Icelandair vs KLM
On the best documented aircraft, Icelandair scores 0/10 for the business seat and KLM 10/10. The aircraft on your booking decides whether those seats apply.
By Jon Miksis · comparison updated
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What matters for your booking
Business fares
Of 38 shared business routes, Icelandair was cheaper on 38, KLM on 0, and 0 were the same price.
Economy fares
Of 40 shared economy routes, Icelandair was cheaper on 28, KLM on 12, and 0 were the same price.
Start with your route and cabin. A fare advantage in economy does not establish a business-class bargain, and a better seat does not establish that a connection or a higher fare is worth it for your trip.
The business seats being compared
These are each airline’s best-scoring documented business aircraft. The fare grid does not identify aircraft, so the seat below is not promised with any fare in the table. Service and food require a separate firsthand review.
Icelandair
737 MAX / 757 (Saga Premium)
- Seat layout
- 2-2
- Fully flat bed
- No
- Direct aisle access at every seat
- No
- Privacy door
- No
- Seat score
- 0/10
- Wi-Fi
- Paid in the recorded product
- Lounge access
- Included in the recorded fare
- Checked bags
- 2
Cabin checked .
Recorded source: Icelandair fare-type pages, Saga Premium reviews.
KLM
777-200ER / 777-300ER (sliding-door World Business Class)
- Seat layout
- 1-2-1
- Fully flat bed
- Yes
- Direct aisle access at every seat
- Yes
- Privacy door
- Yes
- Seat score
- 10/10
- Wi-Fi
- Paid in the recorded product
- Lounge access
- Included in the recorded fare
- Checked bags
- 2
Cabin checked .
Recorded source: KLM World Business Class pages, fleet seat maps.
Seat scores describe bed, aisle access and privacy door only. Read the scoring method. A tie does not compare comfort, food, service or reliability.
Check the aircraft on KLM
777-200ER / 777-300ER (sliding-door World Business Class): 10/10 for the seat. The door is documented for the refitted 777 product. Do not apply it to every 787 or A330. Check the flight's seat map and ticket type; lounge access and baggage can differ by fare brand. Recorded August 30, 2026.
A330-200 / A330-300: 5/10 for the seat. 2-2-2 lie-flat: the window seat requires stepping over a neighbor. Recorded August 30, 2026.
Compare the fares and the routing
Each row compares the same airports, cabin, travel dates and observation date. It can still compare a nonstop against a connection. Journey times, aircraft, baggage allowances and change rules were not recorded with these fares; check those before treating the price difference as a saving.
Showing 12 of 38 matched business routes. Round trip per person in USD, for travel November 8–14, 2026.
| Route and observation date | Icelandair | KLM | Price difference |
|---|---|---|---|
Washington DC (IAD) → Amsterdam (AMS) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $2,068Connects via KEF | $12,081Nonstop | Icelandair was $10,013 less |
Washington DC (IAD) → Berlin (BER) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $2,169Connects via KEF | $10,937Connects via AMS | Icelandair was $8,768 less |
Washington DC (IAD) → Stockholm Arlanda (ARN) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $2,292Connects via KEF | $7,378Connects via AMS | Icelandair was $5,086 less |
New York (JFK) → Copenhagen (CPH) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $2,310Connects via KEF | $10,461Connects via AMS | Icelandair was $8,151 less |
New York (JFK) → Glasgow (GLA) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $2,336Connects via KEF | $7,819Connects via AMS | Icelandair was $5,483 less |
New York (JFK) → Amsterdam (AMS) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $2,386Connects via KEF | $11,981Nonstop | Icelandair was $9,595 less |
Washington DC (IAD) → Helsinki (HEL) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $2,504Connects via KEF | $6,820Connects via AMS | Icelandair was $4,316 less |
New York (JFK) → Oslo (OSL) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $2,606Connects via KEF | $10,398Connects via AMS | Icelandair was $7,792 less |
Washington DC (IAD) → Copenhagen (CPH) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $2,642Connects via KEF | $5,842Connects via AMS | Icelandair was $3,200 less |
New York (JFK) → Zurich (ZRH) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $2,666Connects via KEF | $11,760Connects via AMS | Icelandair was $9,094 less |
Washington DC (IAD) → Manchester (MAN) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $2,691Connects via KEF | $7,759Connects via AMS | Icelandair was $5,068 less |
Miami (MIA) → Stockholm Arlanda (ARN) Observed September 1, 2026 Compare all observed airlines | $2,731Connects via KEF | $11,008Connects via AMS | Icelandair was $8,277 less |
Your airport missing? Check the full route tool for the airlines we observed there. Confirm current fares, journey time, baggage and ticket rules before booking.
Before paying for the ticket
- Check the exact operating airline and seat map on every long flight, including the return. An airline name or business-class label alone does not guarantee a flat bed or aisle access.
- Compare total journey time and connection length. A lower fare may buy a much longer trip.
- Reprice with your bags, preferred seats and change rules included. These observations do not establish that the tickets have identical restrictions.
- Check other airlines on the route. Being cheaper than the other airline on this page does not establish the cheapest fare in the market.
Common questions
- Is Icelandair or KLM better in business class to Europe?
- On the best documented aircraft, Icelandair scores 0/10 for the business seat and KLM 10/10. The aircraft on your booking decides whether those seats apply. Of 38 shared business routes, Icelandair was cheaper on 38, KLM on 0, and 0 were the same price. Service and food are not scored in this comparison. These are observations for travel November 8–14, 2026, not current quotes.
- Which is cheaper, Icelandair or KLM?
- Of 38 shared business routes, Icelandair was cheaper on 38, KLM on 0, and 0 were the same price. Of 40 shared economy routes, Icelandair was cheaper on 28, KLM on 12, and 0 were the same price. Both counts refer to travel November 8–14, 2026. A cheaper fare may involve a connection; compare the itinerary as well as the price.
- Will I get the business seat shown here?
- These cards describe the named aircraft in our cabin records, not a seat guaranteed on every flight. At least one of these airlines has a recorded aircraft or cabin variation. Check the operating airline, seat map and aircraft for every segment before paying; equipment can change. The fare observations do not record the aircraft.
- Has Jon flown these business cabins?
- Icelandair business class is not on Jon’s confirmed flown roster. KLM business class is not on Jon’s confirmed flown roster. That records the airline and cabin, not every aircraft or itinerary. This page compares documented specifications and dated fares.
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