Before the pandemic, we had lots of affordable ways to get to Europe from Boston. WOW Air and Norwegian both had lots of routes to all the major cities across Europe with daily flights out of Logan. However, we lost those options over the past few years. But there is a new player that has quietly been offering a budget choice for the past few months.
PLAY Airlines Boston launch
PLAY Airlines launched its Boston route last May with little fanfare. And unless you are a diehard flight deals follower, you may not have even heard of them until recently. PLAY offers a daily flight from Boston to its hub, Iceland’s Keflavik Airport. For a roundtrip to Iceland from Boston in February, the prices are around $300. But keep in mind, because PLAY shares the same strategy as its predecessor, WOW Air, this is the price before any add-ons including food or checked bags. In fact, PLAY was even founded by former WOW executives Arnar Már Magnússon and Sveinn Ingi Steinþórsson.
But if you are looking for the most cost-effective way to get from Boston to Europe this year, PLAY is the answer. Bostonians can access Iceland, London, Paris, Berlin, Copenhagen, Dublin, Brussels, Hamburg, Madrid, Porto, Prague and many more popular cities. In line with corporate responsibility goals, PLAY uses Airbus A320neo and A321neo aircraft because they have 10-15% lower fuel consumption and associated CO2 emissions compared to other similar aircraft on all US routes.
With so many of us still rescheduling cancelled trips from the past few years, PLAY is a breath of fresh air when it comes to affordable options and the CEO of PLAY seems to agree. “Travelers around the world are hungry to venture to new destinations and recent data shows that nearly two thirds of Americans are planning their next vacations, with international destinations top of mind. We’re proud to expand PLAY´s service to the United States with services to and from Boston and Baltimore/Washington, D.C. offering both American and European travelers a new way to reach iconic destinations. With our reliable and affordable flights, travelers can better enjoy their destination rather than overspending on the flight to get there,” said Birgir Jónsson, CEO of PLAY.
What is the experience like?
Like other budget airlines, expect a barebones experience, especially if you do not pay for the upgrades. Firstly, PLAY does not participate in TSA PreCheck, so even if you are a member, you will not get the stamp on your boarding pass, so pack accordingly. You will need to take out your liquids and electronics when going through security because you will need to go through the standard lane.
There is no onboard entertainment or Wi-fi. However, the good news about this is that since you will stopover in Iceland on your way to Europe, none of the flights are really that long. So, if you download a few things from Netflix onto your phone or iPad, you should be fine. Also, when it comes to cabin crew, expect a team of fresh-faced, enthusiastic flight attendants, wearing T-shirts, sweatshirts and red jackets. Not what you would expect, but the teams are friendly and professional.
For more ideas on how to get the best bang for your buck when it comes to traveling this year check out our guides to the best weekend getaways from Boston and the best day trips for when you want to stay a little closer to home.