Norwegian Air -- UPDATED WITH INFO (incl baggage dimensions)

[RedSox68]

For those who have started booking them for flights to Europe next year, does anyone have any knowledge about their exit row seats? We've never had one and I know (1) the tray tables are in the arms and (2) no bags can be on the floor when you take off or land.

So here's my questions:

Does the tray table in the arm cramp your sitting space?
Where do you put the bags -- up in the overhead (hopefully there's room)?
Where is the viewing screen if there are no seats in front of you?

Thanks much.

 

[RedSox68]

Well, for those who might be considering this airline for flights to Barcelona next year, we were more than thrilled with the pricing we got. It ends up being almost $700 LESS than we paid for one-way in 2007 on Aer Lingus -- and that included changing planes in Dublin. This is Newark to Barcelona direct, we are leaving on a Monday 9/11 and got $219 one way each. We upgraded the $90/pp fee to Low Fare Plus to get the meals (dinner and breakfast), beverages, luggage and seat reservations included. So even with that upgrade, we are saving that much. It leaves 11 p.m. at night and arrives in Barcelona at 12:25 p.m. We were going to leave on Sunday, but the Monday flight was cheaper and now we don't have to worry about the event going on that Monday that closes the streets.

So after a live chat, here are the answers to the above questions for those interested:

The tray table is in the arm and does not affect your sitting space.
The viewing screen is also in the arm and does not affect your sitting space.
There are overhead compartments above the exit rows and yes, your personal carry-on must also go up there during take off and landing when in the exit rows.
They do not have pillows, but blankets are $5USD.
You must also buy headphones if you need them. If you are low fare only, then you must pay for luggage, meals, drinks, even water, and your seat assignments.

 

[jenf22]

Thanks for the info. We've been eyeing them for Barcelona next March. Our problem is we're in Denver so that puts us needing to fly to a city Norwegian Air flies out of. And just this week we decided to get the new Chase card for the 100,000 bonus points. So once we get those, we'll get back to seriously looking. Congrats on your great airfare!

 

[RedSox68]

Thanks for the info. We've been eyeing them for Barcelona next March. Our problem is we're in Denver so that puts us needing to fly to a city Norwegian Air flies out of. And just this week we decided to get the new Chase card for the 100,000 bonus points. So once we get those, we'll get back to seriously looking. Congrats on your great airfare!

Gotta admit -- next year is saving me bundles. The airfare wasn't the only thing lower than I paid in 2007 -- the cruise itself is $2,000 cheaper than in 2007 for the same room and amount of people! It's a win win LOL

 

[Birdie dog]

I was super interested in Norwegian Air to London next year but the connections didn't work out for me.

BTW the economy plus booking class includes a 20 KG checked back and a carry on.

Have a good flight.

 

[cscream13]

This is great info- thanks for sharing!!

 

[Ofinn]

Congrats on the airfare that's great.

 

[cheermom2four]

We've been eyeing them for Barcelona next March. Our problem is we're in Denver so that puts us needing to fly to a city Norwegian Air flies out of. And just this week we decided to get the new Chase card for the 100,000 bonus points. So once we get those, we'll get back to seriously looking. Congrats on your great airfare!

We are also coming from Denver and have been watching the flight costs around our time frame (Sept 6th is when we want to fly to BCN for our Sept 9th cruise) and its still up to over $1200 RT per person. May just fly in a day before the 6th using our Southwest miles to a place Norwegian air flies out of (but giving ourselves a day since we would need to collect our bags and then go back through check in with a different airline and security).

 

[RedSox68]

We are also coming from Denver and have been watching the flight costs around our time frame (Sept 6th is when we want to fly to BCN for our Sept 9th cruise) and its still up to over $1200 RT per person. May just fly in a day before the 6th using our Southwest miles to a place Norwegian air flies out of (but giving ourselves a day since we would need to collect our bags and then go back through check in with a different airline and security).

If you weigh the costs and options, it may still save you money that way.

