Icelandair is making some cuts to its lounge access policy, though I don’t necessarily view these changes as being that huge of a deal.
Icelandair reduces business class lounge access
Icelandair’s premium cabin is named Saga Premium, and it’s somewhere between premium economy and business class. In terms of the seat as such, it’s more like what you might be used to in premium economy on a long haul flight. But if you search flights online through comparison sites, it generally shows up as business class.
Up until now, all Saga Premium fares have included lounge access. This includes access to the Icelandair Saga Lounge at Keflavik Airport (KEF), and access to contract lounges at most outstations. That policy will be changing. As of April 1, 2025:
- All Saga Premium customers will continue to receive access to the carrier’s Saga Lounge in Keflavik
- However, only passengers traveling on the most expensive Saga Premium Flex fares will receive outstation lounge access, while those on the more affordable Saga Premium fares won’t receive outstation lounge access
Below you can find a chart comparing the various types of fares, and inclusions.
I don’t consider this change to be unreasonable
Of course I don’t like to see an airline cutting perks without adding anything or lowering ticket prices. However, as far as negative changes go, I wouldn’t consider this to be a huge deal:
- Most of the contract lounges that Icelandair sends customers to also belong to other lounge networks (like Priority Pass), and I imagine many Saga Premium customers have those memberships, so aren’t losing a whole lot
- Unlike other airlines that are introducing basic business class and cutting all lounge access, at least these tickets continue to offer lounge access at the Keflavik hub, where it’s most valuable
- Icelandair’s Saga Premium pricing is arguably more in line with premium economy than business class, and most airlines don’t offer lounge access in premium economy
Bottom line
As of April 2025, Icelandair is cutting lounge access for select Saga Premium customers. While all eligible passengers will continue to get access to the Keflavik hub lounge, access to contract lounges at outstations will be more limited. It’ll only be offered to those on Saga Premium Flex fares, and not to those on the more basic Saga Premium fares.
What do you make of these Icelandair lounge access changes?
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