Europe is filled with a bunch of budget airlines – some good (looking at you, Wizz Air) and some not so good. In this Norwegian flight review, we’ll answer all your questions about what it’s like to fly Norwegian. I recently did a return trip from London Gatwick to Oslo. Here are my honest thoughts on Scandinavia’s second-largest airline.
Norwegian flight review
Airline snapshot
Airline: Norwegian Air Shuttle (Norwegian)
Country: Norway
Type: Low-cost airline
Headquarters: Fornebu, near Oslo, Norway
Main markets: Norway, Scandinavia and wider Europe
UK departure airports: London Gatwick, Manchester, Edinburgh and Newcastle, depending on route and season
Cabin classes: Economy-style seating, with different fare bundles rather than traditional business and economy cabins
Loyalty programme: Norwegian Reward
Best for: Budget-conscious travellers, European city breaks, holidays in Scandinavia and direct flights to Nordic destinations.
The outward journey
Pre-flight
View of the seat pockets
We were heading for a week at one of our favourite spa hotels near Oslo, The Well Hotel & Spa, and managed to grab return tickets for just £70 per person with Norwegian. This was for the LowFare option, which included under-seat cabin baggage (30x40x20cm). These tickets were simple to book through the desktop, and you can choose to sign up for an SMS service with updates on your flight for £2.50, which we didn’t do. You can also opt to choose your seats (starting from around £15) and for fast track service for a similar cost. Again, we didn’t do any of this and left it to the mercy of the flight Gods to see what would happen.
After booking and paying, our confirmation email had suggested that we download the Norwegian Travel Assistant App for check-in, which we did. However, when we went to check in ahead of our flight through the App, there was a glitch that wouldn’t allow it, so we ended up having to do it online instead. This was all pretty standard and easy, and we found out that we were sitting together with a middle and an aisle seat.
At the airport
The view from seat 6E, a middle seat on Norwegian’s B737-800
We didn’t have luggage to check, but we did pass by the check-in counter, and it seemed like the line was moving steadily. The flight itself was on time, with the gate announced shortly before boarding. At the gate, a member of the team checked passports and customers were asked to scan their boarding pass.
We happened to be in Group A, which was invited to board first. The boarding process was swift and simple, but I was surprised that no cabin crew were at the door of the aircraft greeting customers and helping with passenger queries as we entered the plane. This little gesture really sets the tone for an airline and, travelling with an anxious flyer, it also helps provide some comfort to those of us more nervous in the air.
There were no issues storing luggage on the outward journey, unlike what I’ve experienced on plenty of other airlines recently. However, if you read about the return journey below, you’ll see this wasn’t the case coming back to London.
On the plane
The view from aboard the flight
As soon as we got on the plane bound for Oslo, we were hit by how hot it felt. It was like no air was circulating at all. Despite turning on the overhead vents as soon as we sat, it was really stuffy, and I heard other passengers mention that they were feeling uncomfortable too, many of us having to take layers off. The main air was turned on before we started taxiing, thankfully.
We were on a B737-800 with a three/three seating configuration. I was in 6E (the middle seat) while my partner enjoyed the aisle in 6D. The seats themselves were standard, with a front pocket to store phones, drinks, etc. and the standard menus and safety instructions.
On the flight out from Gatwick, there was also a card explaining how to connect to the WiFi. I usually love to use flights as forced disconnection time, but I had a tiny bit of work to get done on social media, so I chose to connect to the 15-minute free plan. The WiFi was super glitchy, cutting in and out, and I had to keep manually refreshing it to get it to work. In the end, I gave up, but it would have been super annoying if I’d had a deadline I was working to. I totally get that sometimes WiFi on planes doesn’t work because of the countries you’re flying through, but this seemed extreme, given it was basically a hop from London to Oslo. Charges were 5.99 euros for 60 minutes or 9.99 for unlimited WiFi, and I wonder if the paid version provided a better connection, but I decided posting my IG reel could wait til we got to Norway.
Toilets were clean with Horsleys amenities, but there was only one cubicle at the front near us, meaning there was always a queue. Due to the configuration, the galley and the toilet occupied the same space, and I heard the flight attendants being a bit rude to a couple of passengers when they were asking people to move back.
If you want a snack while you’re onboard, the trolley service has a range of options, including some Norwegian specialities like Freia chocolate and Fjord chips. There is also a selection of vegan dishes, like lasagne and tapas trays, along with a range of non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks. Payment is by card only.
You can also rent a selection of movies and TV shows to your phone through their system, but we didn’t try this service out.
I thought it was interesting that there was no message from the captain to welcome people on board and to give an update on flight time or weather. The only time we heard from the flight deck was a quick announcement to the flight attendants that we were 30 minutes from landing.
Getting off the plane
Just 10 minutes after we arrived at the gate, the doors were opened for passengers to leave the aircraft. Disembarking was speedy and efficient, with most passengers moving in an orderly fashion.
The return journey
Pre-flights
On the way back, the Norwegian App was working, and it was really easy to check in as all the information had been conveniently stored from when we booked. Again, on the return flight, we had seats together that we hadn’t pre-arranged.
At the airport
On the way out of Oslo, it was a free-for-all all around the boarding. They didn’t call by group as they had done out of London, and we were all just in one massive queue.
On the plane
The seats aboard Norwegian
By the time we got to our seats at the front of the plane again, there was nowhere close to store our hand luggage. Lots of people were in the same situation, and the flight crew had to find spaces down the back for our bags.
Coming back from Oslo, there was no info about WiFi in the seat pocket, and I couldn’t connect to anything at all.
Everything else was exactly the same as the first journey.
Disembarking was a bit of a schlep as we had to wait for everyone to get off so we could get back to our bags, which was not ideal when you’re sitting in row 6!
Frequently asked questions: flying with Norwegian
Norwegian operates routes across Norway, Scandinavia and other parts of Europe, including destinations in Spain, Italy, France and Greece. Its route network changes by season, so check the airline’s official destination listings for your departure airport and travel dates before booking.
Yes. Norwegian operates flights from UK airports including London Gatwick, Manchester, Edinburgh and Newcastle, although destinations and frequencies vary.
LowFare includes one small underseat bag measuring up to 30 × 40 × 20cm. An overhead cabin bag measuring up to 55 × 40 × 23cm is included with LowFare+ and Flex, subject to the applicable combined weight limit. If you are travelling on the cheapest fare, check whether you need to purchase overhead baggage before arriving at the airport.
Not on the basic LowFare ticket. LowFare+ includes one checked bag weighing up to 23kg, while Flex includes two bags of up to 23kg each. Adding baggage during booking is generally preferable to leaving it until the airport, when charges may be higher.
Seat reservation is included with LowFare+ and Flex. On LowFare, you can usually pay to select a seat; otherwise, your seat may be allocated for you. If you are travelling with friends or family and want to sit together, check the cost of seat selection before booking.
Food and drinks are available for purchase on most flights, but they are not generally included in the basic fare. Availability can vary by route, so check the airline’s onboard information if you have particular dietary needs or would prefer to bring suitable snacks.
The verdict
If you’re looking to get from A to B, then from the two flights I experienced, Norwegian will get you there on time and safely. However, if you’re looking for more from your flight, like charging capability, functional WiFi, stellar service, then this low-cost airline is probably not for you.
Discover more about Norwegian
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