Guide to Flying Long Haul With Norse Atlantic (From the UK)

Founded in February of 2021, Norse Atlantic (previously known as Norwegian Airlines) is one of the newest and most budget-friendly long-haul airlines that you can fly with today. Based in Arendal, Norway, Norse Atlantic operates a total of six widebody Boeing 787 Dreamliners that connect Europe (including the UK) with major cities in the United States and other parts of the world (more on the exact destinations later).

If you’re planning on flying long-haul with Norse Atlantic, this definitive guide is for you. In the next 10-15 minutes, you’re going to find out more about:

• The different destinations that Norse Atlantic fly to
• The different fare classes (including how much they cost, what’s included, and if they’re worth it)
• The overall experience during a long-haul flight (including food and drinks, seats, entertainment, and more)

But before we cover any of that, let’s first find out a bit more about the aircraft that you will be flying in.

About the Fleet – The Boeing 787 Dreamliner

First launched in 2009, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner is one of the most modern and efficient aircraft in the skies. Thanks to the innovative technologies that are seamlessly integrated within the aircraft, the 787 is greener, quieter, more comfortable to fly with. Some of the flagship features of this aircraft include:

• It produces 25% less CO2 emissions and is 50% quieter than previous generations of aircraft that are still in operation
• The in-cabin lightning is LED, which gives passengers a more natural and comfortable environment to fly in
• The Dreamliner features the largest windows than any other aircraft worldwide
• An innovative ventilation system, which provides passengers with cleaner air at a comfortable humidity throughout the flight

Which Long-Haul Destinations Do Norse Atlantic Fly to From the UK?

Norse Atlantic has one base in the UK, which is London’s Gatwick airport. This is the only UK-based airport that you can use to fly directly to the different destinations covered by the airline. From Gatwick airport, you can use Norse Atlantic to fly directly to

• Boston (BOS)
• Los Angeles (LAX)
• Fort Lauderdale – Miami (FLL)
• New York (JFK)
• Orlando (MCO)
• Washington Dulles (IAD)
• San Francisco (SFO)

The flight frequency between Gatwick airport and the above US destinations will vary throughout the season, but you can expect at least a few each week, especially during the summer season.

That said, it’s worth mentioning that you can still fly to many of the destinations listed above from other major airports in the UK such as Manchester and Edinburgh. The only thing is that the flight’s won’t be direct and in most cases, they’ll go through Oslo.

The Different Fare Classes, How Much They Cost, And What’s Included

As a budget airline, Norse Atlantic offers two different ticketing tiers that passengers can purchase. They include Economy and Premium. Both of these tiers have subtiers, which passengers can opt for depending on their individual needs. Below, we’ll go over each one and show you exactly what you get with it.

Economy:

The economy class was designed to give you everything you could possibly need on-board on a budget. When buying your flight tickets, you can choose from three different economy tiers, including Economy Light, Economy Classic, and Economy Flextra.

The Economy Light is the most basic ticket you can buy. With this type of ticket, you can bring one small underseat bag and that’s about it. You will also be last to board the plane and you’ll have to pay an extra $200 plus the difference in ticket price should you wish to reschedule your flight.

The Economy Classic is a pretty major step up from the Light. Aside from the single small underseat bag, with this fare, you can bring a 10kg carry on bag as well as a single standard checked bag that weighs a maximum of 23kg. As it is a long-haul flight, you will also receive a meal and one non-alcoholic drink (for flights that are over 6 hours long).

The next step up is the Economy Flextra, which is basically the same as the Economy Classic with the only difference that you will have priority boarding and the ability to change your flight date without paying the mandatory fee.

Premium:

Just because Norse Atlantic is a budget-friendly long-haul airline, that doesn’t mean they don’t have premium flight options. Just like the Economy class, the airline also has three different tiers of premium travelling.

The first one is Premium Light, which allows you to bring on board one small underseat bag and one carry-on bag with a maximum weight of 10kg. You’ll also get priority check in and priority boarding as well as 2x in-flight meals.

Next up is the Premium Classic, which is the same as the Premium Light except you’ll be able to check in a 23kg bag. In other words, if you’re flying with more luggage and want to fly Premium, this is the best ticket option for you.

And lastly, we have the Premium Flextra. This ticket class is relatively similar compared to the Classic, except you get to choose your own seat on board and the ability to change your flight date without paying the mandatory fee.

The Cost of for the Different Fare Classes

To give you an example of the different price points, we’ll be taking a look at a return flight from London Gatwick Airport (LGW) to Miami from October 25th 2023 to November 8th 2023. The total price is as followed, depending on the different options:

• Economy Light: $618 / £486
• Economy Classic: $798 / £628
• Economy Flextra: $1,158 / £911
• Premium Light: $1,186 / £933
• Premium Classic: $1,366 / £1,075
• Premium Flextra: $1,726 / £1,358

As far as value for money goes, we would say that the Classic tier for both the Economy and Premium classes is the best. You still get the luggage you need, in-flight meals, seats, and priority boarding. The only things you don’t get is choosing your own seat and being able to change your flight date without paying the mandatory fee. We believe sacrificing those two is worth saving a few extra pounds per person.

