When I learned there was a budget airline offering flights to Europe for as low as $120, I thought it was too good to be true. It can cost more for a family of four to eat at Chili’s!
But I decided to give Norse Atlantic Airways a chance on a recent trip, and the experience far surpassed my expectations.
I had tons of space on my 13-hour flight from Athens to Los Angeles in June, and the priority check-in was a breeze to get through.
Nevertheless, my flight would have been even better if I had been more prepared for the drawbacks of a budget airline. Here’s what I wish I had known before takeoff.
Priority boarding isn’t open-ended
I bought a premium economy ticket for my first Norse Atlantic Airways experience, which included priority check-in and boarding, as well as a personal item, carry-on, checked bag, and two in-flight meals.
I assumed priority boarding was open-ended before takeoff, so I took my sweet time perusing the Greek olive oil and chocolate options while strolling through Athens International Airport.
I got to the gate about 15 minutes after boarding had begun and saw a huge line of people. When I showed my ticket to a Norse employee before entering the roped-off gate, he said I had missed priority boarding and would need to wait with everyone else.
It wasn’t a big deal, especially since premium economy had plenty of overhead space. Still, if you’re flying with Norse Atlantic and hate waiting in lines, it’s something worth knowing.
There are no free snacks, even in premium economy
Since it was a 13-hour flight, I naively assumed that I’d be offered a snack or two along with the two meals included in my premium economy ticket. Not the case!
We were about halfway through the trip when my stomach grumbled and I realized the next meal wouldn’t be served for another four hours. As I browsed through the menu on my seat-back system, I noticed that none of the snacks were complimentary, unlike the beverages.
I could purchase a wide variety of food, from packaged pretzels and chips to pasta, french fries, or butter chicken. I bought an instant noodle soup, which cost $6 and tasted pretty good.
I also found the in-flight meals to be much lighter than what I’m used to on international trips. My first meal was a meat lasagna, served with a bread roll, a small Greek salad, and halva for dessert. The second meal was a small meat pastry, a few cut-up pieces of fruit, and more halva. I forgot to pack snacks and was ravenous when I finally got home.
Economy passengers on Norse Atlantic should also note that you only receive one free drink during the flight — even water will cost you an extra $3.70. So, depending on the seat, make sure to stock up on drinks, snacks, or both before your budget trip.
The in-flight entertainment system has limited options
I typically never have an issue with in-flight entertainment systems. I love movies and can always find something to watch, whether it’s a rom-com I’ve seen 100 times before or a new release I missed during Oscar season. But I struggled with the options on Norse Atlantic.
I counted only 120 films total on the in-flight system — a stark contrast to the 1,900-plus on-demand options I had on a recent Singapore Airlines flight. Most of the movies were old and random, like they’d gone straight to DVD in the 1990s.
Norse Atlantic also doesn’t offer WiFi on any flights, so it could be worth packing some good books and magazines to keep yourself occupied.
Despite the drawbacks, Norse is worth it. With cheap flights to popular European destinations like London, Paris, Athens, Rome, and Berlin, Norse makes international travel from the US far more affordable.
And as long as you’re prepared with some extra snacks and entertainment, the flight will be just as comfortable as economy on most American carriers — at a fraction of the cost.
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