Iceland is one of the most beautiful countries and Icelandair allows you to explore the country with its easy stopover program. Yet, if you are flying Icelandair, you might be subject to baggage fees depending on your fare.
In this article, I will go into details about economy carry-on allowance, checked baggage allowance, and Saga Premium allowance. I also explain Economy Light baggage and then cover traveling with musical instruments, sports equipment, and pets.
What are Icelandair baggage fees?
Four out of the five Icelandair fares have a checked baggage allowance. Economy Light fares are the only fares that don’t have a checked baggage allowance, and if you are flying Economy Light, expect to pay as much as $95 to check a bag.
I will go into more detail about the baggage fees below.
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How can I avoid Icelandair baggage fees?
Icelandair makes it pretty easy to avoid their baggage fees.
Fare options
All fares, besides Economy Light, come with a checked baggage allowance. Icelandair fare types are:
- Saga Premium Flex
- Saga Premium
- Economy Flex
- Economy Standard
- Economy Light
Each bag can be a total size up to 62 inches (158 cm) and here are the allowances for the different fares:
- Saga Premium Flex: 2 bags 70 lbs (32 kg) each
- Saga Premium: 2 bags 70 lbs (32 kg) each
- Economy Flex: 1 bag 50 lbs (23 kg)
- Economy Standard: 1 bag 50 lbs (23 kg)
For your reference, it will cost up to $95 when you want to check a bag flying Economy Light from Europe to North America. If you pay $95 each way for checking one bag, that would be $190 roundtrip. Keep that in mind when booking Economy Light if you know you will have to check a bag.
Elite status
If you’re either a Saga Gold or Saga Silver member with Icelandair, you can get one extra checked bag in addition to the general baggage allowance.
So, if you bought an Economy Light fare, you are able to check one bag up to 50 lbs (23 kg). If you’re flying in Saga Premium, you are able to check three total bags weighing up to 70 lbs (32 kg) each.
Some other benefits for Saga Club members are limousine service, free wifi onboard, fast track security, etc.
Credit Cards
You can utilize certain credit cards to reduce or eliminate your baggage fees on Icelandair.
Chase Sapphire Reserve
The Chase Sapphire Reserve is one of the hottest travel rewards credit cards. It earns 3X the points on dining and travel and comes with a host of valuable benefits. One of these perks is a $300 travel credit that can be used on anything that codes as travel, including your baggage fees. You also have travel insurance built into the card, which includes delayed baggage insurance.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
One of my favorite cards to use to cover miscellaneous travel purchases is the Capital One Venture card. It’s a popular credit card that comes with a bonus of 50,000 miles after you spend $3,000 in the first three months.
It earns 2% cashback on all purchases toward travel, and the points can be used to cover virtually any travel purchase. The cashback you earn can be used to erase any travel purchases you made, including baggage fees.
Icelandair personal item and carry-on restrictions
When flying Icelandair, you are allowed to bring up to one personal item and up to two carry-ons for Saga Premium Flex. All other fares are allowed to bring up to one carry-on bag.
Personal item
Each passenger in any class can bring one personal item on any Icelandair flight. The maximum size for your personal item shouldn’t exceed 15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9 inches (40 x 30 x 15 cm).
So, if you bring a personal item, you must make sure it can fit under the seat in front of you. If not, you can put your personal item in the overhead bin, but do note that space can be limited. Some examples of personal items would be a briefcase, purse, laptop, and small backpack.
Carry-on
Economy (Economy Light, Economy Standard, and Economy Flex) and Saga Premium passengers can bring one carry-on bag. The max weight and dimensions are as followed:
- 22 lbs (10kg) max weight
- 21.6 x 15.7 x 7.8 inches (55 x 40 x 20 cm)
If you have a Saga Premium Flex fare, you can bring up to two carry-on bags weighing up to 22 lbs (10 kg) each.
Most of the time, Icelandair is flexible with weight, but you must be able to put your own baggage in the overhead bins without any help.
