Airport coaches generally take one or two checked suitcases per passenger in an underfloor hold, private transfers handle larger and bulkier loads once you tell them what you're bringing, and the public bus 55 only really works with a single carry-on. The one action that saves you the most hassle: declare your exact luggage count and any special items (skis, golf bags, extra suitcases) when you book, and keep your essentials in carry-on regardless of which option you choose.
TL;DR:
- For groups with more than two large suitcases, requesting a van-class private transfer usually costs little extra and prevents luggage fitting issues.
- Icelandair's baggage allowances vary by fare, but many economy tickets include one 23kg checked bag and a 55x40x23cm carry-on; always verify your specific limits before booking.
- Oversized gear like skis or bikes should be declared at booking, protected properly, and may incur a surcharge or require a flexible transport option to avoid last-minute refusals.
- Locker storage at Keflavík Airport and Reykjavík city locations offers a cheaper and flexible alternative for short-term luggage holding, especially for stays longer than a day or two.
- Accurate luggage details, passenger count, and flight information are essential when booking transfers; proper prep helps ensure the right vehicle arrives on time without surprises.
Table of Contents
- What's the Best Way to Move Luggage Between Keflavík and Reykjavík?
- What Are Icelandair's Checked Baggage and Carry-On Rules?
- How Do Skis, Bikes, and Other Bulky Gear Get Handled?
- Where Can You Store Luggage in Keflavík and Reykjavík?
- What Should You Tell Your Transfer Provider When Booking?
- When Does a Private Transfer Actually Make Sense for Heavy Luggage?
- How Do You Book a Luggage-Aware Transfer With Easytransfer?
- Where to Confirm the Latest Iceland Baggage and Storage Rules
- Sources
- FAQ
What's the Best Way to Move Luggage Between Keflavík and Reykjavík?
Your choice of transfer really comes down to how much you're carrying, not just how much you want to spend. Each option handles bags differently, and picking the wrong one can mean standing at Keflavík with a case that simply won't fit.
Airport coaches (Flybus and similar services) are built for standard trip loads. They typically handle one to two checked-sized suitcases per passenger in an underfloor luggage hold, plus a smaller bag onboard, though it's worth checking the operator's own guidance if you're traveling with anything unusual. Journey times run roughly 45 to 60 minutes between the airport and downtown Reykjavík, and fares sit in the mid-range.
Private transfers give you the most flexibility. Vehicles range from sedans to vans to minibuses, and cargo space scales with the vehicle class you book, which makes them the practical choice for skis, golf bags, extra suitcases, or a family traveling with more than the standard allowance. The catch is that you need to specify your luggage count accurately at booking, since that's how the right vehicle gets assigned to your pickup.
Taxis are fast and easy to flag down, but boot space is limited and per-journey pricing for a solo traveler runs higher than a coach seat. They suit light packers who want door-to-door speed without booking ahead.
Public bus 55 is the cheapest way to cover the same route, but it has no dedicated luggage hold, so it only makes sense with a single carry-on or a small backpack.
For groups, private transfers often work out cheaper per person than you'd expect once you split the fare, especially when a coach ticket would otherwise need a second seat just for bags.
Pro Tip: If you're traveling as a couple or family with more than two large suitcases combined, request a van-class private transfer rather than a standard sedan. It costs little extra and avoids the awkward moment of bags not fitting.
What Are Icelandair's Checked Baggage and Carry-On Rules?
Your flight ticket decides how much you'll actually be hauling to the curb, which is why it's worth checking before you book any ground transport. Icelandair's official baggage page sets out carry-on and checked limits, size restrictions, and how extra or oversized items get handled, and entitlements vary by fare type.
Common allowances to expect:
- Checked baggage: many standard economy fares allow one bag around 23kg, though this depends entirely on the fare class you booked.
- Carry-on: a bag around 55x40x23cm and roughly 10kg is a common shape and weight limit across airlines flying into Keflavík.
- Economy Light fares often exclude checked baggage entirely, meaning you'd need to pay extra or pack carry-on only.
If you land with two checked bags per person rather than one, that pushes you toward a coach or private van rather than a taxi. Always confirm your specific allowance on your airline's baggage page before locking in a transfer, since assuming the general rule applies to your ticket is the most common way travelers get caught out at check-in.
How Do Skis, Bikes, and Other Bulky Gear Get Handled?
Special equipment needs a plan, not a hope. Skis, bicycles, golf bags, musical instruments, and kayaks are common items that transfer providers ask about in advance, and most will accept them once notified, sometimes with a modest surcharge.
- Tell your provider at booking, not on the day. Private transfers can usually accommodate oversized items when they know ahead of time, while coaches may cap what they'll take or add a fee for anything outside a standard suitcase.
- Protect fragile gear properly. A hard ski bag or padded instrument case matters more in Iceland's weather than it might elsewhere, since your equipment often sits exposed on a loading dock briefly during transfers.
- Have a backup plan. If you suspect an item might be turned away at the last minute, know where the nearest luggage storage location is, or look into shipping the item ahead through a courier.
- Consider renting locally for single-use gear like skis or hiking poles, which sidesteps the transport question entirely.
Where Can You Store Luggage in Keflavík and Reykjavík?
Sometimes the smartest move isn't finding room for your bags. It's leaving them behind for a few hours or days. Keflavík Airport's luggage lockers sit on the arrivals side and start at around 2,490 ISK per 24 hours for a medium locker, with larger sizes costing more.
In Reykjavík itself, the BSÍ Bus Terminal and several city locations offer locker sizes and 24-hour rates across medium, large, and extra-large tiers.
