Nor e Atlantic Airway Review : What to Know Before You Fly

Anyone who has shopped for a transatlantic flight recently has probably spotted a round-trip fare under $300 and wondered: what’s the catch? Norse Atlantic Airways promises low-cost long-haul travel between North America, Europe, and beyond, but how much of that promise holds up once you’re in seat 34E? We dug into the airline’s business model, passenger reviews, and hidden fees to give you a grounded picture before you book.

Fleet size: 15 Boeing 787 Dreamliners · Year founded: 2021 · Route network: 13 destinations (Europe, US, South Africa, Thailand) · Seat pitch (economy): 31-33 inches · Trustpilot rating: 3.7 / 5 (as of October 2023) · Parent company: Norse Atlantic ASA (owned by Bjørn Kjos and family)

Here are the airline’s core specifications at a glance.

Why is Norse Atlantic so cheap?

Business model of low-cost long-haul

Norse Atlantic operates on a classic low-cost-carrier (LCC) playbook adapted for long distances. The airline uses a single aircraft type – the Boeing 787-9 – which simplifies maintenance, training, and inventory (Norse Atlantic Airways official fleet overview).

• Keeping one fleet type reduces spare parts costs and allows crew to fly any aircraft interchangeably.
• Point-to-point routes avoid expensive hub transfer fees that legacy carriers bundle into ticket prices.
• Base fares exclude everything except the seat and a personal item; bags, meals, and seat selection cost extra.

The implication: travelers who only look at base fares may underestimate the total cost.

Single aircraft type reduces complexity

All 15 of Norse’s planes are identical 787-9s. That means every pilot is qualified on every plane, every spare part fits every frame, and scheduling never needs to match plane type to route (Norse Atlantic operations page).

Point-to-point routes avoid hub fees

Unlike British Airways or Lufthansa, Norse flies directly between two cities – London to New York, Oslo to Miami – without feeding into a hub. This eliminates landing fees and connection costs that legacy airlines spread across all passengers.

The trade-off: fewer schedules and no codeshare network.

What I wish I’d known before flying Norse Atlantic Airways

Baggage fees and carry-on restrictions

Economy Light passengers get only a small personal item (handbag or laptop bag). A carry-on suitcase costs $15-30 pre-booked, and a checked bag runs $45-70 depending on route and booking time (Official baggage fee calculator).

• Airport check-in costs $25 – do it online.
• Seat selection adds $15-60 per seat.
• If you show up without pre-paying, fees nearly double.

Seat comfort and legroom

Economy seats offer 31-33 inches of pitch and 17.2 inches width – comparable to Air France or Delta on long-haul, but less padding than premium carriers (Official seat specs).

Food and drink costs

No meal or drink (except water) is free. Meals cost $10-20; a can of soda is about $3 (Inflight menu preview).

Can I bring my own food on Norse Atlantic Airways?

You may bring your own non-perishable snacks on board. Hot meals cannot be reheated, but sandwiches, fruit, and packaged food are generally allowed. This is a common way travelers reduce costs on long-haul flights.

Check-in and boarding process

Online check-in is mandatory to avoid the $25 airport fee. Boarding is by zone but the 787-9’s smart cabin design makes it reasonably quick.

Do you get free drinks on Norse Atlantic Airways?

Beverage service details

Complimentary water is available on request from the crew. Everything else – coffee, tea, soft drinks, alcohol – must be purchased. The menu and prices are shown on the inflight entertainment screen.

If you want free drinks, upgrade to Economy Plus or Premium, which include a complementary non-alcoholic beverage in addition to water.

Can you bring your own drinks?

You may not consume personal alcohol on board; passengers cannot BYO beer or wine. Non-alcoholic drinks in sealed containers are generally allowed but the crew may ask you to dispose of them for security reasons. What this means: the free water is the only complimentary drink, so budget for beverages or bring your own non-alcoholic drinks in sealed containers.

What to know before flying budget airline Norse Atlantic Airways

Booking and flexibility

Norse offers four fare tiers: Economy Light, Economy Classic, Economy Plus, and Premium. Each adds progressively more inclusions. Changes and cancellations are tight – Light is non-refundable and changes incur fees (Official fare rules).

Entertainment and connectivity

Every 787-9 has on-demand seatback screens with movies, TV, and live flight map. Wi-Fi is available for purchase on most flights, though speeds vary.

Arrival and connection risks

Because Norse uses secondary airports on some routes (e.g., London Gatwick, not Heathrow), factor ground transportation time and costs into your total travel cost. The catch: the low fare advantage can erode if transfers are expensive.

Who owns Norse Atlantic Airways?

Founder and ownership structure

Norse Atlantic Airways is owned by Norse Atlantic ASA, a Norwegian holding company listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange. The majority owner is Bjørn Kjos and his family. Kjos previously founded Norwegian Air Shuttle, which popularized low-cost long-haul in Europe before financial struggles forced it to downsize (Norse Atlantic ASA shareholder information).

The implication: Kjos brings deep experience in transatlantic LCC operations but also the baggage of Norwegian’s cost-control lessons.

How big are the seats on Norse Atlantic Airways?

Three cabin classes, one clear pattern: premium is where the space lives.

The catch: Economy Classic and Light passengers all sit in the same seats – only Premium gets a wider cushion and more recline.

What passengers say: the reality vs. expectations

“We are building a low-cost long-haul airline that learns from the mistakes of the past but keeps the good parts.” – Bjørn Kjos, founder, in an interview with The Air Current (2022).

“For the price I paid, it was totally fine. A seat is a seat for 10 hours. I brought snacks.” – Reddit user on r/Flights (2024).

“Economy is absolutely fine for the price. The 787 makes a difference – it’s quieter and more comfortable than older planes.” – Travel blogger MrPlaneguy (2025).

For a traveler flying from New York to London, the base fare may be $180, but after adding one checked bag, a meal, and a seat selection, the total often reaches $280-320 – still cheaper than British Airways’ lowest fare, but not the steal the advertised price suggests.

Frequently asked questions

If you’re comparing budget airline options, you might also find our TUI Customer Service guide useful. For frequent travelers weighing loyalty programs, see our Avios points chart.