Icelandair Adding Flights From Chicago O'Hare
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here - Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard
This week, Icelandair announced that it will add four weekly nonstop flights between Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD) and Keflavik International Airport (KEF) starting in March 2016. Available year-round with service on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, these flights will connect to more than 20 destinations in Europe.
For travelers from the Midwest, the ORD-KEF flights will open up more opportunity to visit what's fast becoming one of the most popular destinations in Europe, and for Icelanders and other Europeans, the flights will offer easier access to Chicago and its environs. Coming on the heels of the airline's added service to Seattle, Newark and Minneapolis-St. Paul, the news of these Chicago flights also positions Icelandair to grab a larger piece of the US-to-Europe market.
Iceland's position between North America and mainland Europe — as well as its opportunities to see the Northern Lights, visit glaciers and geysers and ride small, furry horses — makes it an ideal stopover point. You can also take advantage of up to a 7-day stopover at no additional charge.
Icelandair's current ORD-KEF flights currently require a connection at Boston's Logan International Airport (BOS) with a domestic flight from O'Hare on JetBlue, and show economy-class prices ranging from $960 to $1,600 over the next four months. (If you have the extra cash, you might want to consider booking in business class for its snazzy amenity kit.) Hopefully, nonstop flights will bring lower prices along with the shorter travel times.
Redeeming for a Flight
Though Icelandair's Saga program has limited transfer partners, such as Hilton HHonors, you'll likely receive a better value (and better availability/much less hassle) by booking using a credit card that allows you to redeem points to cover everyday travel purchases. A $1,111 Icelandair flight will cost approximately 100,000 Barclaycard Arrival miles after factoring in the 10% mileage rebate on redemptions, but considering you earn two miles for every $1 spent on the Barclaycard Arrival Plus card (which currently offers a 40,000-mile bonus after you spend $3,000 in the first 90 days), an Icelandair flight could be a good redemption.
If you do travel through Iceland and stay long enough to explore, be sure to visit the WOW Air $99-Fare Guide to Iceland and Layover Lowdown: Iceland's Keflavik International Airport — and enjoy!
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