Norwegian Air Review — Seats, Amenities, Customer Service, Baggage Fees, & More

Updated: June 30, 2023, 10:52am CDT

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Norwegian Air Review — Seats, Amenities, Customer Service, Baggage Fees, & More

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In this general review of Norwegian Air, we’ll break down specific categories of interest to the average customer.

Where does Norwegian fly? How much does Norwegian charge for baggage? Does Norwegian Air have business class? Will I get food on my Norwegian flight?

Continue reading for an in-depth report of ticketing/fare options, added costs (like baggage fees, change fees, etc.), onboard seat specs, inflight amenities, consumer satisfaction (including recent awards), and much more.

Update: As of January 15, 2021, Norwegian Air has discontinued its international long-haul service.

Basic Info

Airline: Norwegian Air

Alliance: none

Category: Low-Cost Airline (third largest low-cost airline in Europe)

Frequent Flyer Program: Norwegian Air Rewards

Tag Line: Affordable Fares For All

About/Mission Statement: “Affordable fares for all… To realise this vision, we offer quality flights at a low fare based on operational excellence and helpful, friendly service.” (source)

Fleet: 170 (average fleet age 3.8 yrs; one of the youngest in the world)

Main Hub: Oslo Airport, Gardermoen

Norwegian Airlines - Affordable Fares For All — Image Credit: norwegian.com

Ticketing Options

Norwegian Air has 3 basic fare options for most flights:

LowFare
LowFare+
Flex

As you can see in the photo below, your fare option clearly designates your included benefits, with more allocated as prices rise.

With LowFare, you’re allowed a personal item only and will be charged for extras.

With LowFare+ you have a bit more wiggle room: you can bring a standard carry-on bag, a checked bag, and choose your seat.

With Flex, you have considerably more perks included, with the ability to change and refund flights at no extra cost.

You’ll notice a great general perk of Norwegian Air is the free Wi-Fi on most flights regardless of your fare tier.

Norwegian Fare Types 1.JPG — Norwegian Fare Types. Image Credit: Norwegian.com

Special Note: Passengers should note that there is an extra fee for itineraries with connecting flights. This fee comes to $10 per person, per leg.

Norwegian Baggage & Other Fees/Add-Ons

Since Norwegian is a low-cost airline, they do offer some very basic fares while advertising extras that can be selected for additional fees.

Baggage Fees

Carry-on Allowance

1 Personal Item: FREE for all fares (10 kg maximum)
1 Carry-on Item:

LowFare: No standard carry-on (available to purchase from $5.50-$10)
LowFare+: 1 standard carry-on (10 kg combined with personal item)
Flex, Premium, and PremiumFlex: 1 standard carry-on (15 kg combined with personal item)

Size Restrictions:

Personal: 15 x 11.8 x 7.9 inches (38 x 30 x 20 cm)
Carry-on: 21.6 x 15.7 x 9 inches (55 x 40 x 23 cm)

Checked Baggage Allowance

The bag should not exceed a max linear dimension of 118 inches (300 cm) L + W + H, but one side can measure up to 98.4 inches (250 cm).

All flights

LowFare: 0 bags included
Lowfare+: 1 bag included (50 pounds/23 kg)
Flex: 2 bags included (50 pounds/23 kg each)
Infant: 1 bag (11 pounds/5 kg)

Additional Baggage

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Purchased online	Purchased at the airport
Direct flights: 1st bag from $18.50 – $60, 2nd bag from $33 – $93	Direct domestic: $54 Direct international: $98 Connecting domestic: $110 Connecting domestic – international: $153 Connecting international – international: $196
Connecting flights: 1st bag from $37 – $120, 2nd bag from $65.50 – $185

The cost of pre-paid additional baggage depends on the specific route. Please see Norwegian’s City Pair List and pricing table to calculate the fees for your journey.

Excess Baggage

Overweight: $13 per kg, per leg. Total weight must not exceed 70 pounds (32 kg) per bag and must not exceed 141 pounds (64 kg) combined total
Oversized: 98 x 31 x 44 inches (250 x 79 x 112 cm) L x W x H

Hot Tip: For more information on Norwegian’s baggage fees, see our separate article dedicated to the topic.