A few things worth knowing before you commit:
- City lockers are often cheaper than airport lockers for multi-day storage, so if you're storing bags for more than a day, check both before deciding.
- Maximum storage windows vary by location and season, ranging from a few days up to a month at some sites, so confirm before you assume you can leave a bag for a week.
- Booking ahead is worth doing during peak summer months when locker space fills up fast.
Locker pricing at a glance: Keflavík Airport lockers start near 2,490 ISK per 24 hours for medium sizes, while city locations in Reykjavík typically undercut that for anything longer than a day or two.
What Should You Tell Your Transfer Provider When Booking?
A smooth pickup starts with the details you give at booking, not with anything that happens on the day. Get these right and your driver arrives with the correct vehicle already assigned.
- State your exact luggage count and sizes — number of large suitcases, carry-ons, and any special items like skis or a car seat.
- Confirm your passenger count, since vehicle size depends on people and bags together, not just one or the other.
- Provide your flight number. Flight tracking lets your driver adjust the pickup time automatically if your flight is delayed, so you're not left waiting or, worse, missed entirely.
- Pack your carry-on with essentials: travel documents, a warm and waterproof layer, phone chargers, and any medication, in case checked luggage is delayed or the hold fills up unexpectedly.
If a bus or coach hold is genuinely full or an oversized item gets refused, your fallback is a same-day locker or a quick call to arrange a private vehicle with more capacity.
Pro Tip: Soft-sided luggage packs far more efficiently into a van's cargo area than a hard-shell case. If you're bringing more than the average two bags, switching even one suitcase to a duffel-style bag can be the difference between everything fitting and something getting left behind.
When Does a Private Transfer Actually Make Sense for Heavy Luggage?
Coaches and buses work fine for light packers, but they start to strain the moment your group brings skis, extra suitcases, or a late-arriving flight into the mix. That's the gap private transfers are built to close.
A mixed fleet including sedans, electric cars, and larger vans with group capacity up to 49 passengers allows vehicle assignment to match luggage size rather than the other way around. Flight tracking helps avoid missed pickups due to delays, and fixed pricing means the quoted amount is what you pay, with no surprise surcharges at pickup.
Where this matters most: a family arriving after midnight with four suitcases and a car seat, a group of six with ski bags heading to the Golden Lagoon area, or a wedding party that needs one vehicle to move everyone and their gear at once. In those situations, a coach's fixed underfloor space or a taxi's small boot simply won't cut it. A private transfer sized to your luggage removes the guesswork entirely.
— Sergiu
How Do You Book a Luggage-Aware Transfer With Easytransfer?
It is an alternative to standing in a coach queue hoping your third suitcase fits, offering fixed pricing so the quote you get for your luggage load is what you pay, with no surprise fees.
Booking takes a few minutes. Head to the private transfers page, and when you request your quote, include your pickup and drop-off locations, your passenger count, the number and size of your bags, any special equipment, and your flight number. You'll get a confirmation back from a sales agent within 24 hours, with the vehicle already matched to what you're carrying. Cancellation policies typically allow free cancellation up to 24 hours before pickup, so booking early involves minimal risk. Keflavík Airport transfers start from $45 per traveler, while Blue Lagoon and Sky Lagoon private transfers start from $36 per traveler. If you're arranging a day tour instead, the Golden Circle, South Coast, and Snæfellsnes tours are also bookable the same way, with luggage details included in your request.
Where to Confirm the Latest Iceland Baggage and Storage Rules
Before you travel, check the official Icelandair baggage page for your fare's exact allowance, and confirm current locker rates directly through Keflavík Airport's locker page or a Reykjavík locker provider. Always verify final figures with your airline and transfer provider directly, since allowances and prices can change between bookings.
Sources
- Keflavik Airport luggage lockers
- How to get from Keflavik Airport to Reykjavik: Complete Guide
- Baggage on Icelandair flights
- Luggage Lockers sizes and prices
FAQ
Do I Have to Go Through Customs for a Connecting Flight in Iceland?
If you're only transiting through Keflavík with your final destination elsewhere, you typically won't need to clear customs for a short connection, though you may need to collect and recheck bags depending on your itinerary. Airlines and airport transit desks confirm the exact process for your specific route, since it depends on your ticket and connecting carrier.
How Strict Is Icelandair About Carry-On Size?
Icelandair enforces its published carry-on dimensions and weight limits, and oversized bags at the gate typically get moved to checked baggage, sometimes for a fee. Check the official baggage page for the exact size and weight your specific fare allows before you pack.
Should I Bring Toilet Paper to Iceland?
No, this isn't necessary. Iceland has well-stocked shops, supermarkets, and standard public facilities throughout Reykjavík and along major routes, so packing space is better used for warm layers and waterproofs.
How Strict Are Iceland Customs?
Iceland enforces standard EU/EEA-aligned customs rules on items like alcohol, tobacco, and certain foods, and declarations are taken seriously at Keflavík. If you're carrying anything unusual, camping gear, drones, or large amounts of duty-free goods, it's worth checking Iceland's official customs guidance ahead of arrival rather than assuming general EU allowances apply.
What's the Easiest Way to Move Extra Luggage or Sports Gear From Keflavík?
A private transfer is generally the most reliable option once you're carrying more than a standard suitcase per person or bringing skis, golf clubs, or similar gear. Easytransfer assigns vehicle size based on the luggage details you provide at booking, so a van or larger vehicle gets sent automatically rather than you finding out at the curb that your gear won't fit.