All low-cost airlines offer extra legroom seats that are normally front row and emergency exit row seats but Icelandic low-cost airline Play has recently started to offer so-called space seats on some of its flights. These are regular economy seats in rows 1 to 7 with the middle seats blocked, just as in business class on most intra-European legacy airlines. Legroom is however much better, similar to US domestic first class. However it remains an economy class product: priority check-in, fast track security, lounge access, priority boarding and meals are not included unlike in most business or first class products.
I paid 105 € for the one-way flight from Paris to Keflavík, Iceland and an additional 43 € for this seat. As the flight is over 3 hours this makes the price about 30 € per hour for the flight and 12 € per hour for the seat.
Play uses Terminal 3 at Paris CDG Airport. I got to the airport at exactly 10.00, one hour and 30 minutes before departure.
This is a very small terminal used by smaller low-cost airlines only for a couple of flights a day.
There are a few shops landside.
I had already checked in on-line so I could go directly to security. I got through it in ten minutes.
This shop offers a good selection of French fine food.
You can buy snacks and drinks here.
The gate area is very simple.
This Vietnam Airlines plane was parked in front of terminal 3 but uses terminal 2E at CDG.
Boarding started at 10.30, a full hour before scheduled departure. We were bussed to the plane.
Boarding was by stairs.
Our aircraft, A321-200, registration number TF-PLC is still a baby: it was delivered in May 2023.
So here are the Space Seats: regular economy seats with extra legroom in a 3+3 configuration with the middle seats blocked.
Legroom is excellent, similar to Icelandair’s business class.
An expected flight time of 3 hours and 25 minutes was announced.
Push-back was at 11.26 for a scheduled departure time of 11.30. We took off at 11.39 after a long taxi.
Play is a low-cost airline and meals cost extra. Here’s the buy-on-board menu:
I brought food with me instead of buying on-board – something I almost never do.
There’s a charger that works very well.
There's no in-flight entertainment. I spent most of the flight reading and resting – the seat was very comfortable.
We landed at 14.03 and were at the gate exactly on time at 14.10 for a scheduled arrival time of 14.10.