Is Paying Extra for Premium Worth It?

The only real difference between Premium and Economy is the seats and the different in-flight amenities that you’ll have access to. Let’s start with the difference in seating. Norse Atlantic say on their website that their Premium class seats are one of the best in the sky.

They’re wide and are around 43-inches in length, giving you lots of room to stretch. The seats can even recline about half way, allowing you to catch up on some sleep and feel rested for when you land.

Aside from the extra large and comfortable reclining seats, passengers that fly Premium will also have their own personal screen, which they can use to watch over 200 hours of films, TV, and entertainment. Premium ticket holders also have dedicated cabin crew, which will be serving complimentary food and drinks.

Are the few extra luxuries worth almost double the price though? If you’re someone seeking that extra level of comfort when flying and paying the price for a Premium ticket would affect your financial situation, absolutely. However, if you can get away with sitting up straight (the seats in Economy are still very decent), then you should save your money.

What to Expect When Flying Long-Haul With Norse Atlantic

In the section below, we’ll go over every aspect of flying long-haul with Norse Atlantic, starting from boarding your flights to the in-flight entertainment and the different food and beverage options you can pick from.

The Boarding Process:

The aircraft Norse Atlantic uses for their long-haul flights has a capacity of 242 passengers, split between the Premium and the Economy cabins. The boarding process that you’ll follow will depend on the ticket class and tier that you’ve bought.

For example, if you’re flying Economy Light, you are pretty much guaranteed to board last. You will also see this information displayed on the Norse Atlantic website when choosing the ticket tier that you want to fly with. On the other hand, if you’re an Economy Flextra ticket holder, you will have priority boarding.

If you decide to fly Premium, you will have priority boarding over all of the other passengers, regardless of the tier you buy. Not only that, but your boarding process will be slightly different as you will be heading over to the Premium cabin, rather than the Economy where most passengers will be seated.

The Seats:

On board the 787 Dreamliner, there are two different types of seats, those in the Economy cabin and those in the Premium cabin. The seats between the two cabins are vastly different, and here’s how.

The first and most notable difference between the two types of seats is the size. In Economy, the seating configuration is 2-3-2, meaning everyone is pretty squished together, just like in a normal flight. In Premium, the seats follow a 2-2 configuration, and are about 1.5x larger. In other words, you’ll have significantly more space for yourself.

Another key difference in the seats between the Economy and Premium cabins is that the seats in Premium recline quite decently, allowing you to rest up somewhat better than being sat up straight. That said, it’s nothing like Business class where your seat can fully recline and you can get some good rest.

The Different Food & Drink Options:

Despite the fact that Norse Atlantic is a budget-friendly airline, their selection of food, drink, and snack options is quite impressive. On board, you can pick from a range of foods, ranging from sandwiches to actual meals such as chicken green curry, pasta and more.

When it comes to snacks, you can get a Toblerone bar, KitKat, Freia Kvikk, a chocolate muffin, a gluten-free brownie, and more. As far as drinks are concerned, you can get anything from Capri-Sun to Pepsi Max and a freshly brewed Lavazza coffee.

Depending on your fare (such as Premium Flextra), some of the meals, snacks, and the drinks will be included in the price of your ticket and will be served during the flight. If you aren’t eligible for any of the meals in your ticket, you can buy them separately (subject to availability).

If you’ve checked out the on-board menu and aren’t a fan of anything that is being sold, consider pre-purchasing your food from the airport itself. Just make sure you do it from duty-free, right after going past security. The food there is often cheaper than on board and you will have far more food and drink options to pick from.

The In-Flight Entertainment:

Every Premium passenger will have a dedicated screen, which they can use to watch the latest and most trending movies and TV shows. If you’re flying economy, there is no entertainment provided. So, if you’re going on a long-haul flight, it’s essential that you bring your phone or tablet to watch movies or at least a book.

Other In-Flight Conveniences Worthy of a Mention:

Arguably the biggest convenience, regardless of whether you fly premium or economy, is that each passenger will have access to their own power outlets. That way, you can keep your devices charged throughout the flight. And if you don’t have the necessary charger, make sure you ask the cabin crew as they do hand out USB chargers for those that don’t have theirs with them.

Conclusion

Flying long-haul with Norse Atlantic is a relatively straightforward experience. The boarding process is relatively simple, the food and drink options are great, and the in-flight service is very decent.

That said, expect your in-flight experience to be slightly different depending on the cabin that you choose to fly in. Premium passengers do get some unique benefits that Economy passengers don’t. These include larger and reclining seats and on-board entertainment.

Overall, Norse Atlantic is a great transatlantic, budget-friendly airline that allows every passenger to tailor their flight to their needs, which is always great to see.