This Is What It’s Really Like to Fly Low-Cost Airline Play to Europe

31.10.2023 - 22:41 / afar.com

Iceland has been a waystation for budget travelers hopping the pond ever since Icelandair first burst on the scene with cheap transatlantic flights in the 1960s. While the deals are often irresistible, doubts crept in about the risks of flying to Iceland on the cheap when in 2019, Icelandic low-cost carrier Wow went bust in spite of (or perhaps because of) stunts like $49 fares from the United States to Europe.

But that’s not the end of the story. Enter Play Airlines, which launched in 2019 (after scooping up some of Wow’s assets and hiring many former Wow crew members and executives) and is the latest startup from the island nation to revive the notion that yes, you can cross the Atlantic for less than you’d pay for your first hotel night (Play’s fares can dip to as low as at $100 one-way from the U.S. to Europe during promotional periods).

Having had plenty of experience flying no-frills airlines abroad, I was eager to see what this latest incarnation had to offer. So, last spring, I traveled on Play Flight 112 from Boston Logan to Keflavík Airport, Iceland’s main international hub. Here’s what it was really like.

There’s no TSA PreCheck with Play, so make sure to get to the airport early.

Courtesy of Play

At Boston Logan International Airport, Play flies out of Terminal E, where most international flights operate.

Unfortunately, Play doesn’t participate in the TSA PreCheck program so travelers should be prepared to spend a little extra time in security. Thankfully, in my case, the regular security lines moved swiftly and having cushioned my arrival time, I had plenty of opportunity to graze the duty-free stores and food and beverage options in Terminal E before the 6:30 p.m. boarding call.

There’s no dedicated lounge for Play passengers, but if you’ve got a Priority Pass membership (which I do), you can head up to the Air France lounge, where you can grab a bite and a glass of wine before takeoff.

At the Play boarding gate, a gaggle of cheerful crew members in scarlet uniforms ushered us onto the plane; because this was a brand-new route, the plane wasn’t full and boarding was a snap. A flight attendant spotted me struggling with my wheelie and helped me hoist it into the overhead bin.

The door closed right on time for the 7 p.m. departure, although there was a brief delay pushing back from the gate. The pilot came on frequently with updates, noting that our flight time would be a swift five hours, reassuring those traveling beyond Iceland that they would not miss their connection. Later I learned that a good number of people aboard were heading onto other destinations in Europe, including Paris, London, and Berlin.

Play’s cabin interiors are simple and the seats are comfortable enough.

Courtes