PLAY introduces new transatlantic stopover feature

It is also worth noting that in any case - Stayover program or not - PLAY does not actually allow you to book flights on the same continent, highlighting the carrier’s focus on the transatlantic connecting market.

The stopover program allows passengers to stay up to 10 days on each leg of the booking. To take advantage of it, passengers are given the option when booking a flight on the carrier’s website.

PLAY’s Stayover program does not include accommodation. In other words, the only “free” part of the program is that you are able to include your stay in Iceland under the same itinerary/reservation for the whole trip.

While this does simplify things, it is unclear whether this also results in a cheaper overall fare. That being said, fares can differ by day. This means that should you decide to stop over, you might save money simply because that particular date is cheaper than another.

Iceland has a rich natural landscape. On its website, PLAY indicates a few must-see features “including waterfalls, geysers, hot springs, glaciers and Northern lights.”

It notes that the stopover program is based on the fact that the carrier operates under a hub-and-spoke model. In other words, its aircraft typically arrive at around the same time and depart at around the same time to facilitate connections. This means that PLAY can offer conveniently timed flights allowing for a two-hour connection at Keflavik Airport (KEF) in Iceland.

By stopping over, passengers can leave the airport as soon as they land and visit Iceland for up to 10 days before continuing their transatlantic journey thereafter. In a statement on the Stayover program, PLAY CEO Birgir Jónsson said:

“PLAY has taken advantage of Iceland’s location near Europe to bring travelers convenient flights and affordable fares; now our stopover feature brings even more benefits to our passengers."

“Rather than having just a few hours layover in Iceland,” he added,“travelers can make a stop at this bucket-list destination for an extra day or week to experience everything our home country has to offer.” Jónsson described long stayovers as “a win-win for both us and our passengers,” enabling exploration at low prices.

Ch-aviation data shows that PLAY operates a fleet of 10 aircraft including four A321neos and six smaller A320neos. The airline flies to five destinations in North America and more than 30 destinations across Europe; it also operates routes to Marrakesh, Morocco.