For your carry-on item, you can bring a suitcase, bag, garment bag, carrycot, pushchair or child seat for infants, and any required mobility aids, such as a wheelchair. Some items will be gate checked for free. As long as it doesn’t exceed the dimensions above, you will be fine.
Children’s carry-on baggage
Babies and toddlers under the age of two years old (aka lap infants flying on the lap infant fare) aren’t allowed any cabin baggage.
Liquids
The same TSA standards apply to Icelandair flights arriving or departing from the US. You can review a list provided by the TSA of permitted and prohibited items which may be included in carry-on baggage including the 3-1-1 Liquids Rule.
Icelandair checked baggage fees
Icelandair makes its fees for checked baggage simpler than other airlines. Comparing to Lufthansa baggage fees, Icelandair is a piece of cake to understand.
Here are the prices for one additional bag up to 50 lbs (23 kg) that would be in addition to your regular checked baggage allowance.
- Iceland – Europe: $59
- Iceland – North America: $69
- Europe – North America: $95
For example, if I wanted to check two additional bags beyond my checked baggage allowance between Europe and North America, I would be charged $190.
Do note, you can prepay for additional bags online to save 20% on the prices above. Therefore, instead of paying $95 at the airport, you can prepay online for an additional bag and only pay $76.
These fees are for one direction of your trip. So, if you are flying roundtrip, you will have to pay these fees on your return section as well.
As a reminder, here are the fare types free checked baggage allowances:
- Saga Premium Flex: 2 bags 70 lbs (32 kg) each
- Saga Premium: 2 bags 70 lbs (32 kg) each
- Economy Flex: 1 bag 50 lbs (23 kg)
- Economy Standard: 1 bag 50 lbs (23 kg)
- Economy Light: No free baggage allowance
When comparing other international airlines, United charges the following rates for checked baggage:
- $35 for the first checked bag
- $45 for the second checked bag
- $150 to $200 for the third checked bag
Icelandair checked baggage allowance
Each bag can be a total size of 62 inches (158 cm) or less. For passengers seated in economy, your bag can weigh up to 50 lbs (23 kg). For Premium Saga passengers, you can check your bag weighing up to 70 lbs (32 kg).
For elites, your free bag will be determined by the cabin you are seated in.
Tip: Get all the tips and pointers you need for your checked bags in our ultimate guide to checked luggage!
Icelandair excess baggage fees
Overweight and/or oversized bags are a thing. However, Icelandair won’t accept bags over a total size of 62 inches (153 cm). The only exception is certain sports equipment and musical instruments. Icelandair will also not accept bags weighing more than 70 lbs (32 kg).
Overweight bag fee for Icelandair
If your checked baggage allowance is up to 50 lbs (23 kg) and your bag weighs between 51 to 70 lbs (24 to 32 kg), you will have to pay an overweight baggage fee.
- Iceland – Europe: $50
- Iceland – North America: $58
- Europe – North America: $80
As I wrote above, bags over 70 lbs (32 kg) won’t be accepted.
Keep in mind, if you pay for any additional baggage, these fees will be on top of those fees and only for one direction.
Sports equipment on Icelandair
Icelandair probably has the most interesting fees for sports equipment traveling as checked baggage.
There are three categories for Icelandair sports equipment. Small, medium, and large sports equipment will all have different prices.
Remember, you can prepay for additional bags online to save 20% on the prices above.
Small sports equipment
Sporting equipment that is considered “small” will be charged the following prices.
- Iceland – Europe: $42
- Iceland – North America: $49
- Europe – North America: $58
The following sports equipment will be considered small sports equipment.
- Skis/snowboards
- Fishing equipment
- Golf equipment
- Skateboards
- Weapons
Medium sports equipment
Sporting equipment that is considered “medium” will be charged the following prices.
- Iceland – Europe: $83
- Iceland – North America: $99
- Europe – North America: $116
The following sports equipment will be considered medium sports equipment.
