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My Honest Review of Norse Airways: Not as Bad as They say!

Our take

In my honest review of Norse Airways, I aim to share my experience flying between JFK and FCO, highlighting the surprising ups and downs of this emerging airline. As a frequent traveler accustomed to major U.S. carriers, I approached my journey with a mix of skepticism and curiosity. While I had read many horror stories, my experience was far from catastrophic.
My Honest Review of Norse Airways: Not as Bad as They say!

In the vibrant world of travel, where every journey offers a new adventure, the recent review of Norse Airways sheds light on a travel option that may not be as daunting as its reputation suggests. The reviewer, a seasoned traveler from NYC, navigated their experience with both premium economy and standard economy seats on a transatlantic flight from JFK to FCO. Despite the usual horror stories that often surround budget airlines, their assessment reveals an intriguing perspective that could inspire travelers to consider Norse Airways as a viable option. This resonates particularly well with those looking for cost-effective ways to explore Europe, as seen in discussions about travel itineraries in articles like Trying to narrow down my itinerary of European/UK cities to visit.

The review emphasizes the importance of managing expectations. With a price point that offers significant savings compared to legacy carriers, travelers can prepare to embrace a more adventurous spirit. The reviewer notes that while the check-in process can be challenging and customer service may leave something to be desired, the in-flight experience was surprisingly enjoyable. The comfortable seating, decent in-flight entertainment, and attentive flight attendants highlight the potential for a positive travel experience, even with certain drawbacks like the lack of Wi-Fi and stringent baggage policies. This notion of finding value in unexpected places is uplifting, echoing the sentiments of those exploring how to mix bold styles while traveling, as discussed in Trying to mix bold colours and patterns….

As we dive deeper into the implications of this review, it becomes clear that Norse Airways provides a refreshing alternative in a landscape often dominated by larger, more established airlines. The balance between cost and comfort can be a game-changer for budget-conscious travelers eager to experience new destinations without breaking the bank. The reviewer's candid take on the airline serves as a reminder that sometimes, the best travel experiences can come from being flexible and open to new adventures, much like the excitement of traveling as a minor and needing parental permission, a topic explored in the article Do you need parents permission to travel as a minor?.

Looking ahead, the future of Norse Airways may be uncertain, especially with rising fuel costs and fierce competition in the aviation market. However, the reviewer's hope for the airline's survival speaks volumes about the demand for affordable transatlantic flights. As travelers increasingly seek budget-friendly options without compromising too much on comfort, Norse's journey could be a compelling story to follow. Will they be able to adapt and thrive in a challenging environment, or will they be another casualty of the industry's fluctuations? As we anticipate what lies ahead, it's clear that the spirit of adventure and exploration will continue to drive travel enthusiasts to seek out new experiences, no matter where they may lead.

My Honest Review of Norse Airways: Not as Bad as They say!

I’m a U.S. citizen residing in a major airline market (NYC). I usually fly B6 and AA domestically, and UA for international. This should give you an idea of what my baseline is for dealing with nonsense while travelling.

I had the opportunity to fly Norse JFK-FCO in January with both their premium economy product and standard economy. Reading all of the horror stories, I was originally nervous that I would end up stranded or otherwise in a predicament caused by them, but overall i’d say they have a solid product as long as you manage expectations.

Cost: I paid ~$550 USD for a Business/Economy split round trip between JFK and FCO. I utilized my Clawbot to find and book this itinerary so YMMV.

Airport: Be prepared to check in in-person and wait in line unless you purchase a business ticket or have priority check in. I found the add-on lounge experience at JFK to be worth it due to the self-service liquor & decent food at the $60 price point. Outside of the lounge, the terminal and infrastructure they use at JFK is “early 2000’s at best”.

On Board: I would compare their “business” class to be in between a US carrier’s domestic first class and the Spirit “Big Front Seat”. Basically, they’re bulkhead style seats.

The good: Decent seat pitch for me (6’2”), seats were comfy, and IFE was satisfactory. FA’s were pleasant and kept me well fed and kept giving me wine. 10/10. Their all 787 fleet is also comfortable for me given my sensitivity to altitude.

The bad: No wifi. Drink a lot and prepare to sleep the entire flight. Additionally, like Frontier and Spirit, they are militant about bag sizes. The fees are exorbitant. I recommend traveling light. At FCO, the gate and desk agents were not particularly pleasant and seemed to have an issue with me in particular.

As for the standard economy experience, you get what you pay for. I’d compare it closest to American’s basic economy seating on their 738s. No in-flight service is provided other than a small cup of water, if that, so ensure you have enough snacks and drinks before you board. I found the seats in economy to be quite tight given my height.

If I was flying a legacy carrier at legacy carrier prices, I would be upset, but, I paid next to nothing for a trans-atlantic round trip.

The key takeaways:

Set your expectations accordingly, travel light, bring snacks, be able to have flexibility on your plans as they are not customer-service forward. Bring headphones so that you can watch an entire season of Entourage before getting to Athens or Rome.

Overall (given the price point)

Check-in: 5/10

Customer Service: 4/10

On-Board: 8/10

Price Point: 10/10

Given recent global developments, I don’t foresee Norse surviving much longer, but I honestly hope they do as it provides a really competitive price point for Transatlantic routing compared to even US and European budget carriers. If they are able to survive the high fuel costs and maintain their JFK slots I will absolutely fly with them again even given some of the negatives I experienced.

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