How to Fly to Iceland with Points

By Bryce Casson, Founder · Cardocrat · Updated June 2026

The short answer: Iceland is a short transatlantic hop, especially from the East Coast, served by Icelandair, US carriers, and budget airlines. Distance-based programs and US-carrier miles can price it reasonably, and Icelandair famous free stopover lets you add Iceland to a Europe trip. Cash fares are often low, so compare before redeeming.

This guide covers the best ways to fly to Iceland with points, the clever Icelandair stopover trick, and when to simply pay cash. Award prices and availability change constantly as programs devalue and adjust, so treat every points figure here as a rough, illustrative guide rather than a guarantee. Always confirm the current price and that an award seat is actually available on the airline own site before you transfer points, since transfers are one-way and cannot be reversed.

Getting to Iceland

Reykjavik, served by Keflavik airport, is the gateway, and it is remarkably close to the US East Coast, a flight of roughly five to six hours from the Northeast. Icelandair, the main carrier, flies from numerous US cities, US carriers like Delta and United operate seasonal nonstops, and budget airlines serve the route too. The short distance is the defining feature.

Because Iceland is a short transatlantic hop rather than a long-haul trip, the strategy leans on distance-based pricing and comparing against often-cheap cash fares. See our Europe guide.

The best programs for Iceland

For the US carriers that fly to Iceland, their own miles and partners can book the route, and distance-based programs like Air Canada Aeroplan can price the short hop reasonably. Icelandair runs its own loyalty program and partners with some US carriers for earning and redeeming, so check those options for Icelandair flights specifically.

Because the flight is short, the miles cost should be modest in a well-priced program, so always compare it against the cash fare. See our Aeroplan deep dive and economy redemptions guide.

The Icelandair stopover trick

Icelandair signature feature is its free stopover program: because Reykjavik sits between North America and Europe, Icelandair lets you add a stopover in Iceland for up to several days at no additional airfare on its flights between the two continents. This effectively gives you two destinations, Iceland plus a European city, for the price of one trip.

While this is most often used with cash tickets, it is a powerful way to see Iceland as part of a larger Europe trip. If you are heading to Europe anyway, routing on Icelandair with a stopover can add Iceland almost for free. See our booking tactics guide.

When to use points versus cash

Iceland is a destination where cash often wins, because the short flight frequently has reasonable cash fares, especially from the East Coast and on budget carriers. Since a short transatlantic economy redemption may only return around a cent per point, a cheap cash fare can beat spending miles you could save for a long-haul premium award.

Use points for Iceland when cash fares spike in peak summer, when a distance-based program prices it clearly below cash, or to lock in a trip without paying cash. Otherwise, paying cash and saving your points is often smarter. Run the comparison every time. See our economy redemptions guide.

When to go

Iceland peak season is summer, with long days and the most accessible landscapes, when demand and fares are highest, making points more valuable but space tighter. Winter draws visitors for the northern lights, with its own pricing patterns. Shoulder seasons can offer a balance of decent weather and lower fares.

Given how often cash fares are reasonable, Iceland is a place to compare carefully and use points opportunistically rather than by default. Award prices and availability change constantly as programs devalue and adjust, so treat every points figure here as a rough, illustrative guide rather than a guarantee. Always confirm the current price and that an award seat is actually available on the airline own site before you transfer points, since transfers are one-way and cannot be reversed. See our finding award space guide.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best way to fly to Iceland with points?

Because Iceland is a short transatlantic hop, especially from the East Coast, distance-based programs like Aeroplan and US-carrier miles can price it reasonably. But cash fares are often low, so always compare points against cash first.

What is the Icelandair stopover?

Icelandair lets you add a free stopover in Iceland for up to several days on its flights between North America and Europe, since Reykjavik sits between the two. This gives you two destinations, Iceland plus a European city, for one trip.

Is it better to use points or cash for Iceland?

Often cash, since the short flight frequently has reasonable fares and a short economy redemption may only return around a cent per point. Use points when fares spike in summer or when a distance-based program clearly beats cash.

Which US cities fly nonstop to Iceland?

Icelandair flies from numerous US cities, and US carriers like Delta and United operate seasonal nonstops, mostly from the East Coast and major hubs. The Northeast is closest, with flights of roughly five to six hours.

When is the best time to visit Iceland?

Summer is peak, with long days and accessible landscapes but the highest fares, while winter draws northern-lights visitors. Shoulder seasons balance decent weather with lower fares. Compare points against cash, since fares are often reasonable.