> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.thecontrail.org/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Norse Atlantic Is a Weird Airline. I Kind of Liked It Anyway - URL: https://www.thecontrail.org/norse-atlantic-premium-economy-review-new-york-rome/ - Published: 2026-10-26T00:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-25T23:59:59.000Z - Description: Norse Atlantic sold me premium economy for less than some airlines charge for economy. The seat was huge, the crew was lovely, and then came a three-hour delay with almost no information. It's a strange airline, but I'd probably fly it again. - Author: Zach Benitez - Tags: Flight Review, Norse Atlantic Norse Atlantic, a low-cost airline from Norway, flies Boeing 787s across the Atlantic at prices that make the big airlines look expensive. It even leases some of those Dreamliners, crew included, to [Pakistan’s national airline](https://www.thecontrail.org/pia-london-dreamliner-flights/). When I booked a flight from New York to Rome last October, its premium economy cabin cost me a little over $400\. That was genuinely less than economy on some of the other nonstop options, like ITA Airways. The low fare doesn’t include everything, though. Choosing a seat cost me an extra $75, and there’s no lounge access, even in premium economy. So I flew Norse Atlantic premium economy to find out what the catch is. What I found was a weird airline, in good ways and bad. It made me pay to pick a seat, then gave me a huge 43 inches of legroom. It served dinner with wooden cutlery, ran its menu through a screen that didn’t work and left me in the dark through a three-hour delay. And I kind of liked it anyway. Flight Details ### Norse Atlantic N0 402 JFK New York John F. Kennedy · Terminal 7 03:403h 10m late 7h 27m · 4,268 mi FCO Rome Fiumicino · Terminal 3 16:072h 27m late Cabin Premium Economy Aircraft Boeing 787-9 Aircraft age 7 years Registration LN-FND Contrail The Verdict · N0 402 Premium Economy **6.4**Overall A weird airline I kind of liked: a roomy, sleep-friendly seat and a standout crew at a bargain price, dragged down by a three-hour delay and forgettable food. Ground experience 4.0 Seat 7.6 Amenities 4.3 Catering 5.6 Service 8.8 #### What worked *✓*Upbeat Crew Through a Long Delay *✓*Huge Legroom *✓*Easy to Sleep In #### What didn't work *✕*Three-Hour Delay With Poor Updates *✕*Inoperative Seat Screen, No Wi-Fi *✕*Tough, Salty Second Meal Contrail --- ## JFK Terminal 7 Norse flew from JFK's Terminal 7, which is old, cramped and surrounded by construction that makes simply getting there a chore. The best thing I can say about it is that it's small, so there isn't much walking. Inside, the ceilings are low and the space felt hot and dirty. Power outlets were scarce, and the chairs were some of the hardest I've ever sat in. It felt far removed from the rest of the airport, like the place airlines end up when there's nowhere else to put them. Norse's check-in counters were in the far back corner. The priority check-in line saved me only a few minutes, since I was just behind one family, and security after that was slow and oddly managed. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/10/IMG_2320.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/10/IMG_2323.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/10/IMG_2326.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/10/IMG_2332.JPG) --- ## The Delay My flight was scheduled to leave at 12:30 a.m. Bad weather had already delayed other flights that evening, so the gates were packed and there were few places to sit. Then, around 11 p.m., Norse emailed to say we'd now leave at 3 a.m. That surprised me, because our plane was already sitting at the airport. For a while, almost nothing matched. The departure boards and the gate didn't show any delay, and only the email and Flightradar24 said otherwise, so passengers around me were confused. With minutes to go before the original boarding time, there still hadn't been an announcement, though a staff member at the gate was answering questions. Then a flurry of announcements came, followed by long stretches of silence. The shops and restaurants that had been open closed one by one, and Norse handed out nothing to passengers during the wait. Boarding finally started at 2:15 a.m., and then stopped almost immediately, leaving us standing in the jet bridge with no updates. Once we were on board, the captain explained the real cause: [crew members had struggled to get to the airport](https://www.thecontrail.org/flight-canceled-crew-timed-out/), and we sat on the plane a while longer waiting for one more. We took off at 3:40 a.m., more than three hours late. The weather didn't cause this. It was an airline staffing problem, made worse by poor communication. --- ## The Seat Seat Map Premium Economy · 2–3–2 LN-FND A C D E G H K 5 A C D E G H K 6 A C D E G H K 7 A C D E G H K 8 A C D E G H K Premium Economy · rows 5–8 · seat 7H Contrail Once I was in my seat, things got much better. Norse's premium economy cabin has 56 seats in a 2-3-2 layout, and the legroom is enormous, with 43 inches of space from one seat to the next. Before you even recline, it feels spacious, and it's a huge step up from economy. