Play Airlines Review [2024]: A Reliable Budget Airline?

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Play Airlines Review [2024]: A Reliable Budget Airline?
Play Air is the new player in the budget airline game, connecting travelers to Europe and America. I've seen their claim to offer reliable, friendly, and safe flights at budget prices, but do they sound too good to be true? I thought so, too. Let's find out whether Play Air is as good as they claim online!
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Flying around the world can be expensive, especially if you're booking that international or transatlantic flight.

I personally struggle with this because everything else can be so cheap, but flight tickets usually make or break my trip plans.

With rising travel prices, I find flying with budget airlines seems to be the best way to save my budget while traveling. But with flying budget airlines, I've also had my fair share of the best and worsts of budget airline experiences.

With low prices, a great sustainability initiative, and brand-new planes, Play Air offers everything you need in a budget airline on paper.

I can't jump on board just yet. Are they really that good? In typical fashion, I was super eager to dive into the details to help travelers like you stay informed.

Is Play Air as great as they claim themselves to be?

Keep on reading this blog as I dive into the specifics of Play Air and find out whether they're a legit airline and if they're actually worth booking!

Play Air Review
Image courtesy of Play Air

What is Play Air?

Play Air, also known as Play, is a low-cost airline flying customers from the US to Europe.

Their transatlantic flights take customers from Europe via their base in Reykjavik, Iceland, to the US and back.

Play Air's mission is to provide safe, comfortable, and sustainable flights affordable to everyday travelers!

Play is very new to the game, only launching its first flight earlier in 2022.

With that said, I've heard many travelers have a lot to say about this new airline. Keep reading to find out what travelers told me, good or bad, about Play Air.

Where does Play Air fly to?

Play air offers transatlantic flights through Iceland. So if you're off to explore Europe and America in one big trip, you'll be in luck!

Play Air has multiple weekly flights taking you to your new holiday destination.

Play Air flies to places within the United States and North America, like New York Stewart(SWF, Baltimore (BWI), Boston logan (BOS), and Washington DC (IAD). They also fly to Berlin, Dublin, London, Brussels, Paris, and more.

Their primary flight, as you'll typically notice in your stopovers if you're not visiting Iceland, is to the Blue Lagoon destination itself (Okay, not directly, you'll still have to land at an airport).

Play Air Fleets & Facilities

In typical modern day airline fashion, PLAY has the mainstream A321 and A320 aircrafts as they continue to rock the Airbus exclusive fleet. These planes are also very new, ranging from 2 to 4 years old.

As a low-cost budget carrier, they do not have business or first class cabins. However, they do have upgrades that you can purchase for better, wider seats through exit rows and extra legroom. Their amenities are also limited.

There are no in-flight entertainment onboard, and you guessed it, no Wi-Fi onboard either. Be prepared to come with pre-downloaded entertainment and a fully powered power bank, because they do not have power outlets as well.

Their domestic or international flights also do not come with complementary drinks, snacks, or meals, but with tray tables and the option to purchase snacks onboard. There are also no pillows or blankets available.

For example, I was curious so I looked through their menu. They have quite the selection, from sodas, juices, sweets, and quick bites to alcohols, wines, and beers. For reference, this was an international flight so I expected them to have bunch of beverages and snacks stocked up.

I ordered their combo meal deal, which came with a sandwich, soda, and an Icelandic chocolate snack.

Overall, I'd say PLAY flight attendants were much better than some of the attendants I've had the delightful opportunity of meeting (ahem, Wizz Air?).

Image Courtesy of Play Air

Play Air Airlines Sustainability

I really wish sustainability and flying went together better. The fact is it doesn't. But still, I'm all ears when an airline is making an effort!

Play Air has some big goals when it comes to sustainability, which peaked my interest.They help connect people around the world, but also want to also look after our planet?

I noticed Play Air making significant changes by eliminating single-use plastics, using fuel-efficient aircraft, and implementing waste prevention methods. They have much more on their sustainability plan, looking to move towards carbon-neutral operations.

I was impressed by Play Air and their great initiative to help passengers offset their carbon footprint from flying. They encourage you to invest in charities that remove CO₂ emissions from the atmosphere! Now that's cool!

Image courtesy of Play Air

Play Air Cancellation Policy

Unfortunately, if you need to cancel a flight with Play Air, they are non-refundable!

However, you can purchase their cancelation protection add-on when buying a ticket, which allows you to cancel your flight in case of a family death, illness, or accident.

I find those terms a bit limiting for frequent travelers, but then again, it's a low-cost budget airlines, so I really can't ask for too much.

You can learn more about their cancelation protection here.

PLAY Contact Details

PLAY Air's contact details are all online, with several options available should you need them. Here are the details.

You can contact them through Facebook Messenger, Whatsapp thru (+354 860 4500; non-callable), or Instagram dms @playairlines. They're fluent in both english and Icelandic.

