Norse Atlantic Premium Review – Is This the Best Low-Cost Transatlantic Option?
- Helena
- May 30
- 7 min read
Updated: Sep 4
As a self-confessed AvGeek, there’s nothing I love more than trying out new airlines. From crew interactions to inflight products, I genuinely enjoy the full experience. And this year has already been a whirlwind - I’ve flown with five new carriers: Qatar Airways, Air New Zealand, Scoot, Bangkok Airways, and Emirates. So, when the opportunity came to fly Norse Atlantic Airways Premium from New York JFK to London Gatwick, I couldn’t resist adding a sixth new airline to my 2025 list.
I previously flew Norwegian long-haul back in 2018 from Chicago and New York, during their short-lived attempt at transatlantic service. While the Chicago leg was great (hello, proper long-haul aircraft), the return from NYC was a bizarre wet lease experience I’ve mostly erased from memory.
Fast forward to Thursday, 22nd May, this was my chance to try Norse Atlantic Airways Premium, and you know what, I was thoroughly impressed.
What did I pay?
On this occasion this was a cash fair of £554.29, one way. The fare was £461.79 plus £47.37 of tax, and £45.13 of additional fees. There are three different Premium fares on Norse Atlantic Airways detailed below:
I utilised the Premium Light fare as I was travelling with hand luggage only, a rarity if you know me well!
Departure from JFK Terminal 7
Norse operates from Terminal 7 at JFK, which is incredibly accessible along with all JFK terminals, from Manhattan thanks to the AirTrain. Unfortunately, online check-in didn’t work for me, so I checked in at the airport. My cabin bag was weighed (though not measured - thankfully, because my Away Bigger Carry-On was slightly too large). Still, I love this suitcase brand and wholeheartedly recommend it for frequent travellers. When empty it is pretty light weight, which means if you are an over packer like me you can fill your case to the brim and really utilise all of that weight you get for your hold bag! To confirm, this is not an Ad, I just love this suitcase brand so much that I want to share it with you.
I attempted to access the Horizons lounge (unsuccessfully, as it was very busy apparently), even trying my luck in person, but it was at capacity. A minor let-down, but I did have some in-airport tasks to complete.
Most important of all was the purchasing of the obligatory “solo traveller tax” of two American Fanta's for my husband Sam, after which I pulled up a pew, popped open the metaphorical popcorn to observe my favourite sport, airport chaos and people not knowing how to behave. Not one, not two, but 12 separate Americans attempted to board before boarding had even started.
Eventually, the gate agent announced boarding for Norse Premium and Group 1, and predictably, about half of Group 2 tried to sneak in as well. Full credit to the gate team - they handled it all so professionally and stopped anyone boarding who was not in the aforementioned groups!
Norse Atlantic Airways Premium Seat Review
Now, let’s get into this Norse Atlantic Airways Premium Seat Review and talk about the Premium cabin - because WOW.
Norse Atlantic’s Premium Economy seats are arranged in a 2-3-2 configuration and are impressively wide (19.5 inches) and comfortable. The cabin was spotless - seriously, it felt brand new. Legroom was ample (even Sam would have no issues here), with 43 inches available, and whilst this isn't a lie flat bed this is the next best thing with the recline borderline ridiculous. Having done some googling we are talking 12 inches of recline. I managed around an hour of sleeping, or at least an hour of lying there with my eye mask on. Hands down, this is the best Premium Economy seat I’ve ever flown in.
To make things even better, I had the only empty seat in the cabin right next to me, so I made myself very comfortable across both. I’d booked a window seat, and the seat selection tool had shown the flight as full - so this was a delightful surprise.
The seat features a decent leg rest (especially helpful for us short people), a solid tray table stored in the armrest on the right of the seat, and great adjustability. Everything was well thought out and functional.
Take-Off Experience
Welcome drinks of orange juice, apple juice and water were brought round the cabin once it was about 50% full. This was a lovely touch and much appreciated.
During the safety briefing, there was a reminder that passengers couldn’t drink their own alcohol onboard and that the crew would only serve alcohol to those over 18. We pushed back at 18:12 and took off at 18:45, leaving behind a rainy Manhattan. By 19:00, the seatbelt sign was off, and we were at cruising altitude.
Inflight Entertainment (IFE)
Instead of being seatback-mounted, Norse’s IFE screen is stored in the left-hand armrest. A quick press of a button and - bam - it launches at you. I nearly knocked myself out the first time as I bent down to see how the mechanism worked, but now I know better. Sit back, and let the screen do the work for you!
