You Had Me at “ævinlega sæl og blessud” (or Why I Now Love IcelandAir)

You’ve gotta love Iceland Air for their ingenious welcome strategy. Offer reduced prices for travel to Europe, allow for no-fee layovers in the capital city of Reykjavík to break up the jet lag of a long journey, and make it easy to enjoy the natural and cultural wonders of the place. A stop at the geothermically-warmed Blue Lagoon on the way from the airport to the hotel as well? Sure, I’ll bite.

My travel day finally arrived and an easy traffic-free trip to Logan and no-wait sail through security had me feeling good from the start. I felt even better when I approached the plane and at the end of the jetway learned that the plane was named after a volcano,. Apparently, Eldborg was a “symmetrically shaped and beautiful crater, a fine example of the wonders created by the forces of nature.” I wasn’t quite sure how planes and craters went together in any way that was positive, but i loved that Icelanders take pride in their place of otherworldly wonder.

They clearly take pride in their culture too . All announcements onboard came in Icelandic before English; instructions to the crew came only in the native tongue. Little drapes over each seat taught passengers how to say hello (hae or the more formal ævinlega sæl og blessud), thank you (takk), and other social niceties. In other words, “we know we’re a bit alien to you, but here’s a start on fitting in. You too get to take part in the culture.”

Our attractive flight attendants also added to the trip. As their trim physiques and tightly pulled hair suggested would be true, they did not mess around when it came time for business. One unabashedly reached below my neighbor’s seat to demonstrate how our special exit row TV screens functioned. A second did not flinch to reach across us to pull out another neighbor’s unbuckled seat belt in preparation for landing — how did she know it was loose under his blanket? No tomfoolery here, Mister Passenger Man. We’ve got safety to ensure.

These women were clearly in charge but they also showed a softer side. When flight attendant number one (let’s call her Ingrid) directed us to read instructions for our row and I impishly asked “does it matter which language I read it in?,” she flashed a gorgeous smile and playfully retorted “whichever you prefer.” When I got too chilled to sleep — maybe I shouldn’t have checked every warm piece of clothing through with my luggage — she interrupted her snack service to get me a second blanket quickly.

Self-assertive and receptive, confident and welcoming. It’s an attractive blend for airlines and flight attendants alike. It’s a balance I seek to cultivate in myself and in my students. And it’s a spirit that makes for healthy community. You bring your best and I’ll do the same. No need to keep your light from shining out of fear I’ll shrink from it. I’m strong too. When we welcome each other’s fullness, we learn, we laugh awe love.

Good stuff all-around, IcelandAir. Now we’re takking.