 

[jenf22]

We are also coming from Denver and have been watching the flight costs around our time frame (Sept 6th is when we want to fly to BCN for our Sept 9th cruise) and its still up to over $1200 RT per person. May just fly in a day before the 6th using our Southwest miles to a place Norwegian air flies out of (but giving ourselves a day since we would need to collect our bags and then go back through check in with a different airline and security).

Yep, that's what we've been looking at too. Right now I've been checking Boston and Florida airports (Southwest doesn't fly to JFK!! Grrr). There are some flights I like from Denver on Delta and United, but they're at that $1200 a ticket you mention. It's crazy! So I'm hoping our new Chase cards pan out and I can just use those points to get the flights I want. Time will tell.

If you weigh the costs and options, it may still save you money that way.

I'm going to keep watching, but right now I'm not sure it would. The cheapest on Norwegian is out of Boston and that's $320 out and $350 back for the LowFare+. But we would then need to spend a extra night in BCN and probably BOS on the way back (the flight is late on the way out and I think we could get from Denver with plenty of time). We have enough miles on Southwest to get to BOS for free but we could also wait and use them for our New York cruise next October. It looks like even with the hotels and the extra dog boarding days, it would probably be cheaper on Norwegian. The question is: Is it cheaper enough to be worth the extra hassle (and another missed day of school for the kiddo and work for us)? I guess that's what we've got to figure out

 

[RedSox68]

Yep, that's what we've been looking at too. Right now I've been checking Boston and Florida airports (Southwest doesn't fly to JFK!! Grrr). There are some flights I like from Denver on Delta and United, but they're at that $1200 a ticket you mention. It's crazy! So I'm hoping our new Chase cards pan out and I can just use those points to get the flights I want. Time will tell.



I'm going to keep watching, but right now I'm not sure it would. The cheapest on Norwegian is out of Boston and that's $320 out and $350 back for the LowFare+. But we would then need to spend a extra night in BCN and probably BOS on the way back (the flight is late on the way out and I think we could get from Denver with plenty of time). We have enough miles on Southwest to get to BOS for free but we could also wait and use them for our New York cruise next October. It looks like even with the hotels and the extra dog boarding days, it would probably be cheaper on Norwegian. The question is: Is it cheaper enough to be worth the extra hassle (and another missed day of school for the kiddo and work for us)? I guess that's what we've got to figure out

Sorry, I wasn't thinking that you had to do round trip. In that case it may not be cost-effective since you have to pay for every little thing on Norwegian. Hope you find a good deal. When we flew to London last year, I checked kayak and British Air every single day. Suddenly one Sunday morning the prices had dropped -- significantly. I figured it had to be a mistake so booked it as fast as my little fingers could go. Sure enough, within four hours the prices were back up. So we really lucked out. Just keep checking

 

[jenf22]

Sorry, I wasn't thinking that you had to do round trip. In that case it may not be cost-effective since you have to pay for every little thing on Norwegian. Hope you find a good deal. When we flew to London last year, I checked kayak and British Air every single day. Suddenly one Sunday morning the prices had dropped -- significantly. I figured it had to be a mistake so booked it as fast as my little fingers could go. Sure enough, within four hours the prices were back up. So we really lucked out. Just keep checking

Now that I think about it - that may be the way to go. I book Norwegian Air from BOS to BCN since the times work where I wouldn't need a hotel and then I book Delta or someone mainstream on the way back so I can get home the same day. I think the flight out of BOS is at 9 or 10pm and I could get there by 4pm on Southwest (if I'm remembering right). That would be enough time, wouldn't it? Our cruise is a Wed-Sat so our plan was to get in on Monday (fly on Sunday) and then hopefully leave on Saturday so we can get home same day. I like to have a day to recoop after a trip

We got lucky last year and were able to get to London on United FF miles. We needed to get to Copenhagen for the cruise, but London was the best we could do with miles. So we spent 2 days in London and then 2 days in Paris before flying to Copenhagen. Awesome trip!

