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WOW Air has unfortunately gone out of business as of March 2019.
WOW Air is an Icelandic budget airline renowned for its cheap fares. This is my WOW Air review to help you decide whether or not to book. WOW Air destinations range from all over Europe to Iceland and beyond. They’re particularly known for their cheap routes to America and Canada. I flew with them from Dublin to Boston via Iceland. It didn’t cost much, BUT was it worth it?? Here’s everything you need to know about WOW Air’s transatlantic fares.
WOW Air Review – Everything You Need to Know
The Journey – WOW Air Check In & WOW Flights
We checked in at Dublin airport at the WOW Airlines check in desk and our bags were checked right through to Boston Logan Intl. So once we landed in Keflavik all we had to do was find our gate and chill out as we already had our WOW tickets in hand.
The WOW Air flight from Dublin to Keflavik (Iceland’s main airport) is around 2hrs and 25min. There were a few in-flight TVs playing an Icelandic film with English subtitles. The flight was smooth and left just on time.
From Keflavik to Boston was about 6hrs and it was a lot less smooth. There was a fair amount of turbulence and we landed late. In fairness, this could happen on any flight and there was a bit of an issue with snow in Boston at the time.
By the end of the journey we were a bit tired to say the least. Unfortunately, the snow caused a slight delay with our luggage. Not WOW Air’s fault, but it definitely didn’t help the atmosphere amongst the passengers. There was a fair deal of grumbling going on.
Was it Comfortable?
The cabin was comfortable for a budget airline. There were obviously “no frills”. However, it was definitely somewhat more comfortable than other budget airlines I have flown with before. The WOW Air seats were fabric, not some sort of plastic/ leatherette that you see on other flights. Another plus was that our flight to Boston was only 50% full so we could spread out and have a bit more room. I suspect that during peak season (summer and school holidays) that this is not always the case.
The Little Things
WOW Air have quirky design features everywhere. From the vomit-meter on the sick bag to the “Enjoying the view?” sticker they have on the wing, these little things make flying with WOW Air that bit more interesting. My favourite was the comedy horoscopes section in the in-flight magazine. Harsh, but hilarious.
We didn’t have any trouble with overhead baggage storage, which is something most people struggle with on budget airlines. POSSIBLY to do with the fact that 7kg is the standard carry on for WOW Air as opposed to 10kg on other airlines.
There were sockets under our chairs on the flight to Boston, which I thought was convenient but I wasn’t bothered using. Oh and in case you had forgotten your book/kindle, WOW Air has iPads that you can rent for $17 which come pre-loaded with films and games.
What About Food?
There are no refreshments or snacks included in your fare. You may purchase snacks and drinks on board, though obviously these are not cheap. HOWEVER, Keflavik airport is pretty awful (not to mention expensive) for food. It actually would work out cheaper to buy food on the flight (there’s a decent selection) from Keflavik to Boston than to buy it in the airport. What I would recommend, if you want to keep it budget, is stocking up with supplies from home before you fly. I had intended on doing this, but then I woke up late and forgot to pack my snacks….. as well as my camera charger….. honestly, I call myself a travel blogger!
What About the Staff?
The staff are friendly, quirky and fun. I LOVE that they’ve switched up their safety demonstration to make it more personal. WOW airlines safety demonstrations are by FAR the most interesting of any airline. For example, apparently the light on your life vest can also be used to attract “mermaids and dolphins”. The staff all look pristine in their brightly coloured uniforms and seemed genuinely interested in patrons enjoying their flight. A lovely crew all around.
How Much Did it Cost?
WOW Air flights from Dublin to Boston, via Iceland, start around £157 (about 205 euro) one way, per person. Ours cost £175 (227 euro) each plus £39 (50 euro) for 20kg of check in luggage (NEVER forget about WOW Air luggage fees or it could be a costly trip). So about £220 in total. You can pay extra for up to 12kg of hand luggage, but the 7kg basic allowance should be fine for most people if you’ve already booked a check in bag or if you’re only going on a short trip.
IN CONCLUSION
WOW Air is the cheapest option for a one way flight to the US from Dublin that I could find anywhere. It MAY work out cheaper to fly with a larger airline if you’re flying return and you book at the right time. However, if you want to keep it budget and try an airline with a bit more personality, I highly recommend giving WOW a shot. I’m not actually working with WOW Air, they haven’t given me any free flights, so this is just my genuine unbiased WOW Air review.
If you’re interested in budget airlines, make sure you check out my guide to flying Ryanair.
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Hope you are prepared for snow! Another storm coming through on Monday and Tuesday 🙂
This was such an interesting read, I love the character of the airline! That’s something really unique and I’d definitely want to try them out just for the entertainment! Do they fly from the UK as well?
Hi Claire, yep they definitely do!! Have a look at their website. I think they fly from London and Bristol…. 🙂