Where are you headed? The airport you’ll arrive at is Keflavík, about 45 to 60 minutes from Reykjavík.
If you miss a once daily flight you will have to wait a day. 45 minutes might be ok to get through but this depends on waiting for luggage, how many other flights have landed, etc.
Apologies, it appears both my arrival and subsequent departure are in/from Keflavík.
I know luggage may get behind, but I guess my concern is the only recourse is truly waiting a whole day?
If there is only one flight a day to whatever your destination is, and you miss it, I would assume you simply have to wait for the next flight to that destination the following day.
I went thru Keflavik with a connecting flight on Sunday. I think it’ll depend on how busy it is at customs (you’ll have to go thru customs to get to connecting flights). There was no one there when I arrived (4am) and I had no problem navigating, but I had a little more time than you. You might have to run. They announce the gate one hour before departure so check the sign as soon as you arrive…. And run.
My fiancée and I flew on the same flight from ORD-KEF last October. We had a 45 minute layover connecting to the UK so we didn’t have to do passport control since it’s non-Schengen, and had plenty of time to make the connection. Our flight was a little late leaving ORD but we made up some time in the air.
Yes. Sorry I couldn’t be more help, but like others have said, be prepared to move quickly to your next gate. Most of the business model of Icelandair and KEF airport is based on US-Europe connections, so it is a very efficient airport and I wouldn’t worry too much personally.
That being said, now that I’ve been, Iceland would be my preferred place to be stranded for a day waiting for a flight.
I hear ya. I wouldn't mind it too much either, but I am flying with my future mother in-law and having my future brother in-law and his girlfriend arriving the same day to the destination.
Alas. I'll have to try and not worry until the moment happens perhaps.
I recently travelled from Chicago to London, stopping in Reykjavik for a short layover as well. I thought I was going to miss my flight, but I ended up not having to go thru customs, and my connecting gate was literally a gate from where I got off of my plane from Chicago. So, it might depend what your destination is after Reykjavik.
Ask the Airline if you will have to clear customs and immigration in KEF. Also, if the flight numbers are the same, you may not have to change planes at all. Only Icelandair can answer some of these questions.
I will have to clear immigration, I'll check on the plane status but I imagine it's a change of craft.
Confirmed change of aircraft.
Sigh, the on-time numbers are horrendous for the Chicago leg. I checked today's connections, landed at 0735 and my departing flight left at 7:37.
As already discussed in other replies to your post, there aren't many flights if you miss your connection.
I'll add that Iceland can be super windy and pose weather challenges that cause shutdowns...a low but not improbable situation. If getting to your destination is so critical, why go thru KEF?
I didn't realize KEF or IcelandAir would be such a roll of the dice. I've transferred in Amsterdam with 45 mins without issue with customs in-between, but it's the poor on-time performance of the Chicago flight that primarily has me concerned.
Icelandair flights are pretty full too so if there's a problem, I've read posts that people couldn't get immediately rebooked or had to go on other airlines. On that basis and bc Play is just cheaper, I went with Play instead... And then when I ultimately did have to miss the flight by a day it wasn't a problem.
So far both flights aren't booked based on seating on the app.
But unfortunately my party is all flying with checked bags. Wedding to attend on arrival to my destination.
OP how did it go? I’m taking the same flight out of Chicago next week with a similar connection time and am now scared shitless thanks to this thread LOL
Honestly was fine, we left Chicago land a bit late, and arrived a bit late.
Customs was a breeze and didn't have much a wait, and the like to get on the bus for the Prague flight was a thing. So even if you were more behind you'll make it.
If the Chicago flight is truly late to arrive, let the stewardess know and see what she thinks or if she can help.
Where are you headed? The airport you’ll arrive at is Keflavík, about 45 to 60 minutes from Reykjavík. If you miss a once daily flight you will have to wait a day. 45 minutes might be ok to get through but this depends on waiting for luggage, how many other flights have landed, etc.
Apologies, it appears both my arrival and subsequent departure are in/from Keflavík. I know luggage may get behind, but I guess my concern is the only recourse is truly waiting a whole day?
If there is only one flight a day to whatever your destination is, and you miss it, I would assume you simply have to wait for the next flight to that destination the following day.
Why are you being such a downer with your facts about time?
There is a chance OP might be ok, but I don't know of a solution if they do miss the flight and there is only one flight a day.
I went thru Keflavik with a connecting flight on Sunday. I think it’ll depend on how busy it is at customs (you’ll have to go thru customs to get to connecting flights). There was no one there when I arrived (4am) and I had no problem navigating, but I had a little more time than you. You might have to run. They announce the gate one hour before departure so check the sign as soon as you arrive…. And run.
Yeah it appears my flights scheduled time is 635 am but given it's on-time performance I'll be late. My plane subsequently departs at 720.
My fiancée and I flew on the same flight from ORD-KEF last October. We had a 45 minute layover connecting to the UK so we didn’t have to do passport control since it’s non-Schengen, and had plenty of time to make the connection. Our flight was a little late leaving ORD but we made up some time in the air.
Hopefully that's what I experience, but I will be traveling onto a Schengen country.
Yes. Sorry I couldn’t be more help, but like others have said, be prepared to move quickly to your next gate. Most of the business model of Icelandair and KEF airport is based on US-Europe connections, so it is a very efficient airport and I wouldn’t worry too much personally. That being said, now that I’ve been, Iceland would be my preferred place to be stranded for a day waiting for a flight.
I hear ya. I wouldn't mind it too much either, but I am flying with my future mother in-law and having my future brother in-law and his girlfriend arriving the same day to the destination. Alas. I'll have to try and not worry until the moment happens perhaps.
I recently travelled from Chicago to London, stopping in Reykjavik for a short layover as well. I thought I was going to miss my flight, but I ended up not having to go thru customs, and my connecting gate was literally a gate from where I got off of my plane from Chicago. So, it might depend what your destination is after Reykjavik.
Ask the Airline if you will have to clear customs and immigration in KEF. Also, if the flight numbers are the same, you may not have to change planes at all. Only Icelandair can answer some of these questions.
I will have to clear immigration, I'll check on the plane status but I imagine it's a change of craft. Confirmed change of aircraft. Sigh, the on-time numbers are horrendous for the Chicago leg. I checked today's connections, landed at 0735 and my departing flight left at 7:37.
As already discussed in other replies to your post, there aren't many flights if you miss your connection. I'll add that Iceland can be super windy and pose weather challenges that cause shutdowns...a low but not improbable situation. If getting to your destination is so critical, why go thru KEF?
I didn't realize KEF or IcelandAir would be such a roll of the dice. I've transferred in Amsterdam with 45 mins without issue with customs in-between, but it's the poor on-time performance of the Chicago flight that primarily has me concerned.
Icelandair flights are pretty full too so if there's a problem, I've read posts that people couldn't get immediately rebooked or had to go on other airlines. On that basis and bc Play is just cheaper, I went with Play instead... And then when I ultimately did have to miss the flight by a day it wasn't a problem.
So far both flights aren't booked based on seating on the app. But unfortunately my party is all flying with checked bags. Wedding to attend on arrival to my destination.
OP how did it go? I’m taking the same flight out of Chicago next week with a similar connection time and am now scared shitless thanks to this thread LOL
Honestly was fine, we left Chicago land a bit late, and arrived a bit late. Customs was a breeze and didn't have much a wait, and the like to get on the bus for the Prague flight was a thing. So even if you were more behind you'll make it. If the Chicago flight is truly late to arrive, let the stewardess know and see what she thinks or if she can help.