Other Fees & Add-Ons

In-flight Menu Ordering, Touchscreen; Norwegian Airlines — Image Credit: media.norwegian.com

Rebooking Basic: $78 (all non-Flex fares) + price difference, per person, each way

Refund: all non-Flex fares are nonrefundable, per person, each way

Name Change: $78 (all non-Flex fares) per person, each way

Cancellation Protection: $12 per person, per booking; *explicit coverage policies apply

Upgrade to Premium Cabin: price difference at the time of upgrade, per person, each way

Phone/Airport Booking Service Charge: $26 per person, each way

Connecting Flights: $10 per person, per leg; $18 per person per leg through London Gatwick

Seat Reservation Basic: $12-$59 per person, each way

Fast Track: $16 per person; select European airports only

Unaccompanied Minor: $59 per child, each way

Meals/Refreshments Onboard:

Passengers can order a hot meal on selected flights over 2.5 hours (orders can be placed up to 72 hours prior to departure): $12

Snacks and Refreshments:

Non-alcoholic drinks: $2-$3
Alcoholic drinks: $5-$20
Snacks: $1-$7
Fresh food: $5-$13

How to Avoid Paying Excess Fees & Travel Expenses

You don’t necessarily have to shell out cash to pay for extra travel fees and expenses you incur along the way.

Experienced travelers use rewards credit cards offering “airline credits” that will cover the cost of baggage fees, travel purchases, and inflight splurges! Each of our recommended cards allows you to redeem Capital One miles for 1 cent each as a statement credit for previous travel purchases (within 90 days).

See the tables below for more details:

TOP PICK

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Learn More(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Welcome OfferEarn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
75,000 miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$1,350

Annual Fee

$395

APR

19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)

Credit Recommended

Excellent (740-840)

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.

Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.

Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.

Pros

10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
5x miles per $1 on flights purchased through Capital One Travel
2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
$300 annual travel credit on bookings made through Capital One Travel
Unlimited complimentary access for cardholder and 2 guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
10,000 bonus miles awarded on your account anniversary each year
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit
Add authorized users for no additional annual fee (rates & fees)
No foreign transaction fees (rates & fees)

Cons

$395 annual fee (rates & fees)
Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status

Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
Elevate every hotel stay from the Premier or Lifestyle Collections with a suite of cardholder benefits, like an experience credit, room upgrades, and more
Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®

Financial Snapshot

APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

Learn More(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

Welcome OfferEnjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
75,000 miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$1,350

Annual Fee

$95

APR

19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent Credit (670-850)

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is one of the most popular rewards cards on the market. It’s perfect for anyone in search of a great welcome offer, high rewards rates, and flexible redemption options.

Frequent travelers with excellent credit may benefit from this credit card that offers a lot of bells and whistles. And it offers easy-to-understand rewards earning and redemption.

Pros

5x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
No foreign transaction fees (rates & fees)
Access to Capital One transfer partners

Cons

$95 annual fee (rates & fees)
Limited elite benefits

Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®
Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more
Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs

Financial Snapshot

APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating

The card offers unlimited miles at 1.25x per $1 and no annual fee. When you consider the flexible rewards, frequent travelers come out on top.

Learn More(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

The card offers unlimited miles at 1.25x per $1 and no annual fee. When you consider the flexible rewards, frequent travelers come out on top.

Welcome OfferEarn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel.
20,000 miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$360

Annual Fee

APR

19.99% - 29.99% (Variable),0% intro on purchases for 15 months

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Interested in a travel rewards credit card without one of those pesky annual fees? Then say hello to the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card.

In addition to no annual fee, the Capital One VentureOne card offers no foreign transaction fees.

But is this card worth its salt, or is it merely a shell of the more popular Capital One Venture card?

Pros

No annual fee (rates & fees)
No foreign transaction fees (rates & fees)
Ability to use transfer partners
Fraud coverage

Cons

Weak earn rate at 1.25x miles per $1 spent on all purchases
No luxury travel or elite benefits

$0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies

Financial Snapshot

APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable),0% intro on purchases for 15 months
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

Norwegian Seat Specs & Inflight Amenities

What will your flight onboard a Norwegian Air plane look like? We’re breaking down seat specs & amenities for you here.

Norwegian Airlines, Boeing 737 Max Next Generation — Flight attendants in 737 MAX 8 Cabin. Image Credit: media.norwegian.com

Seat Specs: Norwegian Air has 2 separate seat types: economy and premium cabin.

Economy 737-800: 29″-31″ pitch, 17.2″ width
Economy 737 MAX 8: 29″-30″ pitch, 17.2″ width
Premium: 46″ pitch, 19″ width

Norwegian Airlines Economy Cabin — Norwegian Air Economy Cabin, Boeing 787. Image Credit: media.norwegianair.com

*The table below does not take into account extra legroom seats for exit rows and bulkhead seats.

