Icelandair is a popular choice for travelers to Iceland, with Keflavík International Airport (KEF) serving as a major hub just 31 miles from Reykjavik. The airline is known for competitive fares, often used as a connecting point for flights between North America and Europe with the option of a stopover in Iceland. However, redeeming points and miles for Icelandair flights presents a challenge, as the airline isn’t part of a major alliance.
Despite this, several strategies exist to book Icelandair flights using rewards currencies. Let’s break down the most effective methods.
Redeem Icelandair Saga Club Points Directly
Icelandair’s own loyalty program, Saga Club, offers a direct redemption option. The drawback is the inability to transfer points from major U.S. programs like Chase, Amex, or Capital One into Saga Club. This makes accumulating significant Saga points difficult for most U.S.-based travelers.
However, you don’t need a full points balance to redeem. Saga Club allows partial point payments, meaning you can combine points with cash for any scheduled Icelandair flight, including covering taxes and fees. For example, a $651.53 round-trip flight could be partially covered with 136,224 Saga points (yielding roughly 0.48 cents per point), or a mix of points and cash can be used.
Redeem Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards Points
A viable option is booking Icelandair flights through Alaska Airlines’ Atmos Rewards program. While the partner award chart exists, actual rates often align with published starting values.
For instance, a one-way flight from Seattle (SEA) to Reykjavik (KEF) can be redeemed for 27,500 points plus $139, covering a 3,622-mile distance. Similarly, flights from Boston (BOS) to KEF start at 22,500 points plus $139. Earning Atmos Rewards points can be tricky, as only Marriott Bonvoy and Bilt Points transfer directly. However, welcome offers on Atmos credit cards (Ascent Visa Signature, Summit Visa Infinite, and Business Visa Signature) can accelerate accumulation.
Redeem JetBlue TrueBlue Points
JetBlue’s TrueBlue program also offers access to Icelandair flights. Pricing is dynamic, requiring searches for specific routes and dates. As of late 2023, one-way flights from Boston to Reykjavik started at 17,000 points plus $102, while Seattle to Reykjavik began at 32,000 points plus $102 in economy and 104,000 points plus $102 in business class.
TrueBlue points are relatively easy to acquire, with transfers from American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Capital One Miles, Citi ThankYou Rewards, and Wells Fargo Rewards. Cobranded JetBlue credit cards also provide earning opportunities.
Redeem Through Credit Card Travel Portals
Major credit card travel portals (Chase Travel, Capital One Travel, etc.) allow booking Icelandair flights with points or miles, typically at a fixed value of 1 cent per point. However, Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders may achieve up to 2 cents per point through Chase Points Boost, while Sapphire Preferred and Ink Business Preferred cardholders can get up to 1.75 cents per point.
Alternatively, using Capital One Venture X or Venture Rewards cards for paid Icelandair flights followed by a redemption for travel purchases within 90 days can also yield a 1 cent per mile return.
In conclusion, while Icelandair doesn’t participate in major airline alliances, several strategies allow you to redeem points and miles for flights. The most efficient options are often Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards or JetBlue TrueBlue points. However, considering Icelandair’s low fares, it may be more economical to pay with cash and save your rewards for hotels or future travel.
