On a transatlantic Icelandair trip, you connect at Keflavík (KEF), the airport that serves Reykjavík. The airline will turn that connection into an Iceland trip at no additional airfare, per its own page, as long as you build it into the booking.
On this page
The short version
- What you get
- Up to 7 nights in Iceland on most fares, up to 21 on Flex fares
- Routes
- Transatlantic Icelandair trips via Keflavík (KEF); most fares include it
- Cost
- No additional airfare, per Icelandair's own page; the total can still change with your dates
- How to get it
- Select "Stopover in Iceland" when you search on icelandair.com
- Catch
- Icelandair's page does not address award tickets. Some third-party guides report that awards do not qualify, so check Icelandair's Saga Club award rules on icelandair.com before assuming a points booking works.
Icelandair layover or Icelandair stopover?
Every transatlantic Icelandair trip stops at Keflavík (KEF) to connect. On a normal booking that stop is a layover: you land, change planes, and fly on the same day. The stopover is the same connection stretched into nights on the ground, and you choose it in the booking flow by selecting "Stopover in Iceland."
What changes when you switch:
| Layover | Stopover | |
|---|---|---|
| Time in Iceland | The connection time Icelandair schedules | You pick the nights, up to 7 on most fares |
| Airfare | Your through fare | No additional airfare, per Icelandair |
| Hotel | Not needed | Yours to book; the stopover covers flights only |
| How to get it | Default on any KEF connection | Select "Stopover in Iceland" when you search |
One thing surprises people. Icelandair says the stopover adds no airfare, yet the total on screen can change when you add one. The reason, per Icelandair's own FAQ: your second flight now leaves on a different day, and fares vary by date. Try a few date combinations if the number moves. For what fits into a short connection without the stopover, see our Reykjavík layover guide.
How the fare you buy caps your stay
- Most fares: up to 7 nights, bookable directly on icelandair.com.
- Economy Flex and Saga Premium Flex: up to 21 nights. Anything longer than 7 nights is arranged through Icelandair's service center, not the website (the official FAQ says so directly; contact details are on icelandair.com).
How to book it, step by step
- Go to icelandair.com and search your transatlantic route.
- Select the dedicated "Stopover in Iceland" option in the search flow. The site builds the extended itinerary for you.
- Choose your nights, within your fare's cap.
- Compare the total against the same trip without the stopover, and try other dates if it moved.
- Pay.
You do not need to piece together multi-city segments by hand. The stopover tool does it without adding airfare, although the total can still change because your second flight leaves on a different date.
What's free and what's not
No additional airfare for the stop itself. Not included: hotels, transfers, tours, everything on the ground. Older posts may mention a "Stopover Buddy" local-guide perk; Icelandair's current stopover page does not offer one.
Where people screw this up
- Booking with miles. Icelandair's own page is silent on awards, and some third-party guides report the stopover applies to cash fares only. If you are flying on points, check Icelandair's Saga Club award rules on icelandair.com before you build the plan.
- Adding the stopover after you pay. It is possible, through Icelandair's service center (contact details on icelandair.com, or the number on your ticket), but a change fee applies and the fare can move. Build the stopover into the booking from the start.
- Assuming Iceland is cheap once you land. The airfare side of the stop costs nothing extra. Iceland does not work that way. Plan your ground costs accordingly.
FAQ
Can I stop on both the way out and the way back?
Icelandair's page does not say. Check the options the booking flow offers for your route before you plan two stops.
Does it work from any US city?
Icelandair offers it on transatlantic trips through KEF, and most fares include it; the booking flow shows whether yours does. Icelandair serves a long list of North American gateways; check current routes when you search.
Can I add a stopover to a flight I already booked?
Yes, through Icelandair's service center (contact details on icelandair.com). A change fee applies, and the fare can change for your new dates.
Sources
- https://www.icelandair.com/flights/stopover/ (official, incl. Stopover FAQs tab, read 2026-09-24)
- https://awardwallet.com/airlines/icelandair-stopover/
- https://www.icelandair.com/support/on-board/classes-of-service/
- https://www.afar.com/magazine/a-guide-to-airline-stopover-programs