San Francisco to Iceland for $79

My intrepid friend Allie McGovern has submitted the following report on what it's like to travel from the West Coast of the U.S. to Iceland for just $79 with Wow Air, the ultra low-cost carrier. (http://www.wowair.com.)

"Wow Air, the Icelandic low-budget carrier, is more than an airline, it's an adventure. It's the choice of flyers who want bragging rights that they touched down in five countries in 24 hours, or spent the night in Reykjavik airport, or want a competitive story for future bar arguments over the Worst travel experience.

"San Francisco to Reykjavik in late February was only $79 one way, and as my prescient (or is that present?) husband quipped, round trip would be $2,000. He was close. WOW Air's slogan is, "We promise you that WOW feeling." And boy, do you ever get it. WOW--they charge for everything, food, water, all baggage, pillows, you name it, they charge for it. Want water? They only have hot water. Or you can buy bottled water for a king's ransom. (Or, you can accept the hot water from one steward and ask for a cup of ice from another. Takes more effort but you begin to look for small victories against extortion during your v-e-r-y long flight.)

"Other than some of the flight deck and cabin crew, there's nothing classy about WOW, including their (gulp) purple uniforms. First-time flyers get to spend the hours poring over their budgets and wondering if it's worth another drink while watching second-time flyers (yes, there are some) pull out roast chickens, foot-long subs and cold pizza from greasy bags, followed with bottled drinks, chips, and candy bars. Aw gee--it's not unlike that bus trip you once took in Pakistan, remember?

"On the bright side, if you fly during low season it IS cheap. And they DO go to a lot of off-the-beaten path places. But see if you can time your arrival in Iceland for daytime--seven hours in the middle of the night in the Iceland airport is not as interesting as seven years in Tibet but seems as long. And unless you are on an expense account, do what your neighbours are doing: bring your own chickens, one for the plane and one for the floor in the Keflavik airport."

Gosh, it sounds as if, unlike on many trains and buses abroad, your fellow travellers are not likely to share their chickens with you. Anyway, it's interesting to read the report of a very well-travelled American on one of the cheapest airlines around. Thanks, Allie. Don't think I'll be booking a ticket soon, but it's good to know that if I do I should pack plenty of munchies.