Norwegian long haul: any experiences?

Dostoevsky

I never heard of this airline until a moment ago. They are Norwegian Air Shuttle and are the third largest low-cost airline in Europe.

They have recently started a low cost alternative to Asia. They are emerging on www.skyscanner.com as the cheapest flight back to Europe from Thailand this summer. And fastest, at 11hr 15 minutes direct from Bangkok to Stockholm (€408).

However, I wouldn't like 11 hours of Ryanair. Does anybody have any experience of the quality of their long haul flights?

Stinicker

There prices are not that competitive, what you are seeing is baseline fares and like other low-cost carriers they charge for every little item like baggage and even food and drinks. When you factor in all these it is not that cheap. Plus you also have to book a flight from Ireland to Stockholm so you can add another €100 - €150 for that cost. This is then an unprotected transfer so if you miss one leg or get delayed etc. you could end up having to buy new tickets costing hundreds.

For the small saving it is not worth it and you'd be better of checking ticket prices with Etihad or Emirates from Dublin instead.

If flying time is an issue then you should consider flying to Helsinki and connecting there with Finnair as Finnair have overflying rights across Russia and they just cruise straight across Russia, Kazakhstan and Western China and drop down east of the Himalayas into Myanmar and onto Bangkok. Helsinki to Bangkok is around 8.5 - 9hrs flying time wheras flying via the Middle East is around 15hrs from Dublin.

Whatever route you choose it is a Journey well worth taking and I am off to Bangkok next week but I am flying via Abu Dhabi with Etihad.

BuffyBot

As you say, they've only just launched long haul flights (their first long haul flight (to NYC) was just on the 30th of May), so it might be a bit of a tough one to find folks with experience of them just yet. Some details on the in-flight service can be found here: http://www.norwegian.com/us/travel-services/travel-services/

Flying shorthaul with them, I found them pretty pleasant. Free wfi etc was pretty cool to have. If the price is right, I'd have no problem flying them long haul.

Dostoevsky

I just booked it: €568 each to fly from Bangkok to Dublin, via Stockholm (bags included on both legs, and seat booking with Aer Lingus at €5). If we want food, it's €32 each on top with Norwegian.

We didn't bother paying €30 (!) each to book a seat with Norwegian - they have to give us a seat anyway. Anyway, add these extras together and this Norwegian-Aer Lingus combination is still much cheaper than rivals.

We are flying Ethiad out, but the cheapest Ethiad back (one way) is €778 per person. That's a massive difference.

I'll update the forum on the standard of the flight come the end of the summer.

Stinicker

Either way it costing alot of money, I paid €712 return with Etihad back in December and if I had waited the same seat were on sale in March for around €640.

I don't think they're particularly cheap. I've seen plenty of flights to Asia for 500 euro and under, with the big-name airlines (Finnair, Air France, Korean Air etc) and that's including everything. I find flights to Asia are already very reasonable, tbh.

killbillvol2

Stinicker wrote: »

Either way it costing alot of money, I paid €712 return with Etihad back in December and if I had waited the same seat were on sale in March for around €640.

The OP booked a one way flight from Bangkok to Dublin so the price of return flights last December is irrelevant.

killbillvol2

Dostoevsky wrote: »

I just booked it: €568 each to fly from Bangkok to Dublin, via Stockholm (bags included on both legs, and seat booking with Aer Lingus at €5). If we want food, it's €32 each on top with Norwegian.

We didn't bother paying €30 (!) each to book a seat with Norwegian - they have to give us a seat anyway. Anyway, add these extras together and this Norwegian-Aer Lingus combination is still much cheaper than rivals.

We are flying Ethiad out, but the cheapest Ethiad back (one way) is €778 per person. That's a massive difference.

I'll update the forum on the standard of the flight come the end of the summer.

Why aren't you booking the return flights as one ticket?

Dostoevsky

killbillvol2 wrote: »

Why aren't you booking the return flights as one ticket?

Because we flew into a different destination with a different airline and we didn't know where we would be flying out from (we're only today getting the time to sit down and decide on our options).

silvermint

Hello

How was your experience flying with Norwegian Air? I'm thinking of booking them Bangkok to Stockholm

Thanks for your help.

naughtysmurf

Here is a recent short review from a poster on The Dibb, flying UK to Florida

Norwegian were bang on time, no hanging about at all and the IFE was on and active before we even took off! The IFE itself was great - loads of choice of films and programmes. The lighting throughout the plane was great changing colours all the time, the tinted windows were also very clever. As we all know it is a basic no thrills flight - pay for everything seperatly, as long as you are prepared by taking own food, drink, earphones and blanket you'll be fine! The only downside was I found it really cold - but I am generally a cold person anyway.

After all the worry around Norwegian I hope those going soon feel reassured that it really is a great deal that is real and will get you there!
Well done Norwegian

http://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=814027