Icelandair 737 Max 8 Business Class
Icelandair business class discussions have gotten complicated with all the “is Saga Class worth the premium on transatlantic routes” debates, the 737 Max 8 narrow cabin limitations versus what you’d get on a widebody comparisons, and “how does Icelandair’s product compare to legacy carriers on similar transatlantic routes” questions flying around. As someone who has spent years following airline cabin products and the specific decisions that determine whether a narrowbody business class experience delivers genuine value for transatlantic travel, I learned everything there is to know about Icelandair’s 737 Max 8 business class. Today, I will share it all with you.
But what is Icelandair Saga Class on the 737 Max 8, really? In essence, it’s a premium cabin on a narrowbody aircraft — which means the product is defined by the 737’s fuselage constraints rather than what you’d find on a widebody business class. But it’s much more than seat width math. For travelers considering the Icelandair routing through Reykjavík as a transatlantic option, Saga Class offers a meaningfully improved experience over economy on sectors where the Keflavik connection actually saves travel time, and the Icelandic connection itself is part of the product’s appeal.
Cabin Layout
The business class cabin on Icelandair’s 737 Max 8 features a 2-2 configuration — each passenger has either a window or an aisle seat. The cabin is thoughtfully designed within the constraints of the 737 fuselage, maximizing space and comfort in an airframe that doesn’t offer the aisle-to-aisle width of a 767 or A330. Don’t make my mistake of expecting flat-bed business class on the Icelandair product — at least if you’re booking based on experience with European carrier widebody business class, because the 737 Max 8 fuselage cannot accommodate the fully reclining beds that long-haul widebody business class delivers, and setting expectations appropriately before boarding produces a much better experience than discovering the distinction mid-flight.
Seating Comfort
The seats in Icelandair’s Saga Class are wide and supportive, upholstered with quality materials and including adjustable headrests and lumbar support. Each seat provides a generous pitch that translates into meaningful legroom relative to economy, and the recline feature with extendable footrest provides a comfortable position for the five-to-seven-hour transatlantic sectors that Icelandair flies. For overnight flights, the combination of recline and footrest allows most passengers to get reasonable sleep — not flat-bed sleep, but substantially better than the upright economy position.
In-Flight Entertainment
Each Saga Class seat is equipped with a personal entertainment screen with an intuitive touchscreen interface. The entertainment system offers movies, television shows, and music, including Iceland-specific content — documentaries and travel guides that align with Icelandair’s positioning as much a travel experience as a transport service. Noise-canceling headphones are provided in business class, which matters most on the climb and descent phases when engine noise is most intrusive.
Meals and Beverages
Icelandair takes dining seriously in Saga Class. The airline provides gourmet meals crafted with fresh ingredients, with menu options that typically include Icelandic ingredients — Arctic char, skyr-based dishes, and Icelandic lamb feature seasonally. Meals are presented with genuine tableware rather than economy’s plastic serviceware, and the selection of wines and beverages reflects the premium cabin positioning. That’s what makes the Icelandair dining experience particularly endearing to food-focused travelers — the genuine Icelandic ingredient sourcing gives the meal service a regional character that generic airline catering cannot replicate.
Amenity Kits and Service
Icelandair provides Saga Class passengers with amenity kits featuring Icelandic brands — a thoughtful touch that extends the destination experience to the aircraft itself. Flight attendants in the business cabin are attentive, proactive, and focused on personalizing the service within the constraints of the narrowbody environment. The service standards are consistently noted in passenger reviews as exceeding what a small Nordic carrier might be expected to deliver.
Lounge Access and Airport Experience
Business class passengers have access to Icelandair’s lounges at select airports. The Keflavik lounge provides a comfortable environment during connections — relevant because the Icelandair business model routes transatlantic passengers through Reykjavík, and the layover quality is part of the total product evaluation. First, you should factor the Keflavik connection time into your total journey assessment — at least if you’re comparing Icelandair to direct service on legacy carriers, because a short connection in a comfortable lounge is a different proposition than a rushed connection in a crowded airport, and the Keflavik facility is generally well-regarded for its calm and efficient processing.
Connectivity and Technology
Icelandair offers Wi-Fi connectivity on the 737 Max 8, with business class passengers typically having access to high-speed internet for work or communication. USB ports and power outlets at each seat maintain device charging throughout the flight — practical features that matter disproportionately to business travelers on the transatlantic routes that form Icelandair’s primary business cabin market.
