrive from North America and continue to other destinations in Europe) and an afternoon bank of flights (when flights arrive from Europe and continue to North America).
The lounge gets absolutely slammed during the few hours per day where passengers are transiting, while it’s an oasis of calm for the rest of the day.
Icelandair Saga Lounge Keflavik entry requirements
Who can access the Icelandair Saga Lounge Keflavik? The lounge is of course intended primarily for Icelandair customers. Saga Class passengers get access (with no free guests allowed) and Saga Gold and Silver elite members also receive access (with one guest allowed).
Note that while Icelandair limits lounge access for Saga Class customers at outstations (only the highest fares are supposed to offer lounge access), all Saga Class customers get access in Keflavik.
Alaska Atmos Rewards Gold members and above also receive access to the lounge when flying on Icelandair in any cabin, and can invite a guest.
Beyond that, the Icelandair Saga Lounge is used as a contract lounge for other airlines, as it’s the airport’s only lounge. So exact lounge access policies will vary based on the airline, but you can find all the access requirements here, as well as in the below chart.
The lounge has automatic gates, so if you’re an eligible Icelandair customer, you can just scan yourself into the lounge with your boarding pass.
Icelandair Saga Lounge Keflavik layout & seating
The Icelandair Saga Lounge Keflavik is 14,530 square feet (1,350 square meters), with a capacity to accommodate around 350 guests. So it’s a pretty good size for a carrier like Icelandair, though as mentioned above, it does get busy during peak periods.
While the lounge consists of one big, nearly rectangular room, it’s broken up into zones, to make it feel a bit more intimate. As you first enter the lounge, you’ll find that the right side of the space is mostly dedicated to dining, with dozens of cafe-style tables, along with some high-top seating. This is also where you’ll find the main buffet.
Meanwhile you’ll find that the left side of the lounge is dedicated to lounging and relaxing. This includes plenty of seats in rows facing one another, plus other seating clusters.
I’d say the coziest part of the lounge has the semi-private seats facing a fireplace. Especially when the lounge gets crowded, this also shields you most from how busy the lounge can be.
If you want to relax, there are also some relaxation pods near the windows. I know some people love these, but am I the only one who can never get comfortable in these partially reclined seats? To me it feels like being in a dentist’s chair.
The lounge also has a small play area for kids, though don’t get too excited. This isn’t a separate room, but instead, is just sort of integrated into the lounge, and doesn’t have many toys.
I appreciate the thoughtful design touches in the lounge, which remind you that you’re in Iceland, ranging from the fireplace, to the rock “statue,” to the art, to the model Icelandair plane.
Icelandair Saga Lounge Keflavik food & drinks
The food and drink selection in the Icelandair Saga Lounge Keflavik is entirely self serve, with most food and drinks being available inside the entrance and to the right. I visited over breakfast hours, and found the selection to be sufficient, and more or less what you’d expect in a Nordic lounge.
The food selection included veggies and crackers, cold cuts and cheese, yogurt, granola and cereal, pancakes, bread rolls, pastries, croissants, and more. The selection was all cold, with the exception of oatmeal. Obviously it would be nice if there were more hot options, but that’s not something I’m offended by, because I’m not a huge fan of powdered eggs anyway. 😉
The drink selection included an espresso machine, tea, juice, a rather impressive selection of liquor, soft drinks, beer, and a few wine choices.
There were a couple more coffee stations throughout the lounge, to spread out crowding a bit.
So don’t expect a gourmet dining experience, but I’d say the lounge does the trick. However, if you’re looking for a hot breakfast, definitely manage your expectations.
Icelandair Saga Lounge Keflavik bathrooms & showers
The Icelandair Saga Lounge Keflavik has bathrooms and shower suites in the back right corner of the lounge.
The men’s room had three sinks, three stalls, and three urinals. That’s not exactly a huge amount of capacity given the number of people who visit the lounge. I did like the picture of Icelandic landscape in the toilet, though.
On top of that, the lounge has two shower suites, which are quite basic. Each has a walk-in shower and a sink, but there are no toilets in the individual shower suites. I loved how they had Blue Lagoon toiletries, in reusable containers.
As you’d expect, with only two shower suites, these can be in high demand, so don’t count on being able to get one if you just have a short layover (as many passengers on Icelandair do).
Bottom line
The Icelandair Saga Lounge Keflavik is Icelandair’s hub lounge (and only lounge at all, for that matter). I’d say the lounge is pretty representative of the airline overall — it’s functional, does the trick, and is a bit quirky and fun with design, but isn’t anything to get too excited about.
The lounge is a good size, with a decent food selection and a good drink selection. The lounge also has bathrooms and showers, and some nice Icelandic touches. However, don’t expect too much in terms of the food or drinks, and with only two shower suites, expect there might be a wait to use that amenity.
I do think it’s important to have realistic expectations, though. Icelandair Saga Class is priced more like premium economy than business class, and most airlines don’t offer lounge access to premium economy passengers. So it’s important to frame the experience in that context.
What’s your take on the Icelandair Saga Lounge Keflavik Airport?
I booked a few months ago during a sale(which they often have). Round trip Saga from Baltimore to Rome for $1,148 which is much less than the premium economy flights to Rome. I like that you get lounge access but both of my layovers are under 2 hours. Iceland is about as close to a midway layover you can get which makes this seating much more palatable. I'm also able to fly out of my...
