How does Icelandair do connections at KEF so fast ?
May 3, 2015, 6:58 am
#1
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How does Icelandair do connections at KEF so fast ?
So I am looking to go from SEA-CDG on Icelandair. The connection at KEF is 50 minutes.
How do they unload a plane of passengers and luggage, process us through immigration and customs, and reload us and all our luggage in 50 minutes? Yesterday's connecting flight left one minute early!
Is it really that easy and quick?
How do they unload a plane of passengers and luggage, process us through immigration and customs, and reload us and all our luggage in 50 minutes? Yesterday's connecting flight left one minute early!
Is it really that easy and quick?
May 3, 2015, 2:17 pm
#2
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All of my experiences at KEF were amazingly efficient and simple... Except when the volcano blew its top and that was another story.
Yes they are that good!
Yes they are that good!
May 4, 2015, 2:56 am
#3
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I'm guessing a bit as I only went as far as KEF and don't recall the layout, but perhaps no customs or immigration for transit passsengers.
Not all KEF-CDG will have originated in SEA, so only a small proportion of pax or luggage will have the 50 minute window.
Similarly, not all SEA-KEF traffic will be heading for CDG and may be getting off at KEF, or going somewhere with longer transit.
Mainly it's a small airport so no great distances involved, add in a bit good organisation and efficiency and it just works.
Not all KEF-CDG will have originated in SEA, so only a small proportion of pax or luggage will have the 50 minute window.
Similarly, not all SEA-KEF traffic will be heading for CDG and may be getting off at KEF, or going somewhere with longer transit.
Mainly it's a small airport so no great distances involved, add in a bit good organisation and efficiency and it just works.
May 5, 2015, 6:32 pm
#6
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That is what makes Icelandair so great...no formalities in your final European destination.
May 6, 2015, 1:42 am
#7
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May 6, 2015, 6:22 am
#8
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As a citizen of the US I consider my arrival into CDG and processing through immigration as one of the most frustrating, time consuming, hassles of travel.
So yes... it is cumbersome and a formality I would gladly turn over to Iceland.
So yes... it is cumbersome and a formality I would gladly turn over to Iceland.
May 6, 2015, 6:31 am
#9
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Seriously though, we travel to the EU 4-6 times a year and don't recall a single "frustrating, time consuming or hassle" experience.
Try entering the US without Global Entry.
May 6, 2015, 6:38 am
#10
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Just because the US does this to all arriving and transferring* passengers does not mean that everyone else does/should, too. It is totally unnecessary to process pax that are not entering the country in this manner. So most places do not perform such needless procedures.
(*Yes, there are a tiny number of exemptions for transfer pax in the US).
May 6, 2015, 10:44 am
#12
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Another factor is that Icelandair operates narrow-body aircraft only. Yes, that can still mean 200 or so people, but it's not like they're trying to process an entire A380 or 777 in that time period.
May 6, 2015, 11:59 am
#13
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IIRC, Iceland is a signatory state to the Schengen treaty hence the requirement for immigration and customs clearance (for carryon only, checked bags are cleared at arrival destination in Schengen) at KEF.
There was also some talk that if one last cleared security in the U.S., then reclearing in the E.U. (and by extension Schengen) is not necessary.
There was also some talk that if one last cleared security in the U.S., then reclearing in the E.U. (and by extension Schengen) is not necessary.
May 6, 2015, 4:54 pm
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