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Aircraft	Total Seats	Economy Seats	Premium Cabin Seats
Boeing 737-800	186 / 189	ALL	n/a
Boeing 737 MAX 8	189	ALL	n/a
Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner	291	259	32
Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner	344	309	35

If you want to find the best seat in the house, so to speak, head over to our friends at SeatGuru.

Norwegian Air Premium Cabin Seat — Norwegian Air’s premium seat. Image Credit: norwegian.com

Premium cabin seats are essentially Norwegian’s business class, so they’ll be a bit more upscale with extra legroom and increased recline.

Inflight Amenities: As for amenities onboard during the flight, Norwegian Air goes above and beyond other low-cost carriers by offering some perks free of charge.

Free Wi-Fi (on most European flights) on your smartphone, tablet, or laptop
Free live TV (on most European flights) on your smartphone, tablet, or laptop

Note that refreshment service is limited to paid beverages and snacks only.

Norwegian Customer Satisfaction

Norwegian gets mixed reviews when it comes to customer satisfaction. Of course, since it is a low-cost airline, you’ll get the average Joe who doesn’t do his research and is therefore unaware of the basic low-cost structure: you get what you pay for.

This means a lot of people complain about added fees, extra costs, etc. There are some other issues to consider as well, and we’ll break those down below.

That being said, Norwegian Air gets above average overall scores from many popular review sites. Also, Norwegian has been winning quite a few awards over the last few years, so be sure to check out that list too.

Norwegian Airlines Skytrax Awards 2017 — Image Credit: media.norwegian.com

Most Common Complaints

What are the most common Norwegian Air complaints? This technically depends on where you’re getting your information. On social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter, most customers seem to complain more about general customer service interactions and a low transparency when it comes to ticket prices.

That being said, the August 2017 Air Travel Consumer Report filed by Transportation.gov breaks down a total of 57 complaints against Norwegian Air for January 2017 through June 2017:

Flight Problems (cancellation, delay, or misconnection): 12 / 21.1%
Reservation, Ticketing, Boarding: 12 / 21.1%
Baggage: 9 / 15.8%
Refunds: 7 / 12.3%
Fares: 6 / 10.5%
Customer Service: 5 / 8.8%
Disability: 4 / 7.0%
Over-Sales: 1 / 1.8%
Other: 1 / 1.8%

Consumer Rankings

Here’s a list of some of the more popular rankings systems/review websites, and where Norwegian falls on their radars.

Skytrax Ranking: 3 Star Airline

Skytrax Customer Rating: 5/10 (average of 1281 reviews)

TripAdvisor Airline Review Rating: 3.5/5 (average of 27,532 reviews)

Kayak Customer Rating: 6.8/10 (average of 4,407 reviews)

Performance

As represented on various performance tables, Norwegian ranks pretty high across the board when it comes to On Time Performance (OTP).

OAG Top Airlines by On Time Performance – January 2020: Ranked 59th for global airlines at 84.6%

Flight Stats On Time Performace Rating 2019: Ranked 10th for European airlines at 77.4%

Recent Awards

Norwegian Air has been receiving some prestigious awards in top categories for multiple years running.

Skytrax World Airline Awards 2019 – World’s Best Low-Cost, Long Haul Airline

World Travel Awards 2019 – Europe’s Leading Low-Cost Airline

Passenger Choice Awards 2019 – Best Low-Cost Carrier in Europe

Final Thoughts

Little Boy Looks Out At Norwegian Plane — Image Credit: media.norwegian.com

From a low-cost airline perspective, Norwegian sits near the top of the list in our book.

Keep in mind they operate a “pay for you, not for everyone else” type of concept, and basic ticket prices reflect this with extras tacked on accordingly.

Norwegian does sneak in a couple of low blows (like fees for connecting flights), but all in all their prices are what you’d expect for extras and onboard amenities. Plus, most domestic flights come with free Wi-Fi — that’s pretty unique!

When it comes to customer satisfaction and performance, Norwegian holds its own. On average, you can expect to see more positive reviews for them than competing low-cost carriers.

Our take? If you have the opportunity to fly Norwegian Air and think you’ve found a great price, there’s a good chance you’ll be pleased.

Featured Image Credit: Norwegian Airlines

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About Erin Miller

An experienced points hacker, Erin is Alex’s partner-in-crime and contributes to Upgraded Points with in-depth guides and relationship management. Erin’s work has been cited in multiple major publications.

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