Icelandair Saga Premium Review: Worth the Upgrade?

You're staring at your Icelandair booking, wondering if you should stick with that £179 Economy Light ticket or gamble on an upgrade to Saga Class. It's only three hours to Reykjavik: surely that's not worth business class money?

Here's the thing: short-haul business class is a total lottery. Sometimes you're paying triple for a marginally wider seat and a gin that tastes like regret (why is this making me think of BA short haul?!). Other times, you get genuine value and who doesn't love the treat of a more comfortable journey?

I had the same dilemma, so I threw £150 at Icelandair's upgrade bidding system, the lowest available bid, and crossed my fingers. When they accepted my bid, I found myself in Saga Class seat 3A on flight FI451 (a Boeing 737 Max) from Heathrow to Reykjavik.

Was it worth it, or should you save your cash for Iceland's eye-wateringly expensive restaurants? Here's what actually happened when I traded up from the back of the plane.

Booking and the Class Up Upgrade System

I originally booked an Economy Light ticket for £179 return from Heathrow to Keflavik (the main international airport serving Reykjavik). Icelandair runs a bidding system called Class Up, which allows you to submit an offer to upgrade to Saga Premium Class. I bid £150, which was the lowest possible bid at that time, and my offer was accepted a week or so before the flight. Be aware: upgrades aren't guaranteed, and I've been unsuccessful more than once!

Staying at Heathrow: Sofitel London Heathrow

To reduce flight-day stress, I stayed the night before at the Sofitel London Heathrow, which connects directly to Terminal 5 via a walkway. It's a great option for a relaxed start to a flight day, especially if you're flying early or arriving in from another UK city the night before.

At the Airport

The check-in area for Icelandair at LHR is small but clearly signposted

Icelandair departs from Terminal 2 at Heathrow. The check-in agents were very efficient and I decided to put my carry-on suitcase into the hold.

There is no dedicated lounge for Saga Class passengers here, although I had access to the disappointing Plaza Premium lounge (pick a better one if you have Priority Pass). My flight departed from Gate B41, which was quite a trek across LHR, so it's worth allowing yourself some extra time to get there. Boarding was unremarkable (which is the best kind), with Saga Class passengers invited first.

Inside the Icelandair Saga Class Cabin

Layout and Comfort

The Saga Class cabin on the 737 MAX has four rows of seats in a 2-2 layout. Seats are upholstered in dark grey with wide padded headrests, fold-down footrests, and decent recline. These are not lie-flat beds, but more like a high-end domestic first-class seat in the US.

I've not tried an overnight flight in these seats, which are a bit like Norse Atlantic's premium seat, and some negative commenting from flight reviewers relates to comparing this seat type with a lie-flat. The lie-flat option will always win! These seats are spacious and comfortable for a short international hop. That's it.

Plenty of legroom (but not a lie-flat)

Each seat includes a decent in-flight entertainment screen, USB-C and headphone ports, and a fold-out tray table stored in the armrest. It can be used as a half-table for drinks or fully extended for meals or working.

Amenities and Extras

A bottle of Icelandic Glacial water was provided at the seat, alongside a personal protection pack (I travelled as Covid restrictions ended) and an amenity kit.

The amenity kit includes socks, lip balm, a sleep mask, earplugs, toothbrush and toothpaste, and stickers you can use to indicate if you want to be woken for meals by placing them on your seat (or on your own shoulder as my seat-neighbour did!). The headphones provided were noise-cancelling but underwhelming. If you have your own, bring them.

Wi-Fi and In-Flight Entertainment

Wi-Fi is meant to be complimentary for Saga Class passengers, but it didn't work on this flight. The entertainment system had a solid mix of international films, TV shows, and Iceland-focused content including some surprisingly artistic tourism features. It's not cutting edge, but perfectly acceptable for a flight under three hours.

Food and Drink Service

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Lunch service on this flight consisted of a light couscous and chicken salad. The flavours were fresh and enjoyable, if not overly generous in portion size. There was a wide offering of drinks (soft or alcoholic) available at all times, including champagne and a gin and tonic, which turned out to be Bertha's Revenge from Ireland rather than Icelandic. Cabin service was efficient, friendly and well-paced.

Saga Lounge at Reykjavik Keflavík Airport

The Saga Lounge at Keflavik is really great if you have access

With a few hours to kill before my connecting flight, I stumbled upon what might be Iceland's best-kept secret: the Saga Lounge at Keflavík. Tucked away past passport control, the lounge welcomes Saga Premium passengers into what feels like an architect-designed Icelandic living room!

I was struck by how right everything felt. Natural light poured through the windows, bouncing off genuine lava rock installations that somehow managed to be dramatic without feeling too tourist trap-esque. The seating actually looked like places where humans might want to sit for more than five minutes - a small miracle in airport design.

There's a layout of coffee machine, cold buffet and snacks that were refreshed frequently. Nobody loves a sad buffet. The best part? It was blissfully quiet.

Where to Stay in Reykjavik

If you're flying Saga Class but still ready for a post-flight nap, Reykjavik has some excellent hotel options. Two good choices are:

• Alda Hotel Reykjavik: Boutique style in the centre of the city
• Fosshotel Reykjavik: My favourite: a modern high-rise with sea and city views

Both are ideal bases for exploring Iceland's capital and are easily bookable online.

Excursions Worth Booking

Make the most of your time in Iceland by booking ahead. Here are some popular and well-rated options:

• Golden Circle Full-Day Tour: Visit Þingvellir, Geysir, and Gullfoss
• Blue Lagoon Entry with Transfers: Ideal on arrival or departure day
• Northern Lights Tour (Seasonal): Available in winter months

The flight (and the hike) were worth it!

Renting a Car for Your Iceland Adventure

Planning to drive Iceland's Ring Road or explore the South Coast? Book early through Discover Cars to find the best rental deals across providers. Remember to check which insurance you're buying: some will NOT cover you for F roads (unpaved).

Final Thoughts: Is Icelandair Saga Premium Class Worth It?

Saga Premium won't revolutionize your life. No lie-flat seats, no Instagram-worthy pods. But for a three-hour flight? It doesn't need to be revolutionary.

What you get is simple: a seat wide enough to avoid elbow wars, actual quiet, decent food, and included drinks instead of paying £8 for airline gin. Plus that genuinely excellent Saga Lounge that's worth showing up early for.

The sweet spot is snagging a Class Up bid at a reasonable price - it's like finding a designer jacket at a thrift store.

If you're flying UK or North America to Iceland and see Saga Class at a good rate, go for it. Your back and sanity will thank you, and you'll actually arrive ready to enjoy Iceland instead of needing a day to recover from the journey.