The screen itself is responsive, with excellent clarity, contrast, and brightness. While the content selection is a bit limited, it’s a smaller airline so that’s understandable. There were still two of the Harry Potter films and some cult classics like V for Vendetta. You can order snacks and drinks through the system that aren't on the trolley (such as spirits, snacks and meals), and while it’s not free, the choices are solid.
There’s no moving map, but a flight progress screen helps keep tabs on how far you’ve got to go. I actually liked this setup. Plus, having the screen in the armrest means you don’t need to feel guilty reclining and blocking someone else's view.
Downside? The screens have to be stowed during taxi, takeoff, and landing - but that’s where pre-downloaded playlists on Spotify came to the rescue.
Cabin Crew & Customer Service
The crew? Absolutely outstanding. Warm, attentive, and always present throughout the cabin. For a low-cost airline, Norse Atlantic Airways' customer service in Premium was faultless. They came through the cabin regularly with drinks and made sure everyone was comfortable, even when the majority of the passengers were asleep as this was indeed a red-eye flight.
The team of cabin crew worked well together, helping each other out and communicating well. It's always good to see the team of crew enjoying themselves, smiling and joking with each other, and this flight was no exception.
Food & Dining in Norse Premium
As I am lactose intolerant, I had pre-ordered the vegan meal at booking, which was perfect after indulging in dairy at Benoit in Manhattan (cheers, Amex Platinum Dining Credit!).
Drink service started at 19:18 and included soft drinks, water, wine, and Prosecco. Naturally, I grabbed a Coke Zero and a celebratory Prosecco since I’d been alcohol-free in NYC. The crew made regular rounds with the wines and Prosecco to top anyone up whose glasses were getting a little low.
Meal service kicked off shortly after, and as expected with special meals, mine arrived first at 19:18. The starter was a refreshing cucumber and tomato salad - simple, crunchy, oddly hydrating and exactly what I needed.
The main course was a tofu chow mein. And yes, if you’ve read my Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Review, you know why I’m laughing. But this version blew Virgin’s out of the water. Flavourful glass noodles with mushrooms, peppers, onions, and perfectly seasoned tofu - no undercooked noodles here!
Dessert was a juicy fruit pot of grapes, watermelon, pineapple, and blueberries. Light, refreshing, and a perfect end. The meal also came with a bread roll and vegan spread, which added a nice bit of stodge.
Breakfast before landing included a bread roll with vegan spread and jam, another fruit pot, and a hot dish of scrambled tofu with mushrooms, tomatoes, spinach, and asparagus. Simply delicious! I’d never had scrambled tofu before and was pleasantly surprised. Often food like this on a plane can be totally under seasoned but I didn't reach for the salt or pepper once on this flight.
All in all, the whole food experience on board surpassed all expectations and I was truly grateful that my special meals were as delicious as they were. As noted in previous posts they can be a bit hit and miss, but Norse managed to serve two meals that ticked all the right boxes.
Amenities
The crew distributed headphones, eye masks, and earplugs at 19:05. A plush pillow and soft blue fleece blanket were already at the seat upon boarding, and both were of genuinely high quality (see seat review for picture of these). Airlines often cheap out on pillows, but Norse's was plump and squishy whilst also managing to actually support your head when sleeping.
There’s no Wi-Fi onboard, but for a red-eye like this, it wasn’t missed. Most people slept through the flight anyway.
Arrival in the UK
Thanks to some stunning weather on Friday morning, I enjoyed unrivalled views coming in over Snowdonia in Wales, as well as plenty of beautiful views of the English countryside. There really is something magical about coming home, and getting to see England’s green rolling hills on a beautiful spring morning felt very special.
We landed at London Gatwick at 06:10, with me being slightly concerned and nervous during our approach as it really felt like we were too high coming in. I was vaguely correct as we definitely didn't touch down until at least a third of the way down the runway, with some pretty hard braking from the Dreamliner occurring.
We got to a stand within 5 minutes, and were off the plane swiftly and efficiently.
Final Verdict – Would I Fly Norse Atlantic Airways Premium Again?
Absolutely, yes.
Sure, I was lucky to be in Norse’s Premium cabin, but even without that, the exceptional service from the crew and the surprisingly great meals make Norse a standout low-cost carrier for transatlantic flights. The IFE could be more robust, but that’s a small gripe in the grand scheme of things.
So, would I recommend Norse Atlantic Airways Premium to someone flying between Europe and the U.S.? Without hesitation. For anyone looking for comfort, and a bit of extra space without breaking the bank, Norse Atlantic Premium is absolutely worth it.
Have you flown with Norse Atlantic Airways? Share your experiences in the comments - I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Helena
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