Iceland’s low-cost carrier PLAY offers a free stopover in Iceland on its flights between Europe and North America, just like the flag carrier Icelandair. By using this option, you can stay in Iceland for up to ten days with one booking.
We have tested how to make a reservation for a round trip with this new option to show you how it works:
On PLAY’s homepage, when you click on Round Trip, you will see the options for One way and Stopover in Iceland.
Once selected, you will be given the options for the North American destinations you can choose. Unfortunately, you cannot choose multi-city destinations as you can with Icelandair.
We tested dates from August 30 to September 7, and the price was €302. With the stopover option, the price increased to €320.
Of course, this whole thing makes the most sense when the ticket prices are nice and low. Like currently on these routes:
Conclusion
Despite being advertised as a free stopover, it is not. Obviously, it is a lower cost compared to buying two separate flights with PLAY, but it is not free. If you travel with little luggage, it can be a good option for flying with an almost free stopover.
One advantage over Icelandair is that one-way stopover prices can be lower with PLAY. Another potential improvement for the future in this stopover product is the ability to create multi-city itineraries, allowing entry through Boston and exit through Washington DC for a European traveller, or entry through Barcelona and exit through Copenhagen for an American traveller.
If you are interested in making a stopover in Iceland on your trip to North America, we recommend checking both PLAY and Icelandair to see which one offers the best option for your dates.
Cover Picture: © PLAY