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Icelandair wants to make your stopover dreams come true — for free

An Icelandic volcano (Flickr/Victor Montal)
[An Icelandic volcano (Flickr/Victor Montal)]

Maybe it’s the hot springs, or perhaps it’s the breathtaking landscapes. Or maybe it’s just the ever-growing popularity of Viking history. Whatever the magic formula currently out there in the zeitgeist, one thing is for sure: Iceland is becoming a must-see destination. Tourism in the country has more than doubled in the past six years, with the number of foreign visitors increasing an average of 21 per cent each year over the last five years. Despite the country’s name it’s one hot destination and it doesn’t look as though that trend is stopping anytime soon.

Main Icelandic airline Icelandair is well aware of the country’s growing popularity and now it’s looking to target another type of traveller: the stopover guest. In order to lure even more visitors into the country the airline is offering passengers flying across the Atlantic a chance to stopover in Iceland for up to seven days at no additional airfare. What’s more, the company has brought back its popular Stopover Buddy program, where passengers can request their own personal host from the airline for up to one day.

Think about it: no more mad scrambling to learn the local transportation system, frantically searching through Anthony Bourdain’s “Parts Unknown” episode guide to find the perfect restaurant, or investing in another Lonely Planet book in order to maximize your 24-hour stopover.

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Stopover Buddy was first introduced last February with the simple concept of matching employees (ranging from pilots to flight attendants and everyone in between) with guests as a way of helping tourists save time and money while experiencing once-in-lifetime adventures and moments. As of Oct. 11 the program is back for a second round, only this time the program is even bigger thanks an added “celebration” component. For the entire winter duration the airline is soliciting guests with something big to commemorate — think engagements, promotions or more general bucket-list items.

To qualify, Icelandair passengers need to apply on the official website and they’ll find out within three business days if they’ve been approved. The best part is that it’s free – or at least access to the actual Buddy and the Buddy’s car is. Passengers are still responsible for any food, attractions or accommodations that they may use during their stopover. It almost sounds too good to be true, which is why the airline is recommending travellers request their Buddies sooner rather than later. For those whose requests can’t be accommodated the airline is offering “personal celebration tips” and discount vouchers from some of the staff’s “favourite local haunts.”

So what’s in it for the Buddies? According to Icelandair brand manager Jón Skafti Kristjánsson the employees offer their services in exchange for a day off work. So far some of the adventures they’ve helped planned for this winter session include a meet-and-greet at an Elf School, a lavish proposal and a 20th anniversary celebration. To date the team hasn’t come across any situations that they haven’t been able to make happen for its creative passengers, at least not yet.

“Our Buddies are up for a challenge; they not only know the lay of the land but they also know other interesting locals. That means they are just the right people to help you turn your Icelandair Stopover into a memorable celebration,” Kristjánsson says. “In Iceland we have many connections and if our Buddies don’t know the right person to help, they’ll know someone who will.”

If only all airlines offered that kind of service.