Last week Simple Flying was invited to fly on Norse Atlantic's first-ever flight from Oslo to New York JFK. The Norwegian carrier operates the route using a fleet of Boeing 787s and is hoping to succeed in the notoriously tough low-cost long-haul segment. Let's take a look at the new kid on the block's Premium offering.

Priority, but not everywhere

The experience begins at check-in at Oslo Airport, with Norse Atlantic occupying four counters for its Boeing 787-9 full of passengers. Despite being the airline's first flight, check-in queues were long in economy. Flying Premium includes access to a priority check-in, which was much shorter. There were no customary ribbons or balloons at check-in to celebrate the service, likely to keep costs low.

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Check-in was brisk, with Norse agents handing out physical CDC forms to prove vaccination status. Photo: Pranjal Pande | Simple Flying

Overall, it was only ten minutes before I moved to security. Notably, there is only one priority check-in queue (although there was also a "VIP" for the inaugural flight). With 56 seats in Premium on the 787-9, passengers could find themselves waiting a while at peak times with only one agent.

However, the priority experience does not extend to security. All Norse passengers have to use the standard security lane, with no current plans to add fast track access. Given the current airport meltdown in Europe, this might be frustrating to some travelers who were hoping to skip more queues. On Tuesday, the queue was long but moving quickly, and security took a reasonable 20 minutes.

Celebrations at the gate

A first flight is a huge occasion for any airline, and Norse Atlantic is no exception. All Norse flights from Oslo depart from the non-Schengen F terminal, which was recently expanded to add eight new gates. The official opening of the terminal and Norse's flights coincided, creating a large celebration filled with speeches from executives from Avinor (the airport operators), Norse Atlantic CEO Bjørn Tore Larsen, and the Norwegian Transport Minister.

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CEO Bjørn Tore Larsen unwrapped a ceremonial ribbon at the gate. Photo: Oeystein Loewer/Avinor

Many passengers were surprised by the large gathering and food spread (including some delicious Norse cupcakes!), not knowing about the first flight at all. After an hour of mingling around the gate, it was time to start preparing for boarding, scheduled for 18:50 local time.

Slow boarding

As the buzz died down, it was time to board Norse's 787-9, registered LN-FNB. However, things did not go too smoothly on the first try. While there were two lanes leading to the holding area, only one was staffed. This means all passengers promptly joined the only open lane, and gate agents could not enforce priority boarding.

The boarding process was slow, and passengers struggled to scan their boarding cards at times. It was 19:30, only 20 minutes before departure, that we entered the aircraft. Onboard, the 787-9 gives a roomy and fresh feel, as documented in our Premium cabin tour.

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The crew were bright-eyed and excited to be on the first flight, giving the both cabins a nice environment. Photo: Pranjal Pande | Simple Flying

In more first flight troubles, the ground staff was forced to complete a manual manifest check, moving to every seat to guarantee each passenger was accounted for. The cabin crew did spring into action quickly, offering updates over the PA system and even popping a bottle of champagne for all passengers whilst on the ground.

Take off and service

We took from Oslo Airport at 21:40 local time, after a 1 hour and 50-minute delay. While this was far from ideal, the crew members were apologetic, and CEO Bjørn Tore Larsen personally apologized to travelers across the plane for the delay during the flight.

Premium on Norse Atlantic is a crossover between premium economy and business class. Upon boarding, travelers were offered a choice of juice or water for a pre-departure beverage. All tickets come with two meals, one main meal after takeoff and one snack before arrival.

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The meal service kicked off about 40 minutes after takeoff. Photo: Pranjal Pande | Simple Flying

The main meal reached me (in 5F) at almost 23:00, an hour after we reached cruising altitude and a bit slow for transatlantic flights. Passengers could choose between a tomato chicken breast and creamy salmon fillet; I opted for the former on this evening flight. Additionally, one alcoholic beverage or soft drink was allowed with the dish.

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The meal service is comparable to economy on full-service airlines. Photo: Pranjal Pande | Simple Flying

The meal came in a recyclable cardboard tray containing the main dish, cutlery, a small butter box, and a chocolate pot. This was highly reminiscent of economy class meals on most full-service airlines, with portion sizes being comparable too. The chicken was hot and juicy but not particularly memorable, with the grilled vegetables not the tastiest. The bread roll deserves a special mention here since it remained soft and didn't come in a plastic bag (it is served separately).

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The meal service reminds travelers that the low ticket cost comes with some cutbacks. Photo: Pranjal Pande | Simple Flying

Overall, the main meal did not feel particularly 'premium.' However, given that everything in economy is paid, Norse does deliver on providing a hot meal to all passengers, although adding a side for greater portions might be required.

The cabin

Norse Atlantic has not changed Norwegian's former 787 configurations, only repainting the plane and rebranding the interiors. Seats are laid out in a 2-3-2 configuration over seven rows, occupying the space between Doors 1 and 2. These seats offer a generous recline with an extendable footrest, getting your feet off the ground for a few hours.

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Photo: Pranjal Pande | Simple Flying

While the seat is well-padded, the legrest requires some twisting for taller passengers to fit in. On a daytime flight, the recliner was a great way to get some work done or enjoy something on the IFE screens, I even snuck in a quick nap on the seven-hour journey. On the return leg, I slept for four hours, only interrupted by the main meal service after departure. The seat handily beats premium economy, but remains out of reach for even long-haul, narrowbody business class.

Arrival service

I made a quick trip to the front of the cabin to check out the washrooms. As expected, Norse has not expanded the bathrooms in Premium with the stock Boeing design in place, leaving little wiggle room for travelers. However, they were reasonably clean during the flight.

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The modern airplane toilet uses a vacuum to move the waste to the storage tank. Photo: Pranjal Pande | Simple Flying

An hour before landing at JFK, we were served the 'light meal,' which consisted of a pizza-style breadstick and macaroons. This is common for many carriers on shorter flights to the US (under seven hours). Both tasted average, with the macaroons being a more unique dessert choice. However, a more nutritious meal or more options would be preferable.

Final thoughts

Norse Atlantic is returning to the market, hoping to take over Norwegian's key routes and remain out of the red. Its Premium offering reflects these goals, offering a comfortable seat but basic service in terms of meals and ground experience. The decision to upgrade to Premium is solely reliant on fares. For leisure travelers, a good bargain makes the upgrade an easy recommendation. However, at high prices, the product might struggle against premium economy across the industry.

What do you think about Norse Atlantic's new 787 product? Let us know in the comments!