If you feel like your question is a frequently asked one, check out their website's Helpbot called Playfin! You'll notice the puffin on the bottom right corner. Feel free to ask the puffin questions about bookings, baggage, special services, or any other topics you might have concerns with!

Play Air Baggage Allowance

I suspected that Play would follow low-cost airline style, and make you pay for baggage allowance. I cannot stress enough to do this online before you fly, as the fees are hefty if you choose to pay at the airport.

A checked bag of 44lbs starts from $33 and varies depending on the length, time of year, and destination of your flight.

I wanted to expand more about baggage allowance, unaccompanied minors, and seating charges. I think their baggage and optional fees section on their website does a nice job of summing it up for me.

What are People saying about Play Air?

The airline has only been operating since April 2022, but there are many Play Air reviews online detailing their service and customers' thoughts.

There are many positive reviews of Play Air. People express gratitude for their friendly cabin crew, low-priced fares, and comfortable seats. I certainly agree! I personally appreciated the attentiveness of their flight attendants, their commitment to keep cabins clean, as well as their on-time performance record.

My flight was delayed for over an hour, but as the captian promised, we made up for lost time and arrived actually a few minutes earlier than our pre-delay arrival time. Wow, did not expect that from an budget airline.

A few negative reviews of Play Air exist too. I noticed other past passengers expressing their frustration with tight layovers in Reykjavik. These have resulted in missed connections, which can be understandingly frustrating.

People have also been stung by high baggage charges and difficulties when trying to reschedule a flight. I hesitate to make this an official warning as these are very typical of low-cost carriers, which require you to have diligent pre-planning, but alas it's super unfortunate.

Looking over the reviews, the positive ones outweigh the negative ones. However, I just can't ignore some concerning experiences like missing connections and difficulties rescheduling flights.

Even though it didn't happen to my flight, it's still a red flag. Perhaps it's just growing pains for Play Air.

Photo of L.Filipe C.Sousa from Unsplash

Book your Play Air tix for even lower prices!

If you're still looking at Play Air flights for your trip, why not the extra mile and make sure you're booking the cheapest flights available on the market with SkyScanner!

SkyScanner helps you find the cheapest flights available so that you wouldn't have to pay more for flight tickets and save that money for more things to do or food to eat.

Is Play Air Worth It?

I often don't get too excited about budget carriers, but in this case they are worth considering if you're looking to fly out of one of the airports Play Air serves. Play Air offers competitive prices, comfortable seats, and great transatlantic connections. They could get you from A to B on the cheap. Not to mention the airline's commitment to sustainably flying! Go earth!

However, you can't ignore some of the negative reviews. So it's not without caution. The high baggage charges, non-refundable flights, and missed connections are a cause for concern. But overall, Play Air is a reliable budget airline based on the many customer reviews. But if you're the unlucky type, check any alternatives!

You're in for a bargain if you can grab one of their flights. They offer crazy low prices for long-haul flights.

But, if they aren't at an airport near you, it's worth sticking around to watch this airline grow. Because who doesn't want a cheap flight to Europe? I do!

Either way, Play Air is making some significant steps for other existing budget airlines, like TAP Air or easyJet, to follow.

My Rating: 4.1/5

Pros:

  • Fantastic value on flights to Europe and US
  • Lots of legroom
  • New planes
  • Friendly staff
  • Great sustainability initiatives

Cons:

  • Non-refundable flights
  • High baggage fees
  • Negative reviews of short layovers

Play Air FAQs

Is PLAY AIR a legit airline?

Yes, PLAY AIR is an Icelandic budget airline. They've been operating since 2019 and is definitely a legitimate airline company.

Who owns Play Airlines?

Play Airlines is owned by Avianta Capital, which has majority shares of the airlines. Neo owns the remainder shares .

Is Play Airlines the old WOW airlines?

While not technically the same company, the executives of WOW Airlines created WAB Airlines, which was then later rebranded to Play Air.

What size planes does PLAY airlines use?

PLAY Airlines operate a fleet of Airbus 320 and 321 neos. They also recently switched seating configurations to increase their capacity from 192 to 214.

Is Fly play a budget airline?

Yes, they're a budget low-cost carrier, but don't let the title fool you. The prices are almost always base fares, with tons of upgrades they'll sell you on.

Is Airbus A320 bigger than Boeing 737?

Yes, Airbus A320s that PLAY Airlines operate with have a wider cabin than Boeing 737s.

It's Time to Fly!

Budget airlines are the way to go when flying on the cheap. I know you want more tips, so check out our blog on how to find cheap flights

Whether you fly budget or splash out on extra leg room, make sure you use Pilot to plan your next trip!

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Disclosure: Pilot is supported by our community. We may earn a small commission fee with affiliate links on our website. All reviews and recommendations are independent and do not reflect the official view of Pilot.

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