Review: WOW Air

Bright purple carpets, cheeky greetings on seat backs (¨Hi, I am your seat!¨) and horoscopes in the in-flight magazine that apply to all (e.g., ¨You will travel soon.¨) are just a few elements to entertain passengers aboard Iceland´s new quirky discount airline, WOW Air.

Destinations include North American and European cities, with most route options featuring a sizeable stopover in the hub city of Reykjavik. In an effort to promote tourism to the North Atlantic nation, WOW partnered with tour companies on the ground in Reykjavik and encourages travelers to make the most of (and maybe even extend) their long layover in Iceland.

Fares from New York and Baltimore are as low as $200 for one-way flights, with optional connections to European cities such as Barcelona, Lyon and Milan. On board, passengers get what they pay for, which is not a lot: no in-flight entertainment, no included meal or beverage service and no standard amenities to which long-distance travelers have become accustomed, like ear plugs, pillows and sometimes blankets. Food and drinks are available to purchase in flight, and guests can also bring their own food on board.

Despite the frills-less flying experience, WOW carries passengers in modern and sleek aircraft with acceptable legroom. Although fees for seat selection and checked bags tend to hike up the extremely low fares, the total cost for a flight with WOW Air may still be hundreds less than the larger airlines.