Thank you all. You are making this trip easier. Very much appreciated.
I'm sorry I came to this thread a bit late. PM me if you would like more info. Mrs. Majik spent a number of years living in Iceland and we travel back and forth a bit.
I'd advise getting a personalised superjeep trip. They could even pick you up from the airport or from the hotel later on the morning you arrive. A superjeep trip is the best way to get around Iceland and its something you will never forget. Rather than hop on a bus with 40 other mugs it'll be you and your driver for the day. You'll get to see the Golden Circle, maybe drive a black sand beach and if you're lucky (weather permitting) drive up, yes drive! up a glacier. I've done quite a few these and I would recommend http://www.natureexplorer.is/, ask for Jon. You can pick from a preset list of destinations or build your own itinerary, definitely worth a look.
Again if you would like recommendations for bars, restaurants, cafes, don't hesitate to PM me.
Flew GLA-KEF return back in March. On the outbound, standard crappy overhead screens but on the return got the opportunity to try out the new AVOD in Y. There was no charge for the use of the system.
The AVOD is a touch-screen system that takes a little while to get used to. I felt the responsiveness was not as fast as say using a remote control. The widescreen is a decent size. There was a fair amount of stuff loaded on the system, movies, tv and kids shows, but the quality and selection were poor, a lot of really old stuff on there.
Hopefully they're running it for free to get the bugs out before loading a better selection and charging....
Hopefully they're running it for free to get the bugs out before loading a better selection and charging....
Is there a somewhere on their site that says they will charge for it? I can't seem to find one. In all honesty I don't think they will charge for it. Its not like say the Westjet system where there is a card reader at every seat. I don't expect FAs to be running around with a credit card terminal every-time somebody wants to fire up the AVOD, that would be a fruitless exercise on a 757 with nearly 200 pax.
Is there a somewhere on their site that says they will charge for it? I can't seem to find one. In all honesty I don't think they will charge for it. Its not like say the Westjet system where there is a card reader at every seat. I don't expect FAs to be running around with a credit card terminal every-time somebody wants to fire up the AVOD, that would be a fruitless exercise on a 757 with nearly 200 pax.
This is from the Icelandair link in my previous post (#19)
THE INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM
The in-flight entertainment system will give each passenger access to a high-quality touch screen with a broad entertainment selection. Passengers will have access to and can choose from a wide selection of films, TV programmes, documentaries, music and games. They will also have access to a programme containing an introduction to the Icelandic language and an interactive glossary of useful words and phrases. Some of these services will be free of charge for passengers. In addition to this, the technology enables the passengers to browse through the duty-free selection offered on board. At the same time the passengers can monitor the flight and get information about airports, departures and arrivals.
Programs: AA LifeP/2MM, CO Plt, UA 1K/MM, WN, Hilton D, Hyatt D, SPG Plt
Posts: 5,370
Thank you again all. I contacted Super-Jeep and booked a package. We were hoping to get the Blue Lagoon in but it added hours to the trip. Can someone recommend a Sunday morning way to get it in before going to the airport? How long does the bus stop there? The adventure begins!
Thank you again all. I contacted Super-Jeep and booked a package. We were hoping to get the Blue Lagoon in but it added hours to the trip. Can someone recommend a Sunday morning way to get it in before going to the airport? How long does the bus stop there? The adventure begins!
What time is your flight at?Reykjavik Excursions (the main bus company) run a Blue Lagoon/Keflavik service (re-808 and re-811) at 11am (all-year) and 8.30am (summer only) everyday.
You load up onto the bus with your luggage. They drop you off at the Blue Lagoon and lock your luggage in the bus, unless it is just carry-on which will fit in the lockers. I think you get about an hour and a half in the lagoon and then off to the airport in the bus again. The airport is only 15 minutes from the lagoon.
Programs: AA LifeP/2MM, CO Plt, UA 1K/MM, WN, Hilton D, Hyatt D, SPG Plt
Posts: 5,370
Well I just went on a long rant on our trip over. With regret the Hilton system threw me off when I tried to post. Maybe they have a deal with FI.
How do I put this and trying to be a little respectful? In every aspect of customer service, being consistent and technology this company (both Icelandair and Hilton Nordica) need help. They are in a bubble and do not compete in a real world situation. And that is me being nice.
Oh "new" AVOD. They need to go and get some content from SQ and EK. And their crew needs to learn how to use the system instead of putting the flight on a 40 minute delay. Kinda get the picture. Oh I had such a good post going.
Well I just went on a long rant on our trip over. With regret the Hilton system threw me off when I tried to post. Maybe they have a deal with FI.
How do I put this and trying to be a little respectful? In every aspect of customer service, being consistent and technology this company (both Icelandair and Hilton Nordica) need help. They are in a bubble and do not compete in a real world situation. And that is me being nice.
Oh "new" AVOD. They need to go and get some content from SQ and EK. And their crew needs to learn how to use the system instead of putting the flight on a 40 minute delay. Kinda get the picture. Oh I had such a good post going.
I'd love for you to redo your original rant post. Come on, you have several hours before going on pub crawling !!!
