GLA-KEF-YYZ-KEF-GLA
Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2022 9:57 pm
First time going with Icelandair. The connections went seamlessly in what is a well oiled operation. The first leg was on a 737MAX9 which was 100% full. Security at GLA was busy with Emirates pax and others going through. Probably queued for about 15 mins all told. To me it was a bit of a thrill seeing the volcanic landscape of Iceland for the first time. On arrival at KEF I just had to saunter over to the YYZ departure gate on the same pier so no hassle. Had to wait a couple of hours before boarding the 737MAX8 for the 4hrs 50 mins flight to YYZ. This was also 100% full. It was solid cloud most of the way so I didn’t get to see Greenland once again. The clouds split on time for me to see the coast of Newfoundland with patches of ice in the ocean and the frozen landscape of that area. As we were chasing the sun, which was setting at KEF, it never got dark until we reached Ontario.
My new Canadian passport worked a treat as I arrived at border control like a local. My checked bag soon joined me and I took the UP express train downtown.
On my return journey the security search at YYZ was painfully slow even though it wasn’t that busy. It seems very old fashioned compared to the systems they gave at GLA. I was in no rush though as I had plenty time to spare. The 737MAX8 was totally full again. I had booked an extra leg room exit seat for this leg. As with all 4 of my flights I just opted for the free coffee. Arriving early into KEF there was about an hour spare in the gate area before boarding the bus to a remote stand where a treat was in store. Confirming what FR24 was telling me, the all blue 757-300 celebrating 100 years of independence (yes) was waiting to take me back to GLA. The rather elderly and elongated aircraft had been switched from the 738M on my booking so I had a whole row to myself for this short 1 hr 45 mins flight home. Hard to tell pax numbers on this leg but probably equated to a decent load on the originally planned aircraft.
Passport control at GLA was a breeze and the bags came about 10 minutes later.
Icelandair were great. Their transit operation and hub are great and I’d happily do it again when heading to North America. Of course I would have flown direct with Air Transat if I could have but they didn’t fit my schedule and would have been over £700 instead of under £500 in the Icelandair sale.
I was there for photography. My non aviation photos from Toronto can be seen here: https://cbmusicphotography.com/toronto- ... ember-2022
My new Canadian passport worked a treat as I arrived at border control like a local. My checked bag soon joined me and I took the UP express train downtown.
On my return journey the security search at YYZ was painfully slow even though it wasn’t that busy. It seems very old fashioned compared to the systems they gave at GLA. I was in no rush though as I had plenty time to spare. The 737MAX8 was totally full again. I had booked an extra leg room exit seat for this leg. As with all 4 of my flights I just opted for the free coffee. Arriving early into KEF there was about an hour spare in the gate area before boarding the bus to a remote stand where a treat was in store. Confirming what FR24 was telling me, the all blue 757-300 celebrating 100 years of independence (yes) was waiting to take me back to GLA. The rather elderly and elongated aircraft had been switched from the 738M on my booking so I had a whole row to myself for this short 1 hr 45 mins flight home. Hard to tell pax numbers on this leg but probably equated to a decent load on the originally planned aircraft.
Passport control at GLA was a breeze and the bags came about 10 minutes later.
Icelandair were great. Their transit operation and hub are great and I’d happily do it again when heading to North America. Of course I would have flown direct with Air Transat if I could have but they didn’t fit my schedule and would have been over £700 instead of under £500 in the Icelandair sale.
I was there for photography. My non aviation photos from Toronto can be seen here: https://cbmusicphotography.com/toronto- ... ember-2022