I booked a few months ago during a sale(which they often have). Round trip Saga from Baltimore to Rome for $1,148 which is much less than the premium economy flights to Rome. I like that you get lounge access but both of my layovers are under 2 hours. Iceland is about as close to a midway layover you can get which makes this seating much more palatable. I'm also able to fly out of my closest airport that I can Uber to and not have to pay for parking for a month. As a big man, the best thing for me is that these seats are 20.5" wide compared to the 18-19" in premium economy. As often as I go, I'm hoping this works as a cheaper alternative to business class which has gotten out of hand unless I drive or take the train to NJ. I leave next Tuesday and hope it works out.
Ben, I feel like your Icelandair experience is a bit skewed because of the great time you had in Iceland. This lounge feels quite unattractive, and the amenities are mediocre at best (especially for a 4* rating). I understand Icelandair offers more of a premium economy product, but their price is easily 2x that of premium economy on many routes, like AMS–JFK.
I’m just saying, when I stay at the Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam and have...
Ben, I feel like your Icelandair experience is a bit skewed because of the great time you had in Iceland. This lounge feels quite unattractive, and the amenities are mediocre at best (especially for a 4* rating). I understand Icelandair offers more of a premium economy product, but their price is easily 2x that of premium economy on many routes, like AMS–JFK.
I’m just saying, when I stay at the Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam and have the best stay ever and then visit a Priority Pass lounge at Schiphol, it’s going to feel pretty decent as an ending because my experience was already so positive. But when I stay at a shabby hostel for the week and then visit the Priority Pass lounge, it’s going to feel like the worst Amsterdam experience imaginable.
Yeah this
Ben’s ratings are incoherent. He rates things among an undefined group, rather than industry-wide with an objective standard. So we end up with “4 stars for the lounge of a hybrid LCC operating to a country Ben likes”. As opposed to a rating for a lounge.
@ Jack -- I'm open to feedback here, how do you think lounges should be clustered in terms of ratings? Should an American Admirals Club and the Singapore Airlines Private Room be rated on the same scale? Or how would you cluster up lounge concepts?
Hi Ben, I’m glad you’re open to input on this, as I have long disregarding your sta ratings as unhelpful. I think you need an absolute scale, not a slide scale based on some undefined subcategory, like a more obscure location or something other than a full-service carrier. A five-star lounge should mean a five-star lounge with great food and drinks (and table service), spa-like shower facilities, a sense of peace and a sense of...
Hi Ben, I’m glad you’re open to input on this, as I have long disregarding your sta ratings as unhelpful. I think you need an absolute scale, not a slide scale based on some undefined subcategory, like a more obscure location or something other than a full-service carrier. A five-star lounge should mean a five-star lounge with great food and drinks (and table service), spa-like shower facilities, a sense of peace and a sense of place, and other perks like the SWISS bedrooms, actual spa treatments, or car to the plane. The Air France Paris, Cathay HK, and Qantas Sydney lounges would clearly be 5 star. Subtract for missing amenities.
Agreed, he definitely has some rose colored glasses. I mean, it is his opinion, so that's fine. I thought his reviews for the Four Seasons Orlando or the Sheraton with that kid themed room were over the top positive given at least the photos seen. Four Seasons is generally great across the board, but they do have some properties where they don't try as hard.
But, since he saw the delight of his son, it...
Agreed, he definitely has some rose colored glasses. I mean, it is his opinion, so that's fine. I thought his reviews for the Four Seasons Orlando or the Sheraton with that kid themed room were over the top positive given at least the photos seen. Four Seasons is generally great across the board, but they do have some properties where they don't try as hard.
But, since he saw the delight of his son, it colored his review in to more positive than it actually was. Likewise, if he's reviewing something like that hotel in Montana he reviewed, the experience of being IN Montana is what it's about, not a night at an admittedly expensive for what you get hotel. Because he does review hotels that are expensive for what you get, but it's in an amazing place, so as long as they are competent, they will get a good review.
@ Reyyan -- Your points are all fair, though I think the area where my perception differs is pricing. I find that Icelandair Saga Class is typically priced comparably to or less than premium economy.
Using your example, if flying AMS-JFK, I see both KLM premium economy and Icelandair Saga Class starting at around $1,800. If originating in JFK and flying in the other direction, I see Icelandair Saga Class starting at $1,500, and...
@ Reyyan -- Your points are all fair, though I think the area where my perception differs is pricing. I find that Icelandair Saga Class is typically priced comparably to or less than premium economy.
Using your example, if flying AMS-JFK, I see both KLM premium economy and Icelandair Saga Class starting at around $1,800. If originating in JFK and flying in the other direction, I see Icelandair Saga Class starting at $1,500, and KLM premium economy starting at $1,800.
So I really do view this as a unique product offering for an airline that doesn't really have business class. If I were truly viewing this as a business class lounge, I'd totally agree with your conclusion. But this is where I think value has to be factored in.
At least that's my two cents...
It might be helpful to explicitly say what side of passport control the lounge is located. I think it's on the "within-Schengen" side of the airport, just to remove any ambiguity.
Side note, with just 2 shower rooms for 7+ flights arriving at the same time in the morning and afternoon (within ~2 hours of each other) the chances are that you're going to have a wait if you need to use them.
No smoked salmon?
I go through the lounge all the time and the showers are never occupied ♂️
Such a rare European airport with no Priority Pass lounge
Meh. Better than being treated like cattle in the main KEF departures hall (especially during quick turnovers, limited toilets, etc.)