Review of Play flight Paris → Reykjavík in Economy

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.