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/10/IMG_2363-2.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/10/IMG_2365.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/10/IMG_2369-1.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/10/IMG_2370.JPG) The recline is just as dramatic, though it comes at the expense of the person behind you. An extendable leg rest and footrest, plus firm headrest wings that hold your head in place, made it surprisingly easy to sleep. I slept almost the whole flight. Aside from the legroom, though, the seat is a bit weaker than other premium economy products. The cushions are hard, especially around the headrest, although I liked that the material wasn't sticky. The dark seats are also a missed chance for an airline this colorful. A splash of the light blue from its uniforms would go a long way. The cabin itself is due for a deep clean too, with carpet that looked old and dirty. There was one nice surprise. Because boarding happens through the middle door, premium economy sits where business class usually would, so the cabin stayed calm instead of filling with people walking to the back. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/10/IMG_2377-1.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/10/IMG_2391.JPG) --- ## Screens, Wi-Fi and Amenities My entertainment screen didn't work at all. Others around me worked, so it was just my seat. That matters more on Norse than on most airlines, because the screen is also how you see the menu and order. Some people might say you can't complain on a fare this low. My view is simple: if an airline advertises something, it should work. There's no Wi-Fi on board, which is a real drawback for me on a flight of seven and a half hours. The pillow and blanket were thin and cheap, and the pillow came in a crinkly plastic cover. The lavatory had the nice touches every 787 has, like a touch-free flush, but no extra amenities. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/10/IMG_2388.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/10/IMG_2389.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/10/IMG_2398.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/10/IMG_2402.JPG) --- ## The Food Norse serves two meals in premium economy, and service started just 25 minutes after takeoff. There was no choice for the first meal, a chicken burrito. It wasn't bad, but it badly needed some spice or salsa. It also came with wooden cutlery, which felt like a very Norse touch. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/10/IMG_2414.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/10/IMG_2415.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/10/IMG_2416.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/10/IMG_2417.JPG) The second meal came about an hour before landing, after the crew let the lights stay off as long as possible so people could sleep. There was a choice of beef or macaroni and cheese. I went with the beef, served with rice and green beans, and it was the low point. The beef was tough and far too salty, and even the brownie wasn’t good. Before takeoff there was water, orange juice or apple juice in plastic cups. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/10/IMG_2425.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/10/IMG_2427.JPG) Still, two included meals is more than some low-cost long-haul airlines offer. Japan's ZIPAIR, for example, doesn't include any food in its fares, even in its lie-flat seats. --- ## The Crew The crew were the best part of the flight, and it wasn't close. They greeted everyone at the door with smiles, and they stayed upbeat and professional through a delay that would have frayed anyone. Their bright blue uniforms suit the airline, and service was fast and efficient. They also went beyond what I expected. When I tried to buy a bottle of water through the screen, a flight attendant brought me cups of water instead and said they were happy to give them out for free. Even while I slept, I could see crew walking the aisles. After a night like that, their attitude was honestly admirable. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/10/IMG_2411.JPG) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/ac/ed/acedfbb2-ff9c-499b-b431-eb36d7539be1/content/images/2026/10/IMG_2462.JPG) --- ## Worth Booking? Yes, quirks and all, if the price is right and you go in with clear expectations. For a little over $400, Norse's premium economy cabin gave me excellent legroom, a seat I could actually sleep in and one of the most pleasant crews I've flown with. Just know that it's a no-frills product: there's no lounge or Wi-Fi, and the food is hit or miss. The bigger risk is on the ground. If something goes wrong, as it did for me, expect long waits and very little information. It's a weird airline, but at this price, it's one I'd fly again. You can see how Norse Atlantic compares with every other airline I've reviewed in the [Contrail Index](https://www.thecontrail.org/contrail-index/).