- Kites
- Surfboards
- Bicycles
Large sports equipment
Sporting equipment that is considered “large” will be charged the following prices.
- Iceland – Europe: $126
- Iceland – North America: $148
- Europe – North America: $174
You must arrive at the airport two hours prior to departure. You also have to contact Icelandair 48 hours prior to departure to ensure there is enough space in the cargo hold for your large sports equipment. The following sports equipment will be considered large sports equipment:
- Kayaks
- Windsurfing equipment
- Vaulting poles
Musical instruments traveling Icelandair
You have three choices when you fly with your musical instrument. Carry-on, purchasing a seat, or checked.
As a carry-on, musical instruments will be free and count towards your free carry-on allowance. It must fit in the overhead bin by not exceeding 21.6 x 15.7 x 7.8 inches (55 x 40 x 20 cm).
If your musical instrument cannot fit in the overhead bin, you can purchase it a seat. It must not exceed 59 x 14 x 20 inches (150 x 35 x 50 cm) and a flight attendant will help you fasten the instrument into the seat. You must contact Icelandair reservations to purchase your instrument a seat.
If you want to check your musical instrument as checked baggage, it can count towards your free baggage allowance, but not exceed any of the size or weight limitations. If your musical instrument exceeds a total of 62 inches (158 cm) it will be charged as large sports equipment.
I highly recommend traveling with your musical instrument in a hard-shell protective case. The stronger it is, the less likely your musical instrument will be damaged during your travels.
Again, you can save 20% by prepaying in advance.
Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!
Icelandair military baggage policy
Since Icelandair is an international airline, they don’t give US military personnel or veterans any benefits for flying their metal. Therefore, Icelandair won’t allow US military personnel to check bags for free. Only US airlines will give benefits to US military personnel and veterans.
If you want to learn more about military benefits for other airlines, I suggest reading our article.
Icelandair pet policy
Icelandair is pretty strict about pets traveling on their planes. Emotional support or service dogs are allowed in the cabin. General dogs and cats are only allowed in the cargo hold.
So, if you want to travel with your dog or cat, they will not be allowed in the cabin. Instead, your animal would be traveling in the cargo hold and you will be charged the following fees:
- Iceland – Europe: $126
- Iceland – North America: $148
- Europe – North America: $174
The maximum crate dimensions are 36 x 25 x 27 inches. The weight of the crate cannot exceed more than 88 lbs.
Do note, you cannot do a stopover in Iceland unless you are planning to transport your animal to Iceland with a quarantine period of four weeks. However, you can have a maximum layover of three hours in Iceland.
To learn more about traveling your pets on Icelandair, read more here.
What if my bags are lost or damaged by Icelandair?
If your bag(s) are lost or damaged, make sure you report it to Icelandair immediately. It is imperative to make a claim in person or online after the flight.
Making a claim online is as easy as filling out a form. You can find the form link here. Keep in mind, the sooner you fill out the form, the better it is.
Icelandair lost and found
Losing or forgetting something on the aircraft happens to the best of us. Icelandair suggests speaking to someone at the airport before you leave the airport. A staff member might be able to grab it for you from the aircraft if you speak up soon enough.
However, if you need to contact Icelandair lost and found, you can fill out a form here or email the team at lostproperty@securitas.is by providing as much information as possible.
When can I check-in bags for Icelandair?
Check-in typically opens up to three hours before departure. For Icelandair’s hub at Keflavik, the counters will be open longer than three hours before most departure.
Icelandair recommends checking in your bag two hours before departure.
Check-in counters will close 60 minutes before international departures.
Final word
I do hope you enjoy your Icelandair flight. If you do take Icelandair, don’t forget about their unique Iceland stopover program. You might be eligible to explore beautiful Iceland.
Cover photo by Milan Nykodym via Flickr
Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and creator of the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned full-time credit card rewards/travel expert and has earned and redeemed millions of miles to travel the globe. Since 2014, his content has been featured in major publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, Forbes, CNBC, US News, and Business Insider. Find his full bio here.