 

[RedSox68]

Now that I think about it - that may be the way to go. I book Norwegian Air from BOS to BCN since the times work where I wouldn't need a hotel and then I book Delta or someone mainstream on the way back so I can get home the same day. I think the flight out of BOS is at 9 or 10pm and I could get there by 4pm on Southwest (if I'm remembering right). That would be enough time, wouldn't it? Our cruise is a Wed-Sat so our plan was to get in on Monday (fly on Sunday) and then hopefully leave on Saturday so we can get home same day. I like to have a day to recoop after a trip

We got lucky last year and were able to get to London on United FF miles. We needed to get to Copenhagen for the cruise, but London was the best we could do with miles. So we spent 2 days in London and then 2 days in Paris before flying to Copenhagen. Awesome trip!

We had a bunch of US Air miles and when they transitioned to American, apparently no one told us we had to actually sign up again and make it official to save our miles. Then we flew on BA which was supposed to partner with United, but they didn't record the miles right either and we also lost those. I've given up on trying to fly with FF miles!

Hope your plans work out. I think trying to plan air is worse then trying to plan the whole rest of the trip! Trying to get the prices you can afford with the times you want with the itinerary you hope for is not fun.

 

[phinz]

FWIW, I've never flown an exit row that didn't allow for bags under the seats in front of you. I *have* had bulkhead seats that didn't have any place to put bags, but that's because there was a wall in front of me instead of a seat. Must just be a Norwegian policy.

 

[ivanp91]

FWIW, I've never flown an exit row that didn't allow for bags under the seats in front of you. Must just be a Norwegian policy.

It's actually a rule at most airlines. It's one of those things that doesn't really seem to happen in the US (mustn't be an FAA regulation), but is strictly enforced in a lot of other places. Bulkheads and exit rows = bags in the overhead lockers, no exceptions.

Then we flew on BA which was supposed to partner with United, but they didn't record the miles right either and we also lost those.

BA's partner in the States is AA.

 

[phinz]

It's actually a rule at most airlines. It's one of those things that doesn't really seem to happen in the US (mustn't be an FAA regulation), but is strictly enforced in a lot of other places. Bulkheads and exit rows = bags in the overhead lockers, no exceptions.

I guess that's kind of like flying from Japan with booze. Liquids like wine, whiskey, etc. go into your carry on to get from Japan to the States, then you have to get your bags, transfer the liquids into your checked luggage and recheck your bags. Nobody can agree on what rules are to be followed from line to line and country to country.

 

[RedSox68]

FWIW, I've never flown an exit row that didn't allow for bags under the seats in front of you. I *have* had bulkhead seats that didn't have any place to put bags, but that's because there was a wall in front of me instead of a seat. Must just be a Norwegian policy.

Yes, there is no row of seats in front of us, but the wall between cabins, so nowhere to put personal items.

 

[KalamityJane]

A little tip - if you book on Norwegian.no and have a credit card with no foreign transaction fees, you can save significantly on their airfare since they calculate the prices for their US site on the most expensive NOK-USD exchange rate. Even with FTF, you may still be ahead.

 

[RedSox68]

A little tip - if you book on Norwegian.no and have a credit card with no foreign transaction fees, you can save significantly on their airfare since they calculate the prices for their US site on the most expensive NOK-USD exchange rate. Even with FTF, you may still be ahead.

Actually, I just booked on their website and chose USD. No charges or fees.

 

[KalamityJane]

Actually, I just booked on their website and chose USD. No charges or fees.

Even better! On Norwegian.com or .no? I haven't gone all the way through booking on .no so I was unaware they had a USD option. I did notice their prices on .mo were much better than the same flights on their US site. For example, I just looked up flights on May 29 2017 for a one way from CPH to BOS - .no had the LowFare+ at 1678 NOK or $207 at today's exchange rate. .com US site had the prices at $262 for the same flight.