The limited news I hear is that the AVOD system is below expectations. On the other hand, I've always found Iceland to be super in terms of technology...
Programs: AA LifeP/2MM, CO Plt, UA 1K/MM, WN, Hilton D, Hyatt D, SPG Plt
Posts: 5,370
Thank you. Especially Braniff. Here we go. I may save and add.
Check-in 3 hours in advance at BOS. The agent could care less. I got an aisle seat and Marc went back after checking in and got the window in my row. Went off to use the NW Lounge at BOS. A dump. The men's room was like a high school locker room yet worse. Read that over flow you know what.
We went to the gate at 8:50 PM which was boarding since we had no status. Waited around. Heard the hush that crew could not get new AVOD system running. Flight went on 40 minute delay. Seat not bad for econ but just not used of. The avod was a joke sorry to say. Old movies. $10 USD to see. One or all I do not know. You pillow in your cc number. Their idea of tv content. One episode of the Simpson's and brief items produced by whoever. Very boring.
Served a hot entree which was a tamale something. After the service crew did disappear. Had to find them for water.
Worse. I went to the kiosk to check-in. Sign at Hilton says no US check-ins. Mine did not work. Went to business center. Could get my friend check-in but could not print boarding pass. Went downstairs to kiosk to print his boarding pass. Tried mine. Nothing again. Called local res. Closed. This is their home country. Called US res at $1.20 USD per minute. Could do nothing. Had my record noted. I can only pray for a aisle seat.
The agent in US challenged me on how I could have a boarding pass for my friend. Wow.
FIs idea of avod content. Seventeen screens of FI history to read out of historic sequence. These guys are just faking it on that system.
I flew them to make it into KEF and they accomplished that. Looking forward please to non eventful tomorrow. Regards from KEF.
Thanks RTWSTARALLIANCE
I flew Air France 2 years ago and their idea of TV programming was an unending sequence of Macgyver !!!
Iceland's economy is tanking by what I read in the international media. There's even a front page story in the Wall Street Journal last Friday on this - although largely about Super Jeeps (believe it or not) - and very nice to Iceland in general.
I was last in Iceland in December last year and I have a hard time imagining Iceland in poor-mode... Great to hear your impressions...
Programs: AA LifeP/2MM, CO Plt, UA 1K/MM, WN, Hilton D, Hyatt D, SPG Plt
Posts: 5,370
If you don't have anything nice to say! Say it.
Well I am all about full disclosure so this was the end of our trip. The flybus was 10 minutes late and people swarmed onto the bus at the Hilton. I guess people do not realize they need to sign up for it or the company is just dumb. At the bis or bsi we were further delayed since there were not enough seats for everyone. People were reluctant to get off and people had to pull luggage from the bottom of the coach after thinking they were getting on.
At KEF the agents were just plain rude. I ended up with a seat in the 20s. An aisle. Behind me a family with an infant who kicked my seat nearly all the way to BOS. The kid kept the plastic dish from the meal and thought he should pound out to the dvd he was watching. I will never ever. And the old seat is more comfortable than the new. And the entertainment was free. Two and a half men along with PS I love whatever.
So. If the StarAlliance, SkyTeam or OneWorld does not fly there. I ain't going. If you ever see me posting about a out of the way place on a airline I can not get at least in C on. FT PM me or throw a hard rock. It is true. The journey or getting there is half the fun. My glass was only half full on this trip. FI. Pass! From my suite in BOS where service means something.
I understand your disappointment very well since I have been struggling with them for past 7 years. In the beginning I felt they were okay but then I discovered other airlines.
What annoys me most with Icelandair is their KEF ground staff can be extremely arrogant. In short, I always feel that they are telling me that we (the Icelanders) should be thankful to FI that they do exist, otherwise we'll be stuck on the island.
During delays (and they are quite common due to the Icelandic weather condintions), the ground staff normally cannot care less about the passengers unless they are on the edge of rioting.
In short, now I only fly with FI only when I have too, and only one time for past 2 years and that was to Glasgow. That particular flight was 1 hour and 55 minutes delayed (according to the monitors) which is 5 minutes too short for passengers to get compensations (food, new transfer, etc). I kindly asked the GS (again at KEF) for a breakfast voucher and she gave that McDonald's smile and told me there were no such thing like I am an idiot.
I thought the entire attitude of the Island was- you are stuck here so deal with it and give us your money. Oh. And eat our marginal food.
Worse. I checked online at the Nordica and my flight was showing 1 hour 38 minute delay out of KEF into BOS. When I arrived at KEF for flight. Ontime.
A horrible place to be.
Be glad that you don't live there On the other hand, Iceland is really a nice place to live, once you learn to appreciate the weather.
Talking about the food, FI hasn't changed their breakfast menu on KEF-Europe routes for 7 years: Egg omelette with one slice of ham and small potato cubes. I some time wonder if they had ordered a 10 years of supplies from some monster kitchens in China/US and just simply warm it up the night before for past years. And the napkin always smells pepper
On the other hand, Iceland is really a nice place to live, once you learn to appreciate the weather.
